Page 102 of Bound By Honor
“Yes, I would like that. Can we take Brian?”
She heard him chuckle before he said, “I expect we’d better.” Again, he kissed her neck, his beard tickling her tender skin. She turned in his arms. “You could keep kissing me but then we might not attend the celebration.”
He let out a sigh. “Very well. Like Brian, I suppose I will have to wait.”
BEFORE THE DINNER began and the chiefs and their wives arrived, Dermot appeared in the bailey riding a dapple-gray mare. Angus was there to meet him.
“Earl Richard is coming to the dinner this eve,” he said, dismounting. “He says he has news for you. And the mare is his gift; he would take no coin for her.”
Brian burst through the castle door with Lir at his side and ran to his uncle. Eyes wide, he asked, “Is this my surprise?”
“Aye,” said Angus. “Her color is like Lir’s, and her name is Enbarr, the name of the horse the mythical Lir rode. What do you think?”
Brian gazed up at the fine horse proudly tossing her head, causing her silver-gray mane to flash with the golden light of the setting sun. Her body was, indeed, mottled like Lir’s coat. “She is beautiful! Can I ride her now?”
“Patience, Little Prince,” said Angus. “Let her settle in and, tomorrow morning, I will ride with you.”
Brian heaved a sigh. “All right.” He followed the groom as he led the horse to the stable.
“You do realize he will want to sleep in the stable tonight,” said Dermot.
Angus watched the boy walking away, one hand on his new horse as he fired questions at the groom. “Aye. I spent one cold night in the stable with my first horse. It will not hurt him.”
ÁINE WAS THRILLED to see so many in the great hall that night to celebrate her marriage to Angus. The long days of early summer made travel easier and the last few days had brought no rain. In addition to the O’Cahan chiefs and their wives, and their elder sons and daughters, Norman nobles had come. The Red Earl and his countess, the fair Lady Margaret, were joined by Sir Hugh Bisset, Lord of the Glens of Antrim, who was kin to Angus.
Áine wondered if they all wanted another look at the middle son of Angus Mor Macdonald, who was now Lord of the Isles. If they had heard of her dowry, which doubtless they had, they also knew he would soon sail from Ireland, taking with him more than a thousand of Ulster’s men.
For the evening, Áine had chosen an emerald silk gown and the same circlet of gold with its sparkling jewels she had worn at her wedding. “’Tis fitting for the Lady of the Isles to wear it,” Nessa had said as she handed the golden chaplet to Áine.
Brian was allowed to attend since the Red Earl and his wife had brought some of their children who were old enough to attend yet not married. The oldest of them was Elizabeth who was fifteen and fair like her mother. The rambunctious child Áine had once known had grown into a beautiful poised young woman. Áine remembered herself at that age, soon to be betrothed to a much older man. She wondered to whom the Red Earl would give this lovely daughter.
Minstrels played as the assembled guests took their seats. Next to Earl Richard, Áine’s father had placed Angus, so that the earl might have a chance to talk with him. Sitting on Angus’ other side, even with the din of conversations, Áine would be able to hear the two men converse. She was anxious to know of affairs in Scotland that affected her husband.
On her father’s other side sat Lady Margaret and Sir Hugh.
As the wine was poured, Earl Richard turned to Angus. “I am sorry for the loss of your brother. Such a terrible deed will not be forgotten. You will seek justice, I presume?”
“Aye. I have some duties that I must see to first, and then I will seek permission from King Edward to hunt The MacDougall.”
“He will grant it.”
Áine could see by the look of determination on her husband’s face that he would hunt The MacDougall with or without Edward’s permission.
“You may not have heard since you were at Iona,” said Earl Richard, “but a Council of the Scots was recently held at Peebles in the Selkirk forest. Bruce and Comyn, as Guardians of Scotland, were charged with leading the war against Edward. Apparently, they argued over the disposition of William Wallace’s lands while he is in France soliciting support from King Phillip. Bruce sided with Wallace and Comyn turned on Bruce, seizing him by the throat.”
“John Comyn is a hothead,” said Angus. “But how did you know this?”
“We have a spy among the Scottish Council. Bruce and Comyn had to be separated by the others who were there. That led to Bishop Lamberton being named a third Guardian. Is it always so in Scotland that a bishop is needed to keep the peace among its leaders?” With that, the earl broke out in laughter.
At Áine’s side, Angus remained silent and pensive.
“I know the Earl of Carrick is your friend,” said Earl Richard, “but Edward will, doubtless, laugh when he hears of it.”
“When do you expect Edward to return to Scotland?” asked Angus.
Earl Richard paused, as if in thought. “He has ordered his army to muster at York on the 12thof November.”
“A winter campaign?” asked Angus, surprised.
