A bang came at Ace's door. He jumped from the floor startled. The door rattled again. Bird was still asleep on Ace's bed. It had taken a degree of argument to get him there and for Ace to sleep on the floor, but Ace had insisted. Now, Bird seemed to be too comfortable. Even with the loud noise, it didn't manage to disturb him.
"Bird, get up," Ace instructed as he shook him lightly.
Bird stirred and raised a hand to his mouth as he yawned.
"What's going on?"
There was another bang at the door. This time, Bird's eyes widened fearfully. He jumped up.
There was an irritated sigh on the other side of the door.
"We're having breakfast again," Kalandra's voice came from the other side, "Clover said you're invited so you better come,"
Footsteps trailed off down the stairs. Ace let out a sigh. He put his face in his hands and took a deep breath.
Within the hour, he and Bird arrived at the banquet hall. Inside was filled with the same company as the day. Yashtara was devouring another plate full of food. She put the plate down with an ominous smile as they entered.
Clover was sitting at the other end of the table with an amused smile. As usual, they had nothing on their plate but were sipping from their glass. To Ace's surprise, even Michael was present. He was sitting with unrestrained disgust across from Yashtara. Kalandra was sitting beside him, happily eating away.
When Ace reached the table with Bird, Clover stood up and greeted them. They titled their head to one side inspecting them.
"Where have you been?" Clover smiled placidly.
"We woke up late," Ace frowned. He tried to pass.
Clover yanked him back by the arm. Before Ace knew it, they had pulled him into a kiss. Ace's eyes widened in shock. He pulled back regarding Clover in disbelief. He glanced waywardly to the rest of the group who were watching with a mixture of amusement and annoyance.
Yashtara let out a hearty laugh. Whilst Michael let out a groan of disgust. Kalandra didn't say anything. Clover glanced at Bird who was also quiet. Bird blinked slowly then took a seat beside Michael. His eyes fixed on the plate in front of him.
"What?" Clover smirked, their eyes coming back to Ace. "You look like you have something to say?"
"Why did you do that?" Ace dropped his voice to a whisper.
"What's wrong?" Clover replied loudly, "You're not embarrassed are you?"
"No," Ace pouted.
They clasped their hands together and laughed. Then Clover wrapped their arm around Ace's shoulder dragging him to a seat beside them.
"This is the game, isn't it?" Clover whispered into Ace's ear coldly. "You don't seem to be trying very hard,"
Ace's eyes twitched. He remained silent. Once Clover had also taken their seat, Yashtara set down her glass with a satisfied smile.
"So, you have had time to think, yes?" she put an elbow on the table and leant back on her hand, inspecting Clover with her usual smile.
"What have you decided?" she added.
"I think," Clover tapped a finger against the table, "the palace of swords is going to stay out of this one,"
For a moment there was silence. Clover and Yashtara locked eyes. The atmosphere was heavy. Ace watched Yashtara's expression. Although she remained smiling, her aura was ferocious. It was as if she might leap across the table and strike Clover at any moment.
Nevertheless, Clover remained with their usual smile, almost as if to provoke her into doing it. Finally, the silence was broken. Yashtara threw her head back laughing.
"Ahh is that so?" she chuckled. "Very well," she got up from her seat.
"Thanks for the food, Clover," Yashtara gave a closed-mouth smile.
"My pleasure, lord Yashtara," Clover answered without looking.
It looked as if Yashtara was about to leave when she turned back to Clover. This time Clover glanced up apprehending her.
"Is there something else?" Clover smiled thinly.
"You have many humans," Yashtara tilted her head to one side, "They are very hard to come by in the south. I think if I return empty-handed now, the people will be very disappointed. Don't you think you could part with just one? I'm sure it would cheer their spirits,"
"They're not mine to give," Clover sighed, "but if you ask and they decide to go with you, I can't refuse,"
Yashtara giggled, "Very good. Then, this one. You will come with me?" she pointed to Bird.
Bird's instinctively shrunk from her gaze. He began to shake his head.
"He can't go," Michael interrupted briskly. He leant back in his chair with his arms crossed and his yellowish eyes sharply fixed on Yashtara.
Yashtara came around the table. She bent down till she was at the eye level of Michael of Bird.
"Why not?" she questioned darkly.
Michael didn't flinch. He turned to her with a cool disregard.
"Because I said so,"
Yashtara's eyes twinkled with malevolent excitement. However, before she could speak, Kalandra threw a hand over Michael's mouth. He glanced over with undisguised displeasure.
"What he means, Lord Yashtara is that Bird is his apprentice. He can't leave without Michael," Kalandra gave an usually eager smile.
Ace watched her with incredulity. Since when were they so close? He glanced back to see Clover's reaction. However, as usual, if they had any kind of reaction it was masked by an indifferent smile.
"Oh?" Yashtara nodded, "So then if I kill this master, I'll be free to take him?"
Michael nudged Kalandra's hand away.
"Who exactly are you going to kill?" Michael's temper seemed to be even shorter than before.
"I...I I'm sorry lord Yashtara," Bird interrupted, "Even if I wasn't Michael's apprentice, I don't want to go with you,"
Yashtara licked her lips and pulled herself up. She cracked her head from side to side.
"That's too bad," she gave a wide toothy grin, "Because I really want you,"
She gave a whistle and her men bustled through the doors.
They crowded around the table. Yashtara's eyes didn't leave Bird. By this time, his breath was unhinged as the group of demons surrounded them. There was a tense wait. The rest of the table turned to Clover expectantly. However, they were still sipping from their glass in a disinterested manner.
"Don't you think the Lord of swords is a bit too stingy? They don't want to help their allies. Two of our men going missing in the night under their care. And without saying, we haven't forgotten what you did to our king! But out of charity! Out of charity, we came with such a generous offer. Now they won't even part with one human? Isn't that too unfair?" Yashtara gestured to her men who roared in agreement.
"It is a great shame how the west has fallen. In the days of the last lord of swords, the four houses were allies! What would your father have said if he could see your utter disregard of our customs?" She waited to great emphasis on this last sentence expecting that to garner a rise.
Clover chuckled under their breath, "Perhaps the same thing your sister would say if she saw how quickly you took her seat,"
"My sister," Yashtara answered bitterly, "whatever her faults, she no doubt would have abided by our laws and customs. Your father, on the other hand, must have died from the shame of you,"
"What a strange thing to hear a demon talk of shame," Clover gave a laugh, "If shame could kill my father I would have killed him long ago! No, as I recall, it was a human who dealt the final blow. Since I can't think of a more shameless death, perhaps we are alike in that respect at least,"
"Well then shameless lord of the west, sit as you will while your bredren fall. You disregard our laws so brazenly, you shouldn't expect that those same laws will protect you. Even though you are half-human we treated you in high esteem. No more,"
"Ah, I'm heartbroken," Clover smirked. "Then do as you please. Only remember if you step outside of the laws, it won't protect you either."
"A weakling to the end," Yashtara shook her head.
She circled the table and joined with her men. Still, Clover didn't budge from their seat.
"Take him," Yashtara signalled to her men.
"Will you do something?" Ace breathed. He turned to Clover.
"Hmmm," Clover mused, "What will you give me if I do?"
"Clover!" Ace begged, "Please,"
"I said," Clover glanced up coldly," What will you give me?"
Ace was frozen. He couldn't give Clover the necklace and that was the only thing they wanted.
Within seconds, the demons grabbed Bird by the arm and dragged him from his seat. Michael immediately rose to prevent him. He pulled a knife from the table and lunged at the demon closest to him. To his annoyance once more Kalandra grabbed him by the arm.
"Don't be stupid," she warned, "You have no magic and you're outnumbered,"
"Take your hand off me," Michael snapped.
Bird was thrown to Yashtara who hoisted him over her shoulder.
"Let go of me!" He cried kicking and screaming.
"Ha!" Yashtara let out a laugh, "We'll be going then!"
Ace flew from his seat. He darted towards Bird. Yashtara's hand came lightning fast around his neck. He clawed against the hand, but even her skin was tough like leather. Her red eyes narrowed malignantly. Ace could feel the life being squeezed out of him.
"I... I'll give you whatever you want.."Ace could barely say the words.
"What could you possibly offer me?" Yashtara scoffed.
Suddenly, Clover's hand came over Yashtara's and pried her hand back from Ace's throat. Ace fell to the floor gasping for breath.
"I believe he was talking to me, "Clover smiled.
Yashtara stared down at Clover with unrestrained venom. For the first time, her smile broke. Her nostrils flared and the corners of her mouth twitched.
"What are you..." she started. "Didn't you say I could do as I please?"
"I did but I never said it would be without punishment. Don't be too greedy, Yashtara," Clover smirked. "Surely it's my prerogative as a shameless lord to irritate you as much as possible,"
Yashtara yanked back her hand.
"Punishment?! If you had just handed the human over when I asked, I wouldn't have had to take such measures," Yashtara snarled.
"Since when do I have to do what you tell me?" Clover's eyes shone darkly.
"I can't leave empty-handed," Yashtara recovered with a smile."It will look like the west is making a fool of the south. Are you sure that's what you want?"
"You didn't hear me before?"Clover dismissed, "I said they can go if they want," they gestured to Bird.
Yashtara glanced down at Bird's tear-soaked face. He was still sobbing as Clover went on.
"Does he look like he wants to go?" Clover chuckled.
"Humans don't know what they want," Yashtara remarked coldly. "Maybe he'll like it in the south?"
"We'll never know," Clover tilted their head back provokingly.
"You really won't let me take him?" Yashtara's eyes narrowed.
"OH!" Clover laughed, "Perhaps I wasn't clear? Okay. Go ahead. Go on. Then instead of going back 'empty-handed', you can go back with no hands at all! They love a joke in the South. I think it would be quite funny, don't you? "
"You would challenge me for this human?" Yashtara smirked.
"Not that one," Clover glanced at Ace with a smile, "but all the same. If you take him, I'll kill you. And if you hadn't noticed, sending all your little idiots to challenge me, I'm very good at killing. Don't you have another sister? Maybe she'll take the throne for you?"
Yashtara threw Bird down. Ace quickly ushered him away.
"This isn't over," Yashtara stared Clover down.
"Okay, okay! Have a safe trip back," Clover waved sarcastically.
Yashtara stared down coldly for one more moment then motioned to her men. They slowly cleared the room.
Clover took a seat back down as if nothing had happened. they leant back and took a sip from their glass.
Michael came around the table to Ace and Bird. Bird was still in shock, whimpering through broken breaths. He was barely able to stand.
"I'll take him," Michael said. He took Bird's arm over his shoulder
Ace glanced down at Bird who gave a shaky nod.
"I'll help you," Kalandra chimed. She rose from the table and took to the other side.
Ace looked at her suspiciously. He was about to argue when Michael turned to him.
"I'll get him back safe I swear," Michael said earnestly.
"I should still go," Ace answered sceptically.
Suddenly Ace felt an arm over his chest.
"You can't go," Clover smiled, leaning on his shoulder. They glanced up, "because you have something to give me,"
Michael's eyes narrowed, apprehending Clover's meaning.
"Don't do anything stupid, Ace," Michael reproached.
"Ah!" Clover interjected, "Great words of wisdom from the wizard of rational thought! Please enlighten us with more of your brilliant insight. Maybe you can go kill more of Yashtara's men, then we can really learn from you're outstanding judgement?"
Michael glanced at Kalandra with irritation but didn't respond. Ace foresaw another argument breaking out and it already looked like Bird was close to fainting. So he said:
"Just go," he exhaled, "look after Bird,"
Michael looked as if he had more to say but turned swiftly on his heels. Kalandra glanced at him with a smile but he didn't return it. They trailed off out of the room. Ace turned back to Clover slowly.
"Let's go upstairs, shall we?" Clover smiled.
They took off unceremoniously without waiting for a reply. Ace followed them reluctantly. Finally, after walking without exchanging a word, they reached Clover's room. Ace wondered why they had taken him there. Did they need to go to Clover's room for them to demand the necklace?
Clover stretched out on the bed and watched Ace with a yawn as he entered hesitantly. He felt like a child again, awaiting the lord's demands. It wasn't a pleasant feeling. His eyes melted into the floor as he continued to wait in silence.
"Now we're here," Clover smiled, "Take off your clothes,"