Captain Benixson was not actually enjoying the horrible sight of the kid losing his skin to the edges of the whip held by the guard and frequently being flipped over the boys back like a dragon’s tail. He dint think that the boy will survive the fifteen lashes he was entitled to, by Lord Edward Cornwall for not bowing to him when he crossed the British army office while the Lord was at the window.

The boy fainted after the eighth hit on his back by which time his shirt was nothing but a torn piece of rag and his back looked like freshly skinned beef. When the fifteenth lash hit his back there were not many who believed that he will be alive. People moved away once the entertainment was over and only a handful of them dared to go to the boys’ body to see whether he was alive or dead and gathered round him to carry him.

The tall figure in the corner of the street moved with the crowd, nobody noticed him or his fist which had gone red clenching itself. Scotland was a peace loving nation, the meaning of war forgotten by the centuries of peace in that piece of beautiful green land where nobody except thieves carried swords and daggers. But this was not the case now. There were British soldiers who carried swords but who were no different than thieves. People were taxed, which was something new as they gave gifts earlier to their lord’s and King but never had heard of taxes. There were revolts across Scotland. Revolutionaries lived in caves & forests to hide from the army of thieves and their lord’s who had overtaken the so called governance of the country.

Douglas, the same tall figure who had witnessed something in the market place was walking in the woods. When he was to pass between two cliffs he suddenly felt the tip of a sharp object at his back and he knew his movement will be self destructive, he stopped.

“Who are you” the voice from behind reached his ears.

“Douglas, Lord Douglas Tormod” he replied dropping his cloak from his head.

The sharp edge was removed at once and the voice spoke with obedience “Forgive me my lord, Captain Benixson is waiting in your chamber”