Sarama of Kildrum, Sir Andreas's mother was killed during the siege of Berwick, his father, Sir Ewan of Thurso was deeply scarred by his wife's death, he was too old to fight so he decided to send the young Sir Andreas to France to stuffy the art of swordsmanship and warfare at the school of the swordmaster Charles Valois. Sir Ewan was tragically killed at the pass of Brander in Argyll; some say at the hands of one of the Earl of Buchan's men Paul Brechin.

While studying Sir Andreas met another young promising knight Sir Harry De Brechin and it was from Sir Harry that Sir Andreas found out about Paul Brechin, how their father had separated them at an early age to quell the animosity that raged between them. Both Sir Andreas and Sir Harry entered into a pact to support the other as best they could. Both men returned to Scotland and Sir Andreas managed to persuade Sir Harry to fight under the cause of Andrew de Moray and for a short time William Wallace.

Sir Andreas visited the continent on a number of occasions and while on a errand for Sir Harry to try and find a lost son of one of Sir Harry's servants he met Lady Anne of Roxburgh. Love blossomed and they were married in Edinburgh at the ancient chapel of St Margaret's in Edinburgh castle. Like many other nobles Sir Andreas placed Lady Anne at Kildrummy castle for safe keeping as the wars for independence raged, while their Lady Anne gave birth to a son and named him John Mackay after Sir Andreas's grandfather, with the help and support of his father John went on to become a great fighter and statesman, eventually becoming chief advisor to King David II. Sir Andreas worked closely with many leading Scottish nobles in providing King Robert the Bruce with valuable information, it was at this time the King sent Sir Andreas to patrol the borders and it was here that Sir Andreas learned of Paul Brechin's return to Scotland. He caught up with Paul at the small town of Selkirk. Paul managed to escape after killing two of Sir Andreas's men. Sir Andreas's luck in his dealings with Paul changed during the Battle of Bannockburn, just as the rout of the English began Sir Andreas spied Sir Harry about to confront his half brother. Seething with rage Sir Andreas rode at full gallop and killed Paul with one cut of his sword, finally he had avenged his father. It was not the knightly thing to do but it was the right thing to do, both knights agreed not to let it be known how Paul had been killed, his death would be lost in the carnage that was taking place all around them.

After Bannockburn Sir Andreas returned home to Lady Anne and his infant son but it was not long before he was back in France visiting his old swordmaster Charles Valois. Charles introduced him to a young man by the name of Michael Cromarty who was proving himself in becoming a fine swordsman. Sir Andreas took it upon himself to continue the young man's training, the two men got to know each other well slowly Sir Andreas was able to work out how the young man was able to end up at the training school. It dawned on Sir Andreas that this was the small boy who had been lost to one of Sir Harry's servant's years ago. With all speed they travelled back to Scotland, in order for Michael to pass through lands on his way to Scotland Sir Andreas always presented him as his cousin. Sir Andreas was pleased to be able to reunite Michael with his family and a great feast was prepared in order to celebrate.

In the years that followed Sir Andreas's skills as a leader of men grew. After the death of King Robert the Bruce Scotland would need such men to ensure English encroachment was kept at bay, it was during this time that Sir Andreas became one of the foremost leaders of the Scottish army. Sir Andreas tried in vain to change the tactics used in battle and to rely less on the spear but his council was ignored. The English had learned from Bannockburn and the archer became the renowned fighter that would win England so many battles in the future. At the battle of Halidon Hill Sir Andreas knew full well that the Scottish spear would flounder against the English longbow but never a man to disobey orders he led his men in a furious charge against the English. During the struggle Sir Andreas was killed and Scotland had lost one of its greatest warriors. Lady Anne commissioned a statue of her late husband in their home town as a tribute.