Page 14 of Bound By Honor
“I suspect Aodh thought you would come,” said Turlough. “He’s had spies watching the coast for weeks.”
Angus’ father asked a few questions about the distances, how Aodh and his men were armed and what Aodh was like in a fight. Seemingly satisfied with what he heard, he turned to his captains who stood around the table. “This is what we will do…”
The instructions given, the captains returned to their warriors while Turlough relayed the instructions to his own men.
Angus’ father ordered the galloglass forward with the archers in the lead, as the army of the Lord of the Isles made its way north over the heathered moors.
“Stay close, Angus,” said his father. Angus had planned to guard his father’s back and he was glad they were of one mind.
To John, Angus said, “Stay between me and Duncan for as long as we can manage it.”
His brother and cousin nodded and the three of them joined the others.
A few hours later, one of Turlough’s men, who had been sent ahead, returned with news confirming a large force gathered on the bank of the river a half-mile on.
Angus’ father ordered the archers to position themselves in the woods on the west bank of the river. Then he waved the galloglass on ahead to await his order to attack. Angus knew his father used his fiercest warriors to strike fear in the hearts of the enemy before the rest of the army rushed in behind them.
Once the archers were in place, Angus’ father emerged from the trees to raise and lower his sword, the only signal the archers were to receive.
A rush of arrows followed, arching through the air toward the O’Donnell force covering the banks of the river. Many fell with the first volley and more with the second.
Confusion reigned in the enemy ranks for long minutes.
Then the Lord of the Isles gave one sound on his horn and, with a great shout, his army, led by the galloglass, rushed forward, out of the woods and down the hill to where Aodh’s men were scrambling to face them.
Excitement rose within him as Angus gripped his axe and ran behind his father, determined to strike all who threatened the Lord of the Isles. John and Duncan ran with him.
Protecting John on his left as best he could, Angus slashed through the warriors coming at him as if he were harvesting wheat. Soon, he was covered in O’Donnell blood.
One hulking brute hurtled toward John, his sword raised to strike. Angus veered to meet him, swinging his axe with both hands to slice the man’s throat. A look of shock froze in his dark eyes as blood spurted from his neck and he collapsed to the ground.
“To me!” Angus shouted to John. His brother joined him and they hurried forward to catch up with their father who had gone ahead. On the riverbank, Angus saw his father surrounded by three men, closing in on him with their swords poised to strike.
Angus broke into a run, cutting down one man as John engaged another. Duncan joined them to ward off others as John defeated the O’Donnell he was battling.
Tall and defiant in his stance, Angus Mor faced the third soldier who looked like a galloglass with his great size and fearsome countenance. One of Aodh’s mercenaries.
A sword in one hand and a long dagger in another, the Lord of the Isles blocked the warrior’s blade streaking toward him and rammed the dagger into his throat just above his mail. A jab to his middle with the hilt of his sword sent the man sprawling.
More warriors poured into the fray erupting all around them. When the fighting became close, Angus dropped his long-handled axe and unsheathed his sword. The sound of metal on metal rose in the air as blades clashed in the close fighting around him.
It was inevitable that many would die. The galloglass were the elite of Angus Mor’s army, highly disciplined and ruthless. Though he was the son of the Lord of the Isles, Angus had learned their ways.
Ultimately, their greater numbers and greater skill forced Aodh’s army to give way. When it was clear Turlough and the Lord of the Isles’ army would prevail, Angus paused to wipe the blood from his face, grimacing at the coppery scent rising to his nostrils. His mail was streaked with the blood soaking the field of battle.
He had never become accustomed to that smell.
Bodies were strewn on the grass between the forest and the river. Some floated face down in the peat-darkened waters.
Angus was relieved to see his brother and cousin, having become separated from him in the last of the fight, were still alive and coming toward him. Looking them over and seeing the blood on their mail, he said, “Tell me you are unwounded.”
“Aye,” they both said at once.
Angus heaved a sigh of relief and seeing the smile on his brother’s face said, “You did well.”
“Aye, I survived.”
Just ahead, his father pulled off his helmet and turned, raising his brows to Angus in inquiry.
