Chapter Twenty-Four
By the time the galley dropped anchor back at Tarbert Castle, Domnall realized that the true purpose of the sea voyage had been not so much to give Domnall a tour of Somerled’s realm, but to provide the warlord a chance to size him up. Domnall hoped that he had passed muster. In all the kingdom, he couldn’t wish for a better ally than Somerled Mac Gille Bride. Somerled’s tactical genius had been the key to his rise from obscurity to become Lord of Argyll, Buchan, and Bute, and to effectively control nearly a third of Scotland. While Somerled had said nothing thus far about a strategic alliance, Domnall was confident that a friendship had taken root.
They had barely turned into the harbor when another boat hailed them.
“Heave to!” Somerled commanded his men to bring the vessel to a halt.
A moment later, the smaller birlinn came alongside and Somerled’s eldest son, Gillecolum boarded.
“What is this?” Somerled asked.
“I was told by Ragnhilde to watch fer ye,” his son replied. “We have more guests arrived from the Highlands.” He then looked to Domnall. “One is a kinswoman of yers. They bring urgent news.”
“A kinswoman?” Domnall asked, his pulse and his mind both racing. “Who is it?”
“She said she is yer cousin, Ailis,” Gillecolum answered. “She was accompanied by Hamish of Kildun.”
“God’s blood!” What could have moved Ailis and the old man of Kildun to traverse the Highlands looking for him? He looked to Somerled. “This canna be good!”
Somerled nodded. “Man the oars!” He promptly commanded his men to take them into the harbor.
*
“Ailis?” Domnall halted at the sight of his cousin sitting with Somerled’s wife and sister. Ailis looked strangely hollow-eyed and frail beside the other women. Was she ill?
His pulse jumped. He crossed the room in three strides. “How did ye get here? And why have ye come?”
Ailis leaped to her feet the moment he entered the solar. Her face wore lines of worry and her voice was breathless. “I came with Hamish of Kildum. He awaited ye these two days, but had to return home. I told him I would stay and return with ye to Kilmuir.”
“But why have ye come?” he asked.
“’Tis a matter most urgent! But where even to begin?”
“At the bluidy beginning!” he snapped impatiently.
“Our men ne’er returned from Inverness. Fergus and the lads are being held there. MacAedh went to appeal to the king and is now imprisoned at Dunfermline. The king intends to execute him for treason unless ye go to him and swear allegiance to Prince Malcolm,” Ailis declared, her voice choked with emotion.
“God’s bones!” Domnall shook his head with amother curse.
“So David seeks to extort yer fealty?” Somerled remarked.
“It seems so,” Domnall said with a bitter laugh. “My uncle’s plan was to offer a compromise. He asked me to revoke my own claim to the throne in exchange for the regency.”
“And ye agreed?” Somerled asked.
“Against my instincts,” Domnall said. “But it seemed a bloodless solution to the problem. And this is how the king receives my offer?”
“’Tis a heavy-handed tactic to be sure… even for David,” Somerled remarked.
“Ye must do as he asks!” Ailis begged. “Uncle’s life depends upon it.”
Domnall turned to Somerled. “I am at a loss what to do. If I swear allegiance, I must also renounce my heritage and any hope of reclaiming what belonged to my máthair’s family. But if I dinna, MacAedh’s blood will be on my hands.”
“He could free himself at any time,” Somerled said. “It is his choice to refuse the vow.”
Domnall took a moment to digest that. “Mayhap, but I canna trust the king. What would ye do in my stead?” Domnall asked.
“I once was in yer stead,” Somerled remarked. “Come, let us talk.”
*
Somerled conducted Domnall up to his castle ramparts, where they sat and stared out upon the seemingly endlessly churning sea. After a time, Somerled pulled a wineskin from his belt and took a long draught. He then handed it to Domnall.
“Over thirty years ago,” Somerled began, “my family suffered much the same fate as yers when our ancestral lands in Morvern were seized by Vikings and we were forced to flee for our lives to kinsmen in Ireland. I grew to manhood on that Isle with one singular purpose—to recover all we lost—or die in the effort.
“When I was about yer age, I set sail from Ireland with five hundred Gallowglass mercenaries funded by my father-in-law. I returned to Morvern and took it from the Vikings who occupied it. The men of Morvern, once freed of their hated oppressors, were swift to join me. Together, we re-took Lochaber and continued onward to Northern Argyll. My force, and my reputation, grew exponentially with each small victory, until we were able to drive all the Vikings from Argyll.
“David, meantime, turned his attention to Bute, Arran and the Isle of Man, but he had nae hope of holding it. We came to a treaty and I was made Lord of Argyll. I have since lived in peace with David Cenn Mór these twenty years.” Somerled paused with a contemplative look and took another long drink. “I have nae quarrel with David.”
Domnall’s hopes sank like a battered ship.
“But Prince Henry’s death changes much for all of us,” Somerled continued almost as if to himself. “If young Malcolm claims the throne, anyone with sound strategy and fierce fighters could conquer the kingdom.”
The look of calculation in the great warlord’s eyes set Domnall on edge. Domnall was suddenly reminded of his uncle’s wariness of aligning himself with the warlord. He would, indeed, take action the very moment his own interests became compromised. But did his intentions reach further? Did Somerled himself have thoughts of conquest?
He eyed Domnall with a look of resolution. “My allegiance to David will end if he attempts to place his grandson on the throne.”
*
Domnall descended from the ramparts feeling almost giddy. Though he’d stopped short of fully committing himself, the great warlord had strongly hinted at lending Domnall his support. He was eager to seek out his cousin with the news, but Ailis was no longer in the solar with the other woman.
Mariota came to him with concern in her eyes. “I fear yer cousin is unwell.”
“She has ne’er been prone to illness,” Domnall said. “Perhaps the long journey wore her out. She is unaccustomed to hard travel.”
Mariota laid a hand on his arm. “I fear ’tis beyond fatigue.”
“Where is she?” Domnall asked.
“I will take ye to her.”
Mariota led Domnall up one more staircase to a small tower room. Mariota knocked twice. “My lady. Yer cousin wishes to speak with ye.”
“Tell him I am unwell,” Ailis croaked.
Domnall’s apprehension spiked to another level. He didn’t wait for an invitation but pushed open the door. Ailis looked up at him with a face that was ghostly pale.
“Is there something I can get for ye, Ailis?” he asked, feeling suddenly helpless.
“Nae,” she shook her head. “Ye must leave here at once, Domnall. Ye are needed at Kilmuir.
“I canna leave ye here alone!” Domnall insisted.
“Ye must!” she declared urgently. “I am nae well enough to make the journey at present. I will only slow ye down. Please go. I only need to rest for a few days and all will be well.”
“Dinna fear, I will care for her,” Mariota said.
“Dinne ye think ye should first discuss this with Lord Somerled?” Domnall asked.
Mariota raised a brow. “My brother would not refuse, but even if he did object, I have my own place where I can fend for yer cousin.”
“Go, Domnall,” Ailis insisted. “Ye must tarry here nae longer. I will be fine with Mariota.”
“I vow she will want for naught under my care,” Mariota reassured him.
Domnall regarded the two woman with uncertainty, his concern for his cousin, warring with his sense of urgency to retun home. But Ailis was right, he could tarry no longer. Every day that passed only increased his kinsman’s peril. He sighed in surrender. “So be it. I will send someone to fetch ye home as soon as I am able.”
But he wasn’t sure when that would be.
“There is nae need to fret,” Mariota said. “I will ensure her safe return when she is well enough.”
Domnall left his cousin to take his leave of Somerled, feeling only a small burden lifted off his shoulders. He still didn’t know exactly what awaited him at home.
“Yer journey would be swifter by ship,” Somerled said when Domnall went to take his leave. “Gillecolum will sail ye as far as Inverlochy. ’Twill cut yer journey by at least a day.”
“I am grateful to ye, my lord,” Domnall said.
“Have ye decided what ye will do?” Somerled asked.
“I must find the means to rescue my kinsman,” Domnall said. “He willna give David what he wants, nor will I, which puts his life at great risk.”
“And if he is killed?” Somerled asked.
“I will raise an army.”
“’Tis what I would do,” he said. “I would fight to the death to take back all that is mine.”
“Easier done when ye have men and ships at yer command,” Domnall replied dryly.
“Aye, ’tis a challenge to fight a war single-handed,” Somerled replied with a grin. His smile faded and a calculating look appeared in his blue eyes. “I wonder, if ye were given a few hundred men and two ships, what ye might do with them?”
“I would put them to verra good use,” Domnall answered. “I would set out to reclaim Scotland for the Scots—one small piece at a time, starting with Moray.”
“Would ye, indeed?” He eyed Domnall assessingly. After a time, he released a breath. “I willna fight against, David… but my wife’s kinsman to the north might well feel differently.”
“Aye? Who is he?” Domnall struggled to hide his eagerness.
“Harald, Earl of Orkney,” Somerled answered. “He harbors great resentment toward David. I think ’twould take little to rouse him to fight. Ye would have much in common with Harald Maddadsson, and might well find a great friend in him.”
“Thank ye, my lord,” Domnall replied. “I am deeply indebted to ye.”
Somerled had been cautious about outright committing himself, but he implied much. The mention of his wife’s kinsmen had a purpose, as did the question of what Domnall would do with men and ships. Nothing he said was haphazard.
“I would ken how this plays out,” Somerled said. “I will send Gillecolum with ye to Kilmuir. He will bring word back to me of yer decision regarding MacAedh.”
Domnall departed Tarbert Castle with renourished hopes that a coalition, not just with Somerled, but also with the Earl of Orkney, might well be within his reach.