Page 121 of Bound By Honor
Raising his head, Rob asked anxiously, “What of Elizabeth and the ladies?”
“In London, I heard the queen was initially confined at Burstwick but she is often moved, doubtless to prevent a rescue. Her father, the Red Earl, intervened on her behalf so that she is provided servants. Since King Edward arranged your marriage, he can hardly hold it against her. I’m told your sister, Christian, was sent to a convent as was your daughter, Marjorie.”
“Better a convent than prison,” said Sir Neil.
To be alone without comfort of family at so young an age must have been terrifying, for Angus remembered Marjorie was only twelve.
“And the other two?” asked the king, by now his face a mask of grief.
“My wife?” asked Sir Neil.
“Edward was beyond cruel, my lords. He has ordered a savage treatment. They are confined in cages, Isabella MacDuff in one of the towers of Berwick Castle and Mary at Roxburgh Castle.”
“A cage?” exclaimed Sir Neil. “My wife, Mary, is in a cage?” Neil Campbell clenched his fists, his knuckles white with his rage.
The king looked at Neil Campbell’s anguished face. At that point, Angus could see that Rob’s grief was beyond his ability to contain. The king rose and screamed, “Only a devil could treat women so!” Dropping into his chair, he said, “And Christopher Seaton, what will he say when he hears I did not protect Christian from Edward’s wrath?”
Angus glanced at Sir Robert Boyd, knowing something was not being said. “What of Sir Christopher?” he asked the knight. “Do you know something?”
With a sheepish look, Sir Robert faced the king, “Seaton escaped Methven, my king, and took shelter in his castle at Loch Troon. But he was betrayed and captured along with the standard bearer, Sir Alexander Scrymgeour. They were hanged and beheaded by Edward’s man, de Valence. The Earl of Atholl, King Edward’s own cousin, was captured trying to escape from Methven and hanged in London. This shocked even the English, for no earl has been hanged in more than two hundred years. Others were hanged at Newcastle along with Sir Christopher’s brother, Alexander.”
The king’s voice, weak with strain, betrayed his despair. “So, loyal men and dear friends are gone from this life and Edward shows no mercy, even to women. My sister, Christian, made a widow, and confined to a nunnery while Mary is kept in a cage for all to mock.”
Seeing Sir Robert hesitate, Angus asked, “Is there more?”
The knight nodded. “Bishops Wishart and Lamberton and Abbot Henry of Scone were captured by de Valence and sent south in chains. On my way here, I heard they are now in prison.”
Tears rolled down the king’s cheeks as his eyes closed. “It is more than I can bear. Leave me.”
And all did.
Hours later, Angus stood with John and some of the king’s men while Duncan had gone to check on the food supply for the warriors they had brought to Rathlin. The only sound in the hall was the crackling of the logs on the fire and the rain beating against the windows. The king had refused all food.
Áine approached Angus. “He must have some refreshment for he has been sitting in silence all day staring through the rain to the sea. At least let me take him some spiced wine and his cloak.”
Angus was not inclined to disturb his friend, who was lost in grief, but he would trust Áine. “You can try, my love.”
ÁINE GATHERED THE woolen cloak and a goblet of hot spiced wine and crossed the great hall to where the king sat. His head was bent over his folded hands held close to his face. Áine thought she heard a whispered prayer before he looked up. His eyes were red and his skin pale.
“Forgive me, my lord, I did not know you were praying. I brought you some hot wine and your cloak.” She handed him first the goblet, which he wrapped his hands around, and then she draped his cloak over his shoulders. “It is cold in this part of the hall so far from the fire.”
The king stared out the window. There was still light upon the sea but the sun had set and the rain poured down as it had all day. It would soon be dark. “I have tried to pray,” he said, “but I fear God has forsaken me.”
She took the chair across from him. “No, my king, God has not forsaken you. Rather, I think He may be testing you and preparing you to be a king after His heart.”
The king turned to her with a questioning look.
Seeing he was willing to listen, Áine said, “As I have thought of all you have been through, I am reminded of another king, one anointed by God, as you were, who was hunted for years by a ruthless king who sought his death, just as you are hunted by ruthless King Edward, who seeks yours.”
“What king was that?”
“I am sure you learned of him as a lad. King David of the Scriptures was Israel’s greatest king yet his path to the throne was not an easy one. He fled so fast in the face of King Saul’s fury, he had nothing, not even food.”
“Yes, now I remember.”
“At his lowest point, when David was alone and living in a cave, he made God his refuge. He had come to the point where God could begin to shape him into the king he would become. God brought men to David, those in debt and distress, broken men who were discontent. He and his men lived in caves in the wilderness, surviving on what food they could forage, what beasts they could hunt.”
The king said, “Before I came here, we lived in the wilderness, cold and hungry.”
