Page 26 of Bound By Honor
“Aye, Edward sits as head of the hundred auditors who will advise him on who has the strongest case. Hearings begin next month in Berwick.”
“What do you think of Bruce’s case, my lord?” asked Duncan. “Will Robert the Noble prevail?”
“He has submitted his claim, a good one, but not being senior in proximity of blood, he is not the favorite. ’Tis John Balliol, a weak man if ever there was. Worse, he is more Englishman than Scot.”
Angus’ brow furrowed beneath the weight of such a possibility. “That would be ruinous. Tied as they are to John Balliol, the Comyns and the MacDougalls would become unbearable were Balliol to gain the throne.”
“Aye, they would. And I would never bend the knee to John Balliol.” His father returned his gaze to the fire for a moment and then looked up. “By the bye, how went Alex’s wedding?”
Angus suggested Duncan pull up a chair. “The tale is a bit long but I’ll not spare you the details.” Whereupon Angus relayed all that had happened at Dunstaffnage Castle and his concern about the Isle of Lismore. “I fear my brother may never see that dower property come to him.”
His father put his hand to his red-bearded chin and let out a deep breath. “It would be in keeping with the MacDougalls’ character to plan such a mean trick. I did not want Alexander to marry the girl for my distrust of her people, but he is thirty and too old to be forbidden. Ah, well. The deed is done. What did you think of her?”
“A pretty lass,” said Angus, remembering the bride on her father’s arm and after the vows were said when her happiness was clear to all.
“Biddable, I would suspect,” added Duncan, “being as she is a daughter of the Lord of Lorne. She would have been raised to follow orders.”
“Mayhap, through her,” said Angus’ father, “the MacDougalls hope to gain our title.” His blue eyes flamed. “’Twill never happen!”
He was glad to see his father’s spirits rising with his anger. Whatever ailed him, he had not given up the fight.
Just then, Angus’ mother glided into the hall and laid her hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Shall we let these two refresh themselves before dinner? They must be hungry and we are nearly ready to eat.”
Angus’ father patted his wife’s hand. “Aye, ’tis later than I thought.”
Not wishing to discourage his mother’s enthusiasm for what would likely be a wonderful meal by speaking of all he had consumed at the wedding, Angus rose. “That sounds good to me, Mother.” He shot a glance at Duncan. “I am certain my cousin will not object.”
“I am always ready to eat,” said the good-humored Duncan.
They had intended to remain at Ardtornish for only a few days to enjoy the company of Angus’ parents and his brother, John, and to allow those of the crew from Ardtornish time with their families. But when Alex arrived the next afternoon, Angus and Duncan decided to extend their stay.
Alex and his new bride were so smitten with each other no one wanted to cast a pall on their happiness by asking Juliana about her family. The Lord of the Isles had already received the report of the wedding and did not appear interested in hearing more. Instead, Juliana fairly charmed all and was most respectful to Angus’ mother.
“’Tis beautiful here,” Juliana enthused at dinner, her cheeks rosy with health. “The hills are so green and the sound’s waters so blue.” Taking a breath, she gazed at Alex and added, “I saw a white-tailed eagle fly over the galley as we arrived at Ardtornish Point!”
“Aye,” said Angus’ father, obviously pleased she had noticed, “they have an eyrie in the tall pine tree nearby. Their fledglings are nearly ready to be on their own.”
Angus wondered if his father thought the same of his sons. They were all men now and would soon be completely on their own.
Angus’ mother expressed delight at having time with her new daughter-in-law. “With my two daughters grown and living away, I have been lonely for a daughter.”
While Juliana spent time with the Lady of the Isles, the men hunted deer on the heather-clad hills and fished for salmon and sea trout in Ardtornish Bay.
Angus’ father had recovered and was well enough to join them one golden summer day. The trees were rich in green leaves bathed in sunlight as they wended their way to the River Aline.
It seemed to Angus that time stood still that day.
They enjoyed each other’s fellowship without many words as men sometimes do. They sympathized with John when he missed his shot at a red stag he’d been stalking for hours, and they laughed at Duncan’s antics when he slipped on the bank and ended up drenched in the water.
Angus could not remember such a glorious time with his father and brothers and was glad Duncan was there to share it. As if they had agreed to an unspoken truce, they did not discuss political matters or the quest for the crown. Nor was mention made of the ongoing rivalry between the MacDougalls and the Macdonalds or what might become of Lismore.
The next day, Angus wished Alex and Juliana Godspeed and waved to them as their ship headed west down the sound. Angus was sorry they had stayed only a few days but he considered they were recently wed and wanted to be alone.
August had just arrived when Angus and Duncan departed for Glen Coe, sailing east down the sound to Loch Linnhe. Once in the loch, they headed north, past Lismore, to Loch Leven. At that point, the crew lowered the sail and took to the oars, pulling hard, to carry the ship to where the River Coe met the loch. A short way up the river, they beached the ship. It was midday, the sun high in the sky.
Signaling the crew to follow, Angus grabbed his satchel and he and Duncan strode farther inland. “Do you know this man Dugall MacEanruig with whom you are to meet?” Angus asked his cousin.
“I would know him to see the man as I met him once. But I know little about him, save he is the chief man of these parts.”
