Aonghus
Banestorm: Book II
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Aonghus is the bastard son of a Roman soldier and a farmer's daughter. He grew up on the farm with many aunts, uncles, and cousins. At eleven, Aonghus was sent to serve table at the house of the land lord. Since he was of an age with Bradán, they became friends.
One day an incident of harmless mischief was taken as a serious insult by a member of the household, and resulted in both boys standing shamefaced before the high seat of The Lord, Bradans father. When it was time for the blame to fall, it was going to fall undeservedly on Angus. Angus did not protest, but Bradan would not let his friend suffer for what he had done, and confessed bravely. The Lord was impressed with Bradan's courage, but also with the serving boy's loyalty. He took Angus to page.
As a page, Aonghus had more opportunities to show his worth as a battlefield messenger and assistant. Then at age fifteen he uncovered a plot among a unit of mercenaries in the lord's employ to switch sides during a battle. The Lord recognized that Aonghus' loyalty and nose for secrets could be put to better use. Aonghus was secretly apprenticed to Colwyn, the house spymaster, and trained thoroughly in espionage.
When old Colwyn died, of natural causes, Aonghus took over. Using Norris' contacts and his own, he established a network of spies among the servants, innkeepers, thief takers, and rat catchers for many miles around. Aonghus puts on the cover of Simple Angus, an inept thief-taker, bumbling around the lord's holdings and neighboring lands. He rarely returns home with a thief, but he always returns with secrets.
