I awoke the following morning to find that when i first opened my eyes it was indeed my dutiful wife who was now leaning over me with a warm cloth which she placed on my head,it would seem that i had passed out and must have been rescued by a stranger during that cold highland night.

"Don't try to speak dear just take your rest you have been through quite an ordeal these past few hours."

My body felt drained of all energy and i was left to reflect on how lucky i had been not only to be recued but to have married such a kind caring person who would tend to my every need in such times as these.

I felt myself passing out as i was about to speak, the words seemed to stop with my mind and my eyes were becoming heavy before i once again drifted off to sleep.

I must have slept for days before finally i came out of the fever that had gripped meso tight and indeed it was touch and go at one stage that i mightnot have made it through the night as i had been subject to severe hyperthermia with having no clothes to keep mewarm on that frost bitten night.

It was only by chance that i was picked up by a kind soul who was travelling on the route to my home who noticed that his horse was behaving in a strange manner ,it had refused to move on when instructed.

The man eventually got off his carriage and then noticed a small twinklinglight which eminated from the gas light which was prodruding on the lower part of the other carriage which had been left discarded by the phantom driver.

Yes the original carriage which had appeared after i had ben left high and dry by the monsterous highway man.

I had been taken by the man to his carriage for a little refeshment and he had asked me my name beforei apparently passed out, he immediately knew of me through my father and made great speed to muchalls castle.

My wife thenrelieved and worried took care of me from there on in.

I promised my wife that this man would be rewarded for his considerationby saving my life,within days i would arrange to locate this kind soul in person before bestowing on him a reward.

It took 3 weeks before i was back to my old self and i had not left the castle grounds in that time, my appointments and committments were by now starting to build up.

I was summoned by the sheriff of aberdeen for my first appointment at Huntly castle in the countryside ofKincardine and means for the meeting of the feudingclans mcbriar and grants.

Things had severely deteriorated between these waring clans and there had been attacks on both sites where their clansmen dwelled resulting in the sad deaths of 5 souls.

It was now an absolute must that this dispute was sorted out soonerrather than later, i would make my way by horse and carriage to the laird of lennox's dwelling just an hour from our home before being escorted to the crofters lodge.

This was a local drinking hole and would be used to meet up with some of the rebles, this would help me understand from both sides point of view how the dispute began and hopefully get to the root of the problem.

These kind of issues were of course regular in these circles where land was usually the crux of the problem between chieftains and their clansmen.

I had by now set off on my journey bidding my wife farewell and she wished me god speed in hope that there was no repeat of the events which nearly took my life.

I soon arrived at the crofts inn and was greeted by a welcoming party who were indeed concerned that my ill health may have prevented me from making the journey .

I assured them that i was now in good fettle and ready to assist with any means to avoid a full blown war between the two factions.

"Good day to yer sir i ken it unco (knowit's strange) to be in these parts for the reasons that exist but am indeed greatful that you have seen the wisdom to speak with the lads and the clansmen afore yee gane (before you go) to the chieftains.

I listened intently to what the young man had to say who represented the views of the mcbriar clan before he raised his goblet and shouted out in a fierce and determined voice,

"many a man who've battled their foe many a man have fallen to those who have slained, to this drink i salute for our clans will rise again".

It was at this point that i left the inn and made my way to the castle which was only a matter of minutesaway as the inn was indeed built on the laird's land and he considered himself to be a reasonable man who only wanted peace to break out with all of the clans.

I entered this impressive castle alane (alone) but with no fear, approaching first the guard room and then a store room before being led through to the great hallway by his lordship.

He showed me some of the interesting features in the castle including the hidden stairway which was used to hide clansfolk when hostilities broke out to keep the wean (children) and women safe from harm.

I noticed that the castle had some unusual features such as the crow stepped gables which were large chimneys for the great fire below, there was also a subterranean crypt and bartizans but i didn't ask about these features for now, we had arived at the meeting hall and the chieftains were all sitting around a very largeoak table.

I was there really as only an observer but i would give my input in to how to arrange an understanding in this matter of land which was the reason for the dispute.

Hamish grant began to address the chamber and offered a few choice words in the defence of his clan, he beginning his case for why his clan should have the sole rights to the grazing settlement in buchan ness.

The laird also could have issued a warning to the clansmen to leave his land and that might be the end of it but he was neither unfair or of that opinion that this would have settled the matter.

There then might have been retribution as these fierce warriors didn't take any prisoners as they had proved with the recent slaying of their kinsmen.

I listened intently for another hour before the meeting was called to a halt and myself,the laird and the sheriff of aberdeen would deliverour verdict, though my influence would be minimal.

It seemed an eternity before an announcement went out to all of the chieftains to be presentwhen the decision was delivered in relation to this matter.

("Now hear this i will not procrastinate this decision any longer for there has been too much blood shed and bad will, i the sheriff of aberdeen do declare that this dispute will be settled by one resolution only, both clans and women do live in the said location together and in peace.

If the peace is notto prevail then steps will be taken to remove you permanently from the laird's land not by his word but by the law that i see fit,clearences wil be the next step and this will lead to greater devastation than the slaning of one man or his family for you will be movedon and many might starve to death in this new and revolutionary method of regaining the land from the crofters.").

No warning was promised and inded they would be tresspassing this land which is not their own and the community will die as a result.

He then finished off his speach by asking for a show of hands "the ayes have it motion carried".

For the grace of god and sensibility the two sides began their new chapter living together side by side brother and sister father and mother and it was indeed a gracious and productive day for the clansmen and their kin.

I allowed myself a drink at the local inn to toast their new found collective unity, it had seemed unthinkable to be desolate and removed from these pastures for the young families.

Most of them hadaccepted thedecisionwith relief that their lives could now be restored with peace and harmony, far from the fear of death and menace which had proceeded them these past few months.

After a short journey by carriage i made my way home and in to the embracing arms of my beloved wife isobelle, we kissed and hugged for what seemed an eternity before she left my grasp for a late afternoon refreshment.

"What news?" she enquired "och the dispute is now settled and so that is quite a relief until the next one comes around i suppose".

For the remaining part of the evening i consumed a fair amount of my favourite whisky before enjoying a pleasant supper of grouse tart and tatties with a generous supply of vegetables grown on the estate.

We stared in to the large fire warming ourselves through the chilled night air, our thoughts sharedabout the views of the forthcoming gloom which was knocking on scotland's door, for there was civilstrife in neighbouring england and there had been talk of a rebellion.

In future days there would be a seminar coventeer gathering which would take place at the castle and it wouldbe a precedent to the english civil war.

Although great uncertainty loomed large over our folk we grew strong together and in the year 1678 isobelle bore me our first wean (child), he was christened GrantMcbriarson of the marquis of montrose in honour of the clansmen who had fought for the local community and with scotland as a whole in the battle to keep England off Scotland's stone of scone and out of their land.

THE END