'How long would it take to cross the valley?'I asked.
'That depends on luck,' Hugh said.'Liddesdale is not a single valley; it is Y-shaped.If we manage to cross the downstroke of the Y we could be over in three hours at the most.If we are less lucky it will take twice as long, or we could be there forever, mouldering at the foot of a shallow grave.'
'Let's try it,' I said.'If you agree.'I felt a surge of excitement at the thought of crossing the Armstrong homeland of Liddesdale.Until the Yorling's raid, I had never thought of the Armstrongs except as a distant menace.Although we were always prepared for a raid on the Lethan, I had not considered Liddesdale or the Armstrongs as being a direct threat to me.Now, since I had met Wild Will face to scarred face and I knew what sort of man he was, I detested him and the whole Armstrong clan.They were my enemy and I wished to show them my contempt.I wanted to cross their damned valley to prove I was not scared.
Which, surprisingly, I was not.Why I was not scared, I did not know as Wild Will was undoubtedly the most dangerous man I had ever met.
'We will be passing through the most feared valley in the country,' Hugh reminded me.
'I know,' I said, 'but you will take care of me.'Once again, I had spoken before I thought.
'I am glad you think so.'I was surprised that Hugh replied so quickly.I was no longer surprised that he did not look at me.I knew I had embarrassed him again.Why did I keep doing that to a man who had shown me nothing but kindness and help?
'Dismount,' he ordered and lent me his hand to help me down.I watched as he took a padded jack from behind his saddle, cut it into strips and wrapped them around Kailzie's hooves.
'What are you doing?'I asked.
'Muffling any sound,' he said, moving across to his own horse to do the same.'Now keep behind me and keep very quiet.'
I took a deep breath, wondered if I had made the correct choice in venturing into Liddesdale, and followed.We padded downhill, following a sheep track that seemed to favour the steepest parts of the incline.I kept my eye on the shadowy shape of Hugh as he negotiated the hillside, passing from the steep upper slopes to the sides of the tilled ridges, whose crops were not yet gathered despite the lateness of the season.No doubt the men of Liddesdale had more important things to do than gather their crops, such as abducting stray women.
Somewhere a dog barked, the sound waking others, so their sharp yapping echoed through the night.By now I knew to stop at any sounds: we were less visible motionless.Harsh shouts quietened the dogs.Silence returned, cracked only by the faint lowing of cattle and the rustle of sheep moving in the outfields.We moved on, slowly, cautiously, two hunted people moving across the realm of the hunter, the prey passing the den of the lion, the mouse thumbing his nose at the home of the cat.And my bottom still ached damnably, despite my fancy new saddle.
There were many more habitations along the valley floor and on the lower hill slopes than I had expected.Most were small, little more than huts, cottages with drystone walls and roofs of heather-thatch, with the dung piles and peat stacks outside.
'Wait.'Hugh hissed the words and pulled my horse into the shadow of a farmstead.I heard the hoof beats a moment later and watched as a body of horsemen passed us, driving a small herd of ragged cattle.I knew they had been reiving, possibly across the Border in England, or up in Teviotdale.They moved silently, professional thieves engaged in their lawless business.That was what Liddesdale was infamous for; that was how these people lived.
We waited until the reivers were passed and moved on.I felt slightly sick, with my heart pounding and my mouth dry, yet I knew that, despite my fear, I would not have missed this for all the world.I was living, I was out in the world, sharing experiences with a vibrant man and I would relive these days again and again in the years to come.I would tell my children and grandchildren of the time that Hugh Veitch and I crossed the Tarras Moss and Liddesdale despite every effort of the Armstrongs to capture us.
If I lived of course.
And if we had grandchildren, Robert and I.
The Liddel Water ran down the centre of the valley.Swollen with autumnal rains, it was fast and deep and dark and dangerous.I hesitated at the approach until Hugh took hold of Kailzie's bridle and led the way, easing his horse into the water.I heard the rattle of hooves against loose stones, felt Kailzie shudder as she slipped on the greasy bottom and gasped as Hugh guided me over.There was a single moment of doubt as we mounted the northern bank and then both horses were on dry land, legs and underbellies dripping and the worst of Liddesdale behind us.I allowed myself to breathe again and gave Hugh a broad smile.He lifted a hand in response as he glanced around him, his eyes wary and mobile.
There were lights ahead, a small group of houses set within a stone wall, the dark shape of a rowan tree placed to ward off witches and a squat peel tower.I swear I saw the silhouette of a man on the roof with a steel morion on his head and a spear balanced over his shoulder.
'We have to pass that,' Hugh said softly.'It is the only route.'
I nodded, feeling the thrill of increased danger.Hugh would get us through; I had faith in him like I had in no other man.I closed my eyes, knowing that I should not think that.I was being disloyal to Robert and disloyalty was the worst of all crimes in the Border litany.Theft, robbery, reiving, assault, hamesucken, even murder was allowed, but loyalty was paramount.Loyalty to the surname, the valley, and the husband or wife was what mattered.
It was my wandering thoughts that caused the trouble.Kailzie had a mind of her own; she sensed my lapse of concentration and decided to go her own way rather than mine; a hay stall outside the peel tower proved more attractive than my desires and the horse pulled to the side.Taken by surprise I hauled on the reins, Kailzie voiced her objection with a loud neigh and a stamping of her hind legs and the sound carried in the night.
'Who's that?'the watchman called from atop the tower roof.'State your business in the Liddel Peel!'
I did not need Hugh to warn me to keep quiet.Suddenly, all the excitement and drama of the night had vanished, and pure naked fear had taken its place.I felt one of Hugh's hard hands clamp over my mouth as the other took hold of Kailzie's reins.
We stopped, standing still in the slight shadow of the peel tower with the sinister slither of the Liddle Water a spear's throw behind us and the rising slopes of the hills inviting escape to the north.
'State your name and business!'That harsh voice sounded again, and then came the insistent clamour of a warning bell as the sentry shouted a warning.
'To arms Liddel Peel!Intruders at the gate!'
'Run!'Hugh released my mouth and reins.'Gallop for your life and don't stop for anything!'
I heard the clatter of feet from within the gaunt tower, heard men shouting and the clash of equipment and I kicked in my spurs and headed for the high hills.Before I had ridden fifty yards the great door of Liddle Peel was open, and a deluge of horsemen clattered out.I had time for one single glance behind me and saw a sight that I knew would haunt me for the remainder of my life, however short that time may be.
There were a round dozen men emerging from the peel tower, some fully accoutred with helmet, jack and lance, others less well equipped.One wore only a pair of long white drawers and held a naked sword high, while his long hair streamed behind him like a plume.Another rode stark naked, a lithe young hero with his mouth open in a challenge and a lance couched ready to kill.Him I would have taken time to examine if I was not so scared, I could hardly think.There was a pair of old grey-beards, men of wisdom and undoubted wickedness who had probably seen a hundred skirmishes and battles, and a bevvy of youngsters who could not yet have reached their teens, all intent on catching us and spitting us clean on sword and lance.
