Claude looked into Aris's eyes, acknowledging her displeasure with unflinching eyes. He stood still, as if Serenity's words seemed to go both ways. His face barely changed, as if he didn't care for them. But it could mean otherwise. Reading Claude's face was a challenge for the champions.<br/><br/>Ashton gave a worried glance to Roy.<br/><span style="font-style: italic">Would Early do such a thing? Would we be implicated if he decided to attack?</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Dear God, I hope not. But it's not easy for him to back down.</span><br/>Roy sighed, shaking his head in resignation. He pointed eastwards with his left hand almost nonchalantly, then tapping himself on the shoulder.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">East for you, West for me. Meet up back home?</span><br/>Ashton forced a nervous grin.<br/><br/>"Innocence kills, Lady Aris," said Claude. "More so than evil." He shot an angry glare towards Nathaniel.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">That was close.</span><br/>Roy heaved a loud sigh of relief, but was interrupted by his own sword's hilt smacking him on the face. Claude had thrown it back without looking.<br/><br/>"Roy!" Ashton rushed to Roy's side, grabbing him by the arm. Roy stumbled backwards a few steps, face twisted in pain.<br/><br/>"I am Claude Early," said Claude, unaware of Roy's pain or anything else behind him. "Soldier of Dalmatia. My lord behind is Sir Ashton Cromwell, a knight of Dalmatia, and my liege. The man with him is Roy Barlow, another soldier of Dalmatia."<br/><br/>He turned his head and his eyes widened upon seeing Ashton and Roy behind him. Roy, covering his pain and whimpering in pain, and Ashton giving him the scariest glare ever mustered by a young lord.<br/><br/>"Early..." growled Ashton. Claude felt a lump in his throat.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">"I'LL CUT YOUR PAY SO LOW EVEN THE BEGGARS CONSIDER GIVING YOU ALMS A MORAL DUTY!"</span></span><br/><br/>Claude turned white, freezing in position. His face contorted itself into a slightly amusing expression of horror and shock.<br/><br/>"You didn't need to do that, Ash..." whispered Roy.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Wait, did I just do that?</span><br/>Ashton looked meekly towards Roy.<br/><br/>"Yeah... you're not supposed to be that protective of me," mumbled Roy softly. "They'll think of us as lovers."<br/><br/>"L-lovers?!" Ashton whispered back, blushing.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Maybe it's better they think of us as that.</span>That thought was a little disconcerting; replace one deception with another.