Page 65 of Summer Warrior

“I will not risk your life in this war, lass, no matter how well you fight. Your brother would have my head. Besides, I need you to prepare a healing area in the great hall for any wounded we bring back with us. The women of Keills can assist you for their men will join us as we sail to Carlisle.”

Liadan raised her head. “Aye, Lord, I will do it.”

“And me, Father?” asked Gillecolum.

“You will also sail with me to Islay, Gille, to help Liadan.”

His son nodded, no regret in his eyes. Mayhap he understood that the battle they headed to was not a place for a youth.

Ruairi turned to his children. “You will come with your mother and me to Kintyre where you will await my return.”

The instructions issued, all but Ruari and his family departed, for they would sail the next day.

The North Shore of Loch Indaal, Isle of Islay

ON A PARTICULARLY WARM afternoon in June, Somerled stood above the shore at Loch Indaal seeing a sight he had only imagined before. The wide crescent of sandy beach that caressed the azure waters of the great sea loch was filled with galleys and longships, at least thirty, and more coming. He had imagined this scene of his Highlanders and Islesmen gathering but he did not think it would happen so soon or for such a cause. That so many would rally to his call for a war that was not theirs made his throat tighten and his eyes fill with unshed tears.

“Did you doubt they would come?” asked Angus, coming up the rise, the wind blowing his hair away from his face.

“I did not know if they would, but I had hoped…and I prayed.”

“They are not here for the Scots king, Brother. They are here for you.”

Courage, loyalty, honor. These were the qualities Somerled prized in his men. If a kingdom could be forged by such men, would it not stand strong for hundreds of years? “I will let them make camp and enjoy the fellowship of their friends and fellows tonight. Make sure all the chieftains know that tomorrow at noon, I will address them in the great hall at Findlugan’s Loch.”

“Aye, I will let them know. They will be keen to hear what you have to say.”

Somerled walked down the hill, his brother at his side. “We must thank those who have come.”

Once on the beach, Angus took off on his mission and Somerled wended his way through the small groups of warriors, greeting each one who raised his head. Some, sitting in front of tents sharpening their weapons, looked up and smiled as he passed.

Somerled stopped to talk to those he had not seen for a while and those he had yet to meet. Some, he noted, were younger than he and some as old as his father would have been had he lived. He was glad Gillecolum was not yet old enough to go to war.

A few practiced their archery and knife-tossing skills with targets erected for that purpose, preparing for the fight to come.

He felt the heavy weight of command resting on his shoulders as one who loved his men and now must lead them into the largest battle they had ever faced. He asked God to direct his path and vowed he would not leave a generation of Gaelic warriors to be buried in English soil. Thus, he would be careful with his words to their chiefs.

That night, he slept in a tent on the shores of Loch Indaal, wishing to be one of them. But the next morning, he rose with the golden dawn and, rousing his companions, took the path inland. Angus, Domnall and Maurice did not complain at sharing leadership in this critical hour. Ruairi he had asked to remain at Dunaverty, but Ewan MacSuibhne of Knapdale had brought a longship of forty warriors.

In the great hall, Liadan was directing the women preparing the meal for the chieftains who would come later. “Lord,” she said, looking up at him, her gray eyes earnest, “all is nearly ready. Can I ask, why did you want to bring them here and not speak to them on the beach?”

“You show insight at asking that question, Liadan. In truth, I could have addressed the chiefs there. But I wanted them to have the long walk back to the beach to reflect on what I will tell them, else they might quickly dismiss my words or have them questioned before they have owned them. Too, I wanted them to see the place we will gather in the future.”

“Ah, I see. Yea, Lord, you are wise.”

BY THE TIME THE SUN was high in the sky, the chieftains had arrived at Findlugan’s Loch. They expressed surprise at how quickly the settlement had been constructed and how pleased they were with the great hall. Somerled waited until they were seated with food and ale and then he rose to address them.

“First, let me express my gratitude for your coming.” As an aside, he added, “’twould have been embarrassing for me to stand on the shores of Loch Indaal with nary a chief’s ship in sight.”

The chieftains chuckled; a few smiled.

“You may well ask why I called you to the great hall and did not speak to you on the beach.” They nodded, as he expected they would, for he had anticipated Liadan’s question. “I wanted you to see this honored place. We will gather here in future times to decide matters of importance, to choose a lord when I have gone. It will be the heart of the lordship. Thus, I welcome you to send your banners to decorate the walls, for it is your place as well.”

Then looking at the face of each man, he said, “And I wanted you to have the long walk back to Loch Indaal to reflect upon my words. We respond to King David’s call, as we must, for it is the price of his favor. Those of you from Arran and Bute know your isles are now under my protection because of David’s gift.”

There were nods all around. Satisfied, he continued, “I am mindful that we go to fight on foreign soil. David calls us to a civil war that is not of our making…not our war. We must take great care to spend no man’s life needlessly.”

A few “Ayes” were muttered.