The roar of anger that tore from Marcus' throat wasn't anything new to his guards or the spectators in the castle courtyard. When he swung his sword, he did so with deadly intentions and harnessed his rage to make a death as quick and clean as possible. The man knelt down before him, head on the chopping block, had assaulted one of the village women and would now pay the price for it in the same way Marcus made most people pay - by execution.

Landing true across the back of the neck, the man was ended with one brutal, primal roaring swing, from Marcus' master-crafted longsword. The noise and blood that followed were hardly pretty, but it was something the Teryn reveled in. He enjoyed battle, war and dealing death. At least on most days. Today would prove different.

"By my right to rule as Teryn, I have executed this man for crimes against my people. Let this be a lesson to any who would cross me or wrong those under my protection. I will never hesitate to put a neck beneath my blade! I swear it here and now before all the Gods and wit-.."

Marcus' booming voice trailed off abruptly, smack in the middle of his gruff, threatening speech to all in attendance, as a carriage rolled up into the courtyard and the small side door opened. Instead of maintaining his vicious cast of features and the borderline blood-crazed gleam in his eyes, he quickly turned and handed off his sword to a guard to take and clean for him.

A rag was pulled out of his sword belt and he desperately tried to clean the blood from his hands and a bit of a spray that had stained his cheek. Growing more and more docile or calm by the second, Marcus approached the carriage just in time for you to step down and look around the scene before you, including the headless body not so far away.

"I hadn't expected you for another hour or two. Please forgive me for such a display on your first official visit to my lands." Marcus said, voice remarkably soft and gentle now.

He offered out his mostly clean hand to you now, hoping you would accept it. A smile remained at his lips for a few beats pause before he spoke a bit further.

"Thank you for agreeing to come, as well. I know this business between your father and I is likely difficult to accept or adjust to, but I ask you give the idea, and me, a chance. I believe we would do very well together. You would make a fine ruler at my side, over these lands and you would want for nothing. This, I swear."

Marcus looked you over once more as he awaited your reply to his offer of a hand and his words. You were over ten years his junior and absolutely stunning. He was smitten with you. He wanted you. Now, he had to work to make you want or accept him in return. The alliance was a bonus, but his true desire was to have you be the one to help him sire heirs, should the day come he fell in battle, sickness or an assassination plot.