Fraoch said, “Get up, bawbags, take it like a man.”
Wallace pulled himself up and Fraoch punched him again. He slumped tae the side, but then righted himself.
Fraoch grabbed him by the hair.
“Og Maggy, I think he is a traitorous creep and I think ye ought tae kill him out of revenge for yer brother.”
I said, “What dost ye think, Chef Zach?”
“It’s fucking William Wallace, he’s kinda important.”
I exhaled.
My son was shakin’ in fear. I had tae get from the woods. I dinna hae time tae decide William Wallace’s fate.
Fraoch punched him in the face again — Wallace cried out in pain. Haggis circled them, barking.
Archie hid his face in my shirt and clamped his hand over his ear.
Fraoch hit him again and again, yet Wallace never raised a hand against him.
Finally, I said, “Tis enough, Fraoch, daena kill him.”
“He would deserve it.”
“I ken he would.”
I said tae Wallace, “I would kill ye, but I will spare ye yer life. I demand yer allegiance tae myself, tae Prince Archibald, tae my men, but most importantly tae Scotland. Ye must always take the side of Scotland. Ye canna allow yerself tae be swayed by the promises of an English King.”
He bowed over, his face swollen and bloody.
“Aye Mag Mòr, I give ye my oath. I will lay down m’life for ye and yer son, and Scotland.”
“I canna give ye back yer sword, but ye can ride with us, take the horse.”
He scrambled tae his feet and climbed on the boys’ horse.
Fraoch picked up Wallace’s sword. “Tis against my better judgment. Ye will ride in the front so I can keep m’eye on ye.”
He climbed on his own horse and drew it behind ours.
Wallace led us tae a path and kept a fast pace, Zach just behind him, I was next, and Fraoch brought up the rear. I occasionally checked behind us.
There was nae one following us.
A while later Cailean rode up, he asked, “Are ye all well? What is William Wallace doin’ with ye?”
I said, “Aye, we are well, Wallace has deserted the English and sworn his allegiance tae Mag Mòr.”
“Wallace, tis good ye had yer arse kicked, because I want tae do it as well, but I daena hae time, we must ride.”
Wallace said, “Aye, sire.”
Cailean fell in behind me tae guard our rear flank, Fraoch rode behind Wallace and we moved through the forest, with Haggis racin’ along beside us, toward King’s Park and Stirling Castle beyond.
Archie said, “Da, did Uncle Sean...?”
“Aye, Archibald, he is nae more.”
