Games of Otterburn 1388 Read Online Free Page A

Games of Otterburn 1388
Book: Games of Otterburn 1388 Read Online Free
Author: Charles Randolph Bruce
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the prisoner’s skin here and there as he went. James gave Alfred several more kicks in his ribs and his groin.
    Alfred whined and moaned terribly.
    “ Feelin ’ cold .. and scared… are ye?” asked James cunningly as he churned his hatred under his own skin.
    Alfred wept more for the sake of his getting caught.
    Then James asked, “Do the English know we’re comin ’ for a fight?”
    “I don’t know!” Alfred lied.
    James smiled at the spy’s negative answer.
    Young Dunbar and John Swinton stood several paces away and observed. Other interested men had taken up positions behind them.
    James was thankful for the sharp blade. He made a long shallow cut down Alfred’s belly and he screamed and cried more.
    “He repeated his request for information, “ Does yer English liege lords know we’re a’comin ’?”
    The spy broke easily from there and cried out in a mixture of fear and anger, “They know! They know how many ye got fixin ’ to come against them!”
    “Who?” growled James pushing for more while secretly his own anger was wishing Alfred had not broken so easily.
    “Northumberland, that’s who ! I speak to him personally! He will be very angry if you do harm to me!” he howled out in vain. He then dropped his head and watched his red blood drip to the green grass. He softened. “I sent the message with my friend yesterday! They’ll be ready for you when you get there!”
    Sir John Dunbar grabbed Alfred by his hair and pulled his head up so he could see Alfred directly in his tearful eyes. “Do they know anymore?” he asked.
    “I hope they kill everyone of you stinkin ’ Scotch… I wish you all dead and rottin ’ on the cold ground!” he cried out with a desperate blurt of emotion.
    Sir John put his arm around James’ neck and walked him toward the hunting lodge where Sir Robert awaited the news. James handed the earl’s dagger back to him. “‘Tis plenty sharp,” he remarked then asked, “ We a’killin ’ him?”
    The earl was silent on that point but when the pair entered the lodge and into the dining hall he said to the gathered knights and lords. “Northumberland knows of our size and hopefully nay more.”
    “But we’re not aimed at Northumberland,” said John the Guardian who stood uneasy on his crippled leg. “That is good news, hain’t it? ”
    “But they know we’re amassed for a war,” interjected Earl Douglas who was secretly delighted at the news.
    “He’s right. From this point we could be goin ’ for the West or the East March. We are well positioned for either way,” observed Robert.
    “How do we know that this spy knows everything about what we’re fixed to do?” interceded Douglas .
    “We don’t,” opined Robert.
    The sixty year old Archibald who was also known by his English given name of ‘the Grim’ stood as best he could without hitting his head on the roof rafters of the lodge. The earl of Galloway liked his sobriquet for it seemed to match his dark complexion and course features masked partially by his long grey beard. He relished his reputation. “I’ve got dealin’s in Carlisle ,” he said bluntly. “So that’s my intention!”
    “This raid’s not bein ’ called off ‘cause of this snivelin ’ spy,” swore Robert. “Moreover they figure we’re headed for Northumberland… and we’re not!” He looked at James Douglas and gave a small victory smile.
    Douglas frowned.
    “Then what is the problem?” growled Archibald tightening his fists in frustration.
    Sir William stood, “I’ll go with ye to Carlisle , Archibald.
    “And I’ll be a’havin ’ ye, son!” returned Archibald. William was not quite as large in frame as his father but had his same dark complexion. Fortunately he took more after his mother’s side on his facial features, that aside William was a fierce warrior that few volunteered to go against.
    Suddenly Robert Stewart, who feared the Douglas family was taking his planned raid away from him, came to the
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