Page 126 of Bound By Honor
Meantime, at their request, the king dispatched his brothers, Thomas and Alexander, with the Irish lord, Malcolm McQuillan, Sir Reginald Crawford and hundreds of Irish kerns from Ulster to Loch Ryan in Galloway. They sailed south in eighteen galleys. From Galloway, they were to attack the main supply route through Ayrshire in order to hinder any retaliation from the king’s attack on Carrick.
“I know the route well,” said Sir Reginald. Like many of them, he had once served King Edward but now pledged his loyalty to the new King of Scots.
Still on Arran, Angus and the others waited three days before the watch spotted a fire near Turnberry.
“The fire!” exclaimed the king. “’Tis Cuthbert’s signal.”
Sailing from Arran, they rowed all night, steering for the fire hoping for an exuberant welcome.
They arrived before dawn to find Cuthbert pacing on the shore, beside himself with fear. “I did not light the fire, my king. ’Twas lit by the farmers burning heather and gorse in their pastures. I could not put it out so I have waited in fear for your coming.”
With furrowed brows, the king asked, “What did you find?”
“In truth, what I found was not encouraging. Percy has the castle with three hundred in his garrison, though most are not quartered behind its walls. As for the people, they are indifferent if not hostile to us. They fear Edward more than they love you.”
Angus exchanged a look with Rob, seeing disappointment and concern in the king’s expression. It mirrored his own. The knights gathered around Angus and the king to discuss what should be done.
Edward Bruce, clearly impatient, spoke first. “I am tired of all this seafaring. I would risk our fortune on land. We should attack now.”
Others urged caution but all recognized that the hundreds of warriors they had brought to Arran would resist any further delay. Angus knew that his Islesmen, among whom were many galloglass, would not care about the local population’s sentiment.
Lennox said, “We are here with all of these men, eager to fight. Why not strike now?”
Cuthbert said, “My lord king, most of Percy’s men are lodged in the town or housed in barracks outside the castle. Those could be taken more easily.”
Angus met the king’s inquiring gaze. “I am not opposed to striking now while we still have the cloak of darkness. My Islesmen are ready.”
“Very well,” said King Robert, disappointment clear on his face for Turnberry was his true home. “We will not attempt the castle. We will make our target the hundreds of English outside.”
Angus knew Rob regretted the attack on the unsuspecting garrison. It had been the tactic of de Valence at Methven and was against the code of chivalry, but at Rathlin they had committed themselves to a different way of fighting. Different for Robert Bruce, but long known to Angus, his Islesmen and the Highlanders—one practiced by Wallace.
The king gave the signal to move out. Angus, the knights and the Islesmen followed him, treading silently through the darkened forest. John and Duncan flanked Angus and the king. Not a scabbard rattled. Not a word was spoken. Wearing deerskin on their feet, their steps made no sound as they crept closer to the English barracks.
The king came to a halt and, with a wild war cry, rushed forward with Angus, his islesmen and the king’s knights. They fell upon the English, who were cut down as they struggled from sleep. Some roused to fight only to meet their end at fierce Scottish blades and fiercer axes.
Percy did not rouse from the castle while the battle raged outside its stone walls. Angus guessed that, in the dark, Percy feared what might be a large force he could not see.
In a short time, the muffled sounds of battle silenced and the air was still. Angus wiped his axe on an enemy’s tunic and, as light dawned, surveyed the area in front of him. Many bodies lay on the ground. He recognized none.
Angus glimpsed the king, standing not far away. He appeared whole and unharmed, splatters of blood from his encounters with English the only stains on his surcoat. Joining him, Angus asked, “Is it possible we have won without casualties on our side?”
The king smiled and slowly nodded. “Unless my knights tell me otherwise, it would appear so.”
In truth, they had won a great victory. Not one of their men had been wounded beyond scratches and cuts that would heal. They collected all the weapons and armor they could carry and the spoil that was now theirs, including Percy’s warhorses, and disappeared into the forested Carrick hills.
Angus dispatched Cuthbert and another spy to learn of the countryside around them. Days later, the spies returned with a report of the knowledge they had gained.
Angus was with the king when Cuthbert said, “News has spread of your victory, my lord. It has awakened your enemies, both English and Scottish, who surround you. To the north, John MacDougall of Lorne, son of Alexander, awaits; to the south in Galloway, where your brothers have gone, Dungal MacDouall leads his Galwegians; and to the east, Aymer de Valence and John Botetourt stand fast. All serve King Edward.”
Angus let out a breath. He knew the king worried for his brothers. Since coming to Carrick, they had heard nothing of Thomas and Alexander’s expedition to Galloway.
“If MacDouall still holds Galloway,” said the king, “then my brothers must have failed.”
Angus said nothing for he had felt a foreboding for some time at the silence coming from Galloway. “With your agreement,” said Angus, “I will keep my men on constant move, no two nights in one place, and set guards all around the camp. We will not be surprised.”
“A good idea, Angus. See it done. Though the woods are dense and will provide us cover, at least for a time, we are trapped here. I would not again be attacked at night like we were at Methven.”
Angus gave the orders so that they would be aware of anything moving around them. A wolf in passing, be he animal or man, would be noticed. Since the men had to hunt far and wide to feed so many, it was rare all were in camp at the same time.
