[center][h1] [color=808000] Exon [/color] [/h1][/center]
Atreyu's hand snapped out almost the second she finished talking. Exon couldn't even call her foolish, besides the fact that she spoke at all beyond the question he asked, it wasn't her fault that the first words out of her mouth dusted over a slightly sore spot.   His hand grabbed the girl right behind her jaw bone and yanked forward, smooshing her face forward.  Saisri  was lucky that Atreyu was the one that reached her first,  he only meant to cause mild pain and humiliation. Panitra's own hand was retreating and Ex could tell by his face that, had Atreyu not gotten there first, Panitra was going to owe him a new bride.  If fact, he could still see it all over his face, the thousand ways that Saisri could die before making it to Sheershreek, the Xe'Jah lordom. 

"Well, good find little brother," said Atreyu, forcing the girl's head up to look at him. "You know, I've personally had many brides before, although none as...spirited. It would be an honor to teach her her first lesson. Think of it as a wedding gift," 

Exon crossed his arms, pretending to think it over. [color=808000]"I think not, brother," [/color] he said. [color=808000]"While she will be punished for offending you, as her dear husband I shall take the burden. Besides, you might ruin her best traits,"[/color] While he knew his brothers would take great offense by her mouth, he personally had found it amusing.  She would need guidance and training, that was certain, but he found that he was liking his choice more and more. 

Atreyu considered the girl for a moment longer before releasing her with a shove that sent her crashing into Exon, who caught her lightly. [color=808000]"As for you, little one, you will have to learn your place here.  But, we'll have time for that tonight. To answer your question, I'm  Exon Xe'Jah, third (soon to be second) in line for Xe'Jah estate. You may call me m'lord, m'lord husband, or m'dear husband,"[/color] he said, the slightest hint of mocking in his voice.[color=808000]  "And these are my brothers, first and second in line," [/color] he said, without clarifying which was which.[color=808000] "And you may also call them m'lord, and you will show them respect," [/color]  He then steadied  Saisri on her feet before turning back to his /slightly/ less angry brothers.[color=808000] "Now, I am assuming that this little spat has just cost me the cream of the crop when it comes to brides, so, let's not waste anymore time. I'm still missing a wife,"[/color] 

Exon didn't trust his brothers to not take out small acts of cruelty on Saisri while they searched for his new bride, so he kept a hold on her upper arm, keeping her close while they searched. By now it seemed that all those, or nearly all those entitled to a bride had arrived with their party, although some definitely arrive alone.  He recognised many of the faces from participating in various battles throughout his life time. 

He took notice of Cuwarr, if only because the man was so...noticeable? Perhaps even more than the female warlord.  He parted from a girl in an elaborate dress. She seemed so...sad and distance, shockingly like his mother. Exon despised his mother.  Yet, he couldn't help but notice the...interested glances his brothers kept giving  the girl. It was clear that, had they been choosing their own brides, this....sad girl would have been at the top of their list. 

Perhaps she was just...overwhelmed and would get over it. If not, well, at least he'd have a gift  to appease Panitra into /not/ killing Saisri. [color=808000] "Gem," [/color] he ordered, when he approached Nadia. With a final glance up and down at the girl./At least she has the decency to be pretty enough if I have to deal with her sadness/ he thought, before reaching out to grab the girl.[color=808000] "Come," [/color]

"Ah, little brother, perhaps you do have decent tastes in Gems," said Panitra, eyeing Nadia with such a look of hunger that it made Exon feel uncomfortable for her.  

[color=808000]"I do have excellent tastes," [/color] he agreed, taking each of his brides in one of his hands and leading them towards the wall, away from the center of activity. There had only been one fight, if you could call it that, so far and Exon was anxious for more. Hopefully one involving death.  


Now that he had both of his brides, it was only a matter of time until they returned to his mountain home. 
The Xe’Jah had been lords of the northern mountains since before the Drakkan had started keeping records of any sort. They were the last lordom before the range that lead to the endless, icy tundra desert on the other side.  The geothermic property made the area appear lush in comparison to many of the other areas in Drakkan nearly all year round, which caused anything that ran away to flee towards the mountains. In times past, the Xe'jah had collect many brides, horses, slaves, and the occasional coward.  Those who valued life above all else, would find that 'being found' by  a Xe'Jah was a far kinder fate than allowing them to pass through the mountains. Many of the plants found there were poisonous and made a point to be slow about it. The green would hide the slick obsidian would slice through shoe and food all the same, then send the victim tumbling down in a pool of their own blood. On top of that, there were thousands of predatory animals  who roamed the steep range, as prey never lasted long in the area. The Xe'Jah were the only ones who knew the safer passage ways through the mountain, which meant that they were usually the ones defending that northern section of the boarder. Although no one had attacked for years.  The land more north, while technically Drakkan, was useless and only a fool would attempt to invade by the range. 

[@Vesuvius00][@RomanAria]