Sir Piers then ordered one of his men to take the lad below and keep strict guard over him.

Late that afternoon the galley entered the beautiful Loch Andail and sailed in between ranges of fertile hills, whose lower slopes were gold with ripening oats and waving barley fields.  Islay was at that time one of the most wealthy and prosperous of the Western Isles, thickly populated, and famous over all Scotland for the rich produce of its looms and the beauty of its native pottery wares.  It was important to Alexander that he should win over the complete and undivided adherence of the powerful ruler of so wealthy a country, and Sir Piers de Currie well understood the gravity of his mission.

The anchor was dropped in the middle of the loch where it widens above Bowmore.  Sir Piers and Kenric, attended by six armed men, were taken ashore.  A tall husbandman with a long golden beard and sea-blue eyes stood upon the rocks where they landed, looking out at their great ship from under his wide flapping hat.

“Say, my good man,” said Sir Piers, addressing him, “say if we may hope to find my lord the Earl John in his castle of Bowmore?”

“That,” said the man smiling as he swung his sickle from side to side, “must needs depend upon whether I enter that castle before you or behind you.  But doubtless John of Islay will be right well pleased to give you entertainment this night, for ’tis long since he had news from Scotland, whence, if I mistake not, you are now come.  How fares our sovereign lord the King —­ his Majesty Alexander?”

“Passing well,” said Sir Piers, “for ’tis but a few weeks past that I had speech with him at Dumbarton.”

“Ah, then you heard also of my son —­ my dear son Harald?” cried Earl John eagerly.  “The saints grant that you bring me no ill news of him!  But come, I beg you, for ’tis ill mannered in me thus to question you ere you have broken bread.”

Then the lord of Islay led his visitors to his castle, and there they enjoyed a right lordly repast in the banqueting hall.  And when the feast was over Sir Piers de Currie, as ambassador from the King of Scots, claimed the homage of Earl John, who solemnly swore upon his sword and by the soul of his Majesty the King that he would be true to his fealty to Scotland and abjure all allegiance to Hakon of Norway.

“My lord,” said Sir Piers, “now that you have given us this assurance of your faithfulness, it is my pleasure to tell you that your son is on board our ship and will be at once restored to you.  For these are his Majesty’s instructions.”

In another hour young Harald the hostage was released from the care of the guards who stood over him.  But as the lad left the ship he shook his closed fist at Kenric and swore an oath of vengeance upon him and upon all the men of Scotland whom he should ever afterwards meet.

Kenric thought little of this threat, but it was not long ere the hotheaded young viking put it into execution.