"Why do you want the feather?" Haven asked directly, watching them both. He would not let even the smallest expression escape his notice.
Sebastian was embarrassed on their behalf with their exaggerated surprise. Lady Beloved used both her hands to cover her mouth, Lord Nix blinked with exaggerated confusion… while the ten smaller birds all started looking anywhere but at the god's eyes.
Haven narrowed his eyes until they were practically slits. Usually… this would be enough to rob the very breath from those who dared without information, but the birds pretended to not hear him. "Why do you need a feather? Plenty have already fallen." He had noticed the smaller birds whisk even the smallest of his feathers into their pouches the moment they fell.
Beloved put her hands on her hips in offense. "Not just any feather! Your best feather! We want nothing the lesser!"
Haven focused on Beloved, he had no problem giving the feather away, but he needed to understand why it was so important.
Ashton frowned, tilting his head from side to side. Then crossed his arms as he tried to come up with the words. "Not exactly needed, but more than a want…" Words were sometimes so hard.
Beloved frowned, "It will be mine, not a token… not exactly for seed." Beloved looked at Nix.
"It won't form a connection, from big snake will be cut off." Ashton agreed as he paced back and forth.
"Not really used… but never will be lost." Beloved added as she started circling the smaller birds. They started hopping as they offered suggestions.
"No not exactly, but I mean, kind of that way… words start to fail me, on such an important day." Ashton murmured as he started biting his thumb nail.
Beloved glanced up, then hopped to whisper in Nix's ear, "I mean, its part of the secret, known only to three, but it's not really connected, more than a want, still… not truly a need."
Ashton nodded. Then plopped down crossing his legs as he tried to look for the appropriate words.
Beloved started rubbing Nix's head, "You are so smart! You can explain… why is this so hard… like rain on a bright sunny day!"
Haven watched them, he knew they weren't lying… even when they flock started chirping, looking for the words to say, they were… confused. Suddenly Beloved puffed out her chest.
"You want answers! We want your best feather! Let's play a game, winner gains all they are after!" Beloved boldly challenged as she lifted her chin.
Sebastian bowed his head to hide his smile… looks like they had given up on trying to find the words.
Haven blinked, if they could not find the words now, how exactly would a game change that? Or were they so certain they would win?
Ashton blinked, "Beloved you're a genius, the smartest by far, a game must have winners, and winners take all." This would in a sense, give them time to listen.
Haven narrowed his eyes, "What game?" Nix was a monarch, true, but when did monarchs think they had a chance against a god?
Beloved grinned, she tried to imitate a smirk she'd seen earlier, but… well anyway! "Let us play catch! Strict rules we'll abide, catch either bird, you win, we won't even hide!"
Ashton jumped up, looking at the giant snake. "Let us make the rules, for one and for all, any can play, help no matter how small."
Haven watched them, then disdainfully glanced over the humans. "Would they even survive a game?" If they played, they would be competition. Haven was not going to start allowing competition. Not even for Beloved's favor.
Beloved pouted, "Nix wants them to liv, he will protect them, but only one time, out they must sit then. Now! Rules to establish, let's make this fun! Our game will only end, if you catch a bird, or upon setting sun."
Haven started to gather all the birds in his coils, "Oh? What is considered a… catch?"
"We have to be smart! We have to be sly! This big snake is as smart, as easy on the eye." Ashton teased with a grin, "To catch is to hold, lasting the breaths of three, let go even a heartbeat, the count starts anew. Doesn't matter which bird, but our team only two."
Haven glanced at the remaining ten birds, all blinking up at him innocently. "Then, your kin will be trying to catch you?"
Beloved blew Haven a kiss, "Like we said, they can help you! You must be specific, perhaps a meeting of minds, we are very tricky~, impossible to confine."
Ashton grinned as he scooped up one of the golems, "Now, to make this a fair game, for one and for all, restricted is mana, no enchantments to brawl." The small chick pecked at his hand before gliding to face him, showing his support for the big snake.
"Then, racial traits are acceptable?" That would give the birds an overwhelming advantage, no wonder they were so confident.
"You may restrict one trait, for each of us birds, but we'll do the same, no advantage unearned." Ashton offered.
Haven stared at them for a long moment, "Nix, you cannot fly. Beloved… cannot go through rifts."
Beloved pouted, "Nix is ground bound, that's hardly worth asking, why not change things, up, one can use, but no casting."
Haven quirked a brow, "Then, Beloved may create the rift, but not use, Nix can use the portals, but not create. Nix also, will not fly." This would make the game much more interesting. Haven glanced at the sun, there were probably four or five hours until it would set. Birds were either fast, with short bursts of stamina that could quickly recover. Or were slower but had greater stamina. Either way, he was a seasoned hunter.
The beasts had Jaxon's full attention. He'd already ordered a servant to fetch his majesty without delay. "Lord Reece, am I to understand, anyone may join this… game?"
Lucera was also interested. If neither would hide, wouldn't cast spells, were restricted to basic racial traits… even Lady Alaina could be captured if she didn't have access to her mana pool.
Zane shared a look with Rommel, if they were safe from dying… or injuries… there was no reason to abstain.
Ashton looked over his shoulder, "All are welcome, teams up to you, if even one catches, all the teams dreams could come true. I won't be stingy, you may ask anything, this once allow greed to go unrestrained."
Rommel swallowed down his excitement, it couldn't be that easy. "But, we can't use enchanted items, or cast spells?" Rommel didn't miss the imperials sudden arrival. Just this once… working together may be the best option.
Beloved snorted, "Only for three, you may do as you like, but burst into flame, and you sit at the side."
Sebastian… wanted to teach Lady Beloved how to show disdain, at the moment she looked more like a petulant child trying very hard to be angry. Only for her to be even more adorable. Even the way she turned her head as if she couldn't bear to look at them was… endearing.
Ashton gave a soft cough, "No weapons to kill, no intention to injure, break either rule, I'll tear you asunder." This was a game, if anyone tried to ruin it, he would be extremely, extremely offended.
Haven chortled, "Nix, you are too soft hearted, if they attempt to ruin the mood, I will destroy their nation to the last dog."
Most of the nobles paled, the idea of joining the game suddenly much less appealing.
Ashton rolled his eyes, "Games need players, no matter how small, scare them all off, there goes half of the fun."
Beloved jumped up, "We will give you an hour, to make teams and to plot! The boundaries of this game, from the clearing to… that rock!" Beloved announced gesturing to a large bolder about a hundred feet past the tree line. "No stepping outside, but you may go up, also big snake! To play, you must be shrunk!"
Haven tightened his coils for just a moment, "How small?"
Beloved walked along his spine, measuring him out, "Hmm, no bigger than Kaveri, should be about right, any other questions? So soon comes twilight."
"Is there… any restrictions regarding our wish? Such as, wishing Lord Reece to become the beast of the empire?" Leonard asked after a quick glance with his Majesty and Devlin.
Ashton held back his sigh, "If that is your wish, certainly an option, just be careful of expectations, my heart not so easy to soften."
Haven eyed the miniscule human male… they wanted Nix… to stay? Well, that could be interesting. If only to see just how long the land would burn.
Leonard stilled, the mocking interest in the snake god's eyes foretold how bad an idea that could be. "Must we make the wish… immediately?"
Beloved didn't even bother to turn around. As if any of them could possibly catch her. Not even if all her feathers were plucked, her mana drained, and her heart shattered into a million pieces.
"A year to make known, the wish in your heart, any longer than that, I'll assume you gave up." Ashton stated as he leapt up. "Now, we go plot, we will go plan, we will give no quarters, every intention to win, a feather so grand."
Beloved fell into Nix's arms as she blew Haven a kiss. "Big Snake we will be waiting, Big Snake we expect much! More than your feather, to make your heart rush!"
Haven watched them dart into the trees. He felt the ripple of mana. They could still see the birds sitting on the treetops, but neither could hear or sense past the wall of mana. A semi closed domain.
Sebastian watched as the birds all… pulled out signs. Large pieces of parchment attached to sticks with prices for service. Each sign had the name of the helper at the top. Eight of the signs demanded one snack for five minutes of employment. The parchments also had several lists of spells each bird could cast. Most notably those of the fourth and fifth tiers.
Calix stared, a group could only employ the same bird for 30 minutes at a time. Except for Hito and Tou's signs.
Tou did not sell his services based on time. He would use a single ability. Mana disruption, lasts 5 seconds. Each use ten snacks. No restrictions on purchase.
Hito was selling his services at three snacks for every five minutes, up to twenty minutes per group. He also sold the mana disruption, but the limitations were far greater. One use every ten minutes, lasting 4 seconds, costing five snacks.
Haven read the prices. Mana disruption was… an interesting ability. If the little ones only wanted cores, he had thousands of them.
Calix purchased twenty minute of Mut, Itsu, and Yot for their group. Three helpers at the same time meant they may be able to land a pincer attack. Not a moment too soon, Lucera purchased Futa and Nana's time.
Lucera prepaid for two thirty minute slots. This way they could learn during the first half hour, have a half hour to regroup, make a plan, then try again. Though the prices were a bit steep, a favor from a Sin beast was nothing to sneeze at.
Soon all eight of the birds were booked for at least an hour.
Novak decided to wait, he wanted to see the bird's abilities before making a choice. Not to mention, the birds weren't all the same. Best to see everyone's abilities before they made a move.
Noelle stepped forward with a pouch of cores, "I would like to inquire about the use for… mana disruption." The two remaining birds had been left for last. Hito had sold a twenty minute slot to Duke Darnings, but no one had bought uses from Tou yet.
Hito puffed up his chest, "Beings of mana, birds made of fire, disrupt the mana, escape all the harder."
Touch was sitting dejectedly, a few approached only to walk away after reeding his discloser about not being able to cast any spells.
Haven narrowed his eyes as he smiled. To catch a bird they had to hold on for three seconds, five seconds of mana disruption gave the catchers a two second grace period. Without hesitation he coiled the disheartened bird in his tail before slithering off.
"Let usss negotiate little bird." Haven coaxed as he settled further away from the humans.
Tou chirped happily as he nodded his head. He was physically the sturdiest of his siblings. Only Hito was as fast as him. Now! To convince this big snake!
"I want exclusssive use of your ability. Name your price." Haven stated as the small bird immediately perked up.
Tou used his wing to try counting how many times he might be needed… Nix and Beloved were fast… "I want… feathers! All the colors!" Tou bargained patting the firm body coiling around him.
Haven narrowed his eyes, "Oh? Not mana cores?"
Tou sighed leaning his beak on the snake's body. "I do want snacks, but snacks will be eaten, your feathers are so pretty, I will definitely keep them."
For the first time, Haven considered that maybe… Beloved simply wanted his best feather as a kind of mating token. Anyway, if it do him no harm and please Beloved, he was not adverse to the idea.
Haven glanced at the two plotting birds, both were watching him. Actually, the thought of decorating her in his feathers… perhaps he would find a way.