"Katie? Katie, where the devil have you gone?"
"Up here. And quiet your shouting. I ain't deaf."
William Wallace poked his head out of the window and sighed. "Uncle would have a fit if he saw you out there."
"And would I care if he did?"
William reached up and grasped the edge of the roof and pulled himself carefully out the window and hauled himself up onto the steep roof. He frowned at his sister. "You'll catch your death of cold out here."
Katie Wallace turned and looked at him. She reached up with a slender white hand and brushed a strand of her fiery red hair out of her crystal blue eyes to study her brother. "I doubt it," she said at last. She turned back to looking out over the countryside of her Uncle Bard's estate. "Do you think Uncle meant what he said tonight?"
"Of course. He always means what he says." Nineteen year old William folded his arms on top of his knees. "I always knew he would make you're his heir."
No brother and sister wherever exactly so opposite as Katie and William. William's untamed, shoulder length brown hair and black eyes clashed heavily with his sister's red hair and blue eyes. William was tall, thin and gangly but with the strength of an ox. His Uncle had seen him well trained in all weapon arts but he preferred rocks and his bare hands above all others. Katie was slim but with a full figure that made her look far older than she was. At her insistence, Bard Wallace had had her trained as well. He had stood on the wall that surrounded his large courtyard and watched with pride as Katie had learned fencing, archery and the age-old art of wrestling.
Katie was as capable of taking care of herself as her brother was and for this reason, Bard had decided to let her return to her home with her brother when he left. That night, at the supper table, he had informed them that Katie was to be his heir and when he died, his estate, the title of Baron, and all his wealth where hers to do with as she pleased. William was not left out and he would be a wealthy man when his Uncle died. But for now, both children where returning to their homeland in the far north. It was no more than small huts set out in the mud but it was their home. Oppressed mightily by the English nobles and King Edward Longshanks.
"What do you think we'll find at home, William?" asked Katie as she studied the stars that where beginning to become visible.
"Things just the way we left 'em. Still over run by Englishmen."
"Did you hear of Edward's latest decree?" Katie asked quietly. "I heard it today from someone who was visiting Uncle. He was a noble man. He said Edward has decreed that the English noblemen have the right of prima noches once more."
William looked at her sharply. "You aren't serious."
"I am."
The right of prima noches had been outlawed hundreds of years ago. It was a barbaric practice. Nobleman received first rights to a newlywed girl on the day of her wedding. It was King Edward's belief that if he couldn't make the Scots into better people, he would breed them out.
"I hope he comes to a bitter end and make no mistake," muttered William.
"Aye, and I hope to be the one to deliver that end."
William looked at his sister. "So that's why you're going back."
She looked at him. "What?"
"You're going back to fight."
"Of course." Katie's blue eyes began to burn. "I'll not live in luxury and freedom while my friends are still under England's foot."
William smiled gently at his younger sister. "You where born to be free, Katie."
"Aye. And I'll help free others." She looked at him. "Will you help me?"
"Of course," he said without hesitation. "It's what the rest of our family's died for. Why not us?"