Ye Ballade o' Fair Lady Mary Bell - Verse II

 Tonight, I actually "played" TWO very fast games - because I needed twice the space I actually have. so had to play the scenario I had in mind, in two parts!

Verse II is "The Flight", with the Reivers and their captives being pursued across the tables by an English "Hot Trodd" sic The law of the " Hot Trodd " allowed the harried parties within six days of the lifting of any cattle to cross the Border without let or hindrance from any man, and recover their gear if so be they could lay their hands on it, and provided that certain formalities were observed, e.g., they must " follow their lawful trod with hue and cry, with horn and hound," they were also obliged to carry a peat on the point of a lance to denote the errand they were on. (Having purchased the "Hot Trodd" set from Colonel Bills, it was a good excuse to put them to use, along with the recently painted March Warden figures, mounted)

Anyway, on with the pics and report!

In a brief Prequel - above and below, Sir Julian Bell of Dunholme and his family receive the distressing news that their daughter Mary has been abducted and whisked north across the border! But behind the distraught family members, two maids share a secret smile as they go about their duties ...... 

The Scots party moves slowly through the wooded valley. 

Fair Lady Mary has been supplied with an appropriate Palfrey for the journey.

As thye emerge from the woods, a quiet Border village comes into view.

The party gradually splits into two, as the Reivers accompanying the two pack horses fall behind.

With a blare of horns and the baying of the hounds, the Hot Trodd, led by Sir Julian, thunders out of the wooded valley.

The rearmost three Revers tune their mounts "Hold them, Lads!" yells their leader.

The pursuers charge out of the woods, one heidman and one reiver take on a single Scot each, whilst the third combat is a straight 1 to 1 fight.

As the sounds of combat swirl across the small village, Lady Mary and Jessie Nixon urge their mounts on.

Unsurprisingly, the two one sided combats result in one Scot dead and a second captured. In the even combat, the result is inconclusive.

The surrendered Scot is lead away whilst the other combat continues.

Having defeated his opponent, the one remaining Scot charges in against Sir Julian, one of the most renowned swordsmen in Cumbria..... 

....  the result is no surprise (Sir Julian being the green dice) and the Scots Reiver topples from the saddle, lifeless.

In the distance, Lady Mary sees a sturdy Pele Tower.

From the battlements, their approach is keenly observed.

The table was reset to continue the flight, with most of the trees removed and the way open for a straight run to safety.

But the remaining pursuers are hot on their heels!

And Jessie Nixons palfrey is blown, the hounds snapping at its hocks.

"Go, my lady...GO!" Jessie screams as the English riders overhaul her and take her prisoner.

"Jessie!" Lady Mary exclaims, turning her palfrey as if to head back to her servant's aid, but the Scots heidman garbs her reigns and guides her into the safety of the waiting Pele tower.

Minutes later, Lady Mary is welcomed to the household of Rab Kerr of Caidhaugh

"Brother, here is your beloved, come to join us!" Mistress Fiona Kerr beams, as she gently ushers Lady Mary into the room.

The two lovers embrace as the other Kerr family members discretely look the other way.

Meanwhile, a dozen miles away in Dunholme Castle, Sir Julian interrogates Jessie Nixon.

"Come on girl, out with it, what evil have you been party to this day?" Sir Julian demands in a steely tone.

While back in Caidhaugh Tower, Lady Mary and Rab Kerr are together at last.

To Be Continued (probably!)