Thread: The Spoils of war (Dogged and Vmpdevil101)

Laird Rathe watched the lass closely, noting her abrupt and unusual changes of posture. She'd been a pushy leader to the girls around her, rudely insulting to his men like they were her lessers and acted coldly removed from the dogs' behavior and presence. Rathe didn't like her attitude toward his men, nor Angus, Grier and himself. This McFay gave an impression of an icy, self centered demeanor in which she expected those around her to worship or take her rudely insulting leadership. Then he speaks to the chit and she suddenly postures flamboyantly to give a false impression. It confused him for a moment and his cold hard eyes gleamed as he scrutinized her. She didn't seem to want to rebel against the arranged marriage, but rather, be the aggressor to all she met. She hadn't said a single word or exchange of comfort to the family around her, so she wasn't scared for herself, nor did she feel the need to console anyone. Her posture had changed to an overtly submissive and trite stance to which Rathe found irritating as all hell. She hugged a nearby female tightly, but no words were exchanged, and there were no emotional cues as to any comfort given or received. No names between them or words were heard, nor did the girl's expression change one iota from the cursing bitch she was a few moments ago. If the lass was in a position of authority or a leader of her fellow women, they would have looked to her for guidance before his men or himself had spoken, but there was no indicator of such belief. Anyone could bear a tattoo, but to have earned it was another thing entirely. Laird Rathe was nae marked in his Lairdship, but his men, his dogs and his family looked to him for guidance automatically. There were no signs of demeanor, control, confidence or charisma to indicate that the lass was a leader, other than a tattoo. The slender defiant female tried to stare him down, apparently unmoved and this confirmed that she was no leader, despite the skin defilement. When he himself had the unfortunate luck to be captured once or twice, his first concern was for his kin, his men, his family, his dogs and then himself. She gave no sign of compassion or caring for the crowd of females with her. There were no questions of their safety or inquiries about how those she supposedly led were going to be treated. How cold was this girl to not ask immediately if her comrades would be safe? If her blood kin would be treated fairly? Leadership was a position earned by putting the compassion and needs of others before oneself. Maybe the McFay clan had different standards of true leadership qualities. Putting her head down and averting her eyes were mere displays of submission. It couldn't have been great comfort to her clan, family and village that she merely bowed her head in a falsely demure manner. Her tone was resentfully acquiescent, which made his jaw clench at the fake horse shit going on. When she moved to hug herself, he worked to hide his surprise. She'd shown no concern for her family, nor any direction for them, but when scolded, she needed to comfort her self. When Rathe merely asked something as mundane as her name, apparently he got a first genuine reaction after he'd scolded her. Was it really that big of an issue to ask her name? He could only assume it was a rebellious reaction purely out of habit rather than any actual meaning. His ebony eyes noted that she grasped her own wrist as she spoke with a civil tongue for the first time. It sounded foreign on her as compared to the volley of filth she'd spouted only a few short moments before. Not sir. You will call me M'Lord, Miss McFay. He answered, his temper barely in check. When she had the gall to give him an apology without looking him in the eye, he knew she was lying outright. She could nae make eye contact while saying sorry which made her words and their sentiment untrue. She'd lied to his face and his men also noted that a woman that did nae look ye in the eye during an apology was naught but a liar. Dunnae treat me like a fool with your fake sorry McFay. Have ye nae shame in your crude ways and crooked tongue? The only explanation I can find for your absurd behavior and speech is that ye are but a wee bairn and I mistook ye for a grown lass. He roughly took the rope that bound her hands and held it up to the group. Clan McFay does nae have a discernible or effective leader so I'll let ye ask questions if I have nae answered them. Firstly, welcome to Clan Ramsey. This half of these fine men, he gestured to his left, are my brothers and soon to be your suitors. We here are all expected to marry in the name of peace and as such, we must all comply with the orders of both the Lairds Ramsey and McFay. I'm as reluctant as the rest of ye, male and female, make no mistake. You will be treated with courtesy, fed, bathed dressed in the manner to which ye are accustomed, given escort access around the castle and the stables, and anything within reason and scope to woo your fair sex. I assure ye, we are nae the enemy. My brothers will call out the choices they've made so far on sight and then we'll go from there. I've chosen Elizabeth McFay as my betrothed. We all have exactly a seven day to woo each other and be married to keep the contract of peace between our lands. Let us nae shame our fathers and kin with senseless rebelliousness and disobedience to our families. His last sentence was clearly directed at the lass at his side as his gaze seared furiously into Liz. As my men know what 'tis all about, I open the discussion to the ladies of clan McFay to make their questions known.