Ian slowly made his way back to the Dunbrogh castle. Its dark stone rose menacingly up into the sky in an authoritarian way that Ian Macintosh just did not like. His eyes were feeling a bit better from the sight of sparks in dim light and he blinked away the pain feeling triumphant. The castle could look down at him all it wanted but he felt like the cat that caught the mouse. His jet black hair shimmered almost greasily , he would have to have a bath soon, before he met the Princess. He had the potion around his neck and he gripped it now and then as if he could loose it. It was spring but Ian chose to showcase his bare chest under a thick black wolf fur cloak parting it now and then so people could view his strong body. His blue tattoos caught many men's eyes. He had added to his collection of swirls and knotwork on his skin since he was last at this castle. Ian was the spitting image of his father but sported certain characteristics of his mother. Traits like his vibrant blue eyes and raven hair with a slight wave.
He strode over the moat and was joined by two of his most trusted chieftain warriors , who also happened to be his playmates when they were boys.
" Aye s' how was the hag?" The black haired Pict with tattoos over his entire face smirked. He was Cinead Macintosh. The Picts had a distinct quality of being dark haired ,wiry and boastful. The three men walked together with a swagger a giant bull might have had walking through his pasture of cows.
Ian let his eyes twinkle mischievously as he held up the vile on a leather rope around his neck. They passed some fair almost white haired maidens at the black smith shop. The two black haired clansmen smiled at their future lords successes making them only more haughtily .
"Will Eet make her bed ye' right away?" The tattooed faced man jabbed at his future Lord in an excited whisper.
"It May." Ian smiled at the idea, he had almost had the chance to bed her at his castle. Something he believed would have happened if a black haired woman did not try to Bait and Switch him at Castle MacGuffin. The note was a forgery but Ian refused to believe it was as it was much more pleasing to him to think the Princess secretly wanted him. Cinead jabbed the other Chieftain with a knotty fist and the three chucked like children up to tricks and mischief. They continued into the courtyard deeper into the castles fortifications, and they passed a red haired warrior who gripped the pommel of his long sword as he watched them pass.
Hamish clenched his jaw and gave the two warriors and Ian a sour look, he knew the look they had on their faces. He and his brothers shared the same sneaky look when they were up to no good , he already did not trust the Picts as there was whispers they dabbled in dark magic. He watched them for as long as he could stand, something caught his eye. Ian had a silver locket on a necklace. He was not the type for lockets , and this one he clutched as if he wanted to keep it safe. Ian had no use of jewelry that did not have a significant meaning so he stomped off angrily as he was eager to find his eldest brother.
"Who dose it work?" A monotone voice as smooth and thick as the icy waters of a cold spring stream chimed up. The Pict on the right of Ian was Raibert Macintosh -"puddock " they called him. For he was in many ways like a puddock, a toad. He was cold by nature and slimy. His hair was often greasy and stick strait, though long and flowing to his hips. He was handsome enough but his gauntly face with high cheekbones, sunken in cheeks and paler then normal skin made his black eyes seem bottomless and vacant.
"Rrr, I think I hve to put som o my hair in it and geet her t' drink it, then she will be mine." Ian said dreamily.
"Just as ur mother promised." Cinead said sorrowfully as he touched his chest, the whole clan mourned her loss she had been a good mother and a fair asset to the clan. He remembered Ian's mother as she was a mother figure to all three of them and they had loved her dearly.
The black eyes of Puddock had picked up on the sour looking Harris and had watched him depart. He turned his dead eyes back to the road ahead , like a toad he was always watching without expression.
"whoot ever you do ye hav' t' do it fast." Poddock said factually. Cinead had picked up on what his friend was talking about.
"Aye think he is right , the clans men here seem suspicious." Cinead looked around at the eyes of the red haired clansmen on the three friends as they continued to their wing in the castle. He spit on the castle floor at them as they had entered the personal home of the king and queen.
Ian shrugged dismissively and smiled at a group of woman who swooned at his sparkling smile. He did not care a stick about any woman now that he thought he was infatuated with Merida. But he was a sucker for attention and their swoons boosted his confidence though he would soon forget their faces in a few minutes.
" They will have to learn to get over it as I will marry Merida and be their king. " Ian said smugly.
Poddock nodded, that would soon be true.
"wee Dingwall it is nice t' see you what is the meaning of this visit?" The queen had smoothly asked the stately looking Rabbie Dingwall with a sleepy look on his face.
"My lady we are here for the spring equinox , we have come with presents."
"Aye?" the queen said suspiciously , many whispers had come to her ears of a secret wager on her daughters hand in marriage.
"Aye?" Chirped the Bear king excited about the presents that were mentioned and turned his attention away from his dear deer hounds that lovingly sought his attention at the kings feet.
Ian Macintosh had entered the great hall and stood in the shadow of the door way carefully gritting his teeth at the sight of Wee Rabbie. His two friends at his shoulders like black war dogs that mirrored his look of smoldering anger at the almost white haired young lord. He was also here for Merida.
Rabbie nodded his head and his two sisters came forward , pale beautiful flowing woman. One with a rabbit in her arms tied around the neck with a smart red bow and her sister with a basket of brightly colored eggs.
"We will be providing the feast this evening" One of them cooed as a white dove.
"One hundred Rabbits and crates of eggs we brought our own cooks." the other sister chimed sweetly , they all had shared the vacant and stately look their brother had as well as his almost silver white hair. The cooks mentioned stepped forward there was about 2o of them and each had gifts of rabbits, spices and eggs ready to be cooked.
"hopefully this will bring upon some …fertility to our land this year."
Ian could have snapped Rabbies neck the way he said' fertility' his mind shot to a vision of the silver haired lad pressuring Merida for her hand in marriage .
Ian's blood boiled.
But that did not just enrage Ian as much it had whipped Grant into a furious anger. He looked on to the royal family and specifically Wee Dingwall with fire in his eyes as he watched from the crowd in front of the podium.