They crossed the Border, and left the River Esk behind. When they got to the River Eden, the pale moonlight touched everything with silver and shadow. They arrived at Greystoke’s property of Beaumont, and Gavin gave the orders to fire all the hayricks in the pasture. This would draw the men at the stables guarding the thoroughbreds out into the pasture to put out the fires, leaving the horses unprotected long enough to be snatched away, and driven north.
Douglas parted ways from the others, and guided her pony to the back of the hall. There was only one thing she was after, and she focused on its shiny image in her mind’s eye. She dismounted and silently crept along the outside wall, looking into windows until she found the library. She made out the shape of the oak desk, and knew exactly where the priceless artefact lay. She bent down and picked up a rock from the garden, then drew back her arm and smashed out the glass in the window.
She climbed up and was straddling the windowsill when a feeling of foreboding came over her. She hesitated for long minutes. The thing that stayed her had nothing to do with conscience, it was a strong sense of inner preservation.If I steal the mirror pendant, Lance Greystoke will guess it was me. He knew how much I coveted it when I held it in my hand. He’ll immediately know I had a hand in the missing thoroughbreds and will come after us. If he just finds the horses gone, he won’t connect me in any way. Hundreds of Scots reivers are pillaging tonight.
Douglas withdrew her leg from the library windowsill. She got back on her pony and caught up with the rest of the riders as they were about to drive the stolen horses across the Scottish Border.Thank God I came to my senses in time. Lance Greystoke won’t have a clue who snatched his horses.
Douglas heaved a sigh of relief as they neared Castle Elliot. “We’ll be safe in our beds before dawn breaks.”
Rob shook his head. “Gavin arranged to deliver the horses to Sim Armstrong in Langholm. Prize thoroughbreds on Elliot land would raise too many questions.”
“I hope Gavin didn’t sell them cheap. These horses are worth a fortune.”
“Keep yer nose out of men’s affairs, especially Gavin’s. The less you know, the better. Get yerself to bed, and none will suspect yer reckless behavior.”
Douglas nodded. She knew Rob wouldn’t tell Gavin for fear he would get the blame for allowing her to go on the raid.
CHAPTER THREE
“I’ve been braced for trouble. I have watches posted along the Border, and they report that there’s a hundred riding on Cargo,” Greystoke informed the Earl of Cumberland in the Great Hall of Carlisle Castle. “The guard atop the ramparts has just spotted double that number riding south.”
“Uncivilized, thieving bastards!” Cumberland cursed. “Penrith is their likely target. They are reckless fools to raid that deep into England. I’ll take my men and stop them. You head toward Cargo. If you catch any Scots stealing cattle, shoot them dead. Arrest any you find riding abroad—we’ll hang them later.”
Greystoke gave his fifty troopers their orders. “Cargo is too bloody close to Beaumont for comfort. Arrest all looters—English or Scot—and bring them back to Carlisle for interrogation. We want the names of all the clans involved. King James has promised Cumberland that he’ll mete out justice against his fellow Scots, if it’s justified.”
Which I will only believe when I see it with my own eyes.
When they arrived at Cargo, the village had already been raided and the cattle driven off. Greystoke ordered his men to take chase and to retrieve as much livestock as they could. Lance could see fire lighting the sky from Beaumont. He cursed the Scots with a string of foul oaths, and headed to his home, riding hell for leather.
When he arrived at the stables, he learned the hay had been burned and the horses stolen, but he was thankful none of his stablemen or household servants were dead. He learned his thoroughbreds had been taken by a small gang of about thirty riders, and he vowed to track them down and take back what was his.
By the time Greystoke joined his men, they had crossed over into Scotland. Before they had ridden five miles they were gaining on the reivers, and suddenly the Scots abandoned about two hundred cattle they’d been driving, and took off to the west.
“Don’t take chase!” he ordered. “If they’re heading west, they are likely Johnstons. We’ll herd these cows back to Cargo, and tomorrow we’ll come back and arrest as many Johnstons as we can find.”
~~~
For an entire week the Scots raided every night across the Border into England. All along the frontier they looted, burned, and plundered anything of value they could lay their hands on.
The Earl of Cumberland, Greystoke, and the rest of the English Border Wardens were kept busy retrieving stolen animals, and capturing Scots marauders, imprisoning them in Carlisle Castle, the massive English Border stronghold to await trial.
~~~
It took King James only nine days after he learned of Queen Elizabeth’s death to reach Berwick, the first stop of his journey south to claim the Crown of England. When he learned from Cumberland the extent of the outbreak of thieving and violence by the Scots Borderers, he was incensed. The wild rides of his countrymen’s forays into England, marred the solemnity of his entry into his new kingdom.
“Thelionwill lie down with theunicorn. I want England and Scotland cemented together into one country and all barriers will be obliterated!” James Stuart vowed. “Any who resist will go to the gallows, or into exile!”
The seven-night orgy of thieving indulged by the Scots Borderers was referred to asill week.The queen’s death had been a heaven-sent opportunity to cut loose in search of plunder, but the new King of England swore his unruly Border clans would be brought to justice. A crackdown of the Border Wardens followed in both the English and the Scottish marches, and arrest warrants were issued for members of every riding family.
~~~
Sir Lancelot Greystoke’s first order of business was finding his prize thoroughbreds.
Cumberland has often spoken with envy of the fertile land in the Scottish Borders along the River Esk. I’ve also heard that the town of Langholm is known for its horse races, so that’s where I’ll start.
Most of his troopers were occupied patrolling the English Borders and arresting marauders but he knew it would be foolhardy to cross into Scotland without an escort of armed men. He selected half-a-dozen and they set out from Carlisle Castle on a fine April morning. Greystoke had ridden the Scots Marches many times, but seldom in broad daylight. He marveled at how splendid these lands truly were. The rolling fells that bordered the River Esk were lush with brilliant green grass and spring wildflowers.
They were dotted with sheep and grazing cattle, and he had no doubt that some of the livestock had been stolen in raids on England.
