Free Betrayed by Christopher Dinsdale

that little hole at the back of the cannon?”
    The boys walked around and peered at the back of the cannon. At the top of the barrel was a small hole leading down into the heart of the weapon. Connor stood on his toes and peered down at the breach in the metal. “That is a deep hole. How do you get fire down into the cannon to light the charge?”
    Tomasso smiled at the boy’s insatiable curiosity. “With a special wick. Next to the charges in the shop is a bag of string that has been soaked in a strong solution of saltpeter. The salt hardens the string so that you can push it down the hole until it pierces the charge. Then all you have to do is light the fuse. Three seconds later . . . Boom! The cannon ball is launched into the harbour.”
    A loud clanging suddenly filled the air. Tomasso and the boys turned to face the keep. He placed his hands on their shoulders.
    â€œSomething is wrong. That is Prince Henry’s signal for an emergency gathering. Everyone except for those on sentry duty is expected to attend. Come on. I’ll take you to the Great Hall.”

Seven
    Tomasso and the boys joined a stream of men flowing into the Great Hall. Connor and Angus could already hear the commotion and raised voices before they entered the arched doorway. A large gathering of knights had assembled in the centre of the room. The remaining men gathered loosely in a concerned circle around their leaders. Connor could just make out Prince Henry, who was leaning over, consulting with Sir Rudyard, Black Douglas and a short but strong-shouldered man with long curls of ebony hair. Prince Henry nodded, climbed up on one of the tables and held up his hands. The respectful crowd fell silent.
    â€œMen, lend me your ears! The Bishop of Orkney has finally gone too far. He has demanded that all future taxations that were to be collected by my representatives for the Earldom of Orkney be instead given to the bishop himself and the Catholic church.”
    â€œDoesn’t he know that is a declaration of war against the Crown of Norway?” shouted a knight.
    â€œAye, he does,” responded Prince Henry, frowning. “I’ve put up with his interference long enough. He has tried to rouse the villagers into rebellion against Norwegian rule, refused to accept my rightful authority over the Orkney and Shetland Islands and is known to be an Englishsympathizer. Now he has challenged my ability to collect the dues necessary to maintain order in my earldom.”
    â€œWhat do you want us to do, Prince Henry?” shouted another.
    The prince paused thoughtfully. “I think we have shown too much tolerance for a man who does not understand the meaning of the word. He thinks the villagers will support him in an uprising. However, I know better. They will rally behind the banner of the Sinclair clan. The bishop does not understand the loyalty of Scottish blood.
    â€œLet’s teach him a lesson!” shouted another.
    Prince Henry pointed a firm finger to the west. “We shall sail to his castle and give an overwhelming show of force to our old friend. We will also rally the villagers to join us, and we’ll storm his castle. I hereby declare that the bishop’s land and wealth is to be divided equally among the people of Orkney. As for the bishop himself, he will be given a choice: he may climb into a fishing boat with a promise never to return to our islands, or he will become a permanent resident within the dungeon of his own castle!”
    A raucous cheer exploded through the Great Hall. Prince Henry stepped down, and the mighty bulk of Black Douglas took the table. His eyes glowed as he surveyed the room full of hardened knights. Then he barked out orders, breaking the crowd up into fighting garrisons and relegating them to the warships waiting in the harbour.
    After receiving their assignments, the knights went to their personal sacks stored along the wall and unpacked their prized