Letters of Fire & Sword

Letters of Fire and Sword A Romantic Scotland Historical Dorothy Wiley Contents Praise for… Other Titles by Dorothy Wiley Declaration of Arbroath Characters Author’s Note To Readers 1. Capture 2. Leaving for Battle 3. A Roaring Lion’s Prison 4. Clan Chiefs & Knights Gather 5. A King Dies and A Cage Is Hung 6. Lions of Bravery 7. They Are Moved 8. A King’s Courage 9. A Sea of Mayhem 10. A King’s Mistake & a Body 11. The Meeting With the Abbot 12. Chivalrous Knights 13. A Return to Life & Death 14. The Past and the Present Converge 15. Awakening 16. The Worst and the Best News 17. The King’s Other News 18. Saying Goodbye to a Knight 19. Saying Goodbye to a Father 20. Midges and Other Enemies 21. Vows and Threats 22. Threats and Confessions 23. The Journey Home Begins 24. A Fine Blade and a Beautiful Ghost 25. Friends and Snakes 26. Two Knights and One Night 27. Pray it Will Be So 28. A Right and a Duty 29. Good and Evil Knights 30. Home Is a Castle 31. A Messy Kitchen and a Stinky Cook 32. Two Good Scots Epilogue Inspirations And Facts Behind This Story Other Titles By Dorothy Wiley About the Author Acknowledgments & Thanks Letters of Fire and Sword Dorothy Wiley Copyright © 2023 by Dorothy Wiley All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any form, printed or electronic, without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials, in violation of the author’s rights. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author via her website www.dorothywiley.com ISBN: 9798378162024 Cover Design and Interior Format: The Killion Group, Inc LETTERS OF FIRE AND SWORD is a fictional novel inspired by history, rather than a precise account of history. Except for historically prominent personages, the characters are fictional and names, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Each book in the series can be read independently. For the sake of understanding, the author used language for her characters for the modern reader rather than strictly reflecting the far more formal speech and writing patterns of the 14th century. Praise for… “Highest praise for this riveting read that plunges readers into Scotland’s turbulent past. Ms. Wiley’s dynamic writing style ensnares readers in a suspenseful historical adventure from page one. Her vivid characters and descriptions immerse the reader in an authentic experience. From nail-biting to sigh-worthy moments, LETTERS OF FIRE AND SWORD captivates, intrigues, and satisfies. You won’t be able to put this enthralling novel down.” ~ USA Today Bestselling Author Collette Cameron Other Titles by Dorothy Wiley WILDERNESS TRAIL OF LOVE NEW FRONTIER OF LOVE WHISPERING HILLS OF LOVE FRONTIER HIGHLANDER VOW OF LOVE FRONTIER GIFT OF LOVE THE BEAUTY OF LOVE LOVE’S NEW BEGINNING LOVE’S SUNRISE LOVE’S GLORY LOVE’S WHISPER RED RIVER RIFLES LAND OF STARS BUCKSKIN ANGEL LAND OF HEROES Characters Bruce Family: Robert the Bruce – Earl of Carrick, Lord of Annandale, King of Scots Elizabeth Bruce – Bruce’s second wife Marjorie Bruce –Bruce’s ten-year-old daughter by his first wife Mary Bruce – Bruce’s sister Christina Bruce – Bruce’s sister Nigel Bruce – Bruce’s younger brother, executed by the English in 1306 Edward Bruce – Bruce’s younger brother, executed by the English in 1307 Alexander Bruce – Bruce’s younger brother, Author’s Note To Readers Some creative license was taken with exact time frames or places to better serve the plot and pacing of Chapter 1 Capture Eight years before the Battle of Bannockburn. Kildrummy Castle, Northeastern Scotland. September 1306 Terror twisted the pit of Erca MacNeill’s