To Scotland!

[Dark Storm]

William was bored, his men were growing lazy and the Duke of Normandy, a man he refused to acknowledge as king, was slowly eating away at what remained of free 'England' He sighed slightly, if he didn't move soon the next place he would be going would be the executioners block and an axe wielded by the Duke himself. The man must never find him, William surmised, ever.

But where to go? He asked himself, the question had run through his head countless times in the past few days, since his narrow escape from Nottingham and now, a hundred miles South of the fortified city he had nowhere left to turn. Without the word of Edgar he was enemy to the Saxons, and with the maniac on the thrown of Norman England, he was enemy to those he had once called kin. There was one thing for it, to Scotland he must go. The bitter cold of the North would surely chill the hearts of his kinsmen, enough so to maybe stay there hand should they reach the border. Maybe the King of Scotland would enjoy the information William kept safe within his head, and maybe power would once again be his one day. Power bought by Lowlander blood and Highlander steel.

That day he would leave England, his men following faithfully, to Scotland they went, on Cogs and fishing boats. A ramshackle fleet traversing foreign coasts in the search of safe haven.

----------------

William stepped off the boat, his boot crunching into the sand as he landed on the beach. A chill wind froze his bones, causing him to pull his furs tightly around him. They were here alright, Scotland. He could feel it.

[PsychoticBarbarian]

Outriders can be seen some distance away from the Normans...One of the men carries the heraldric device of King Malcolm III...they stop some distance away, waiting for the man in charge to make contact with them and explain this invasion...

[Dark Storm]

William orders his men to sheathe their swords and mounts his Norman warhorse, together with two of his most trusted knights he rides under a flag of parlay to speak with the men, stopping just before them, he waits for them to proceed...

[PsychoticBarbarian]

The most well dressed of the Scots is the first to speak...

Who are ye? Why do ye bring this army to field? Does King Richard declare war on our Kingdom? Madness...damnable Normans, always looking to take what is not theirs...

[Dark Storm]

"I am no longer friends of the Normans, and though I am bound through marriage to their Royalty, their self-imposed titles are meaningless to me. I have come for haven," William sighed, "Long ago I left this land an orphan, no family to speak of, and now I return to my homeland a Lord in exile for following my path when those I trusted would have me forced off it. I have not come to fight my friend, I have come to inform and to plea for aid. The Duke of Normandy is mad, he has made a promise to massacre every living being in Saxon lands, be they Innocent man, Woman or Child, I stood against him and almost lost my life in the process. He is no man and I have come with a warning. Prepare, for the love of God prepare, for should he reach this land he will bring bloody death to your people...my people."

[PsychoticBarbarian]

The Scot dismissed the mans explanation with a lazy wave of his hand...

Oh a touching story to be sure, but one which does not explain nor legitimize the current situation. As it stands Sir you have brought armed men into our Kingdom and violated our God given sovereignty. His Majesty King Malcolm, third of his name could easily interpret this as an act of war...if you are true of heart and what you speak is the truth, order your men to immediately forthwith lay down their arms. I shall escort you to Edinburgh where you shall plea your case to the King himself...

The haughty Scot cleared his throat...

Fail to comply with this request and you shall leave me with very little recourse; behind that hill are 6000 Scot spears, and if you are to bear arms against us we shall drive you back into the sea...

[Dark Storm]

William nodded, "Of course." he replied, before gesturing for his men to lay down their arms...

[PsychoticBarbarian]

The well dressed Scot nodded to the standard-bearer, who gave the signal with a flury of his flag-staff...A multitude of Scots spilled over the hill quickly surrounding the outnumbered Normans...their weapons, shields and armour were collected, before being lined up in single file, flanked on both sides by the Scots...

The Scot Nobleman invited William to ride at the front with him, as the long stretching column made its way to Edinburgh...The Normans were dispersed into camps surrounding the city under heavy supervision by the armed Scots - William was led directly to the Royal palace...

In the receiving room King Malcolm III sat on a plain throne, leant forward, elbows resting on his knees...He was an unnattractive man, face scarred by the hormonal blemishes of his youth, nose hooked and vulture like, with a long greasy beard...the King of Scotland looked up as William entered...

Ah, the Norman turncoat...well what exactly am I to do with ye? Speak ye piece...

[Dark Storm]

William knelt before the man,

"I am not Norman my Lord, I am Scottish. I left this land years ago to find my way in the world. To cut my story short I ended up as part of Duke Richard conquering army, I saved the Dukes life and was awarded and Earldom, Buckingham, yet I was unhappy, the Duke turned a blind eye to the cruelty inflicted on members of the clergy and instead blamed those who had been wronged. I left the man's service a month ago, words of murder ringing in my ears. Murder of innocents across Saxon England and how all would be subjected to a punishment deserved by the tiniest minority. I voiced my objection and was branded a traitor for it. So it is with heavy heart that I return to my homeland, to serve my true King."

[PsychoticBarbarian]

So you are a fugitive of Richard the Bastard? Do you realise the harbouring of fugitives is Cassus Belli for war? Tell me what I am to do if this Richard should come enquiring of ye? Am I to send mine own kingdom to war for one man?

[Dark Storm]

"My Lord, the King does not know where I have gone, the only men are my 365 levies from Buckingham and myself. There are no others. I shall strip myself of my previous name, for it was false anyway, a disguise to appeal to Norman Lords who wished for a page. I am James Baird, a clansman from Lanarkshire. I would not expect that of you either my Lord. Should he ask and threaten I would go. But with the Saxon armies between Scotland and himself, and with Norman manpower as it stands currently, merely a few thousand men, he would not dare declare war."

[PsychoticBarbarian]

If it be nought but anonymity and to return to the highlands and count ye sheep, you shall have my leave...but I warn ye, the first sign I get of the Normans coming this way, the first request I get from some embassy, I shall be packing ye back to that Bastard King of yours...

[Dark Storm]

William nodded, "I do not however wish to return to anonymity, nor do I wish to count sheep. I am a commander, I would swear allegiance to you in a moment and would gladly lay down my life for my liegelord, I did it at Hastings, saved the life of the Duke, and I was at the forefront of the campaign, winning three battles in the first years greatly outnumbered in each. I doubt the Normans will leave you alone forever, even without me. The Duke is mad, a tyrant, and his greedy eyes even now pierce further North than Saxon holdings. My King, there is no other among your men who can give you as accurate information as I can on the Normans, no other who knows best how to fight them if war should come this way. I would venture that I could, in future become invaluable to you."

[PsychoticBarbarian]

Aye, I nor any other in this Realm doubts for a moment that the Norman's shall soon come seeking to take what is not their own...But hear me now Sir; I will not openly invite such a calamity. Harbouring fugitives is cause for war. If the Normans are to make war upon us let their reasoning be their own, all the better for us to claim unjustly violation of our sovereignty in Rome. But I shall not risk my Kingdom for ye, do ye understand? When and if the Normans come for us, we shall be ready, and I shall be in need of good swords - I shall have no objection to ye serving Crown....then. But as it stands I have no dispute with Richard the Bastard, nor do I wish for one.

[Dark Storm]

"No dispute with Richard?" He asked incredulous, "The English are your friends, good friends. You have visited their lands many a year, your wife, Queen Margaret is from there. Yet Richard is slaughtering them, every man, woman and child, thousands, fell beneath his sword at Nottingham. Innocents, Englishmen and Saxons. They will fight at York or wherever the Saxons choose to mee them, and they shall win. I have seen it with my own eyes, sell swords, bought by bloodmone simply to ravage a land you once cherished. I pffer you my aid, aid that will be sorely needed when Richard turns his gaze here. You think myself being handed over to him would stop him? He is a vile excuse of a man. If you resisted he would fall upon you as he fell upon the Saxons. No Scotsman or woman left alive highland or lowland. I fought at Warwick, it was my men who fought and beat the Saxons,upon my first meeting of the King the only question he asked of me was this, how much money did you gain from the looting of the province? The only question, I had not looted but I saw then his intentions, written clearly behind his callous words. He is mad with power and greed, he will fall upon Scotland and will bring death to it's people. Heed my words my Lord, heed them well. Organise your defence, prepare the Lowlands for battle, sharpen your swords and strengthen your walls. For should you tarry you may as well hand your kingdom over to those men from Normandy..."

[PsychoticBarbarian]

It would be most prudent of you to remember who you are adressing! Malcolm snapped...

I will offer you a place at my court; but there are services I shall require of you. You have connections with the nobility in England. I would have my new neighbours a politically divided people then ones united under one Crown...I need a man who I may set to murder and espionage...are you that man?

[Dark Storm]

ooc- sorry for my late reply

"Yes my Lord." he replied, "I am."

[PsychoticBarbarian]

Malcolm III smiled...

Then if you truly are my man, if you are a true servant of the Scottish Crown and Realm, you shall return to England and wreak havoc, although obviously not in my name. Stymy and confuse the Normans - prevent them from waging war upon our Kingdom.

[Dark Storm]

William bowed low, "My Lord, shall I receive any aid in this venture, I care little either way, however the odds of success may hang upon any help I can get."

[PsychoticBarbarian]

Malcolm III called over a hunch-backed old man and whispered in his ear...a short time later a chest was brought forward...

In this chest you shall find 5000 Crowns. I think this shall serve you in good stead...but do not think to double cross me Sir, or you shall have two Realm's pursuing you as an outlaw...