Fraoch said, “I think we hae a problem.”
I muttered, “Aye, a big historical problem.” I said tae Wallace, “Ye ought tae step away from the English King. He inna yer friend. He is buyin’ yer allegiance with weapons and tales of yer future glory but ye are on the wrong side of this... I warn ye.”
He grunted again, but I saw him falter.
“I once met ye in combat — dost ye remember meetin’ me, striking me with a sword?”
He shook his head.
Edward said, “We order you to cease addressing Wallace?—”
“Nae, I winna, he is a young man, a youngScotsman, unclear on what he is doin’.”
Tae Wallace I said, “Tis just as well ye daena remember strikin’ me, ye dinna kill me, and ye gained nothin’ but m’disdain, but I will forget all of it as well. Tis behind us, time isa wheel, ye ken, Wallace — I will give ye a chance, right now, tae step away from Eddie and yer current treasonous path and cross over tae my side. I am the rightfully crowned Scottish King, Mag Mòr, and I will forgive yer traitorous impulses as long as ye join me.”
Fraoch said, “Think carefully, lad, yer king is givin’ ye a chance tae live.”
The rain grew louder, the deluge drowning out any chance of a conversation. I waited for a moment, watching him, quietly.
Then he shook his head.
“Fine.”
The burst of loud rain calmed and I focused on Edward. “Good Scottish weather we are havin’, daena ye think?”
He said, “Scotland is a miserable curs’d land, and the weather is nigh insufferable. We are only here to offer our assistance in?—”
“We daena need assistance. Ye are mistaken in it. Therefore ye can remove yerself from our lands. Take yer traitors with ye.”
He cocked his head tae the side, a habit he had when tryin’ tae gain the upper hand. Twas as if he were ingratiatin’ himself, but it came tae my eyes as weak.
I leveled m’gaze. “Ye are usin’ Berwick as if it is yers, yet tis part of Scotland. I command ye tae remove yerself and yer men from the properties ye hae seized. I demand yer army depart from the lands around it. Once yer soldiers hae fallen back tae the other side of the borders,thenwe will speak.”
A slithery smile across his lips. “Yet we rather like Berwick-Upon-Tweed and we want to keep it.”
Fraoch, standin’ by my right shoulder, muttered, “Och, the royal we, tis irksome tae hear it in use.”
I said, under m’breath, “Aye, tis not nearly as endearin’ as when we use it on the deck in Florida for fun.”
I said, louder, “Eddie, are ye disputin’ that Berwick belongs tae Scotland?”
He said, “Yes.”
“Ye will not pull back, ye will not accept that I am king, and ye will not stop meddlin’ in Scottish affairs?”
He pointed in the air. “No, no, and no.”
I shook my head. “Then, as ye are unreasonable, I hae decided that I will be meeting with Philip of France tae form an alliance.”
He cocked his head. “You would ally with the French? It would be a mistake. England will frown upon the decision.”
I shrugged. “Frown all ye want, cousin, Berwick belongs tae me, and ye are bein’ unreasonable. I will see ye removed. Either ye will gather yer men and leave out of self-preservation and good will. Or I will force ye south. Which will ye prefer?”
“We would prefer for the man in front of us to stop being so insolent.”
“I am a king. My bloodline demands the throne. God placed the crown upon my head. I am more than a mere man — daena forget yerself.”
“Yet once you begged us to back your claim to the throne.”
