[center][h3][i][color=33d6c2]Saisri Tyalanthe[/color][/i][/h3][/center] [@Ellion] Saisri was rather surprised that she had already been chosen. She expected her tan skin and muscles would put a lot of lords off, but apparently not this one. She went willingly as he dragged her over to his brothers, stood smiling contentedly even as the brothers called her “the bottom of the barrel.” Turquoise eyes shifted to her new husband. She curtsied slightly but maintained eye contact. [color=33d6c2]“My name is Saisri Tyalanthe. By what name do I have the honor of calling you? As I don’t suppose calling you “Ex” as these brutes do is going to be acceptable to your own honor.”[/color] She looked back up to her husband’s brothers and narrowed her eyebrows slightly. [color=33d6c2]“I understand that I might only be an item of property to you, but the least you could do is show a bit of respect for your brother’s choices… If you are so much wiser than he, why are you two not the ones taking brides of your own?”[/color] She flashed a razor-blade of a smile, before turning her gaze, now warm again, back onto her husband. [hr] [center][h3][b][color=f0a446]Siadamkiru Beneni[/color][/b][/h3][/center] [@WeepingLiberty][@NarcissisticPotato][@WilsonTurner] Sia inclined her head to the massive Drakken beside her. [color=f0a446]“I have been well, thank you for asking. It is a pleasure to see you as always, Lugft.”[/color] Technically she should have addressed him as “My Lord” buuut… since he’d called her by her first name, she’d return the favor. She kept her eyes on the incoming brides, but did not see any that caught her fancy. As Lugft made his move on a very tiny girl, she curled her lip slightly but did not say anything. A rush of pity went through her, however; Lugft would break the poor child in a matter of days. But after he’d lost four brides… he’d be sure to not lose this one. No, but he’d still make living to be torture for the girl. Sia’s heart went out to the small girl and her twin sister. But there was nothing she could do. She would not make a scene with the massive Drakken who was kind of… an ally? Not a friend, but not someone whom bore her any animosity. She was temporarily distracted by… someone. Valryk Galak of Sylra, he introduced himself as. But there was something that rang very… false about him. He was too bookish, for any self-respecting Drakken lord. “A bit of a scholar”, he had said. He just seemed nosy. She’d heard of Sylra before but never heard anything of any lord worth anything from there. And certainly this man, “bit of a scholar”, was not any sort of brilliant specimen [color=f0a446]“How odd… I was not aware that we were to be graced with the presence of one of our brothers from Sylra. I must say that your appearance is rather… disappointing. For a lord of your presumed status I expected one of somewhat greater… stature”[/color] Her eyes scanned the line of Gems that was flowing in, not even looking at the Drakken who spoke to her. Her eyes lighted on a girl. Scared. Gorgeous but scared, tears in her eyes. A sweet-looking girl. She deserved some comfort. Sia hadn’t been in time to get to the twins, but… she could help this one. She turned to leave the Drakken male. [color=f0a446]“My advice to you, “Lord Valryk Galak”, is to not seem too interested in books, nor in what is other people’s business. It is most unbecoming of a lord.”[/color] She walked up to the line of brides, eyeing the girls slowly. The one who had caught her eye stood near the end, shifting uncomfortably. Sia walked closer, keeping her eyes friendly and wide, though her gait was still that of a huntress. She paused in front of the girl, for a moment uncertain, and then decided to make a move like the men would. She took the girl’s hand in hers and brought it to her mouth and kissed it. Then she put her arm around the girl’s shoulders and gently led her away from the line, keeping her hand open on the girl’s back and applying pressure as gently as possible so that there would be no bruising or discomfort. [color=f0a446]“My name is Siadamkiru Beneni. You can call me Sia. I mean you absolutely no harm. Everything that happens here is for show.”[/color] She whispered down into the girl’s ear as she led her back to stand among the lords. Sia kept her arm across the small girl’s shoulders, and gently, with the other hand, brushed the girl’s hair out of her face. A little louder, she said, [color=f0a446]“Now, what’s your name, you pretty thing?”[/color] [hr] [center][h3][i][color=fda5e7]Aerienna Cassiel[/color][/i][/h3][/center] Auram save her, she’d been the first one claimed. And the one who’d claimed her was by far the most massive lord in the whole place, towering well over seven feet. The strength in his arms, even as he so delicately took her hand and placed a kiss on it, was enough to make her tremble all over. Aery shrunk down a bit, only held up by her sister, whom stood a little bit behind her. [color=c2a5fd]“You’ll be fine, Aery. He probably only looks intimidating and is actually really sweet.”[/color] the smaller twin spoke, but lacked conviction. [color=fda5e7]“I hope-”[/color] Aery said, her voice shaking. She was cut off as a vicious-looking Drakken, maybe not as big as the one who’d claimed her, but looking more bloodthirsty, stormed over and grabbed her sister, yanking her roughly out of line. Aery shouted, lunging for them, but one of the other brides in line held her back. Her eyes welled up with tears as she watched the Drakken all but carrying Miry out. She looked like a doll in his grip, and judging by the horrified look on Miry’s face and the wry grin on the Drakken’s, he was scaring her. Some smaller Drakken shouted, confronting the bigger one, whom let go of Miry to try to intimidate the littler one. But he didn’t back down. Aery expected a bloodbath, but instead the larger Drakken stormed away, and her sister was left with the arguably less terrifying midget Drakken. Convinced that Miry was going to be alright, Aery focused on contemplating her future with the absolutely massive lord who’d kissed her hand. [hr] [center][h3][i][color=c2a5fd]Aymiria Cassiel[/color][/i][/h3][/center] [@darkwolf687] Of course they were to be separated. Of course Aery was to be stuck with the biggest, scariest Drakken she’d ever seen. And then a different lord came and dragged Miry away before she could even say anything. She tried to listen to what he was saying, for exactly three seconds. Then she tried to stop hearing the horrible, horrible things he intended to do to her body. She fully expected to die, by now, but gods save her, she did NOT want to die tortured, writhing in agony for days or weeks until finally she let go. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled, trying vainly to break out of the massive Drakken’s grip. Her struggling increased in the few seconds before they reached the doors; instinctively feeling that the moment they went through the doors she was a lost cause. But then the drakken carrying her stopped and turned and set her down. She recoiled a few steps, trembling all over, nearly collapsing, and tried to wipe her eyes and pay attention to what was going on. Some tiny Drakken was in his face, smirking and talking about something, too quietly for Miry to hear. For a moment the short one and the tall one glared at each other; Miry crossed herself in prayer, hoping that the small lord wasn’t going to be slaughtered. Then the tall one stormed off. The Lord looked to her and said something. She took a deep breath and tried to calm her trembles and bluff a response. She tried to wobble back over to him but between her trembling and the painful contraptions on her feet, she wobbled and fell again. In disgust she took the impossible shoes off and then rose back to her feet, seemingly a little more stable but also a lot shorter. She curtsied to the Lord. [color=c2a5fd]“My name is Aymiria Cassiel. I’m only terrified, but not injured more than bruising, thanks to you.”[/color] She was proud of herself for her voice not trembling, her heart rate already going down. She dared to look back up at him and smile nervously. Then her gaze trailed back behind him to see the faces of his… relatives? A young girl looked happy and proud, and an older male absolutely venomous. She looked away, rather than make eye contact with his family. [color=c2a5fd]”Meaning no disrespect, Lord Unalim, but perhaps you should not have intervened, because now everyone sees you with, well, with me. A sad underdeveloped excuse for a bride. Perhaps it might be… prudent for you to take another bride, more of a traditionally beautiful, well, woman. Someone proud and tall and graceful. Maybe that Fire gem on the end, there.”[/color] She kept her voice low and only looked in that direction, not wanting to point. Not wanting anyone to realize that it was her idea; let them think it was the Lord’s.