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him, for I know Brodick would be pleased to know that you think him ruthless.”
    â€œThe man rules with passion,” Otis said.
    â€œYes, he does,” Ramsey agreed. “But he is also fair to a fault.”
    â€œYou were both trained by Iain Maitland, weren’t you?” Brisbane asked.
    â€œWe were.”
    â€œLaird Maitland rules his clan with wisdom.”
    Ramsey concurred. “I also count Iain as my friend and brother.”
    Otis smiled. “Brodick rules with passion, Iain with wisdom, and you, Laird Ramsey, rule with an iron hand of justice. We all know you to be a compassionate man. Show us your mercy now,” he pleaded.
    â€œHow can you know what kind of leader I am?” he asked. “You call me compassionate, but I’ve only been laird for six months and I’ve yet to be tested.”
    â€œLook at your commanders,” Brisbane said with a nod. “Gideon and Anthony and Faudron led and controlled the Sinclair clan when your father was ill, and after he died and you became laird, you didn’t do what others in your position would have done.”
    â€œAnd what would they have done?”
    â€œReplace the commanders with men you know would be loyal to you.”
    â€œWe are loyal to our laird,” Gideon blustered. “You dare to suggest otherwise?”
    â€œNay,” Brisbane countered. “I’m merely saying that other lairds would be less . . . confident . . . and would rid themselves of any competitors. That is all. Laird, you showed compassion by allowing them to stay in their important positions.”
    Ramsey didn’t agree or disagree with the old man’s judgment. “As I just mentioned, I’ve been laird for a veryshort time, and there are problems I must solve within the Sinclair clan. I’m not certain that now is the time to—”
    â€œWe can’t wait any longer, Laird. The Boswells have declared war and there’s talk that they’ll align themselves with the Hamiltons. If that happens, the MacPhersons will all be destroyed.”
    â€œWould your soldiers willingly pledge themselves to Ramsey?” Gideon asked.
    â€œAye, they would,” Otis insisted.
    â€œAll of them?” the Sinclair commander persisted. “There are no dissenters?”
    Otis and Brisbane glanced at one another before Otis answered. “There are but a few against this union. Before we came to you with our proposal, we put it to a vote four months ago. Everyone, man and woman, was included.”
    â€œYou let your women vote?” Gideon asked, incredulous.
    Otis smiled. “Aye, we did, for we wanted it to be fair, and our women will also be affected by the union. We wouldn’t have thought to include them if Meggan MacPherson, granddaughter of our past laird, hadn’t insisted on it.”
    â€œShe is a most outspoken woman,” Brisbane added, though the glint in his eye indicated he didn’t see that as a flaw.
    â€œIf you voted four months ago, why are you just now making this request to Ramsey?” Gideon asked.
    â€œWe’ve actually voted twice now,” Otis explained. “Four months ago we put the vote to the clan and then allowed a period for everyone to consider the matter again. The first vote went in favor of the union, but by a smaller margin.”
    â€œWe didn’t want it to be said that we rushed such an important issue,” Brisbane added. “So we gave them time to consider all the ramifications. Then we voted again.”
    â€œYes,” Otis said. “Many who were at first against the union changed their minds and voted in favor.”
    â€œWe shouldn’t have waited so long to come to you, Laird, because now our situation has become critical.”
    â€œWhat was the result of the second vote?” Ramsey asked. “How many of your soldiers are still against the union?”
    â€œSixty-two are still against, and