Page 139 of Bound By Honor
“Just so,” said the king. Walking a few steps ahead, he shouted to where the Earl of Ross stood on the battlement, “You shall be granted clemency if you surrender peacefully. A truce shall remain in effect between us until the first day of summer of next year. Meantime, you will raise no weapon against me or my allies.”
“You have my word,” shouted the Earl of Ross.
“You trust him?” asked Sir Edward with raised brows.
“Yes,” said the king. “Like me, he once served the old King Edward, but he has fought for the Scots and is, himself, a Scot. I would have him in my kingdom if I could. William will keep to his oath, though he will likely send word to King Edward, asking for aid to end the truce. Meantime, our support grows.”
When the business at Urquhart was done, they departed for Inverness. The castle lay a day’s march north at the most northerly point of the Great Glen on the River Ness, and was the third castle the king had set out to capture, raze or otherwise render harmless.
Rob had told him this castle, held by the English, would be granted no truce.
As the combined army assembled, a surprise visitor joined them. David Murray, Bishop of Moray, arrived with a large party of men to welcome King Robert. “I have been waiting for you, my king,” said the bishop. “You asked me to raise support and I have.”
“Bless you,” said the king, looking beyond the bishop to the large body of men behind him.
“I should be blessing you, my lord. And I shall. In any event, we are ready to take the castle with you.”
King Robert smiled. “I believed the men of Moray to be of independent minds. You have proven me correct.”
The king still looked weary to Angus, yet he could see his friend was pleased to have a bishop with him since Bishops Wishart and Lamberton were still held prisoners by the English.
“If you remain of a mind to bless us, Lord Bishop,” said the king, “I would ask you to lead us in prayer for the battle.”
With heads bowed, Bishop Murray led them in prayer and blessed the king and his army.
In a matter of days, Inverness Castle fell to King Robert and his army of thousands of which Angus and his Islesmen were a part. Once the castle was taken, the battlements were razed to the ground. As with Inverlochy, King Robert ordered all that remained, save the booty they removed, be burned.
They had successfully dealt with the three strongholds of the English. Fresh from victory, they headed eastward to destroy Nairn Castle, a tower on a peninsula of extraordinary height. That done, the king turned his attention to the major enemy: John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, cousin to the dead “Red Comyn”.
Angus and his men remained with the king, again proceeding over land. As they headed east toward Buchan, north of Aberdeen, the oncoming winter hit them full force, pelting them with rain and snow. Angus was grateful for Áine’s foresight that kept him and his men in warm cloaks and dry ankle boots, for they had a fire’s warmth only at night.
Reaching Inverurie, King Robert suddenly fell ill. He could neither drink nor eat and the medicine Angus’ physician offered seemed to have no effect.
What Angus had feared has transpired. The king had exhausted himself, and the worsening weather did not help. Robert Bruce was strong—only thirty-three, a year younger than Angus—but he had demanded more of himself in a short amount of time than one could expect of mortal men. Aside from all the marching in bad weather, he had the burden of command and the worry for his kingdom.
When the king showed no improvement, his brother, Sir Edward, took charge. They carried the king on a litter, laid with furs to keep him warm, and took him to Slioch, a few miles north of Inverurie. There, his army found shelter in a dense wood.
They were in Buchan’s territory, well-hidden, but encircled by the earl’s forces. Buchan’s men could not see them. Frustrated, they fired arrows randomly into the trees. Angus’ archers fired back. “My men are the best archers in Argyll and the Isles,” said Angus to Sir Edward. “They will inflict sufficient damage to hold back Buchan.”
It was Christmas Day and the ground frozen with snow. King Robert, though weak, was able to give his thoughts on strategy. “Move the men every few days so Buchan is kept guessing as to our location.” The strategy worked, anointed as it was with Bishop Murray’s prayers for their safety. Buchan finally gave up and retired to his hearth fires.
“Buchan’s scouts may have alerted him to the king’s condition,” said the Earl of Lennox to Angus as they warmed their hands in front of a fire. “In that event, they may be waiting for him to expire.”
As Lennox walked away, Angus’ brother joined him. “The king’s army grows restless, Angus. Provisions are low and some wonder if the king will survive. Something must be done else there is a risk of desertion.”
“Aye,” said Angus. “I have seen the king’s men whispering among themselves. I will speak to Sir Edward.” Angus conferred with the king’s brother, telling him what they both knew. “We cannot stay here.”
“Sir Robert Boyd just told me the same. I agree. Our situation is not good and it seems the men will not fight with the king as he is. I have been thinking we should retreat to the Strathbogie Hills and hope Buchan does not attack while we are on the move.”
“My galloglass and I,” said Angus, “together with the king’s knights, will cover the king.”
Thus agreed, the king’s army moved out in full view of the enemy, marching slowly in fighting order with the king on a litter in the center. Buchan’s archers fired at them but with little enthusiasm, the ground being covered with snow. More of Buchan’s men fell to the king’s arrows than Bruce’s men to Buchan’s.
To everyone’s surprise, they reached Strathbogie without a battle. There, they rested for the worst of the winter.
With the turning of the year, the king began to improve, lifting everyone’s spirits. Angus composed a letter to Áine but had no way to get it to her just now. It spoke of his love for her. “I can scarce look at one of your birds without thinking of you, my love. Your face is ever before me.”
As the king continued to improve, they moved him to the village of Inverurie, preferring the risk of being attacked in the plains to the certainty of starvation in the hills. Buchan, for whatever reason, did not pursue them. “He may be gathering forces to attack in the spring,” speculated Sir Gilbert.
