Page 72 of Bound By Honor
When Lord Angus and Earl Robert joined them, her father said to Lord Angus, “I have welcome news. As we were riding past the valley where your men are camped, one of your captains stopped us to say that your last ship has just returned from Tirconnell. Those men are now camped below the castle with the others.”
Lord Angus looked relieved. Mayhap he had been worried though he had said nothing. “With your permission, my lord, I will go to speak with them and join you a bit later. Rob and Duncan can tell you the news from Dunluce.”
“Go,” said her father. “If it were my men, I would do the same.”
When Lord Angus and his brother left to tend to that task, Brian proudly brought out his new pup for his grandfather to see. “Lord Angus gave him to me, Grandfather. I have fixed him a bed by the fire.”
“A good gift. I hope you thanked the lord.”
Brian looked up at her father with a guilty expression.
“I thanked Lord Angus for both of us,” she said. “I am sure Brian will convey his thanks in due time.”
Gazing up at her father, Brian nodded.
Her father reached down to scratch the pup behind the ears. “He’ll make a fine hound.”
“The pup is from Dunluce,” she offered.
“Dunluce produces the best,” said her father.
“His name is Lir,” Brian proudly announced.
“Lir, is it?” Her father smiled. “I might have known.”
“The news from Dunluce is good,” ventured Earl Robert. “De Burgh has been freed by the Kilkenny parliament, and has returned to Dunluce. Lord Angus, his brother and cousin and I met with him.”
Duncan said, “Earl Richard anticipates John Wogan will be sent by King Edward to arbitrate a peace.”
“All Ireland will welcome that,” said Rory.
Her father nodded. “Some of the chiefs told Dermot and me that the earl was free but it is good to have the information confirmed. Still, I wonder what might follow. I am glad King Edward is involved though I doubt a peace will hold.”
When Lord Angus returned from seeing his men, he was in good humor. “They are all safe. A few wounds but none serious. We have been fortunate.”
Over supper that evening, a meal of fish tarts, rabbit stew and roasted quail, her father and the other men discussed England’s drain on Ireland. “In spite of the famine, King Edward ships what grain we have to England for his men who fight his wars. He drains our coin as well, adding to the taxes he imposed years ago.”
“The king will need men to fight his wars in France, Wales and mayhap even Scotland,” said Earl Robert. “I expect he will draw upon Earl Richard for some of those.”
“De Burgh has already resisted one such demand by the king,” said her father. “An offer of high pay and the cancellation of debts owed the crown did not sway him.”
Áine watched her brother for a reaction but Dermot’s face was without expression.Would he go if Earl Richard did? Would Lord Angus?Guilt assailed her for feeling more concern for them than for Rory.
She did not have to ask her last question aloud as her father turned to the Macdonald lord. “I suppose you might be asked for your ships to transport men to Scotland if Edward were to challenge King John Balliol.”
“Aye, ’tis possible,” said Lord Angus. “For now, we are taken up with King Edward’s affairs in the Isles. His enemies are our own.” Then, with a glance at Earl Robert, he said, “I am committed to a free Scotland but not one under King John’s rule.” Áine was aware the Bruces had been contenders for the Scottish crown, which would put this younger Robert Bruce in line to one day be King of Scots.
After the meal, Lord Angus invited her to walk with him on the promontory. “While the rain holds off,” he said. She made her apologies to the others and invited Brian to join them. He brought his pup, the two already inseparable.
The brisk wind caused Áine to draw her cloak around her. Gazing up at the moon, a bright silver orb gliding between billowing clouds, she said, “It feels like rain.”
“Aye, mayhap tomorrow.”
Brian and his pup ran a short way ahead. Áine watched them closely ready to call Brian back from the cliff’s edge if he ventured too close. “Will you be staying at Dunseverick for a time?” she asked him, though with the war in abeyance, his return to Scotland was likely imminent.
“Nay, I must go to my brother. Alex will be anxious to have my ships and my men to add to our fleet guarding the Isles. I hope to sail at first light.” He must have detected disappointment in her silence, for he added, “But I promise to return.”
“You will be welcomed if you do.” She would say no more. Already, she knew she would miss him as would Brian.
