Dumfries, Thursday, February 10, 1306, 12 noon:

The town is in turmoil. Murder of the most sacrilegious kind happened at the high altar of the church of The Greyfriars, not two hours ago.

Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale, quarrelled with his cousin, John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, over the future of the realm. Bruce drew his dagger and plunged it into Comyn. Comyn's uncle, Sir Robert, rushed forward and hewed a mighty sword blow at Bruce's chest. Only chain mail saved Bruce's life. Sir Robert perished under the blade of Sir Christopher Seton, Bruce's brother in-law.

The shouts of the monks sent Bruce and his supporters running from the church. Bruce was unsure of the outcome in the confusion and two of his supporters, Roger Kirkpatrick and Sir John Lindsay, dashed back into the church, plunging their daggers into Comyn's body. By then Friars Vennel and the High Street were in uproar as word of the killing spread like wildfire.

The clash of steel rang out as a bloody running sword fight ebbed and flowed around the church. Folk fled in terror from the flashing blades of supporters of both men but the Bruce band won the day. As the Comyn support melted away Bruce and his friends leapt onto their horses and made for Dumfries Castle which they took with little difficulty.

What Future Scotland now?