"Uncle Stuart, are you saying the Irish were involved in the fighting as well?" Tom asked him.
"Aye Tom, the Irish in question were the relatives of Laird Hamish MacDonnell, as well as descendants of the MacDonald's. They had a few castles on the north-east coast, one called Kinbane Castle, which means 'White Headlands', because of the white limestone of the area, another being Dunluce Castle, which was a bit farther doon the coast from it and yet another on Rathlin Island. The area's quite popular noo, being as it's right beside the Giant's Causeway and Bushmill's Distillery. Their favourite place tae patrol from was Mew Island. They would lie in wait for anything English tae sail by and attack it. That other place, Rathlin Island, has a sad history tae it too."
"Although they weren't very tight-knit, they were still MacDonnell's and took great offence at any of their clan being treated badly." Tavish interjected and nodded to Stuart he was done.
"Actually, they're all descendants of yer's Tavish. Does anyone know what Mac and Mc and O mean in a name?" Almost everyone shook their heads, or shrugged that they didn't. "Only four of ye's? Really? It means son of. Donald, was the Lord of the Isles and his descendants were the MacDonald's, or in Irish spelling, Donnell, and of course, MacDonnell. The Irish O'Donnell's are descendants of those MacDonnell's. Sorley Boy is a descendant of the Scottish Chief Alexander MacDonnell, who was the Lord of Islay and Kintyre, at the time. Sorley came tae Ireland tae lay claim tae the north-east part in his clan's name. He was the one who established the clan MacDonnell's of Antrim."
Stuart could see amazement at this new development in the story and smiled to himself, enjoying the way his clan, family and friends, were taking to their history and other clans as well.
"Let me tell ye's a bit aboot Sorley Boy. At one time he was in favour of the English and accepted their inroads, tae them being in Ireland. It was Queen Elizabeth the first that put an end tae that. In an effort tae bring him under control, they chopped off the head of his son, Alastar and nailed it above the gate of Dublin Castle. Well, ye can imagine what that would do tae a man. Sorley looked at his son's head and proclaimed, "My son hath many heads," and proceeded tae take oot his revenge.
The other thing that set the man off, tae hating the English, happened not long before this. The English were trying tae stop Sorley from taking control of County Antrim, so, while Sorley and his men were in Ballycastle, on the mainland, the English raided the castle on Rathlin island and took all the people there prisoner. In a show of brutality, tae force them tae surrender tae their rule, they gathered up everyone and I mean everyone. Soldiers, villagers, women and children, the lot and at sword point, pushed them off the cliff, tae the rocks below. Sorley and all his men stood in the castle and watched them do it. So tell me, how much ye'd all hate the English, after seeing that?"
Claire MacDonald was the first to speak out. "Aye that's right, Stuart. That did happen like that. I remember from oor history classes, we studied aboot it. That was a vile thing tae do tae people. I mean, I know men were slashing and killing each other, but tae do that tae innocent people, children no less, that just showed the mentality of them. There was no respect paid tae anyone or anything then. Clans just did what they wanted tae and be damned what it did tae people. Och, e'en King James could'ne control his lands then. Then ye've got every one else trying tae put their hat in the ring. The English wanted tae rule us, as well as the Irish. The French wanted tae ha'e an alliance wi' us and e'en the Spanish as well."
Sloan MacLeod slipped in the question that was puzzling them all, before Stuart responded to Claire. "Stuart, why did they call him Sorley Boy?"
"Ye don't know Sloan? I thought ye did. Boy, then, meant fair-haired, Sorley is Celtic fer Charlie. In fact, Sorley's nickname was, 'Yellow Haired Charlie'. And Claire, ye're absolutely right aboot that. The whole place was lawless. I think it would take at least a month of weekends like this, tae tell the whole story. E'en what went on hundreds of years before this, is worth the telling." Stuart found himself feeling a good telling of the history of his clan and the others was well worth the time and money spent, to share it with all the clans and keep the history of it all alive for generations to come. "Okay, before we get tae intae the Irish history of it, I want tae get back tae what was happening wi' Therese, or do ye's care noo?"
In an instant, the calls came out to finish telling what happened to Therese, the calls made by both men and women. Tom let Deb snuggle into him again, some of the other men encouraging their wives to do the same. Stuart smiled broadly at the rapt attention and enjoyment all of it was getting. He quickly saluted his guests with his drink and took a sip, before clearing his throat and starting in.
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William worked the sail for all he could get out of it, but the speed of the lighter birlinn, also being rowed by sixteen men, was much faster. William headed across the sea towards the Mull of Kintyre, in an attempt to make land and run for it, not knowing it was Sorley's father's seat of power. Therese sat and watched, as the birlinn drew closer to them, the fear and dread of the unknown, worse than the reality. She clenched her fists so tight, the nails dug into her palms and caused her to bleed.
John kept watch of everything in front of them, looking to the shore for a quick place to land and get out. In his mind, he was prepared to leave Lady Therese behind and save his own life, knowing how savage the Irish MacDonnell's were from the tales he'd heard. He looked back and saw the birlinn less than a hundred yards back and quickly looked back to shore, trying to judge the distances and their chances of making it. In his heart he held hope, in his mind, death was only minutes away.
With less than a mile to shore, the birlinn reached the galley and came broadside to it, on the starboard side, cutting off the shore from it and any further chance of escape. With ten swords at the ready and four arrows drawn and aimed, William knew his chances were over.
"Lower yer sail, or die where ye stand." the command from Sorley Boy to John, definitive in its meaning.
John quickly lowered their sail and the galley slowed in speed rapidly. The MacDonnell's lowered theirs as well and came along side. Three armed men jumped across and secured the galley with lines, holding it to the birlinn.
"Ye three, come across." Sorley's order, assisted by pointed weapons, left no room for argument.
Therese stood and was helped across by several men, while William and John were left to their own abilities to jump from one boat to the other. In moments, the sails on the galley and the birlinn were raised and both vessels plied north-west through the channelled waters, back towards the Irish coast.
"What's yer reason fer sailing out'ta yer lands and intae mine?" Sorley's question aimed at the two lieutenants.
"We're Scottish soldiers, on a mission fer the Earl of Huntly. We are returning tae Inverlochy Castle, from oor mission in France. We're bringing her Ladyship tae his Lordship, as she is his betrothed." William's voice was clearly showing his fears, which brought a smile to Sorley's face.
"Is this correct?" he quickly snapped at John.
John's fear was worn like a mask, his voice gone from him. He nodded fervently to acknowledge his agreement to William's words, as he handed the letter from the Earl to
him. Sorley opened it and quickly read it.
"Yer both Scottish soldiers, yet ye sail in an royal galley. Why's that?" Sorley questioned them and gave John back the letter..
