Avenge My Kin - Book 3
A Time Of Courage
by
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The Bruce, with his men flanked on either side, pushed their mounts hard through the winter bare forest of beech and elm and ash, in pursuit of the lone rider who dodged and weaved through tall trunks and thick underbrush.
Suddenly they came upon a line of opposing armed horsemen centered by John “the Red” Comyn. The lone rider quickly took a position with the new group and leered at Bruce.
“Halt!” the Bruce commanded his men with raised arm. The men of
“That man struck one of my men with an arrow,” Bruce yelled. “He should hang for that?”
Comyn rose in his saddle and smirked. “He fired at poachers, Bruce, there’s no felony in that?”
“Poachers? This forest has been part of the Garrioch Estate since the days of Malcolm Canmore?”
The Comyn leered, secure in the knowledge his men easily outnumbered the Bruce party. “Aye maybe, but before that by Pictish law the land belonged to the Buchans and through them tae the Comyns.”
Bruce fought to control his skittish mount. “It seemed tae me King Alexander was about tae rule on that. It was fair expected he would come out on the side o’ the Mormaer, the Earl of Mar, that was before his demise at Abercorn. It has always seemed suspicious tae me that a seasoned rider would fall to his death over the cliffside – who spooked him on behalf o’ the Comyns, you murdering bastard?”
The Comyn slapped his thigh and laughed. “You’re havering, man. The whole world knows he was a horny drunk that pushed his horse too hard so he could bed his new French wife?”
Bruce’s mount swung in a tight circle as he tugged at the reins.
“Aye, a death convenient for some?”
Comyn scoffed. “You’ll never ken the whole story, Bruce, but I’ll say this, the convenience was the demented hound that snapped at the King’s stallion’s legs; the deranged creature was put down by a crossbow and buried that same night.”
The Bruce stiffened. “None but the murderer would know that?”
“Believe what you like, Bruce, but King John Balliol will rule on the Garrioch Estates as he did at Turnberry and Lochmaben. You’re finished, Bruce – return tae
Bruce brandished hi sword. “Fight me here and now, Comyn, we’ll settle this man tae man.”
“I’ve no need tae put up with yer pestilent behaviour, Bruce, and I wont for much longer. Better warn your brother-in-law I’m coming tae collect Garrioch Manor?”
“I swear by all that’s holy, Comyn, you will rue this day.”
John Comyn put his fingers to his mouth and gave two long piercing whistles. They were answered from deep in the woods. “You’ve got five minutes, Bruce, tae get yourself and your men off my estate, or be prepared tae spend the rest of yer days in the dungeons of
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About the Book
In the continuing saga, Bruce and Wallace develop into powerful young men, with their lives touching briefly at intervals as each fight the demons within.
Wallace is forced by the father Bruce to fight under his flag at a tournament at Lochmaben Castle. Wallace's success brings angry words from Edward, King of England, but the tourmament introduces Wallace to Marion Braidfute, his future wife. Wallace further aggravates the English King as he attempts to stir rebellion against English oppression.
David Seton, in a strange chain of events, saves the King's life and is knighted fot it, and inherits Castle Kelk. It is this strange Yorkshire castle his relationship with Christina Bruce, now married to Gartnait of Mar, develops further.
Robert Bruce, the younger, runs foul of John "the Red" Comyn on several occasions in disputes over land and property, and the succession rights to the Throne of Scotland.
Morag spends time in distant Caithness and escapes capture with the aid of a giant eagle.
But all events are over-shadowed with English Edward's annihilation of the town and citizens of Berwick in a savage display of bestiality.
About the Author
I was born in Glasgow Scotland, and came to Canada in 1964 with my wife and children. I have baked all my life and have won several awards for baking. But writing has been like a nagging toothache, forcing me to do something about it. Way back I entered Writing Competitions and got nowhere, but it was a learning experience. I did get trade articles published and that gave me needed incentive. The Clifford Evans/Zehrs Training Centre in Cambridge Ontario gave me the opportunity to sharpen my writing skills in the creation of case studies. My present project, the AVENGE MY KIN series, has been a wonderful challenge, so much so my wife says I attend to daily affairs with only half-a-brain; the other half is lost somewhere in the thirteenth century?