Page 101 of The Empire and the Wolf King

Wallace chuckled. “Tis me raisin’ arms with ye, or ye raisin’ arms with William Wallace?”

Ben said, “Both!”

I said, “Tis all the same, we are all fightin’ the English king!” I raised my glass even higher and then said, “Och nae, I canna remember what I was talking about.” I started to sit down, then jumped back up and said, “Gratitude. It was tae be about gratitude.”

I sat down while everyone drank.

Hayley leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “A perfect toast.”

I chuckled. “I was ready this time. I dinna want tae embarrass m’self.” I belched.

All the bairns giggled merrily. Jack belched too.

Cailean said, “Yer gratitude is appreciated, Fraoch, but I would always help the bairns of Mag Mòr. He is my king and more than that, my friend.”

We all raised our glasses. “Slàinte!”

Wallace added, “Nowthatwas a good toast. Tae the sons and daughter and the nephew and niece and the brothers and sisters of Mag Mòr!”

We all raised our glasses once more. I wiped my mouth on my sleeve.

Wallace said, “Speaking on the sons, Archibald left so suddenly today. Are ye sure he gets back later in the week?”

I said, “Aye.”

“Ye are certain he inna goin’ tae be caught by Edward or his men? It concerns me greatly —we ought tae hae accompanied him.”

“He will be fine, he’s a big lad, full of vengeful rage. Twill keep him alive.”

Jack said, “How come, Uncle Fraoch?”

“Everyone kens ye canna die when ye are seeking revenge, God inna that cruel.”

Cailean Mòr laughed, “I think ye might want tae speak tae the priest on it, Fraoch. Tis not the way God thinks on vengeance.”

I shrugged. “Och who can remember how tae behave? But tis not about me. I think God allows the bairns tae want vengeance on the man who stole their parents. He might expect them tae.”

Cailean Mòr said, “The bairns are allowed tae hae vengeance?”

“Aye, look how handsome they are, much more than I! God will look down and say, who down there has such bonny faces and kind dispositions, yet ye want revenge? Then God would say, I approve,becauseye are so bonny.”

Wallace said, “Ye hae it upside down, Fraoch, God would want the bonny bairns tae keep pure hearts. He would want us auld grizzled men tae take on the affair of revenge.”

I raised my glass. “Ye are correct, Wallace, that is how it must be.”

Tae the bairns I said, “Nae revenge! Ye must allow me tae fight like an auld grizzly bear!”

I jumped up and lumbered around with m’paws out.

Jack jumped up and ran around the table and I followed him around, but he caught up tae me and hugged me around the waist. “I got the big slow grizzly bear!”

“Och, ye are right, the bear has had too much ale and when the grizzled bear has too much ale, all he wants is for the bairns tae give him hugs.

We finished huggin’ and returned tae our seats.

Ben said, “How about, Uncle Fraoch, we can all be bonny and we can all get revenge.”

“Ye are callin’ me bonny!” I pretended tae wipe my eyes. “Such a good lad. Tis verra nice thing tae say tae yer auld uncle.” I returned tae speaking tae Wallace. “Archibald will be back, and he will be ready tae fight. What is our plan?”

---