Page 20 of Her Highland Prophecy
“I mean, someone else would try to become Laird in your place by force.”
“Aye, that’s it exactly. I have several cousins that have claim to challenge me for the Lairdship,” he said.
That wasn’t any different from what had happened with the Royal family in the next century, though there were religious politics in play in that particular instance. She had thought that the clans would be a little less ruthless in that respect.
“Would they truly do that?” She could not imagine doing something similar to someone in her own family. Granted, she had no cousins, but if her sister was the one in charge, she would never do anything to usurp her authority.
“Some of them willnae do it, but others…it would be too much of a temptation.”
“But why?”
“Me Faither…” he shook his head. “He is nay the best Laird, much as it pains me to say so.”
“Why would you say that?”
“How much do ye ken about the clans, lass?” he asked.
She thought back to the large, dusty books that she had devoured in her quest to find more information on the Scottish clans before their downfall in the Jacobite rebellion when she was back at University. They had fascinated her and she had read anything she could get her hands on. Unfortunately, it all felt woefully inadequate in the face of actual clan politics.
“I know a bit, but not too much about how being Laird works,” she admitted. “A lot of the earlier records have been lost.” He nodded in understanding.
“It’s nae simple, being the Laird of such a large clan. Ye must be both stern and fair and ye need to be able to guide yer Clansmen. They must respect yer authority in all things.”
“That sounds like most rulers and monarchs around the world,” she said. He nodded.
“Our people look to us for protection. We must keep them safe both in times of peace and in times of war, and we are responsible for the land.”
She looked at him as he spoke and could feel the pride that he felt about his eventual position as Laird. His green eyes were lit with enthusiasm as he described the duties he obviously could not wait to assume.
“We collect rent from our tenants and bolster the coffers of the Castle. When it is needed, we can then offer aid to our people and pay taxes to the English. If we didnae pay, then they can seize our land and turn out our clan.”
That does not sound unlike the system that England had in place in this era, though it would have taken much more than simply owing taxes for the Crown to seize their land.
“That sounds awful. Does that happen a lot?” she wondered out loud. She could not imagine living with the fear of being evicted from her home at any time.
“Nay, almost never.” She relaxed a little at his words.
“That's good,” she said, but his reassurance did not last long.
“It doesnae happen, because whenever a Laird is deemed unworthy someone from within the Clan will challenge his rule and then take over as Laird. That does happen a fair bit.”
“And you think this will happen in your clan?”
“I ken very well that it will.”
She was slightly startled at the conviction she could hear in his words and voice. He was absolutely certain of his statement.
“How?” she asked curiously.
“I told ye that me Faither is nay a guid Laird.” She nodded. “He is too soft hearted, too easy on the tenants that willnae pay the rent that is due.”
“Why would they not pay the rent?” she asked. If the Clan needed to pay taxes in order to survive, why would they not?
“Many reasons. This last winter was a harsh one with the frost lasting longer than usual. We lost many crops to snow and ice.”
She looked around her at the vibrant green foliage that surrounded them and was almost unable to imagine it being so harsh as he described though intellectually, she knew it was true. Even in her own time, the Scottish Highlands were known for their harsh winters.
Across the river, in the distance, she could see a tall mountain still capped in snow even though it was the middle of summer and shivered, How much colder would it be in winter, if snow was able to cling to the mountain when the sun was hot?
