Balefire

The latest in my Nigel Traitor re-reading project is Balefire. This was an early (1958) stand-alone novel rather than the usual historical series. It focuses on one character without any link to the major players of the period.

The story begins with our hero, Simon Armstrong, a modest Border laird, wounded on the battlefield of Flodden in 1513. He was fighting dismounted with a pike, neither a favoured fighting method for a borderer. He is picked up for ransom by a Hexham steward, Able Ridley, and taken back to his home near the priory town in England. The Prior of Hexham turned a blind eye to this, given that the order was to take no prisoners because Simon offered an additional ransom to pay to the Prior. 

Simon is well looked after by Ridley's daughters and something of a romance follows. When Ridley and his men go off with another English invasion, Simon flees to warn his family and friends. Hence, the title, which refers to the beacons in place to warn of invasion.

The main hook for the story is the action at Hornshole. A group from Hexham Priory camped overnight at Hornshole, near Hawick, where they were challenged and defeated by a group of Hawick Callants (young lads under 16) who were not at Flodden. They stole their pennon and returned to the town victorious. Since then, a replica of this flag has been carried by a young unmarried male (the Cornet) during the annual Common Riding celebrations in the town.

The story has an interesting twist following this event, but I won't spoil it. It is perhaps not one of Tranter's best for me, as I prefer big-picture history, but it is well told.

For the wargamer, this is classic Border Wars territory.