Nigel Tranter - The Path of the Hero King

There was a complete silence from all near by, broken only by the jingle of bits and bridles, and the stamping of hooves. From further afield a trumpet brayed to the surrounding hill, its echoes a bedlam.

As though accepting that as a sign, an assent, the King drew a long slow breath, and changed his tone.

“This Dochgarrach? I know the place. It is too far to be seen from Castle Urquhart, is it not? Eight miles? Does any here know the castle well? It stands nigh, on a rock out into the loch. But not to view as far as Dochgarroch, I fear.”

“I know it, Sir King,” Angus MacFarquherd Mackintosh, Captain of Clan Chattan, said from behind.

“It is too far. Not to be There is higher land between.”

Aye.” That was almost a sigh.

“Then, my lord of Carrick, you have destroyed my stratagem. I never

thought to throw men’s lives away by attacking Ross across the loch,

in these boats. I am less fond than are you of killing. Even Ross and his thousands are my subjects-and a king does not slay his subjects unless he must What I may gain by any other means than the sword, I will. I let you loose on Buchan for a purpose, as example. Today, I had no intention of fighting. And my main host, visible there at the foot of the loch, was part of my design. You have brought it to naught.”

Edward shook his head, helplessly.

“I did not know. You did not tell me …”

“No-I did not tell you. I commanded you!” The King turned roughly away.

“Now I must think anew…”

“But, Robert-Sire! My news! You have not heard my news.

Hear me. Last night, the English in Inverness Castle asked for a truce. They are willing to surrender the castle, if we will spare them their lives, let them sail away. They have not failed to hear of my doings in Buchan, I swear! They sweat for their skins! They must be short of provision, to offer this. So I sent their messengers back, with their tails between their legs-like whipped curs should have! They will surrender without terms, I told them. And they will, you see. Any day. So that there will be only Banff Castle in all the North, held by Englishmen-for it can only be taken by sea.

Aberdeen has fallen. That Provost and his citizens have won into it how I know not. I have taken Fyvie, Elgin, Forres and Nairn from the English, and Kinedar, Slains, Rattray, Cairnbulg, Dundarg and Inverallochy from the Comyns. The Bishop of Moray now threatens Tarradale in the Black Isle. If we but take our courage in our hands and beat Ross now, all the North is yours! Do you not see it?”

“I see, brother, that there is a tide flowing our way, here in the North. And I rejoice in it. And give thanks for what you have achieved, with my host. But I also see, across this loch, some ten thousand, it may be, of fierce clansmen, ready to fight to the death.

On their own territory, where they fight best. And know best.

In mountains, where our -chivalry is at disadvantage. Here is no attacking small bands, castles, villages and townships. This is battle, on a great scale. It may be that in time we should beat them. At much cost, which I can ill afford. And MacDougall of Lorn remains in the West, undefeated. I do not fight battles until I have tried other methods.”

Edward began to speak, but the King held up his hand.

“You talk of courage. I have never doubted yours, brother.

Perhaps you have more of the quality than have I! It is your wits, your judgement, I doubt. Even in this of Inverness Castle. I say the English offer of surrender must be accepted. On terms. Ross will hear of it, and be the less assured. The sight of the Englishry marching of their own will out of Inverness and sailing south will do my cause more good than any prolonged siegery. Then we shall pull down the castle, like all the others, that it never again be held against me. I hope that you razed all these other yielded strengths as I ordered?”

As the other cleared his throat and sought for a judicious answer, someone else spoke.

“Sire-you have said wisely, generously. Like a true king. In all this. And none can doubt your courage.”

“Ah, nephew-I thank you!” Bruce turned to bow, in only lightly disguised mockery.

“Our traitorous kinsman still with you, I see!” Edward said, thankful to change the subject.

Randolph ignored him.

“More than castles may yield, Sire-when the time is come. Will Your Grace now accept me as your leal man? Your subject. Receive my hand and sword, as your true knight?” That was awkwardly, jerkily said, from stiff lips.

“I

submit meas I promised.”

The King eyed the young man’s tensely handsome features, and then, as the significance of those last words dawned upon him, swung on his heel to stare elsewhere, much farther away.

There, across the water, Urquhart Castle glowed warm red brown in the sun, against the blue loch and the purpling hills. And clear to see above its lofty keep floated a different banner now to the blue-and-gold of Comyn -the Lion Rampant of Scotland.

“God be praised!” Bruce breathed.

“So it served. After all.”

In the exclamations and chatter that followed, Gilbert Hay touched the King’s elbow, and pointed farther away still, towards the loch-foot. He did not speak.

It was sun on steel again, glinting and flashing though far away, the tiny gleams reflecting over a wide area.

“Ha-by the Rude! So there we have it!” the King cried.

“Praises be! Comyn saw that sooner than did we. Robert Boyd knows his duty, if others do not! My true veteran warrior!

Brother-see you there. Sir Robert Boyd knows whose host he leads. He did not halt at your Dochgarroch, but brought them on right to the loch. As I commanded you. Mark it well. As Sir Alexander Comyn, in Urquhart, marked it. And has signified his capitulation to me by that Lion Standard. For this I planned. Here is more burden on the Earl of Ross than any blood-soaked attack.”

He jabbed a finger in the other direction, due westwards.

“There, on the ridge of Mealfuarvonie, MacRuarie and a thousand

clansmen stand. Here we marshal a host of boats. There Boydthreatens

and Comyn yields. Ross will retire, must retire, northwards.

Up Glen Urquhart. Abandoning this line of Loch Ness and the Great Glen. He cannot make stand again until Strath Glass or Strath Farrar. So we gain a victory of sorts, and much country. Without a man slain!”

There was a great clamour of acclaim, with everywhere men surging forward to hail the King. The knights behind Edward, as with one accord, dismounted and came to make belated obeisance.

But Bruce had turned away, towards Randolph again, who still stood with Hay, a pace or two behind. He held out his hand.

“Sir Thomas,” he said, “you have keen eyes. A keen judgement in some matters. And a keen notion of honour. May they serve me and my cause well hereafter. This is an auspicious day. I receive you into my peace, and gladly. You are a free man, nephew. And all that is yours shall be restored to you.”

Randolph sank down on knee before his uncle, and took that lean hand between both of his.

“My liege lord,” he said, thickly.

“I

thank you. From my heart. I pray your royal forgiveness, for past deeds done and past words spoken. Hereafter, none shall serve you more faithfully.”

“So be it, lad.” The King looked down, and felt-indeed looked-very old compared with the unlined and nobly handsome face upturned to his, despite his own mere thirty-four years.

“But I warn you, my service may try you hard. As it does others.”

He turned to receive the homage of the now thronging knights.

Presently he looked over their heads to Edward, who still sat his fine horse, set-faced.

“Come, brother—enough of bickering and hard words. Perhaps I am too sore on you. You in particular-since I am sore on all, I fear. This is too good a day to spoil. Come, you.”