He darted forward, as the fist came down on the poor girl, and snatched her, just far away for the fist to come down a couple inches away from her, missing entirely. The Drakken stumbled, unbalanced from not meeting resistance, and Valence moved back a little farther.

	The brute, naturally, growled at him, and demanded his Bride back. To which Valence replied that he didn't see him holding his Bride; he only saw her trying to beat up one of the candidates. He suggested- was he trying to ruin her, so that no one else would want her? The beast growled even more, but ceased when Valence's Drakken guardsman stepped up behind him, lending support to Valence. He relaxed even more when he saw the chestplate- bearing the same insignia as Valence's forehead- appear on the left side of his vision. The brute was a brute, but it did have a lick of intelligence.

	The Lord glared at Valence, as he slipped an arm around the small Gem's shoulders, claiming her. And that Lord knew- Lord Sasqet or somesuch- that he wasn't going to be taking on Valence in a good ol' one versus one battle, and the confidence that infused Valence suggested that he might be a bit more than the brute could swallow. So he stepped back, glaring, promising death and destruction.

	Valence was thrilled, personally. A little bit of dread, too, but thrilled. He just caused a feud between two different Drakken families- how this'll turn out! But he didn't know what he was going to do with the little one.

	He turned his head to look at her, smiling warmly down at her. 

	"Greetings, Lienna. Let me tell you what's in store for you..."

	He leaned down, and whispered in her ear, "Act surprised and horrified, or people will become suspicious. I'm part of people who wants to see you and every other Gem back with their families, but we can't really do that right now. So you either come with me, and work with me again these people, or I let you go and someone else claims you. Or the brute claims you. Or you announce me to be someone who is not a Drakken- because I am not- and I die here and now, and you'll probably die shortly afterward. Nod yes for coming with me, or shake your head no for staying. If you're coming, you'd best follow me right now."

	So he stretched back up to his full height, smiled at her, and withdrew his arm. He glanced back at his guard, and gestured for him to approach. He whispered it to him- if she follows, protect her and make sure she isn't claimed, if she stays or walks away, follow me, and then glanced at Lienna with another smile. 

	And walked away.

Rynek:
Some horned fellow was talking to her before leaving so Rynek dipped in quickly, not caring to look after the fellow. His loss. Within a moment, Rynek was on her. Figuratively, of course; he was leaving the physical getting-on for at least when she had answered some important questions. Bending down to her level, he eyed her suspiciously, stroking his chin all the while. He cirled her once before pausing and frowning, his eyes squinting in distrust. "Question one - which is more preferable? Death by a questionable amount of sex or a long life filled with shitty sex? Question two. If I gave you a knife right now, what would you do with it?"



Lienna couldn’t help but look away when the Drakken delivered his blow but, to her surprise, none came. Instead, she was unceremoniously yanked away, causing a sharp pain in her arm as it was wrenched from the brute’s grip