Page 53 of Bound By Honor
There is not in Ireland nor in Scotland an Aonghus like thee, thou graceful form:
the Aonghus of the dew-dappled sod of the Brugh send thee gifts, O Aonghus.
ANGUS LIFTED HIS GOBLET in toast as the bard finished his poem and the harp fell silent. “Well done, good sir.” Echoes of the same sounded in the hall. That the bard would commend his father’s cattle raiding reflected their respect, for raiding was a celebrated practice in both Ireland and the Isles. And to remember the Irish roots of their noble family was the highest of praise coming from an Irish bard.
Lord Cumee leaned in to Angus. “’Tis not often all of my chiefs are gathered into my hall. Many came in response to my invitation because they wanted to meet you. For a man in the middle of his second decade, you have drawn their approval, and I commend you.”
“I am humbled by your praise, Lord Cumee. I do not claim to deserve it.”
“Are there many chiefs in the lordship?” asked Lord Cumee.
“Aye. We have holdings and castles from Kintyre to Skye and farther north in the Outer Hebrides. At my father’s bidding, I frequently engaged with his chiefs. ’Tis only more so with his passing now that I serve my elder brother. Angus Mor trained his sons well in all things to do with ships and the sea, our obligations to the church and men of the cloth, the nature of kings and nobility, the building and provisioning of castles and, not least, the way to fight.”
“That is all to the good.” Scanning the tables where the others were eating, Lord Cumee said, “Your guard seems to be enjoying themselves. Are there more galloglass with you than these you brought here tonight?”
“Aye. They are among my Islesmen camped below the castle. I left some at Dunaverty with my other ships. And my brother, Alexander, keeps some on Islay. The rest are distributed throughout the Isles when they are not working for Irish lords.” This last he said with a smile. Angus had the impression he was listing his credentials to satisfy Lord Cumee’s curiosity. But then another thought occurred. Could it be that the daughter may be content to remain unwed but her father was not? “Your daughter has kindly offered to show me her birds. If you are agreeable, I would like to do that while there is light.”
“She did, did she? A rare offer is that. Well, then I will not delay you. The chiefs will be enjoying the conversation of your brother and cousin while you are observing the birds.” Then, with a chuckle, he added, “But do not be long else my chiefs will have successfully bargained away the services of your galloglass guard.”
Angus’ smile spoke of his confidence. “Doubtless they will try but these are loyal to me. Some of them trained me in the use of the long-handled axe years ago.” Rising from his chair, he offered his hand to Lady Áine. “Shall we visit those birds you spoke of?”
ÁINE TOOK THE Scot’s hand and they departed the castle together, her wolfhound trailing behind. Unlike the hound’s reaction to some visitors, Finn had no concerns about his mistress being alone with Angus Og.
Outside, she gazed toward the horizon where the sun had already slipped beneath the sea. In its going, it had left a fiery tail of gold stretched across the western sky, turning the clouds above an unusual lavender and leaving the sea a magical indigo.
“What a splendid sight,” she remarked, inhaling the breeze.
She felt his eyes on her as he said, “Indeed, it is.”
They strolled to the edge of the clifftop and, though she was comfortable in the silence between them, Áine was very aware of his presence. She paused to peer down to the water lapping at the rocky shore. The sound of the gentle waves breaking far below was soothing. The cliffs were mostly quiet of bird calls and shrieks that filled the air during the day.
“The seabirds have settled for the night,” she said. “Now they make only soft sounds. During the day, they can raise quite a clamor.”
“Now, there is a sight,” he said in his deep voice as he pointed to the rocky beach at the foot of the cliffs. “A great white egret at the water’s edge.”
She followed his gesture. In the blue mist that hugged the coast, the egret waded in the waters near shore. “’Tis very unusual to see them here.”
“I have observed them on occasion in the far north of our Isles but, even there, they are rare. I shall take it as an omen of good fortune.”
In the glow of the sun’s dying light, she glimpsed a smile on his face.
He pointed to the east. “Do you see that long stretch of land hiding behind Rathlin Island?”
“I do. When it is not clouded with mist, or we are not in the middle of a storm, I see it every day.”
“’Tis my home, Kintyre, but a short sail for a galley.”
“I was aware that the land beyond Rathlin was Kintyre but, of course, I had not realized it was the home of Angus Og Macdonald.” She had said this in a tone that conveyed amusement, but Áine knew then she would never again gaze east toward Kintyre without thinking of him. “Since your home is so close, mayhap we will see you more often at Dunseverick.” She could not recall inviting a man to visit her home before but she would be pleased to see him again.
“Should I survive de Burgh’s war with fitz Thomas, I will.”
“You must survive,” she blurted out. Realizing her reply had been too quick and might have revealed more than she intended, she said, “After all, we have yet to share a game of chess.”
His mouth quirked up at one end. “Aye, I would like that. Besides, how could I stay away now that I have discovered the rare gem that resides at Dunseverick?”
ANGUS HAD TO FIGHT the urge to take her in his arms and kiss her. The night was magical and she was so lovely. When the wind blew her hair across her face, he reached out and brushed it from her eyes. “Despite that you are content with your life, my lady, I assume you have many suitors.”
“Some.” She said this shyly with downcast eyes as if she were reluctant to disclose such a fact. He was certain there were many. A woman of great beauty with a kind heart and the manners of a noblewoman who had already proved she could bear a son would be in great demand. She had told him he must survive the coming battles and that had given him hope that it mattered to her that he did.
