Chapter 192: Albany
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Chapter 192: Albany
January, 1721
January, 1721
Peace time continued to bore him. William had known from the moment he’d had a sword put into his hand that he would never be able to handle peace. There wasn’t much that could be done during peace other than politics, and he hated politics. True he dealt with the politicians as though they were enemy commanders, but it was not the same. He needed a good fight to keep him happy and away from the women who tried to constantly tempt him. He wasn’t even the King and yet women threw themselves at him, he did feel bad for his wife on occasion, but then reminded himself that he was a Prince and could enjoy himself on the occasional fling.
Thankfully, there had been some trouble in the north of Scotland recently, and so William had summoned the Dukes of Argyll and Atholl as well as the Marquess of Tweeddale to discuss matters. He looked at the men before him and said. “This constant obsession with cattle that the clans have, it is unhealthy and not right.” He had heard stories from his father and mother about the barbarity of the clans, he’d rarely seen it as a child but since moving to Scotland it was all he dealt with. Some cow fucker stealing another cow fucker’s cows, it was insanity.
“Indeed, Your Royal Highness, and yet it is the way the clans have operated for centuries.” John Murray, Duke of Atholl said.
“And they continue to shed unnecessary blood over it.” William replied. “Cows are not the be all and end all for this Kingdom anymore. We have other things to concern ourselves with and it is time the clans understood that.”
John Campbell, Duke of Argyll and whose son was betrothed to William’s daughter spoke then. “Your Royal Highness, the majority of the clans do understand that. Indeed, they have shifted away from raiding and pillaging toward farming. It is the cost of keeping tenants that drives some toward the old ways. And other rivalries that spark this.”
William placed a document before the group and said. “It is not just old rivalries; it is one rivalry that is bringing this to the fore.” He watched as the other men picked up the document and read it.
“Your Royal Highness, Simon Fraser is a liar and a cheat, but I do not think he would simply venture into this business without due cause.” The Duke of Atholl said.
“Funny you should say that,” William responded. “The Duke of Montrose believes that Fraser is doing this because he wants attention.”
Atholl did not know what to say, and so it fell to the Marquess of Tweeddale to speak. “Perhaps then we should not give him the attention he desires, Your Royal Highness. After all, like any childn, if they are not given the attention they crave, Fraser will eventually subside.”
William looked at Tweeddale, the man was an oddity, his family had once been the premier military commanders in Scotland, now they were nothing more than dandies and the occasional military genius. Tweeddale himself fell somewhere in between those two extremes. “And yet, I cannot simply allow him to go unchallenged. Not if the crown’s authority is to be respected.”
“In that instance, perhaps it would be best to remind Macdonald as well?” Argyll said then.
William looked at Argyll remembering that the man was friends with Fraser and said. “Has MacDonald been the aggressor throughout? No. But he shall also face justice.”
“How?” Atholl asked then. “He knows how to slip from one point to the next.”
William looked at Atholl and said. “He is a man who will never run from a fight. I have the army of the King at my call. I shall use it.” He had decided he had had enough of politicking, the time had come for decisive action.
“Your Royal Highness, are you sure that is wise?” Atholl asked. “It has been a long time since the crown marched on a member of the clans.”
“Fraser and MacDonald have broken the peace. They are traitors.” William said. “We deal with traitors by force.”
There was a brief pause and then Argyll asked. “When do we march?”
“In two days’ time.” William said.
