"Your Grace," Lord Angus Home spoke "we are due to hold court in the lowlands next month, might I humbly suggest Ayton as the home of the court."

"Indeed your Grace Ayton would be a fine place to hold court" Lord Chisholm suggested to mumblings and gestures of approval.

"I don't care where the court is held." King James replied "I don't think that I shall attend." the court erupted into chaos with lords shouting at the King. Eventually Archbishop Andrew of Stirling silenced the lords.

"Your Grace, a King must administer his justice. All those prior to you who were able-bodied and at peace, not unlike yourself, did so. It would be considered very irregular and against royal protocol."

"Bugger protocol, I'm staying. Earl Albany, you'll hold court in my stead. Is there anything else."

The whole of the court was silent. Eventually Lord Chisholm spoke. "Yes your Grace there is one more thing. The matter of the marriage alliance with the English. It has been rejected. I council that we abandon this pursuit of befriending the English. They have no love lost for the Scots and us them."

"Nonsense, the English will come around eventually give them time. If our only border is secure think of what we can achieve my Lords! The world can be ours. A continent ripe for the taking! Seas begging to be explored! If the inhabitants of these isles fight together no nation can stand against us."

"Aye my lord there are seas to be explored however the only way to secure our border is to strike fear into the hearts of the English. And the only way to do that is to attack them and beat them into submission. And right now, that will never happen so long as we try to be friends with them." Baron Hamilton spoke

"Speak when you are called upon." Snapped the King "You are dismissed. Enjoy your southern holiday." With that the King left the council.

--------------------------------Secret--------------------------------------

"See Lord Chisholm," Baron Hamilton spoke "A King must keep his justice and his peace. If he cannot administer his justice then small grievances can turn into full blown conflict and civil war. This realm will tear itself apart if we stay dormant for too long."

"Yes, yes Alexander I fear you are correct."