Chapter 4- Invasion
The next day I woke up to screaming pains from my shoulder and stomach where Jeremy had so thoughtfully kicked. I exited my tent to look upon the growing 40 some men, that were now packing up their things. Jeremy, looking absently asleep that morning, walked up to me.
"What are we doing?" I asked plainly.
"Didn't you hear? Sir Wallace has decided that we're to meet up with the main core of his army, and invade England. He decided it yesterday with the nobles while we were follylocking. Did ya know he's now a knight?"
I stood astonished. William was knighted? What surpassed that was the thought of invading England. "Invade England you say? And how does he propose we go about in that manner?"
Jeremy laughed and shrugged his shoulders. We walked over to where a group of men were eating breakfast, and Jeremy introduced me. "Lads, this is Maura, though you already saw her from our little escipade yesterday. Maura, this is Douglas, Owen, Pierce, and Richard."
I whispered a "Hello" to them all. Douglas, a boy the same age as Jeremy, with long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, grinned and gave me a wink. Owen, also a blonde boy, looked a little older and shook my hand. Pierce, a dark haired, tanned skinned boy no older than me, greeted me with a big smile. Richard, the oldest of the group, muttered a greeting and returned to his pouridge. Setting myself down between Jeremy and Douglas, I began to eat my breakfast as the boys talked about the upcoming invasion we were about to undergo. I joined in the discussion heere and there, but for the most part sat in silence, taking in all that was happening.
While the other boys began to pack, also, Jeremy whispered in my ear, "Now see? That wasn't so bad. If your going to be a part of this brigade, you better make some friends. Next time stop being so shy." He got up and walked away to pack. I didn't say anything, but continued to eat.
Before anything else could happen, I slipped into the tent I had wanted to go into the day before. The English soldier, barely recognizable since so much blood covered his face, laughed at seeing me again. "So the bitch returns to finish me off."
I stared coldly at him. "I don't kill in cold blood, though I hought about it earlier. I just came to see you and for you to see me."
"Why?" he asked.
"Because my face will stick with you forever. Your country will surrender ours, and I just want you to know that I, a mere child, will bring it down." With that, I left the tent.
An hour later we were on the way, to meet up with the rest of the army. It would take a few hours, but no one minded. Most of these men were new recruits, and happy for a change of scenery. For I time I walked with Hudson, whom I had not talked to since our fight with the English. He still talked little, though he did say he watched the spectacle bewteen Jeremy and I, and was very impressed with my skills. After that, though, Jeremy riped me apart to go talk to his lot.
"So Maura," Douglas began. "What made you join? Most girls I know would be too terrified to take on the English." I told him about my papa, and my mother, and they all listened intently. Douglas shared how his brother had fought in the Battle of Sterling and was killed. Owen told of how his little sister got trampled by an English lord's horse, and how the lord didn't even stop to inspect how she was. Pierce explained how he just wanted to see the world, and get away from his abusive father. Richard said nothing, but gave pats on the back to all of them. With their stories being told, I didn't feel alone in my emotions toward the English anymore. We all had a reason to hate. We all had a reason to fight.
"We're here, lads!" A voice at the head proclaimed to us all. We sighed with relief, for our feet were all exhausted. I went up to the front, and was amazed to see hundreds of fellow countrymen standing around Wallace. We were in a forest, but anyone could see how big of an army we had.
"Breathtaking, isn't it?" Owen exclaimed to the rest of us. I nodded, my mouth wide open. Never had I seen a more patriotic sight, the fact that our countrymen were uniting together to defeat a force more powerful was truly inspiring, and it gave me hope that maybe we could win.
We immediately departed, wasting no time at all. I hung near the back, but after Jeremy and the others went to go talk to some other friends, I walked up to the front of army, where Wallace and his council were depe in dscussion. I hung back a little bit, but still managed to catch a few words here and there.
"In the past four days, I'm recruited exactly 47 men, and a girl," I heard William say to a man that looked to be Irish.
"A girl, do you say? Whatever made you get a girl to come with us?" The Irish accent confirmed my beliefs, and i walked a little closer to hear better.
"She's got spirit. And she beat Farel's record in a sword match against Jeremy."
"Beat Farel's record? Wow, now there's a girl with some spunk. I like that. How old is she?"
"Not on your life, Stephen. She's fifteen."
He laughed. "In My land, men as old as sixy marry girls no older than thirteen."
This conversation was too much to bare, and I walked back down the lines before I could hear anything else. Jeremy saw me and ran up. "So I heard you went to spy on what's happening. Well?"
"Just an Irish pig wanting to 'see' me," I spoke angrily. Jeremy guffawed.
"Is his name Stephen?" I nodded. "By God, Maura, Stephen's a harmless fella. He's my friend, and a downright funny guy. Though a bit mad, I'd say..."
"I'll agree with you there. I didn't catch anything about the invasion, but I wouldn't doubt we'll be stopping soon. it's almost sunset."
True enough, the forces ahead of us halted, and started to break camp. By nightfall the only light throughout the forest was the flamed camp fires. Jeremy's friends and I slept in the middle of the entire army's camp. We didn't get but four hours of sleep, though, and once again started walking. The blurbs among the men was that we had left Scotland and we now at the edge of Northern England. I, myself had never been out of my own country, and being on English soil made me realize that this was no dream; it was real.
By the second night, we had crept right up to the nearest town. Not many people were out, so our presence was undetected. We struck hard, and fast. Wallace had given us the orders to slay any soldiers we found, take their supplies, but don't harm the village dwellers. I didn't even get to witness any action. Wallace orderd but a small crew to take out the soldiers and raid the town. It didn't take the whole army, so we stayed behind and watched. Everyone wanted to help, we were restless. We won, of course, with little casualties. The people that were injured I volunteered to help take care of, so for the next three towns that was what I did. I was happy because i had something to do. Douglas, Owen, and Jeremy visited often, and I taught them some healing techniques. Pierce and Richard were part of the men that raided the towns, so they never came.
After I had been with Wallace's men for two weeks, we came upon our biggest raid- York, the greatest city in Northern England, run by the Long Shank's own cousin.We rode straight up to their walls, as farmers fled into the castle. We kept a distance though, to let everyone get in. We waited until nightfall to make our move, for we had to cut down one of the biggest trees we could find and use it as a battering ram. I watched in horror as our men tried to ram the gate open, only to have oil and fire burn down on them. William shouted to help them, and since Richard and I were the closest ones near the castle, we ran with the men. Jeremy shouted at us to wait up, but we paid him no heed.
I took a branch and hid as arrows flew at us. Richard was just in front of me. The men and I pulled with all of our might, and hit the gate head on. We backed up slowly again. The man to my left fell to the ground as an arrow hit his chest, and two more behind me fell. I screamed, for whatever reason, and pushed the giant tree as much as I could, and this time the gates broke. We were in. Swords came out of their scabbards, and I realized that now we would fight the incoming soldiers. Richard grabbed my arm and swung me to the side before an English soldier I did now see plowed his sword down on where I had stood. Richard took his axe and rammed the guy's stomach. I thanked him nonverbally, and he nodded. I unsheathed my sword to, and swung it at the nearest guard I could find. Blood shot up, and some of it splattered on my face.
I dared not wipe it away, for more soldiers were coming at us. I swung low and hard, and jumped out of the way as a mallet barely missed my head. Man after man fell to my sword, but I had no time to think about what I was doing. Soon I saw Jeremy, Owen, Pierce, and Douglas join us, and relief hit me. The English were falling back, and we knew we had won.
After it was all over, I threw up, though I tried to hide it from my companions. I had killed over a dozen men, and though they were English, I still found that unsettling. My friends knew, though, and patted me on the back for a fight well fought. Not one of my friends had been wounded, which I thanked the Lord to no end. We had sacked York, and by now the king's dear cousin was being sent to him in a basket. our invasion was a success, and we were closer to defeating the English than ever before.
The next day I woke up to screaming pains from my shoulder and stomach where Jeremy had so thoughtfully kicked. I exited my tent to look upon the growing 40 some men, that were now packing up their things. Jeremy, looking absently asleep that morning, walked up to me.
"What are we doing?" I asked plainly.
"Didn't you hear? Sir Wallace has decided that we're to meet up with the main core of his army, and invade England. He decided it yesterday with the nobles while we were follylocking. Did ya know he's now a knight?"
I stood astonished. William was knighted? What surpassed that was the thought of invading England. "Invade England you say? And how does he propose we go about in that manner?"
Jeremy laughed and shrugged his shoulders. We walked over to where a group of men were eating breakfast, and Jeremy introduced me. "Lads, this is Maura, though you already saw her from our little escipade yesterday. Maura, this is Douglas, Owen, Pierce, and Richard."
I whispered a "Hello" to them all. Douglas, a boy the same age as Jeremy, with long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, grinned and gave me a wink. Owen, also a blonde boy, looked a little older and shook my hand. Pierce, a dark haired, tanned skinned boy no older than me, greeted me with a big smile. Richard, the oldest of the group, muttered a greeting and returned to his pouridge. Setting myself down between Jeremy and Douglas, I began to eat my breakfast as the boys talked about the upcoming invasion we were about to undergo. I joined in the discussion heere and there, but for the most part sat in silence, taking in all that was happening.
While the other boys began to pack, also, Jeremy whispered in my ear, "Now see? That wasn't so bad. If your going to be a part of this brigade, you better make some friends. Next time stop being so shy." He got up and walked away to pack. I didn't say anything, but continued to eat.
Before anything else could happen, I slipped into the tent I had wanted to go into the day before. The English soldier, barely recognizable since so much blood covered his face, laughed at seeing me again. "So the bitch returns to finish me off."
I stared coldly at him. "I don't kill in cold blood, though I hought about it earlier. I just came to see you and for you to see me."
"Why?" he asked.
"Because my face will stick with you forever. Your country will surrender ours, and I just want you to know that I, a mere child, will bring it down." With that, I left the tent.
An hour later we were on the way, to meet up with the rest of the army. It would take a few hours, but no one minded. Most of these men were new recruits, and happy for a change of scenery. For I time I walked with Hudson, whom I had not talked to since our fight with the English. He still talked little, though he did say he watched the spectacle bewteen Jeremy and I, and was very impressed with my skills. After that, though, Jeremy riped me apart to go talk to his lot.
"So Maura," Douglas began. "What made you join? Most girls I know would be too terrified to take on the English." I told him about my papa, and my mother, and they all listened intently. Douglas shared how his brother had fought in the Battle of Sterling and was killed. Owen told of how his little sister got trampled by an English lord's horse, and how the lord didn't even stop to inspect how she was. Pierce explained how he just wanted to see the world, and get away from his abusive father. Richard said nothing, but gave pats on the back to all of them. With their stories being told, I didn't feel alone in my emotions toward the English anymore. We all had a reason to hate. We all had a reason to fight.
"We're here, lads!" A voice at the head proclaimed to us all. We sighed with relief, for our feet were all exhausted. I went up to the front, and was amazed to see hundreds of fellow countrymen standing around Wallace. We were in a forest, but anyone could see how big of an army we had.
"Breathtaking, isn't it?" Owen exclaimed to the rest of us. I nodded, my mouth wide open. Never had I seen a more patriotic sight, the fact that our countrymen were uniting together to defeat a force more powerful was truly inspiring, and it gave me hope that maybe we could win.
We immediately departed, wasting no time at all. I hung near the back, but after Jeremy and the others went to go talk to some other friends, I walked up to the front of army, where Wallace and his council were depe in dscussion. I hung back a little bit, but still managed to catch a few words here and there.
"In the past four days, I'm recruited exactly 47 men, and a girl," I heard William say to a man that looked to be Irish.
"A girl, do you say? Whatever made you get a girl to come with us?" The Irish accent confirmed my beliefs, and i walked a little closer to hear better.
"She's got spirit. And she beat Farel's record in a sword match against Jeremy."
"Beat Farel's record? Wow, now there's a girl with some spunk. I like that. How old is she?"
"Not on your life, Stephen. She's fifteen."
He laughed. "In My land, men as old as sixy marry girls no older than thirteen."
This conversation was too much to bare, and I walked back down the lines before I could hear anything else. Jeremy saw me and ran up. "So I heard you went to spy on what's happening. Well?"
"Just an Irish pig wanting to 'see' me," I spoke angrily. Jeremy guffawed.
"Is his name Stephen?" I nodded. "By God, Maura, Stephen's a harmless fella. He's my friend, and a downright funny guy. Though a bit mad, I'd say..."
"I'll agree with you there. I didn't catch anything about the invasion, but I wouldn't doubt we'll be stopping soon. it's almost sunset."
True enough, the forces ahead of us halted, and started to break camp. By nightfall the only light throughout the forest was the flamed camp fires. Jeremy's friends and I slept in the middle of the entire army's camp. We didn't get but four hours of sleep, though, and once again started walking. The blurbs among the men was that we had left Scotland and we now at the edge of Northern England. I, myself had never been out of my own country, and being on English soil made me realize that this was no dream; it was real.
By the second night, we had crept right up to the nearest town. Not many people were out, so our presence was undetected. We struck hard, and fast. Wallace had given us the orders to slay any soldiers we found, take their supplies, but don't harm the village dwellers. I didn't even get to witness any action. Wallace orderd but a small crew to take out the soldiers and raid the town. It didn't take the whole army, so we stayed behind and watched. Everyone wanted to help, we were restless. We won, of course, with little casualties. The people that were injured I volunteered to help take care of, so for the next three towns that was what I did. I was happy because i had something to do. Douglas, Owen, and Jeremy visited often, and I taught them some healing techniques. Pierce and Richard were part of the men that raided the towns, so they never came.
After I had been with Wallace's men for two weeks, we came upon our biggest raid- York, the greatest city in Northern England, run by the Long Shank's own cousin.We rode straight up to their walls, as farmers fled into the castle. We kept a distance though, to let everyone get in. We waited until nightfall to make our move, for we had to cut down one of the biggest trees we could find and use it as a battering ram. I watched in horror as our men tried to ram the gate open, only to have oil and fire burn down on them. William shouted to help them, and since Richard and I were the closest ones near the castle, we ran with the men. Jeremy shouted at us to wait up, but we paid him no heed.
I took a branch and hid as arrows flew at us. Richard was just in front of me. The men and I pulled with all of our might, and hit the gate head on. We backed up slowly again. The man to my left fell to the ground as an arrow hit his chest, and two more behind me fell. I screamed, for whatever reason, and pushed the giant tree as much as I could, and this time the gates broke. We were in. Swords came out of their scabbards, and I realized that now we would fight the incoming soldiers. Richard grabbed my arm and swung me to the side before an English soldier I did now see plowed his sword down on where I had stood. Richard took his axe and rammed the guy's stomach. I thanked him nonverbally, and he nodded. I unsheathed my sword to, and swung it at the nearest guard I could find. Blood shot up, and some of it splattered on my face.
I dared not wipe it away, for more soldiers were coming at us. I swung low and hard, and jumped out of the way as a mallet barely missed my head. Man after man fell to my sword, but I had no time to think about what I was doing. Soon I saw Jeremy, Owen, Pierce, and Douglas join us, and relief hit me. The English were falling back, and we knew we had won.
After it was all over, I threw up, though I tried to hide it from my companions. I had killed over a dozen men, and though they were English, I still found that unsettling. My friends knew, though, and patted me on the back for a fight well fought. Not one of my friends had been wounded, which I thanked the Lord to no end. We had sacked York, and by now the king's dear cousin was being sent to him in a basket. our invasion was a success, and we were closer to defeating the English than ever before.