1014: Brian Boru & the Battle for Ireland by Morgan Llywelyn Page B

Anticipating the banquet to come. At one end of the long room a harper played softly, with his eyes closed and his head bent over his instrument. Kincora was dreaming, waiting for Brian Boru to bring it awake.
    With a heavy silver cup in his hand, Maelmora sauntered over to join the spectators around the chess table. The king of Leinster drained his cup and set it down, then leaned against the nearest carved and painted oak pillar and folded his arms across his chest. A sneer of contempt was hidden by his beard. After a few minutes he called attention to a possible move Murrough had overlooked .Brian’s son heard the remark but was not aware who had spoken. He took Maelmora’s suggestion. At his opponent’s very next move, Murrough realised the move had cost him the game. Whirling around on his stool, he saw the king of Leinster grinning at him.
    ‘That was the sort of advice you gave the Danes at Glenmama!’ Murrough burst out.
    Maelmora replied with equal rancour. ‘The next time I give them advice they won’t be defeated.’
    Both men were on their feet now, fists clenched. Murrough shouted at the Leinsterman, ‘Then, you coward, you had best tell them to have a yew tree ready for you to hide in!’
    Or so the story goes. Now, no Irishman called another a coward with impunity. Knowing he dare not kill Murrough where he stood, the enraged king of Leinster stormed out of the hall. He and his followers left Kincora without waiting to bid Brian farewell. In a short time they were on their way to Naas.
    When the Árd Rí returned to the great hall his people crowded around him, elbowing one another aside in their eagerness to relate the dramatic incident. From the moment he glimpsed Murrough’s face, however, Brian knew all he needed to know. He ordered a messenger to hurry after the king of Leinster and invite him – withprofuse apologies – to return to Kincora, so that matters between the two kings could be peacefully resolved.
    Maelmora was in no mood to be pacified. When Brian ’s messenger caught up with the Leinstermen, Maelmora himself beat the hapless man to death with a horse-rod made of yew wood and left him on the side of the road with his brains spilling out of his skull. By the time his body was found it was too late for anyone to stop what had been put in motion.
    Maelmora summoned the heads of the Leinster tribes to an assembly at Naas. There he described how he and the entire province had been mistreated by the so-called high king. The usurper from Thomond must be destroyed! Nothing else would satisfy the honour of Leinster.
    Even in the grip of rage, Maelmora knew he could not defeat Brian Boru without help. He sent envoys to seek aid from every king and chieftain in the land, promising battlefield glory. Success attracts begrudgers and Brian’s success was almost incomprehensible to less gifted men; although his firm allies remained loyal to him, petty kings whose allegiance to the Árd Rí was less than certain began to waiver. Wondering if there was something in this for them.
    But when Maelmora’s request reached the princes ofthe Uí Néill, Malachy Mór actually refused to side with the king of Leinster against the man who had taken his throne.
    In Dublin, Gormlaith ranted about the abuse she had suffered at Brian’s hands. Sitric Silkbeard repudiated his father-in-law and revoked any submission to him. The Danes of Dublin were told to prepare for battle, one more time. Sitric was still young, but he was no fool. Like Maelmora he was aware that Brian Boru would be hard to defeat if he was fully roused. This time they must hand the old man a defeat from which he could never recover. Without Brian Boru, Ireland would be ripe for conquest. The potential for plunder would be immense. What an opportunity it would be for the right men! Sitric became very busy indeed.
    Bad news travels faster than good news. Throughout the five provinces it soon became known that a revolt against Brian Boru was in