Page 82 of Bound By Honor
“I expect we will spend the night at Dunluce,” he told Duncan, “so the men might as well set up camp here.” To his captains, who had gathered around them, he said, “If the men would seek out the practice yard at Dunluce, just send me word so I will know you are close. If you leave the beach, post guards for the galleys. I am uncertain if Ulster is fully at peace. For now, I’ll take only my personal guard with me.”
De Burgh was happy to see him. Reaching out his hand to Angus in welcome, he said, “Finally, you return and with the look of a man who has won over his enemies.”
“Aye, though it took longer than it should, and Alex still battles the Comyns.”
De Burgh welcomed Duncan and bid them both sit. Wine was poured by a servant and Angus accepted the goblet with thanks, his throat as dry as dirt. “Have you news of Robert Bruce?” he asked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“He fights with the Scots; I know that. But he was not at Stirling Bridge, or so my spies tell me. Encouraged by Bishop Wishart, the youngest Bruce raised the standard of revolt at Irvine. He was with James Stewart, the Macduff of Fife and Sir William Douglas. That rising failed. Since then, he has kept away from Edward’s eye. Edward himself has helped since he has been in France battling for Gascony.”
“When do you expect his return?” asked Angus.
“Spring I should think. Mayhap sooner. He plans to raise an army to fight in Scotland. He wanted me to serve in Flanders.”
“Will you?” asked Duncan.
“At the moment, Edward is disinclined to meet my price. When he is desperate, he will agree to my demands. Then I will go. By then it may be Scotland.”
“How are things in Ireland? Does the peace hold?”
“For the moment, all is well. Turlough is still reigning in Tirconnell. Per John Wogan’s settlement, John fitz Thomas will surrender his lands in Connaught to me. He was once my vassal but no longer. He will also turn over the lands he held in Ulster. In exchange, he will gain others in the south. I can live with that. Besides, fitz Thomas is currently fighting with Edward in France.”
Angus was glad to hear of peace even if it was not to last.
“Will you stay the night as my guests?” de Burgh asked them. Then with a smile, he said, “I have invited the O’Cahans to dine with us.”
Angus exchanged a glance with Duncan and then replied, “Aye and gladly.”
Dunseverick Castle, north coast of Ulster
ÁINE’S HEART SPED at the thought she would be seeing Angus tonight. A year was so long; mayhap he would not remember her. Outside her window, the clouds were gathering their strength. “I do hope it doesn’t rain.”
“Wear the crimson silk,” Nessa said with enthusiasm, her brown curls falling about her sweet face. “And the circlet of gold and rubies. You will look like a queen. I daresay Lord Angus will fall at your feet.”
“Nonsense, Nessa. Mayhap he will barely remember me.”
Nessa sighed loudly. “No man who has ever met you had difficulty in remembering you, Mistress. Certainly not this one. What was that you were reading by the Roman poet about absence and the tide growing stronger?”
“Always toward absent lovers love’s tide stronger flows,” Áine quoted from memory. She had read the line many times and hoped it might be true.
“And that tide has again brought him to our shore.”
“You are a romantic, Nessa.”
“One of us has to be. Will you take Brian with you tonight to Earl Richard’s?”
“Yes. He was invited as the earl’s children are in residence at Dunluce just now. Brian is excited to be seeing the Lord of Kintyre, though he was disappointed to learn Lir cannot come.”
“I will make sure he looks like the prince he is.”
“Thank you, Nessa. I do want him to make a good impression.”
“You need have no fear of that. A winsome Irish prince with ginger hair and blue eyes? He could charm the velvet cloak off a fairy queen.”
Áine lifted her gaze to the ceiling and shook her head but there was a smile on her face.
Nessa’s attention had turned to the chests at the foot of Áine’s bed. Digging through them, she said, “You will need your cloaks and clothes for the morrow should you be asked to stay the night. Surely the earl and his countess will extend an invitation.”
“Yes, now that you speak of it. Father may want to talk to the men late into the night. While we are away, might you be seeing that handsome guard who has been paying you much attention?”
