A Scotsman in England - James Murray of Atholl

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER ONE

"Brother, are we there yet?"

"Not yet Elle. Just be patient."

"But my feet hurt."

"Fine, we'll take a break here. I'll scout around while you rest, alright?"

"Okay brother."

As Elle laid down on the side of the road, James Murray looked around. besides the straight path, the only other things in sight were trees. Sherwood Forest certainly lived up to its name, he thought as he checked his equipment. Everything was there, as usual. His sword, his clan sash, his wooden shield, his weathered clothes, his leather armor, clan kilt, and what little other clothes the pair had stuffed into a sack,his pack filled with food, mostly apples, and two waterskins. He was carrying just about everything that the two owned, and yet it didn't weigh down on him.

"Alright Elle, let's get moving again."

No response.

"Elle?"

Elle, the poor girl, had taken off her worn out shoes and had fallen asleep at the trunk of a tree. The sun, rarely escaping the tree's overhead wall, shown on her face, where James could see a smile.

James sighed. "Guess we are stopping here for a little bit longer, huh?"

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER TWO

James awoke from his sleep. It was morning, and the sun was starting to shine through the trees again. He turned to look at his sister, who was still curled up next to the trunk of that tree. James, realizing that he had fallen asleep, and therefore had had no one guarding her during her sleep, quickly arose and checked his gear. Finding everything as it should be, he sat back down, hoping that Elle would awake. Ten minutes passed. "Elle, wake up."

"Uh....."

"I know you are still tired, but we need to get going now."

"Five more minutes Mom...."

She must be dreaming of our parents, James thought as he put his hand on Elle's arm and gently shook her.

"Wha?.....oh, good morning Brother."

"Good morning. We need to start moving again, alright?"

"Yes Brother." Elle said as she started to put her shoes back on. She always follows my lead, James thought. Always relies on me...looks up to me. And I won't let her down.

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Hours past, and soon the pair arrived at the edge of the forest. A small tavern could be seen just down the path, immediatly becoming the next stop for the siblings.

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER THREE

The tavern, which was called the Burning Horse Inn, wasn't the newest building, but it didn't appear to be a brothel. When the pair arrived at the door James spoke.

"Now Elle, I don't want you talking to anyone in here, do you understand?"

"Yes Brother, but why?"

"I don't wanting you getting hurt. We're in England, and the English don't fancy us Scots to well. I only want to get some information, and then we will leave."

"Alright Brother. But can we at least get something to eat here before we go?"

James sighed. Between the two of them, they had at most 10 florins. Barely enough for a meal, and not enough to stay the night at any tavern. Very few people here would hire a Scot, even if he was intellegent, and he wasn't about to have Elle work....or worse.

"We can get something to eat here. But nothing to large, alright."

"Don't worry Brother. I understand." Elle replied, a smile on her face. They had eaten very little besides apples and stale bread. A true meal would be good for her, James though as he openned the door and walked in.

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The Burning Horse Inn's main room appeared to be an ordinary pub, although the entire place was dank. The barkeeper was a tough looking man, probably in his fifties, with a long unkept beard. He was talking to the two visitors at the bar, the first one bearing the image of a guardsman, the other a wealthy noble. A small girl stood in the corner of the room, taking the order of the only other person in the tavern. James and Elle sat down at the table the farthest away from the bar, but even then he could still hear what everyone was talking about.

"Did you here the Queen died?" said the guardsman, taking a gulp of his drink.

"I've only heard the rumors." replied the noble.

"Well, they're true. And to make matters worse, everyone says the King himself did, stabbing her in the heart."

"The king wouldn't do such a thing."

"But he did! I was there at his little meeting with the rebels, and I saw it with my own eyes. He even killed Thomas Lancaster!"

"Sure he did. And now you'll go on and on about the Order of the Rose, I bet."

"They are our only hope of ending his mad reign. The King calls himself a god, and even the Pope his sending men to stop him."

"The King is the King. He is the son of William of Normandy. It is his birthright to rule us."

"While we have no say in the matter? I think not, my dear noble. The Order of the Rose wishes to have a new position created, the Prime Minister. He would be the balance to the King."

"And they are all mad! The majority of the nobles support these rebels, but neither I nor us true loyalists will turn on our own King!"

With that the noble threw down his cup at the guardsman and drew his sword. The guard, taken by surprise, watched as the sword descended upon him....only to be blocked by a larger sword.

"I'm sorry sir, but I don't believe attacking him will do any good." said James as he pushed the noble's sword away from the guard. "If your king is anything like what this man says he is, then I don't think he is fit to rule."

"Bah!" yelled the noble as he stormed out of the tavern.

James sheathed his large sword back onto his back, then turned and helped the guardsman up.

"That lousy noble, always did have a temper." the guard said as we regained his posture on his chair. "Thank you."

"So is everything you said true?"

"Of course it is! How do you not know about your own king?!

"He is not my king. I am not from around here, but I plan on staying here for a while."

"So you're a Scot, eh? You're going to have a lot of trouble here in England, but I suspect you'll get around just fine. Here, let me buy you a drink."

"Sorry, I don't drink. But perhaps you could do me a favor..."

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As Elle munched down on the meal before, James continued talking to the guard, and eventually the barkeeper joined in with the talking.

"So this Order of the Rose wishes to allow the people more say in England's affairs?"

"That's about right. They also want to set up the Prince, also named Rufus, as the King."

"So what is your King exactly like? Besides what I've heard of him killing the rebels?"

"The King was always known to smile a lot. He's now so insane that he has cut his own face up, even just about cutting his jaw off just so he will always frown now." the barkeeper shuddered. "He's....a nightmare now. Everyone's thinking that even if he stops the Order, he'll kill himself at some point."

"That wouldn't be to bad of an outcome, but I would rather have the Order win this civil war."

"Sounds like that would be the best outcome."

"Well, I had better get going. My wife is going to have a fit if I don't get back soon." says the guard as he pays for his drinks.

"Be seeing you then." The barkeeper then turned to James. "Seems like my daughter has taken a fancy to your sister."

The little girl who had been taking the other man's orders was talking to Elle. Both of them were giggling over something. Then James remembered something. The other man in the bar hadn't said anything this entire time. He was wearing a dark colored cloak, and his face was scarred up. He was...just sitting at his table. Something wasn't right with him...

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER FOUR

James and Elle stayed in the tavern for a couple of hours, during which they were served a free lunch. After their goodbyes had been said, the pair made their way along the path again.

"Sorry for breaking my own rule Elle."

"You mean about getting into trouble with the noble? It's alright. You couldn't have done anything else back there anyway."

'I know, but it isn't setting a good example."

"How is saving a man's life not a good example?"

"I suppose you are right." James said as he looked up at the sky. No clouds were in sight. He then glanced behind them, and saw something.

The robed man. He was following them.

And he was gaining ground on them.

"We're being followed." James wispered to his sister.

"By who?"

"That man in the inn, that robed man. The one who didn't talk the entire time we were there."

"What do you think he wants? We don't have a lot of money, or food, or anything else for that matter." Elle was scarred, James could tell.

" I don't know, but he's catching up to us. Now listen, I'm going to prepare for the worst, so I want you to hide, alright?"

"Hide? Where?"

"Climb a tree, or just hide behind a tree or a bush. Just prepare to run for it."

"And....if anything bad happens to you?" Elle said, her face turning white. Her body was shaking. What kind of brother am I, to let my sister get so scared, James thought.

"Don't do anything our parents wouldn't want you to do. You hear me?"

"Ye...yes Brother." Elle replied, heading off to hide behind a nearby bush.

"Elle?"

"Yes Brother?"

"Don't worry. I'll be fine, alright? And you'll be fine too."

Elle stopped shaking, though her face was still white. "Alright, just be careful."

"I will." James said, drawing his claymore out of the sheath on his back. He stood in a defensive position, awaiting the robed man's arrival...

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER FIVE

"What do you want?!" James yelled.

The robed man had walked until he was within twenty feet of James, then had stopped and stood there for well over a minute. What on earth did this man want, James thought. It couldn't be good.

"You're a Scot, right?"

"Yes, what of it?" James wasn't going to go around denying his heritage to arrogant Englishmen like this man.

"And you're from the Murray clan?"

"Yes, I am. What of it?" James was trying to sound annoyed, but it came out in a more scared, angry way.

"Thought as much from your sash." said the robed man. "And you also have Crawford blood in you, don't you?"

"Yeah, and I bet you could tell from the pattern on my bag, right?"

"Of course."

Silence.

"What do you want from me?"

"You know, some of us Englishmen don't take to kindly at the thought of Scots roaming free in our country."

"So?"

"Even more so when they come from such noble clans as Crawford and Murray."

"Your point, sir?"

"My point being that being someone with a history of fighting us Englishmen is not the best trait to be having right now!" The robed man quickly darted towards James, a knife being seen in the folds of his cloak.

James hurriedly took his defensive position and blocked the man's dagger, their faces coming close together, and he could see the man's features up close. His scars completely covered his face, his left eye missing, and a yellow toothed grin was smiling at him. And then a second dagger came out of his robes...

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER SIX

James fell to the ground after pushing the robed man away, his side bleeding. He hadn't expected the man to have a second dagger, and even if James was fast, he couldn't use a claymore to block a man with two daggers. What was even worse was when he was stabbed he had heard Elle gasp from behind the bushes. If this man killed him, he would go for her next.

"Elle, run! I'll hold him off." James said as he got on his feet, trying to stay in his defensive position.

"But Brother..." Elle said from behind the bushes, still trying to stay hidden.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. Just run. Make your way to the closest town nearby, alright."

"I'm not going to leave you. You're all that I have right now." She was crying now. What kind of brother am I, James thought again.

"Once I'm done with you I'll take care of her. She can't get to far ahead of me, as finishing you won't take moree than a split second." The robed man cackled beneath his hood.

"I'll catch up Elle. Just run. Please."

Elle was still crying, and James could see her expression. Even as she started to turn, she was still looking at him. And then she finally started to run. She was fast, just like her brother, but how long she could outrun this fiend was another matter.

"Oh no you don't!" The robed man cried, racing towards James, who once again blocked the man's first dagger. The second dagger came again, and a second time James recoiled from the pain. He even it the same spot, James said as he tried to continue to hold up his sword, but he was growing weak.

"I....won't let you touch her."

"So you say, and yet you can barely stand. How pathetic. If this is how all you Scots are, then finishing off your little kingdom will be quite simple for our noble English armies."

While the man spoke, James took the shield off his back and held it in his left hand. He wasn't wearing his leather armor, but it wouldn't help him now. His only hope was to block the man with his shield and deliver a blow with his claymore. Just one might be enough. But James didn't have time to think any longer, the man was charging again, and nearly upon him.

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James sat at the trunk of a tree on the side of the road, wondering how he was still alive. The man had charged himfor a third time and....what? James had blocked the first dagger thrust with his shield, and the second dagger had stabbed him in the middle of his chest. And then.....he dropped his sword down on the man's head. James looked around him. The robed man lay dead nearby him. he must have crawled by the side of the tree after the fight, and fainted from blood loss. His side was still bleeding, and at this rate he would never make it to the nearest town on his own. What would he do? What about Elle?

Elle.

James remembered. His sister had ran away from the fight. She was counting on him to live. He had to make it. James started to stand up. The pain was great, but he could endure it for his sister. James started down the road with his weapons, one step at a time. First his left foot hit the ground, then his right foot, then his left foot, then his right knee, then his left knee, then his head.....

[Celsius]

WOW. One of the longest entries I've ever senn

[Confederate Jeb]

OOC: I am using this to introduce my character. Please do not post here until I figure out how do get my guy involved, which should be fairly soon.

Thanks, but for now I'm trying to keep this clean. So I need these two posts to be deleted.

And to tell you the truth.....I got bored.

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER SEVEN

"Brother?"

"Brother?"

"Is he awake yet?"

"No father."

"Don't worry, he'll be fine."

James was hearing voices. He couldn't move, he couldn't open his eyes. Was it all a dream? No...

"James? Will you please wake up?"

Elle? She never used his name, she had always called him "Brother", unless....she was truly scared out of her mind.

"Uh......"

"Please wake up Brother."

".......I'm awake..." James was finally able to open his eyes. He was in a room with high ceilings....a sick bay in a monestary. The sun was shining through a stained glass window to his left. To his right was Elle sitting in a chair looking straight at him.

As he tried to sit up in his bed, James was met by his sister's embrace.

"I was so worried about you."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made you worry so much. So...what happened after I fainted?"

"I had ran as fast as I could like you told me, and ran into a monk. He asked me where I was going so fast, and I told him about the robed man. He came back with me to help you, but when we arrived it looked like both of you were dead." Elle was starting to cry again. "There was a pool of blood next to your side, and the man's head was covered in blood. The monk said that you were still alive, so he picked up both you and the robed man's body, and carried you to the closest building so that your wounds could be treated, then carried you here."

"By himself?"

"Yes. We are in a monestary in Nottingham castle. You've been out for three days." She was still crying. "You don't know how worried I was Brother."

"It's alright now. I told you that we would be fine." James was smiling as best he could, he was still so tired. But it was enough for Elle.

"Thank you for living Brother."

"Ah, so he's awake now. Good morning."

An elderly monk was now standing over him.

"This is Brother Jacob. He's the one who carried you here."

"Thank you."

"You are lucky that we arrived when we did. You had lost a lot of blood. But your attacker seemed to have lost more. You do know he is dead?"

"I guessed he was. And that makes me a murderer."

"You were defending yourself. If he had lived the blow he would've been sent to prison. Though there might have been some protest, since you two are Scots. But anyway, you two are welcome to stay here as long as you require." Brother Jacob said, smiling the whole time, and then departed the room.

"Elle, we should only stay until I can walk again, then we should go. We already owe them so much. I'm sure they've taken care of you while I've been out?"

"Yes. Oh, I nearly forgot. Something big happened while you were unconscious."

"Yeah?"

"The English King died."

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER EIGHT

James was standing in the courtyard of the monestary, practicing his swordplay. But he wasn't concentrating on sharpening his skills. He was too busy thinking over what he had learned since waking up a week ago. The English King had died, killing himself with a dagger. The Pope had sent an army to the edge of England's territory. This Order of the Rose had established the position of the Lord Chancellor, to counter the new king, Rufus the Second, the son of the former king. Everyone was going about like the greatest thing in the world had happened, and the English, not fighting amongst themselves, had moved on to bigger targets. Like the Welsh and the Scots.

Elle had been worried about this, as usual, and had asked him if their parents would be alright. He had told her that since they, as Scots, couldn't find them, how could the English find the Murray clan? It had calmed her down for the time being, but James knew better. Their clan would fight side by side with the Scottish King's men against the English, when war arrived. And it would come. There was nothing the two of them could do about it.

To make matters worse, the treatment of Scots and Welshmen in England had grown worse over the passing week. Dead men were showing up in lone corners of streets. And, to top it off, a wanted poster was up for the capture of him. Appearantly the barman had told someone that a Scot had showed up at the bar when the robed man had been there, and unintentially set off a manhunt for him. The robed man turned out to be an official of the royal family. An assassin like him, working for the English King. Figured.

James was out of money now, he had given it all to the monks at the monestary. He wouldn't let their generosity go unpaid. He was given the two knives used by the official, and they would fetch a good price at the market, but he wasn't in any shape to go out of the walled area, espicially with the manhunt. And sending his sister out in this time of murder was out of the question. But they had to get out of Nottingham. They had to get to London if they wanted to even think of surviving England...

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER NINE

The monks standing at the entrace to the monestary ignored the two shadows as the exitted the grounds. Dressed in dark robes, James and Elle made their way into a back alley, trying to reach the castle's southern entrance. Only the light of the moon guided them, the pair slipped past drunken Englishmen and sleeping guards, quickly arriving closer to their target. But their arrival wasn't so pleasant.

The gate was kept by ten guardsmen, four of which were archers, the rest having polearms. To make matters worse, the gate had at least twenty vigilantes around, each waiting for the arrival of the "Scottish Murderer".

"This isn't good Elle." James whispered in the cover of the shadows. "I don't see how we are getting through the gate without a fight. And I'm not in good enough shape to fight thirty armed men."

"What about over there?" She was pointing over to a section of the wall not guarded by soldiers. A tower was nearby, keeping the area in complete darkness.

"Good idea." James said as he started to edge out of the alleyway towards the tower, with Elle right behind. Reaching the top of the wall wasn't hard; the doors were unlocked, and the fact that no guards were there made it almost too easy. But the fact remaind that they still had to get down. The wall was over fifteen feet high.

"Alright, I'm going to jump down first, and then I'll catch you, alright?"

"Won't you get hurt jumping down from so high up? You are still injured."

"I'll be fine."

He spoke to soon. Landing on his back wasn't the best way to get down.

"What was that?"

"I didn't hear anything. You must be dreaming."

"Well, I'm going to check it out."

"Whatever."

"Brother, are you alright? There's a guard coming."

"Anyone up here?" The guard was now next to the tower. No one was on the wall besides his fellow guards. It was so dark he couldn't see the ground below. "Guess I was dreaming."

"I think he's gone. Are you okay Brother?"

"As if landing on my back was bad enough, you landed on me. I can't feel my stomach now."

"I don't weigh that much."

"I didn't mean it like that. Can we just go now?"

"Fine. Sorry about landing on you."

The rest of their way out of the Midlands went unnoticed.

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER TEN

One week later, the siblings reached London. The gates were guarded but, as they were only being searched for in the Midlans, the guards didn't ask them to remove their hoods. When the two finally thought they would be safe, they took the chance to look around. Taverns and shops were on every side. And so were beggars. The city was both technically advanced, and yet poverty ridden.

"Let's see if we can find a store nearby."

The pair walked into the next building on their right. It smelled of burning metal, and, as it turned out, was a blacksmith's dwelling.

"Ah, customers! Welcome to my humble aboad. Please, look around."

The walls were lined with weapons of all kinds; plate armor stood on stands. This must be one well off blacksmith, James thought.

"Actually, we came here to ask if you would be interested in buying a few things."

"Let's have a look then, and I'll see what I can offer."

James pulled his leather armor out of his bag, as well as the two daggers from the robed man.

"The leather armor is in good condition, but only a young recruit would buy it. I would offer five florins for it. As for the daggers....well! These are extremely well made, the design is amazing. Where did you get these?"

"Uh..."

"They are family heirlooms." Elle filled in James' blank. She must have remembered he wasn't one to lie like that.

"You two must be from a noble family to have weapons like these. What makes you want to sell them?"

"Uh..."

"Don't worry, it's none of my buiness anyway. I would be willing to offer fifty florins for the two of them."

Elle's face brightened up. "That would be perfect sir."

As the blacksmith handed the gold to his sister, James glanced around the store again. And he saw something out of the corner of his eye.

"Sir, can I ask you a question?"

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"So how much money do we have now?"

"Fifteen florins."

James was wiping off his new sword with a cloth. It was of medium lenght, in between a long and a short sword, and had no specific features. But it would be faster than his claymore.

"Now we can't afford to stay anyway long. We have so little money." Elle was frustrated.

"Now you know this will be better for fighting quicker enemies. And we can still get jobs."

Elle turned and stared at him. "As what? No one will hire Scots, even with our skills. And I don't want to...." Elle shuddered.

James sighed. She was right, but he couldn't let here get down again. "We aren't that bad off Elle. We have enough money for a couple of days at a cheap tavern and food, and we'll spend that time looking for a place that will hire Scots, alright?"

"Yes Brother..." She didn't appear convinced.

"Elle, I promise we will find a way to earn money, alright? I'll beg for us if we have to. Just don't get so worried."

Now it was Elle's turn at sighing. "Alright. But you better not have to beg."

James laughed. "Deal."

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER ELEVEN

James awoke to a bright light shining in his face. Sunlight poored through an open window into the small room, their lodging for the past two days. James quickly arose and dressed, careful not to wake his sister. When everything was prepared, he crepted out the door, and walked down the stairs to the tavern's main room. It wasn't the cleanest inn in London, but it was certainly one of the cheapest, though even still the two only had enough money for one more day of meals and one night.

"Bartender, I'll have a glass of water please."

"You want it to be clean water?"

"Once again, yes."

"Alright, just remember that this stuff isn't cheap."

James couldn't stand having anything dirty enter his mouth, and staying in a rat infested city didn't help. But he wasn't going to drink any liquor. No, it cost too much, and he couldn't afford getting drunk and doing something stupid. Or not being ready should Elle get in trouble.

But he had more important things to worry about now. Both of them hadn't been able to find any work, and with the little money they had left, today was their last chance to find work and still have a place to come back too.

A small group entered the tavern now, and more people were coming down the stairs. Including Elle, who was still half asleep. She sat down in the chair next to him.

"Good morning Brother."

"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes. I had a dream last night. Do you want to hear about it?"

"Why not?"

"I dreamed that we were back in Scotland with Mom and Dad, and the entire clan. And we were safe from the English, and everything was peaceful."

"Sounds like you had a good dream."

Elle was starting to wake up now. She was about to wave the barman over when James handed her his drink. He hadn't drank any of it. "Thank you." She took a long swig of the water, and continued. "Brother, do you think we will find a job today?"

"I hope so, but don't worry. We'll find some way to make money."

Just then the siblings heard a commotion. Something was happening at the bar...

[Desperado †]

Brilliant story. I love the description of how you save the mans life in the tavern near the start. Keep it coming!

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER TWELVE

"Look old man, I told you to pack up and leave." A robed man was yelling at the innkeeper.

"I already told you I'm staying here." The old man was galring at the new robed figure. "I don't care what you do, I'm staying put."

"No matter what we do? How about this!" The robed man withdrew a sword from within his robes and thrusted it into the innkeeper's chest. "That'll teach you."

James was shocked by this....but something else caught his attention. No one was screaming, or panicking. No one was even paying attention. But he wasn't about to sit around and find out why. He started to stand up, hand on his sword hilt, when Elle stopped him.

"I don't think we should get involved."

"And why not? The man just killed someone!"

"I know, but no one else seems to care. Maybe that's how they deal with things in London. Besides," Elle whispered into James' ear, "that man has the same robes as the man that attacked us before."

She was right. Black robes, with a lining of purple. He hadn't remembered the robes of their attacker until now. The purple probably meant royalty, as the first robed man had been a official of the late King of England.

"Ah, I almost forgot. Attention everyone!" the robed man was yelling around the inn. "First let me tell you all I work for your King, Rufus the Second. Now, as you know Scotland has been causing us some problems. You all know how those Scots are; a bunch of unciviliased barbarians who live in mud huts, doing heathen things while claiming to be Christians. A bunch of worthless liars they are. Now recently one of our King's officials was killed while walking down the path the runs between Sherwood Forest and Nottingham castle. We have evidence showing that he was killed by a Scotsman named James Murray."

Elle had pulled her robe over her head to cover her face, and james was thinking of doing the same. Appearantly the monk was wrong; the man he had killed wouldn't have been sent to jail. Everything, regardless of the outcome, would've been blamed on him. And now the people searching for him were in the same building, the same room, as in.

"We have tracked this maniac Scotsman to London, and we have reason to believe he is staying here at this very inn. If anyone has seen him, tell me now, and I promise there will be a very large reward for you."

"A Scotsman?" A short little fellow slowly stood up. He had been sitting at the table just across from the siblings. "I've seen a Scotsman here a couble of days now."

"Excellent. Where would he be now?"

"Right there." James didn't even want to look at where he was pointing, but he had too.....only to find the finger pointing right at him....

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Thousands of thoughts flew through James' mind as he stared at the man's finger. How could he have known? James had the ability to not use his accent, which helped so much when in enemy territory, but had he not hid it well enough?

"Well well well! What do you have to say for yourself Scotsman?"

James had to isolate his thoughts, there were too many in his mind. Should he run? Should he try and fake is nationality? Should he try and explain what happened? These Englishmen wouldn't believe him....but if he had already been caught, trying to fake his accent wouldn't work. And he couldn't outrun these men forever...

"I'm innocent."

"You are, are you? We'll see about that." As the man spoke he motioned to two guards standing at the entrance. The guards grabbed james' arms and threw him to the ground, binding his hands with rope as he laid there. As he was brought back up, James turned to Elle. She had completely hid her face with her robes, and was ignoring what was going on. Had the robed man noticed that she was with him?

"Gentlemen, let's take this heathen to dungeon. Perhaps he will talk there." The robed man let out a cackling laugh as James was dragged out of the building.

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James woke up in a pitch black room. Or was it a room? He couldn't tell. The smell was terrible, causing his head to ache. He could see nothing, but he could still feel. He could feel a horrible pain all over his body. He had been tortured before he had been brought down here. But he had told them nothing but the truth. And they had chosen, so far at least, not to believe him. but why should they? He was Scottish, one descended from men who had killed invaders since the Romans had arrived.

Suddenly a dim light appeared in the gloom of the darkness, and though it wasn't much it blinded James until he could see the outline of someone in front of him.

"You are very lucky you creten. It seems that there are a few people who tell the same story as you. Monks mostly. And they usually have to gain in lying. But this isn't your average case. You are a Scot, and this could point to a Papal plot against us. Them harboring a murderer who had killed an important official to the King? It all makes sense. Now, I will give you one last chance. Admit your guilt, and you may see the light of day again. If you do not admit to your obvious crime, you shall remain here for the rest of your life. So, what do you say?"

"I'm innocent."

"That's all you have to say? I'm innocent? With no thought put into it?" The man paused. "You certainly live up to the stupidity of your race. Have fun rotting here in the darkness."

The outline disappeared, along with the dim light, leaving James alone i the darkness again. He thought for a moment that he must be in a special cell, with only him in it. But his mind finally turned to what he had just done, and yet he felt no regret. He was not lying, and he knew it, the monks knew it, Elle knew it, and God knew it. So now that he had time alone, he decided to concentrate on other things.

James felt for the wall, which had to be parallel with where the outline had appeared. But after a few mintues of feeling around, James found out that he was on his back, and that the light, along with the outline, had appeared above him. Which meant he was in a cell in the floor, and he could not stand up. Dispair started to sink into the back of James' head, as he realived that escape would be nearly impossible....

[Confederate Jeb]

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

James did not know how much time passed, but every so ofter a man would enter and bring him food.....if it could be food. On many occasions he did not eat, as it made him sick, but by not eating me began to grow weak. He could tell he was losing weight, or what little he had on him to begin with. Once the man left with the food, the darkness returned until he came around again. Nothing broke this cycle, until one day.

James lay in his cell, staring at what he thought was the bars of his cage, when the dim light returned yet again, at what he figured to be the exact time. Only the foot steps were lighter this time, and however had entered had closed the door behind them. Slowly the footsteps drew closer to the bars above James, until he heard the ring of the bars as they were stepped on.

"James Murray?" The voice sounded very light, but sweet. It was a woman....and definately not the person who had brought him food every day.

"Yes, this is he."

"Ah good, you can still speak. Most people go crazy being down in this dungeon for so long."

"How long have I been down here?"

"Almost three months."

Appearantly he hadn't been given food everyday. "So who are you? I know that you are not the one who normally comes down here."

"Ah, of course. I am Alicia Humbert. I am a nun in training, and I was sent here to tell you about the situation right now. Currently there is a trial going on over your ordeal with the now dead official. So far, things are pointing towards your innocence, though those in higher positions are upset about it."

"At least they're giving me a trial. I didn't think they would let a Scotsman receive fair treatment."

"Not all of us Englishmen are against Scots, though those who hate your kind are more common around here."

"I have to ask, how is my sister?"

"Elle? When you were taken captive she fled from the guards, and ended up in our chapel. Since then she has taken refuge within our walls."

James sighed. His sister was safe, that was great news.

"You should be free three days from now, when the judge makes his decision. Can you last that long?"

"If I've been here for three months, I can handle three days. I'm just thankful for your kindness."

"I must go now, but when you are released we shall have you brought to our chapel. May God be with you."

With that Alicia's footsteps went away, the light came and went, and James was left alone again in the darkness. But he was finally able to sleep well...

[Desperado †]

OOC: Good. I am glad you went with him getting innocence. The nun idea was a good one. May I ask, Jeb, what your character wil do when he's free? It's very hard to advance in this game without being loyal to England. Perhaps Jeb will become friends with the King, though learn there are others who hate Scotland wuithin the nobility.

[Confederate Jeb]

OOC: I can always push for an alliance with the Scots.

Somehow I'll get him into the court before I join, perhaps through connections through the church. Though he won't become clergy.

[Watercress]

OCC: befriend a knight or something, always works.