MacDougal Farm Land......

[Devona]

Devonas lips press softly down upon each other as she hums a tune she knows all too well. The lady she took her name from would hum the song as she took care of her. At those times she would drift in and out of conscience. She remembers the song well, it wandered over her mind the whole time she was with Devona. Pulling the brush over Santo Muertes form she tilts her head and flirts with the idea of taking a ride up north. She had asked around and everyone had said the Macdougalfarm land was about an hour away. Muerte tosses his head in the air as if reading Devonas mind. Their eyes meet and she smirks. “Alright Muerte, we shall go for a ride,......”she turns in the stall and starts to places Muertes things away. She was a little bit of a neat freak, everything had their place, and if they didn’t her mind could not settle. Moving alongside Muerte her fingers glide over his form. Her right hand collects the bridle and places it over Muertes head. Her left hand joins in the action as her right moves to place the bit into his mouth. She still had not finished her saddle. She frowns a bit at the fact, but really she did not have the nerves to do such detailed work at the moment. She did not mind riding bare back. Muerte moves along side of her, the reigns loose in her hands.

Once out of the stable she mounts Muerte, her left leg still a bit sore, but getting much better, she would have to get the stitches out soon. She has to hold Muerte back from charging right into a gallop, he had a lot of energy to get rid of.  The only weapon she would have with her was her dagger, the blade is always in a holster attached to her upper left thigh.  They move out of the town to the north west. They move like one form, they have gotten to know each other movements well. Devona does not allow herself to fully enjoy the ride. Her eyes peer out into the woods for raiders, as her ear are working overtime to pick up any sound at all. Devona understands raiders, for that is what she was when her instincts kicked in.

The ride plays a toll on her mind., listening and looking so hard tires her mind out. She has not used these skills in sometimes to this degree. She slows Muertes pace when her eyes fall on the farm land. They had made the trip a little faster then a normal rider. Her hood lays on her back, so her red hair moves freely into the wind. She did not have a plan, she just wanted to scout the area, if someone seen her and started a conversation it would be an added bonus.

[Sir Kyle]

February 2, 1322
The MacDougal Farm Land  post.

I arrived by horse back at the MacDougal ranch on Saturday, dismounted and was greeted by Michael before I had even tethered My steed. He asked what brought Me o'er and I said I wanted a few words wi' His brother, Douglas.

Michael escorted Me inside where Douglas was sitting before the fireplace downin' an ale. He sent a nice lookin' young female named Stella in the back t' fetch Me an ale. Michael took a seat  wi' us and listened as I asked Douglas point blank if those recent raiders  we're people he'd hired.

Of course, He declined any knowledge of them, saying the first he'd heard o' the affair was when Michael returned wi' the story. He said He was equally concerned fer the safety of his workers and the cattle and sheep they raise on the farm. He assured Me that He wasn't lookin' fer trouble. Michael jumped in sayin' he was courtin' abby and certainly didn't want any trouble between us.

I drank their ale, chatted about the weather fer a bit, and once more advised Douglas that things were much better since We weren't fussin' wi' each other these days. We shook hands as I left, but there was no doubt Douglas is nae a happy man. Our recent purchase o' all o' the MacLaaran lands, except their farm, from King Robert the Bruce ne'er set well wi' Him.

The MacDougals always felt the forests were open ground even though the MacLaarans arrived back in 1200 and built the castle claimin' they had purchased the land from an old and dyin' Mathew MacDougal. Several wars had been fought o'er all these borders.

Our well paid guards keep them at bay, but I know that given an opportunity, Douglas might raise a ruckus. Michael is the easier goin' o' the two and accepts Douglas as the boss o'er there.

I rode back satisfied that fer now it might have just been a few wild rogue bandits looking fer trouble that had bumped inta Trya at the borders.

[Sir Kyle]

February 4, 1322
(posted by Kyle as Douglas MacDougal NPC)

Two days after Kyle stopped by to discuss some raiders pestering our common boarders, inferring that I might be involved, a female road onto our MacDougal property asking Michael for me. Michael brought her up to the ranch house high on the hill and introduced her as Gerhild Dunstan.

She sure is one tall, good lookin' female with a German accent. She didn't mince words, just offered her services, saying she'd heard that we were in need of some strong well armed men.

At first I put her off, assuming this was one of those female warriors recently added to Sir Tristram de Liones MacLaaran Guards, sent up here by Kyle to spy on us. She just laughed when I challenged her in that regard. She said her men were camped north of MacLaaran and she'd heard of my interests in assistance in one of the Hollywell taverns.

She's obviously a hired mercenary and may indeed have been behind that little raid last week that upset Kyle and the Mac people, but she wouldn't admit having any part in that fiasco.

After a few coarse words between us, we eventually sat down in front of our burning living room fireplace to chat. Stella, my girlfriend and housekeeper, fetched us several ales as we talked late into the night. I finally offered Gerhild two gold sovereigns a month for her services and one gold sovereign a month for each of her several men.

I invited her to spend the night in a spare bedroom upstairs, and the thought of bedding this morsel down did cross my mind, but she just laughed and refused to spend the night, saying she needed to get back to their camp where her men were waiting for an answer.

This might just be the kind of force I need to regain control of the forests that my stupid ancestor sold to the MacLaarans in 1200 for a mere pittance.

((In the year 1200, Andrew MacLaaran had purchased the huge piece of land from an aging Scot named Laird Matthew MacDougal, in spite of objections from Laird Mathew's many sons. Mathew was discouraged because his sons would rather hunt and trap in the forest, or dally with the village harlots, than farm the rich soil and expand the family fortune.))

[Devona]

((posting as Gerhild Dustan ncp))




Several of her men meet her out side of the MacDougals farm land. There was no way they would have let something as valuable as Gerhild to enter a situation like this with out backup. Even though she though she was better, she had seen lower then these people put up a good fight. She needed to keep her good looks to gather inside information. 

“ein Goldsouverän ein Monat für jeden von Ihnen, mehr für meine Sachkenntnisse.”(one gold sovereign a month for each of you, more for my skills.)' Her voice firm and stiff like her actions. Her Steed does not slow as she speaks the words. They move back to their camp, and she tells the men they will be moving it in the morning.  She had plans on staying in Castle MacLaaran to gain more information about this little dispute. If it was deeds Douglas MacDougal wanted, she could get them in other fashions then brute force.

Moving into her tent and stripping the leather gloves from her hands she nods to her servant.

"Whisky, ich muss diesen Schottischen Ale-Geschmack aus meinem Mund bekommen!"('whiskey, I need to get this Scottish Ale taste out of my mouth!') Gerhild does not speak to her servant any better then she treats her horse. Moving over to a desk and chair she sits down and takes out a paper and quill. When the whisky is places before her she snatches it and downs a good portion of it. After the letter is finished she moves out of the tent and looks around her camp.

"Liefern Sie dem, um MarLaaran Zu rochieren, und nicht abreisen, bis Sie, sich selbst sieh, dass es von Herrn Kyle gelesen wird!"(Deliver this to Castle MarLaaran, and do not leave until you, yourself see it is read by Sir Kyle! ) She winks and looks the man over."Änderung in etwas Passenderes und Tat als mein Vater-Bote" (Change into something more suitable and act as my fathers messenger) Smacking the mans bottom she grins and moves back into her tent. She thinks of Dougals’ eyes roaming over her curves and makes sure to have a good bath before her servant turned down her for the leaving.

[Devona]

((posting for Gerhild Dunstan ~npc~ and it should have been posted like three days ago. She is going out to his farm land today...so he can answer her there, or in a letter.))

One of her man, dressed formally arrives at the farm house. He has been trained well and knows that no one from the village has followed him. His mistress is a lady, but most of the men are afraid of her. She can use their weapon just as well as them, and some even say better. He did not want to draw more attention to her then she wanted.

It all depends on who meet him first. He would place a letter in there hand, which was sealed, it had to look at though it was going to Gerhild father. His German accent heavy on the air”For Douglas MacDougal, and I shall wait for a response.”

The letter simply states...

You should tell a lady what one would find interesting to do in this area.....

                                                                                                             Gerhild

Since this was the first letter and she did not know how her man would be intercepted by the guards she hopes the farmer can read between the lines and see she is wanting to wanting to know what her task is.

[Sir Kyle]

February 11, 1322
(posted by Kyle as Douglas MacDougal NPC)

Returning from the field where we're branding some cattle found loose and unmarked, I saw that German  lady, Gerhild, ride up to the ranch house with five men. She said she was here supposedly asking if any of the farm land was available for purchase.

Of course, that's a cover up  for her real reasons. She's a mercenary here hoping to get paid in gold for helping me gain control of the MacLaaran lands. We sat on the porch and I shared  my plans, then sent her back to spy on the castle.

I need to know how Kyle and lava are reacting to Michael's efforts to court lava's sister, abby.

[Sir Kyle]

(posted by Kyle as Douglas MacDougal NPC)

*smilin' t' Myself as Michael returns from His date wi' that sexy little hussy, abby... deciding nae to ask questions t'night.....  but a passing remark o'er breakfast might answer the question*

[Sir Kyle]

(posted by Kyle as Michael MacDougal NPC)

My older, pain in the ass brother, Douglas, keeps asking me when I plan to bed that sexy hussy, abby, down and marry her. I keep telling that it's none of his damn business. All he wants is potential access to abby's sister's wealth.

I really like abby and things are moving along slowly. Never rush a female if you wanna keep her. She suggested that our next date might be a picnic down by the McLaaran Loch. She'll bring the lunch and I provide the horses the wine and a blanket.

[~lava~]

(posted by lava as abby NPC)

*frowning as i wipe down the counter of the coffee shoppe, deep in thought*....Kyle was just in having coffee and was asking me questions about my date with Michael. He didn’t exactly hide the fact that he is nae thrilled with the thought of Michael and me dating. But he knows that Michael is a nice guy, so he won’t come out and tell me not to see him. Not that i would listen anyway. He’s lava’s bossy Master, nae mine! So far, mum and sis have kept pretty quiet and aren’t giving me a hard time. But i am sure that they agree with Kyle. Who cares?! You can nae judge one brother by the actions of the others. i can nae wait until our picnic. i plan on kissing that sexy mouth of his again and again, making him crazy with desire…*the frown turns into a sexy smile as i saunter over to a table of patrons and take another order*

[Sir Kyle]

(posted by Kyle as Michael MacDougal NPC)

I spoke with abby on Wednesday and we agreed to hold our next "date" in the castle gardens Thursday evening. It might be interesting to see how Kyle reacts to this move.