Page 51 of Laird of Wrath

No, it was impossible. He would have to find a different way to deal with Laird Barclay, one that wouldn’t require him leaving and starting another war.

But the people… What will happen to the people?

Laird Barclay wouldn’t stop attacking them, not until he either got what he wanted or he was defeated. This was only the beginning of his plan; Callum was certain of it. And the more he attacked, the more his people would suffer.

Callum could already see it in his mind: villages and towns burning, people losing their homes, their possessions, their lives. Laird Barclay would raze the land until there was nothing left of it.

What does this make me if nae a monster?

To let his people suffer, to let so many die because of one woman, because he had promised Rhea that he wasn’t going anywhere and that he wouldn’t start another war just so he wouldn’t put his own life in danger—it was unthinkable.

Rhea was his weakness. She had quickly wormed her way into his life and his heart, and no matter how much he tried to ignore his feelings, he couldn’t control himself around her.

A weakness…

I shouldnae think of her like this. This isnae her fault. It never was.

It made him feel even more monstrous, thinking of her as a weakness. He could hardly bear it, and yet he found himselftorn between seeing Rhea as his strength and as his weakness, between leaving and staying, between choosing peace and war.

What peace? There will be nay peace, nae until Laird Barclayis dead.

“Callum.”

Rhea’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He hadn’t even realized she had crossed the distance between them to stand by his side.

Up close, she looked in an even worse shape than he had initially thought. There was blood all over her, even in her hair, though she seemed unharmed. And her voice when she called his name had been rough, strangled by the heat and smoke.

“I’ve been callin’ yer name all this time,” she said when he turned to face her. “Did ye nae hear me?”

He hesitated for a moment. “Nay… nay, I didnae hear ye.”

The strange look she gave him was like a spear to the heart. He was lying to her—by omission, sure, but that was still lying.

She didn’t ask him if there was something wrong, but he knew that it was only because she didn’t want to push him. She surely itched to know, but he couldn’t tell her.

“I said ye should say somethin’ to them,” she repeated, tilting her head toward the people who had gathered in the village square.

Callum glanced at them out of the corner of his eye to see that they had organized themselves, making sure that the wounded were tended to, though there was only so much they could do on their own.

“They’d want to hear from ye,” Rhea added.

Callum wanted to ask what there was for him to say. Any reassurance would be a lie if he refused to go after Laird Barclay. He could give them empty promises, but what good would that do other than calm them for a short while?

What if they hear me promises and think they’re safe? They must be prepared at all times.

Callum cleared his throat loudly and took a step forward, drawing the villagers’ attention.

“I willnae tell ye that it’s all over,” he began, and they all fell silent. “I willnae tell ye there willnae be another attack, because I cannae be sure of that. I cannae promise ye that. But what I can promise ye is that ye’ll never be left to fend off an attack alone. From now on, men will be stationed in every village and every town. As many as we can spare.”

It was the least he could do, even if it meant that the castle would lose some of its defenses. A sacrifice like this was necessary if he was to avoid war.

Whispers spread around the square, and he could only catch a few of them. Not everyone was reassured by his words. Not everyone felt safe.

And how could they, when he was so unwilling to fight for them?

“We’ll bring ye grain, too,” he added. “And me men will help ye rebuild the houses. I will come here meself every week to ensure that the work goes well.”

The villagers seemed to be more relieved at that, and that gave him some comfort. While they were too busy talking among themselves, he slipped back and away, into the shadows, where no one would bother him.