Page 15 of Bound By Honor
Angus wrapped his arm around his brother’s shoulder. “We are all well, and you?”
Angus Mor wiped his brow with the back of his hand. “A few scratches. Nothing more.” He scanned the men still standing, as if searching. “Have you seen Turlough?”
“Aye, just there,” Angus said, pointing to the edge of the woods. Turlough had been well guarded by galloglass, which, Angus assumed, had been his father’s earlier instructions to them. Angus Mor would not risk losing the reason he had come.
It took some time to dispense with the bodies and assure that the few prisoners taken were appropriately confined. Their physicians would see to the wounded.
Angus found his long-handled axe and washed both his axe and his sword in the river.
Meantime, Turlough had been ensconced in the elaborate manor house of the chief of the O’Donnells, surrounded by the fortifications that now marked him the King of Tirconnell.
When the men took to the river to bathe and set up camp fires, Angus and his companions joined his father who was speaking to Turlough. “We’ll sup with you and my daughter tonight and leave at first light.”
Turlough nodded, his dark hair tangled but his blue eyes full of affection for the man who had come to his aid. “I thank you, Grandfather. The victory this day is as much yours as mine.”
Glancing down at his blood-splattered mail and tunic, the Lord of the Isles smiled. “That being the case, after we have bathed and cleaned the blood from our clothing, we will help you celebrate. My men have ale but we will require food.”
With a chuckle, Turlough said, “Do not worry, sir. We will kill the fatted cows and net the river upstream for fish. The village women were none too fond of Aodh, so I expect at least the ones who did not lose their menfolk today will be glad to help.”
“Good. Tomorrow when I depart, I will leave with you some of my galloglass and a ship. Together with your army, that should be sufficient to secure your future. The rest of my ships and my men will return to the Isles, save for my own ship. I am for Dunluce with Angus.”
Turlough raised a brow. “To visit the Red Earl?”
“Aye. I am overdue.”
Angus’ father had told him that Richard de Burgh’s warning to avoid the O’Neill lands of Tirowen included an invitation to come to Dunluce Castle. As Angus had never been there, he was eager to see the great castle on the north shore of Ulster he had heard so much about and to see again the Norman earl he had met at Turnberry four years before. Though they might like to go along, it was best that John and Duncan return to Dunaverty to await him.
THE NEXT MORNING, his feet firmly planted in the stern of the ship, Angus’ spirits rose with their return to the sea. The waters of the Atlantic were again stirred to a wild froth by the currents and a biting wind. Still, he was content to be back in his element.
A full day of sailing north along the jagged coast of Tirconnell and then east, past the Inishowen Peninsula, brought them into calmer waters and to Dunluce Castle.
Perched high above the sea, the castle looked out on the narrowest expanse of the Atlantic between Ireland and Scotland. Grass covered the tops of the cliffs, so deep a green it reminded Angus of green velvet. He knew such a color could only be produced by constant rain. They were fortunate not to have had any.
The wind blew all day, scattering the gray clouds across the sky in a random manner like an artist’s erratic paintbrush. At the horizon, the sun turned the sea into liquid gold. It was his favorite time of day when he was happy to have his ship beached on a friendly shore with a warm fire and a good meal awaiting him.
As they passed in front of the seaworn cliffs, a large cave suddenly appeared before them leading into the belly of the headland. On either side lay a rock-strewn beach. Waves crashing onshore and larger rocks offshore, half-hidden, rendered the approach precarious.
Angus’ father knew the sea and ships as well as any Isleman and yet Angus had observed that more often than not he placed his confidence in his hand-picked crew. His steersman, one of the finest in the fleet, took hold of the rudder just as Angus’ father turned to Angus, fixing him with a steady gaze. “You bring her in.”
Angus stared back at his father, knowing words of appeal would not suffice. It was so like his father to throw him into deep water and expect him to swim just as he’d taught him to swim in the Sound of Mull as a lad. Angus had beached ships before but this situation was more treacherous and called for more skill.
Seeing his hesitation, the Lord of the Isles said, “I have seen you observing me often enough. Did you think I had not noticed?”
His father was right. Angus could recite commands in his sleep. His gaze slid over the crew. Every face was turned toward him. Even the lookout on the bow watched over his shoulder, waiting expectantly.
Angus took a deep breath to steady his thumping heart, filled his lungs and bellowed, “Hands prepare to wear!”
The faces vanished as every man bent to his assigned line. Their obedience was gratifying. Angus’ heart filled with pleasure at their trust. Now, he must earn it.
The call from the crew chief came on the wind. “Ready!”
Glad for the remaining light enabling him to see clearly the hazards, Angus watched the narrowing gap between the ship and the rocks, his every nerve on edge, until he judged that the distance was right. There was no time left. “Ease away larboard! Haul away starboard!” As the mainsail yard came around, he turned to the helmsman beside him. “Helm alee!”
The steersman gave him a nod and shifted the heavy tiller, keeping his eyes fixed on the sail, as he should, lest some errant shift of wind take control.
“All well!” Angus called. “Hands to douse! Ease halyard! Haul starboard!” The heavy yard swung around as it slid down the mast, the sail collapsing into a stack of thick wool, pulled by crewmen into folds as it fell. The sail and main yard settled onto the trestles, and Angus braced his feet wide apart as the deck lurched underfoot.
With the long steady crunch of the keel on the rocks, the ship rode up onto the beach and came to a satisfying stop.
