Sir Oliver Sinclair, the court sommelier who was a favourite of James V, sat in the Catholic chapel on the ground floor of the main building of Kell-Lefzeck Castle, and listened quietly to Mrs. Maxwell's account of the abduction of her husband and step-eldest son.

Madame's mournful, melancholy voice echoed in the chapel, and whoever saw her at this time would pity her sincerely. Sir Oliver looked at her in silence with his glass, but thought to himself, "It is indeed a tragic thing that Baron Maxwell was captured by the English. However, this incident allowed me to become the commander-in-chief of this campaign. ”

"Now, the number of combatants along the western border is almost 18,000. If I were able to command so many troops to defeat the English, His Majesty would have conferred on me the title of nobility and the title of lord. ”

"When I become a nobleman, I will make those who have made fun of me pay the price of laughing at me."

"I can never have to be a sommelier again."

"Your Majesty is pleased, maybe I can join the Royal Commission or become the Mayor."

His thoughts turned, and his expression was still more heavy, looking at Mrs. Maxwell, "Madam, do you believe that these thieves are Anglo?" ”

By this time, Sir Oliver had already sent two valet maids to serve his wife in the church. Madame was slightly stunned when she heard Sizz's words, wiped her tears with a silk scarf handed to her by the valet, and looked at Sir hesitantly, "Sir, I believe they are not thieves. ”

Then the lady recalled, "Your Excellency told me that their leader was Miss Isabelle, the eldest daughter of Lord Walton of Yorkshire, England. I have met this young lady, and she is very elegant and wise. If she hadn't taken her adult and step-eldest son, I think I would have become a partner with her. ”

Sir Oliver listened patiently, subconsciously glancing at the stone floor below the right, and recalled, "Madam, this Lord Walton is from Yorkshire?" However, I do not recall such a nobleman in Yorkshire. ”

"Your Excellency said that this nobleman was only knighted by Henry VIII this year."

"Well, it seems that as I expected, the Anglo cavalry secretly crossed the border to capture your husband this time, and our commander-in-chief must have acted to win this war."

Mrs. Maxwell stopped her tears and looked intently at the crucifix that hung in the center of the wall behind the altar in the chapel, "God forbid, I only hope that my lord and my step-eldest son may return safely." ”

Sir Oliver took another sip of wine and looked at Madame calmly, "Madame, I think your lord and your step-eldest son will be all right. According to the rules of knighthood, they will definitely be courteous. ”

"Thank you very much, Sir. Well, you are a courtier favored by Your Majesty, and I want you to let Your Majesty know about the abduction of your lord and step-eldest son. ”

"Don't worry, madam, today I will go to Lochmeben Castle to report this to Your Majesty." After Sir finished speaking, he thought of another thing, and looked at Madame with some hesitation, "Madame, before your lord and your step-eldest son return, I want you to prepare a ransom. ”

"Ransom? I... How much to prepare? ”

Sir Oliver thought about it and stretched out his right hand and raised a finger in front of Madame, "Madame, everyone needs so much. ”

"£1000??"

"Ma'am, I think so."

Finally, before returning to her room to rest, Mrs. Maxwell remembered something, "Sir, when you were leaving, your Excellency said that if he did not return before the end of the war, he authorized you to be the commander-in-chief. ”

Sir Oliver was overjoyed to hear this, and almost laughed out loud in the presence of his wife, "Madame, is this true? That's exactly what the adults say? ”

Mrs. Maxwell glanced at the other party's casual smile and nodded in disgust, "Sir, I hope you can fight valiantly for Your Majesty and win the war. ”

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While Sir Oliver was secretly congratulating himself on his mandate to become Scotland's commander-in-chief, his former commander-in-chief, Baron Maxwell, and his eldest son had crossed the Eske River on the Anglo-Soviet border with his captors, heading straight for the first line of defense north of Carlisle Castle.

After passing through the first line of defense set up by the Lord of the Guard, Sir Thomas, on the banks of the River Eden to the north of the castle, Isabel led the party through the stone bridge over the River Eden to the east of the castle and entered the town of Carlisle. As the procession slowly walked along the road leading from the town to the castle, many local people, sergeants, and cavalry ran to the sides of the road, curiously watching the captives in the procession.

"My lord, Lord Walton's eldest daughter is back with the squad." A sergeant excitedly ran to the door and reported to the chief of the guard inside.

"Well, how many people have returned? Are there any injuries? Sir Thomas did not raise his head, but looked intently at the map on the table.

"My lord, the sergeant defending the city didn't say anything, he just said that he saw two hostages in the team."

"Hostages?" Sir Thomas suddenly looked back at the sergeant, "Take me quickly." ”

Isabel was in a good mood and rode her horse on the left side of the road, raising her chin to admire the only three-story watchtower in front of her right, built between the walls on both sides, where you could enter and exit the castle. Sir Ernest, the elder brother who rode side by side on the outside, glanced at her and joked, "Now, Sir William will be even more ashamed to see these two hostages." ”

"Who is it?" Isabel asked in passing, and looked back at the clear blue sky above the castle.

"Have you forgotten? Sir William Ingleby, Lord of Ripley Castle. ”

"Oh, I remember." Isabel retracted her jaw and turned her gaze to her brother, "Ernest, what do you mean?" Why is Jazz ashamed? ”

Ernest, who was not wearing a helmet, stroked his beard, "Sir William is tired of serving His Majesty the King, and wants to leave the border but is afraid that you will despise his actions. ”

"Mommy, are those two men Scottish?" A childish voice came from the left side of the road. Isabel followed the voice and saw a little girl in the arms of a local housewife talking.

"Son, come down and salute Miss." When the woman saw the procession coming, she hurriedly put her child on the ground and stood on the side of the road with her own child and bowed to Isabel who rode by in front of her.

Isabel, who was on the horse, smiled softly at the mother and daughter, and rode away. What she didn't know was that the little girl who saluted her kept looking at her back with a strange look.