Page 156 of Bound By Honor
“Aye. I have thought of that also.” Angus had pondered what he should do concerning his eldest son and heir. At fourteen, Angus had fought with his father, Angus Mor, but the battle to come would be different, and Angus was not sure Alexander would be ready. Other chiefs would have the same concern, which is why he allowed them to leave their heirs behind.
“Is your main objective to assure King Robert lives to enjoy his victory or, if victory be denied him, to live to fight another day?”
“Aye. You have summarized well.”
“That being the case, it occurs to me that if Alexander is with you, untested in such battles as Brian is, you will be distracted and concerned with preserving his life. But if he were to remain in Ireland for a few months longer, you would be free to think only of the king.”
“My astute wife,” said Angus, smiling down at her. “I cannot hold back Duncan or John. They have fought too long for King Robert and would not be denied this chance to fight for him again. Brian, too, will want to go. Nay, he will insist upon it. Should we not return, there are those who would stand with young Alexander until he is ready to assume the lordship.”
Áine looked up, startled. “You will not fail to return, my love. I have asked God for your life and the life of the king. He faces a Goliath but then so did young David. He trusted God and God gave him the victory. I believe it will be the same with King Robert.”
Angus stopped and turned to his wife. Her ivory skin glowed in the morning sun. “That is my hope as well.”
Edward of England’s foot soldiers and cavalry possessed skills that were honed in the course of many battles, whereas the Scots would have a much smaller force and only light cavalry, who were untested in pitched battles. Had King Robert not confirmed it? But Angus would not speak of that to Áine. It would only cause her to worry. Instead, he would trust in her prayers.
“And Brian?” he asked. “You are content with my thought to take him?”
She appeared to think for a moment. “You must take him, and I will ask God to protect him.”
“Very well. In any event,” he said, “I agree that Alexander will remain in Ireland until the end of next summer.”
She looked up at him. “And you will tell him it is your idea that he do so?”
Angus chuckled, for it had become Áine’s way to hide her wisdom behind his words. “Of course, my love.”
As the year turned and spring arrived, a letter came from Duncan with news.
To Angus Og Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, from his cousin, Duncan MacAlasdair,
Our spies tell us that Edward has summoned thousands of knights, more than twenty thousand foot soldiers and three thousand archers, including those from Wales. How many will heed the call is unknown. The English force is to muster by the 10thof June at Berwick. The pretext, of course, is the relief of Stirling’s garrison, but the real motive is to conquer Scotland for the English Crown.
The castles that remained in English hands have been taken. Roxburgh was the first, taken in a daring night attack where Douglas concealed his men in black cloaks among a herd of cows and fooled the watch. The men were over the walls before they were discovered. Randolph, frustrated at not finding a way into Edinburgh, discovered a secret way in known only to a few, and so gained entrance. Linlithgow was taken by a farmer named Bunnock. Ordered by the English constable to bring hay to the castle, he decided to bring more—eight well-armed Scots, hidden beneath the hay. He has been well rewarded!
The king has made a few changes in title: Sir Edward has been made Earl of Carrick, and the king’s nephew, Sir Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray, has been named Lord of the Isle of Man. (Disappointing, I know, that such a prize did not go to you, but the king says he has more to give you.)
When you come to Stirling in June, King Robert will be training schiltrons south of the castle near Bannock Burn, for that is how he intends to fight. I will be there waiting, eager to join your ranks, for I have determined to fight with you and John and the Islesmen of which I am one.
Dunyvaig Castle, Isle of Islay, early June 1314
THE GALLEYS BEGAN to arrive in late May, having come in response to the fiery cross first lit by Angus and carried north, lighting the night sky above every castle from Islay to Lewis.
This afternoon, beneath an unclouded sky, Angus stood on the battlements of Dunyvaig, looking into Lagavulin Bay where nearly a hundred ships were beached on the shore in rows like a great haul of fish, waiting to be counted. Their colorful pennons waved in the breeze, and his heart raced to see it.So many have come!
The chiefs arrived at the castle and Angus welcomed them, thanking them for their loyalty and faithfulness. Chiefs who had long stood by the Macdonalds were among them—the Macleods, MacNeils, MacMillans, Macduffies, and Macleans. Many had sailed in new galleys, built at Angus’ urging, bringing not only their own men but a thousand of his Irishmen, including the Munroes, MacPhersons and, importantly, the MacBeth physicians.
Five thousand men were camped on the shores of Islay, waiting to sail on the morrow.
As he watched the pennons wafting in the summer breeze, the end of the old prophecy came to his mind.Two chiefs will die before a new one rises with a new king. Only then will Scotland know peace.He had told Áine that he was the new chief and Rob was the new king. Of that, he was certain. But would they both live to see that peace? Certainly King Robert must live for there to be peace in an independent Scotland, but whether Angus would be there to see it was unclear.God, grant I might live to see the peace that is coming.
“So this is where you are!” said Áine, out of breath from climbing the stairs. “I have been looking for you.”
He turned to see his wife, her long dark hair blowing behind her. She was as beautiful as the first day he had seen her in her father’s castle. “I wanted to get a view of all the galleys. Look, Áine,” he said, pointing, “never before have so many ships and so many Islesmen prepared to sail to Scotland under the Lord of the Isles banner. Is it not grand?”
She came to his side and peered over the parapet. “’Tis very grand. Alexander will be disappointed not to have seen this. Our daughters are fair impressed.”
Angus nodded. “Aye, but we can take comfort in the knowledge Alexander will live to see another day and another fleet.”
She laid her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Come back to me, Angus. I love you.”
