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“I thought we were capturing these estates?” Douglas asked.

“Aye, I considered it, but when ye think about the manpower needed tae defend them, well, I think that’s better used elsewhere. We are gaeing tae raze them tae the ground and leave the earth scorched behind us. I want them tae know that if they dare tae attack us, then we’ll take everything they have and burn it down. That’s the message we need tae send. That’s what will capture their attention.” Laird Wallace’s eyes gleamed as he spoke, shining as though a fire had already been lit inside them.

“Aye, Uncle,” Douglas said, finding himself uneasy about the prospect of burning the house, especially if Lyndsay happened to be in it.

Laird Wallace pulled Douglas aside and lowered his voice to speak to him privately.

“How was Fergus?” he asked.

“Fergus was fine. He acquitted himself well,” Douglas said.

“Ye know I could hae sent him tae lead one of these raiding parties as well,” Laird Wallace said.

“I think we were both surprised when ye didnae.”

Laird Wallace smirked at this. “Well, ye two are my most promising warriors and are the future of this clan. If I hae my way, I’m gaeing tae hae many years left in me, but I know we are nae always lucky enough tae choose how long our life is. Ye know as well as I dae how quickly life can change.” He snapped his fingers as he said this. “One of ye is gaeing tae lead the clan in my absence. Ye hae both been like sons tae me, but whichever one I choose is gaeing tae hae tae deal with the other. Fergus is a proud man, and if I choose ye, ye will hae a target on yer back.”

“I think I hae one of those already,” Douglas said in a wry tone.

“Aye, that ye likely dae,” Laird Wallace cackled. “I just wanted tae let ye know that how ye handle Fergus is a good lesson, for if ye inherit my position asleaderof Scotland, then ye will always hae people who are trying tae take the power from ye. It will nae be an easy life.”

“I understand, Uncle,” Douglas said.

“Good. Ye are a good lad, Douglas,” Laird Wallace said, patting and squeezing Douglas’s arm. “One day, we’ll make the English pay dearly for what they hae taken from ye and I, and we’ll make the Highlands chant our name. Ye did me proud taeday. I look forward tae hearing more about yer exploits.”

“If I did well, it was only because of the plan ye formed, Uncle. The victory and the glory is for ye and ye alone.”

Laird Wallace slapped Douglas on the back and laughed loudly, turning back to the other warriors and clasping his hands together.

“Ye should all gae and burn these English estates tae the ground! Gae and make the blaze sae powerful they can see it all the way tae the south. I want them tae understand that us Highlanders are nae something they can dare forget—or ignore. We are here tae make their lives hell and gain revenge for all the crimes of the past. Let the fires burn all the way sae that our kin will see what we hae done, and they will know that the Wallace clan is here tae make Highlanders proud again!”

There was a cheer from the other men, even the man who looked battered and beaten. Douglas forced the joy from his mouth, though, and returned to his horse with a somber feeling in his heart. He had no love for the English in general, of course, but burning the buildings seemed like overkill, and it was the first time when he began to doubt his uncle’s leadership. Surely it would have been far better to regroup and let the corpses left behind speak for themselves or even to keep hold of at least one estate. To Douglas’s mind, it seemed more daunting to take their land rather than burn it and leave it behind.

He had assumed that while Laird Wallace tried to become a King in Scotland, he would be given some land to rule over, something that was entirely his own, and then when the time came, he would be able to take the throne from his uncle. As much as he enjoyed living in his uncle’s shadow, it wasn’t something that he wanted to do forever. As Laird Wallace said, nobody could ever know when they would join the departed in the stars, and there were still many things Douglas wanted to accomplish before his time was through, such as having children. He had always wanted another family to replace the one he had lost, but as yet, he hadn’t met a woman who seemed worthy of becoming his wife.

His thoughts turned to Lyndsay again. Why did she torment him so? She was English. By all rights, he should have hated her, and yet there was a deep affection that grew within his heart. The feeling of holding her through the night brought him great comfort and made something warm and sharp stir within him. He had waited for her to go to sleep the previous night, and when peace came over her eyes, she was exquisite. She was unlike anyone he had ever known before, and he wanted to explore this connection they had with each other, although he wasn’t sure how. If he dared bring an English woman back, he would be ridiculed and seen as a traitor. Their blood was weak, and his uncle would surely make his decision then regarding who was going to become the heir to the clan, and potentially the throne.