Page 105 of Bound By Honor
“I have asked Lir to guard my new brother, at least until he is trained,” said Brian.
“The hound appears to have accepted your request,” said Angus, looking at the wolfhound, “for he stays close to young Alexander.”
Angus was a devoted father. From the beginning, Brian idolized him and she was sure that young Alexander would follow suit.
Áine had come to know her Macdonald husband well. Thus, she knew that despite his care for his family and the people of the lordship and his concern for Scotland’s future, Angus never forgot the justice he sought for the MacDougalls’ treachery. His need for retribution, though sometimes left unspoken, lay just beneath the surface. She could see it in his eyes as he gazed east toward Argyll and Lorne.
Dunaverty Castle, Kintyre Peninsula
IN AUGUST of that same year, Angus received a letter from his friend, Rob, telling him of his resignation the previous May as a Guardian of the Realm. He gave as his reason his continuing quarrels with John “the Red” Comyn, but Angus wondered if there was more to it.
As you are likely aware, Edward has changed his battle strategy. He now aims his army at the southwest of Scotland where we have repeatedly attacked his garrisons with much success.
In July, the king captured the castle of Caerlaverock, just across the border, which we had been using to make life miserable for the English. While we had some victories—Edward lost much of his army as he moved north—I have lost both my castles at Ayr and Turnberry to the English. A hard blow.
Angus had heard of Edward’s losses and his difficulty in raising the numbers of fighting men he demanded from his nobles. With mounting losses and the dressing down he received from Pope Boniface for his “outrages of justice” in Scotland, at summer’s end, Longshanks dismissed his army and sailed back to England.
At the beginning of the new year, 1301, Edward admitted to his parliament what everyone knew. He was without money to continue the war with Scotland or implement his plan for two armies—one led by Edward and one by his son, the newly invested Prince of Wales. Each would take a separate route north, meeting at Stirling Castle, which was still in the hands of the Scots. From there, they planned to march north, leaving the Scots nowhere to run.
In an attempt to add to his army, the king ordered John Wogan, justiciar of Ireland, to assemble a great force, the payment for which would be the forgiveness of debts owed the crown. Many Irish nobles responded, adding nearly seven hundred horse and sixteen hundred foot soldiers to Edward’s command.
Angus noted with interest that Richard de Burgh, Earl of Ulster, contributed men but did not go himself, for Edward had yet to meet his price. Still, Angus made available his galleys to transport the fighting force across the Irish Sea.
Months later, Angus decided he could wait no longer to pursue Alexander MacDougall, who was fighting with his brother-in-law, the Red Comyn, against King Edward.
In October, Angus petitioned the king. In his statement to Edward, he avoided committing himself to any opinion, either favorable or adverse, as to the fidelity of the Lord of Argyll and Lorne. He humbly requested the king, if he believed in Lorne’s loyalty, to order Alexander MacDougall to assist Angus and Sir Hugh Bissett in the reduction of the country. Failing that, Angus asked for written instructions that they may, with Divine help, be able to overcome MacDougall and all other enemies of the king throughout the Western Isles.
When Edward finally agreed, he also conveyed his approval of Angus’ request to allow the MacRuairi brothers, who were still in Angus’ custody, to return to the king’s favor and receive back their lands. After their rebellion, they had repented and were now participating in Angus’ military operations for the king.
It would be another month before Angus could turn to his own expedition as the Irish who had been fighting for King Edward had to be transported back home in his role as Admiral of the Western Isles.
At the onset of winter in that same year, Angus contacted the two men who had earlier committed their resources to aid him in tracking down Alexander MacDougall: Sir Hugh Bissett, Angus’ brother-in-law, and John MacSween, Lord of Knapdale.
“The distances are such,” he explained to Áine, as she bounced young Alexander on her knee, “that I will be able to return to Dunaverty often enough to keep your bed warm.”
With a laugh, she said, “You have done very well thus far, Husband.” Áine was already expecting another child. He wanted to be home for the birth but she made no demands in that regard for which he loved her the more. The burden of the lordship and all he had set in motion for its defense and administration, as well as King Edward’s business in the Isles and Angus’ own need to see the MacDougalls brought to justice, were keeping him well occupied.
Before he could leave on his mission, he had one last task to accomplish: a fostering for Brian, who was now ten. “Should we think of the Isles or Ulster?” he asked Áine.
“For a young prince of Ireland, I should think Ulster, mayhap an O’Neill family. He can be trained in skill at arms at Dungiven Priory where Dermot was trained. Too, my brother can look in on him from time to time. As the adopted son of the Lord of the Isles, he will not be ill-treated.”
So, a message was sent to her brother. When the galley came a week later, arriving at Dunaverty under a dark, cloud-filled sky, Dermot stood in the stern, his fur-lined cloak wrapped tightly about him, his countenance grim.
“I bring sad news,” he told Angus and Áine as he climbed down to the sand where they had come to meet him. Looking at his sister, Dermot said, “Father has passed from this life. It was his heart, I fear. His death came suddenly. There was no time to send for you.”
Áine uttered a gasp and covered her mouth with her hand, turning her grief-filled gaze to Angus.
Taking her into his arms, he pressed her head to his chest. “He will be greatly mourned, for he was much loved. I will miss him sorely. As you would remind me, my love, your father is with God and His angels.”
“I cannot believe he is gone and I was not there,” said Áine.
“It was the same with my father,” said Angus.
Áine lifted her tear-filled eyes to Angus. “I would like to sail with Brian and my brother to attend my father’s burial. Alexander will be well tended by his nurse while I am away.”
Dermot said, “That is why I came myself, to accompany my sister as well as my nephew.”
“Aye,” said Angus to his wife. “You must go. I would go if I could but I expect Sir Hugh’s ships any day.” Facing Dermot, his brown hair and eyes so like his sister’s, Angus said, “I will send men to guard my wife and young Brian. You are now The O’Cahan, not only the leader of your people, my brother-in-law and my friend, but also, my ally. If ever you have a need, the Macdonalds stand with you as we did your father.”
