Page 4 of The Hawk Laird

“True. John, join us again in the Ettrick Forest.”

“An outlaw’s life does not suit me now. I came here for peace, and to write an account of a great man’s life. The truth of Wallace’s deeds must be known. You belong in the forest,James, not I. You left our holy order years ago to join a cause you believed in. You were knighted on a bloody Scottish field, while I remained behind and took priestly vows.”

“Yet we both ended up forest rogues. We need your weapon hand and your good sense once again. There are only a few who support me now. You must have heard the rumors.”

“I know that you are hunted. I know Wallace was betrayed by Scotsmen—the lord of Menteith, for one. I hear he fled into England to be rewarded by Edward.”

“Another rumor is that Wallace was betrayed by Sir James Lindsay of Wildshaw.”

“Jesu,” he muttered. “That I had not heard.”

“So those who once gave me their support now turn their backs on me.”

“You would never betray Will.”

For a moment James wanted to confess what he had done while in English captivity, and the tragic result. But he could not say it aloud. Not yet.

“I mean to find the man who arranged Wallace’s capture,” was all he said.

“Menteith?”

“He is one of them. I seek another. Sir Ralph Leslie. He caused the death of one of my cousins and has my cousin Janet in his keeping. He commands a garrisoned castle. I cannot get to him, or free her, with just a few men.”

“Once there were fifty and more following your command.”

“Most have lost faith in me.”

“I have faith in your purpose, but true, you need more men for the task. Where is Leslie?”

“King Edward made him constable of Wildshaw Castle. My home.”

“So you do have a quarrel with the man.”

“Aye,” James ground out. “He has my castle and my cousin. If I cannot get the castle—yet—I mean to trade for Janet, at least.”

“What does he want so badly that he might agree?”

“The prophetess of Aberlady,” James said.

“You have her?” John asked in surprise. “Black Isobel of Aberlady?”

“I mean to get her,” James answered smoothly.

“The English king will be furious if she is harmed. He values her.”

“I will not harm her, just take her. Edward hates me already. I do not fear him.”

“He wants her brought to him so that she can divine for the English.”

“Exactly. A valuable hostage. She predicts good tidings for the English, and bad fortune for the Scots. And she set a noose round my neck with her pretty tunes. But Leslie would trade Janet for this so-called prophetess.”

“Why would he want her?”

“She is his betrothed.”

“This is a risky scheme, even foolhardy. Let your head rule, not your anger, Jamie.”

“I am a pilgrim and I seek wisdom from the prophetess of Aberlady. I doubt she speaks the truth since she is paid for her words by the English, or so they say.”