Page 68 of Summer Warrior

The army behind the Scots king and his son was a mixture of warriors from the kingdom of Scotland and Northern England. Some were mounted Norman knights in hauberks and silvered helms, carrying swords and long shields. These contrasted sharply with the fierce unarmored Galwegian spearmen and Lothian Scots, who carried short swords and axes. The latter, Siwardsson told him, were the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons who fled England after the Conquest to dwell in southeastern Scotland.

He gazed at the vast array that composed the Scots king’s army and asked Siwardsson, “How many would you say have come to David’s call?”

The aging Anglo-Saxon surveyed the throng of men. “Ten, mayhap fifteen thousand before adding your Highlanders and Islesmen.”

“Never have I seen so many,” said Somerled. Taking his leave, he strode toward David, inclining his head as he arrived in front of the king. “Your Grace, Argyll and the Isles have answered your summons.”

The king smiled. “Siwardsson sent me a message telling me you were coming, which pleased me greatly. If you can beat off the fierce Norsemen, for certes you will acquit yourselves well in the battle with Stephen’s army.” Then turning to his guard, David said, “We’ll camp here tonight.”

Though supply wagons trailed behind King David’s army, still, the men hunted, for fresh meat was preferred above salted pork. Once the camp was set up, they gathered around the night fires, some men roasting hares caught that day and some sharing a deer they had brought down.

Somerled decided it was time he met David’s nobles and generals. With Angus by his side, he went from tent to tent, introducing himself. All were cordial and some, who had heard of him, expressed approval of what he had done, for the Norse pirates were feared by many.

Somerled was amazed at the high rank of the generals who had responded to David’s call—every man a seasoned warrior.

After that, he joined his men to eat, Domnall on one side, Angus on the other and Maurice and Ewan on the other side of the fire with Ruairi.

Somerled had just finished his meal of roast venison when Siwardsson came. “We are called to the king’s tent.”

Turning to his brother, Somerled said, “Let the chiefs know I will speak to them once I have heard what David has to say.”

“Aye, I will tell them,” said Angus, who, along with Ruairi, Domnall and Maurice, had been acting as messengers to the chiefs.

Somerled and the king’s high constable headed into the center of the camp where the king’s tent flew the Lion Rampant flag, the royal banner of Scotland. As he walked through the opening to David’s tent, the candles flickered in the breeze caused by their entry.

King David stood behind a table, frowning as he stared down at a parchment. Peering at the object of David’s interest, Somerled realized it was not a map he recognized. There were only lines, vague shapes and arrows. A battle plan, he supposed.

Surrounding the king were his commanders that Somerled had only just met. On David’s right stood Prince Henry, looking very much the heir to the Scots kingdom with his noble bearing and confident stance.

On the king’s left was one of his nephews, William Fitz Duncan, a general and the Earl of Moray, as well as an English baron. On their way to meet David, Siwardsson had told Somerled that in the month prior, Fitz Duncan had led the Galwegians to victory over the English at Clitheroe, raising hopes for the battle to come.

Somerled recognized others gathered there, among them Eustace Fitz John, a Norman baron of Northumberland, who recently switched sides and surrendered his castles at Alnwick and Malton to David.

Malise, Earl of Strathearn in central Scotland, had joined David’s ranks and now stood with Lord Fergus of Galloway and the Galwegian chiefs, Ulric and Donald.

Somerled recalled what King Olaf had said about the men of Galloway. While their lord was as finely dressed as any of the noblemen, his warriors were wild-looking with their half-shaved heads and bare legs. They wore only tunics and, at their waists wicked-looking daggers. Most carried long spears as well.

Only two others were, like Somerled, blue-eyed and fair-haired, Siwardsson and another Saxon lord.

To Somerled it seemed an odd collection of notables. He wondered how David intended to unify thousands of men from such diverse backgrounds and lead them into such a significant battle. Surely, they did not all consider themselves Scots. Somerled’s own men would not have thought of themselves that way, nor would the English barons who had sided with David. Many northern nobles had been forced to make a choice between loyalty and the reality of their situations. If they supported the wrong side, they would lose their land as well as their titles.

“Ah, Somerled,” said the king, “I am glad you are here. You have met my nobles and commanders, of course?”

“Aye, I’ve had the pleasure,” Somerled said, giving them a curt nod.

“We but talk strategy, though one cannot be precise until we see what the English and their Normans have in mind. I’ve sent spies to survey the land south and see what can be learned.” The king, again considering the drawing before him, said, “My intention is to take the English by surprise if we can. The vanguard,” he said, pointing to the first line on the parchment, “will be led by Henry and his knights, reinforced by a bodyguard of mailed men-at-arms under Eustace Fitz John and the men of Galloway.”

One of the Galwegian chiefs muttered an oath. David ignored it.

“Behind them,” the king continued, “in the second line, will be your Highlanders and Islesmen, Lord Somerled. I will command the third group, consisting of Saxon and Norman knights. In the rear will be the men of Moray.”

Somerled was curious as to why the king would place such well-armored men in the rear, but he did not ask. He did wonder about his archers, however. “Your Grace, if I might ask…”

David looked up. “Yes?”

“My Islesmen are known for their skill with a bow. Might you not want them with the vanguard?”

The king appeared to consider the idea. “What you say is true yet I would prefer to place some of the Saxon archers with Henry and his mounted knights and have your men follow them. Once Henry has opened a hole in the English ranks, your arrows will find their targets more easily.”