“We were told the pass would be available to us by the Earl of Lennox,” the nobleman said. “He sent one of his assured Scots to take the keep on the other side of the border several weeks back.”
Rafe shook his head in apparent puzzlement. “We did not see such a man, or even hear of such a happening. Our Scots kinsmen hold the other end of the pass, and I know they are still in control of their keep, for I spoke with them just a few days back. It is our custom to inspect the Aisir nam Breug together monthly, my lord. Mad Maggie Kerr, my cousin, and her husband, Fingal Stewart, were with me. If their keep had been taken over, they would surely be either dead or fled from Brae Aisir.”
“Ye deal with these Scots?” the nobleman asked, surprised. “Do ye not realize there is a war between England and Scotland?”
“My lord, these are the Borders. The Kerrs of Netherdale and the Kerrs of Brae Aisir have held this pass for peaceful travel for several hundred years. Not even King Edward the First, called the Hammer of the Scots, could change the loyalty that exists between our two families. We are not people to be involved in politics. We keep a safe route between our two countries open in order that families, peddlers, and merchant trains can pass through unscathed.”
Edmund Kerr had listened as his son dealt with the English war party. Why was Rafe lying about Ewan Hay and his men? He was wise enough, however, to wait until the English had departed back to the Earl of Lennox for further instructions.
Rafe, however, seeing his father’s face, did not wait to be asked. “The Hay and his men are dead. The Kerrs protect their own.”
“We had a chance,” Edmund Kerr said angrily, “a chance to control the pass alone, and ye spoiled it?”
“Did ye really believe Hay would give it all to ye, Da? If he had been allowed to succeed, he would have taken it all for himself. He would have used the pass for war. The Kerrs have kept the Aisir nam Breug free of war for more than five hundred years. That has been its value to both families. If ye let one small war party through it, every raider in the border will want to use it, and if ye say them nay, they will take it from us.” Rafe was growing angry. He slammed his hand down upon the high board where he and his father were seated. “Nay, I tell ye, old man, nay! I will not allow ye to besmirch the honor of the Kerrs in yer foolishness and yer greed. ’Tis time for ye to spend yer days in Aldis’s bower. From now on, the decisions for this family will be made by me, and not ye. And before ye start making idle threats, know that my brothers are in agreement with this.”
Edmund Kerr grew almost purple with his fury. He opened his mouth to shout at his son, but no sounds came forth. His eyes bulged from their sockets as he stood, only to collapse back into his chair unconscious.
“Have ye killed him?” Aldis, his third wife, asked of Rafe.
“I think not,” Rafe answered her, signaling to their servants. “Take Lord Edmund to his bed,” he told them. “I think he’s suffered the effects of being overthrown in his own house, Aldis. Go and care for him now, for he will need yer love to sustain him.”
“Of course, my lord,” Aldis replied. She arose and curtsied to Rafe politely, then turned to leave the hall.
“Will yer brothers really support ye?” Rafe’s wife seated on the other side of him asked. “All of them?”
“They have no choice if they wish to remain here at Netherdale,” Rafe said. “I have seen that each of them has a house and a wife who brought a good dower. I have encouraged them to pursue their own interests. There is not one of them who wants to deal with the responsibilities of Netherdale or the Aisir nam Breug. I am the lord here now, and I will see my brothers remain in their own places,” he told her. “Hopefully we are finished with this war, and will be left in peace.”
But Rafe Kerr’s wish was not to be granted. A messenger from the Earl of Lennox arrived several days after he had sent away the war party. The earl still wanted the use of the Aisir nam Breug for his messengers, and he was willing to offer a large bribe to both the Kerrs of Netherdale and the Kerrs of Brae Aisir. Rafe sent the messenger back with a promise to quickly consider it and discuss it with his Scots cousins. Then he rode through the pass to Brae Aisir to tell Maggie and Fin of recent events.
“Ye know the history of the pass, Cousin,” Maggie said to him. “Ye know what we must do.”
“Aye, it would seem we have no other choice at this juncture,” Rafe agreed.
“What must ye do?” Fin inquired of them.
“In the time of King Edward the First, there were those who sought to use the pass for war. We could not allow it, for our reputation was one of peaceful and safe travel,” Maggie said. “So we blocked the pass. It was several years before we were able to unblock it, but the Aisir nam Breug was not used for warlike purposes then, and we will not allow it to be used that way now.”
“We are in agreement, then?” Rafe said.
Maggie nodded.
“If the pass is closed to all travel, then yer income is cut off,” Fin said.
The cousins nodded. “Aye,” they said together.
“Can ye survive?” Fin asked. He had not until this moment realized the depth of familial loyalty between the English Kerrs and the Scots Kerrs. It was going to be difficult for both families until the border wars were ended, and the Aisir nam Breug could be opened once again, if indeed it ever was.
Rafe nodded. “We will survive,” he said. Then he turned and walked over to where old Dugald Kerr sat by his fire. “My lord, will ye approve this action?”
“What of yer father?” the laird asked.
“My father is no longer in charge at Netherdale,” Rafe said quietly.
“And ye can defend yer holding from him?” the laird inquired.
“Aye! My brothers are behind the decision. My father has not been well for some time. He lost his sense of honor. Had he not been ill, it should never have happened.”
Dugald Kerr nodded. “Very well then, I approve the action that ye and Maggie mean to take. Do it tomorrow as ye return. Have ye stopped the northward flow of traffic?”
