Natalya stood back from the table behind her fellow Club Royals, listening as they discussed the topic at hand with the Spade Royals.
At least, if it could be called a discussion. The several brash comments being thrown back and forth were not helping the negotiations.
The economies of both Spades and Clubs had been directly affected by an increasingly tense border dispute in the Shrewshaw Forest. The woods stretched from the edge of Imperial Lake, the centre of the Deck, through the coastal mountains to the northwestern corner of the continent. For centuries, hunters and loggers in the forest could head northeast to trade with Clubs, or southwest to trade with Spades.
In the last few months, however, decisions made by the two kingdoms led to tensions rising in this trade environment. Spades wants to have a say in all hunting and logging to the Kearna River, which runs parallel to the border. However, since the river is firmly within the kingdom of Clubs, the jurisdiction is being contested. The various arguments back and forth via correspondence between the two kingdoms had led to a need for the two sets of Royals to talk to each other in person.
Hence the meeting Natalya was now observing.
Standing behind them made her unable to see their facial expressions, but Natalya could tell from their voices that her fellow Clubs were losing their patience with all this. Erzsébet was getting snappy with her remarks, Ivan's tone had become threatening, and even Roderich was struggling to get his points across as the only Club actively trying to negotiate.
Across from them sat their Spades counterparts, all of whom Natalya could observe for any indication that they might start any mischief. King Alfred was caught up in his hubris, not allowing for Spades to concede any argument, while Queen Arthur was arrogant and stubborn as a mule. Jack Yao was trying his best to keep the discussion on track, but even he and Roderich couldn't see eye to eye on anything.
Behind the Spade Royals, Ace Matthew was slowly pacing back and forth, catching Natalya's attention every so often. Whenever Alfred or Arthur made an audacious remark, Matthew would sigh and roll his eyes skyward in obvious exhaustion. One of Alfred's particularly brazen remarks had earned Matthew's approach to the table, the brother attempting to whisper in the King's ear only to be waved off.
Footsteps echoed softly through the hallway, and Natalya turned to watch as Katerina appeared in the doorway. She loitered quietly for a moment to avoid interrupting the discussion, before tiptoeing into the room towards Natalya's side.
"Any progress?" Katerina whispered once the sisters were side by side.
"They're not getting anywhere," Natalya whispered back, "If anything, it's going in the wrong direction. All six of them are relentless."
"Ugh, this is ridiculous," Alfred suddenly groaned, cutting off the discussion, "Why is the border straight like that, anyways? It would make more sense to follow the river, not to cut a straight line from Imperial Lake."
"It was set like that a century ago," Erzsébet explained, "Hundreds of Clubs citizens lost their lives before the Jokers had the previous Royals agree to split the forest down the most direct path between the lake and the ocean. Perhaps if you paid attention to your kingdom's history, you would know that."
"It's not even set down the middle," Arthur protested, "Clubs still has more of the forest, plus the river. No doubt it was your predecessors that took advantage of the situation."
"Or perhaps Spades paid the price for their follies," Ivan countered, "The losses to Clubs during that time were far more dire, and we will not be conceding to Spades on that point again, nor will we let you force us to."
"Don't use that passive aggressive smile on us, Ivan," Alfred sassed, "Your intimidation tactics aren't working."
Natalya's eyebrows shot up at that remark, while Ivan rose from his seat.
"You accuse me of threatening you, King Alfred?" Ivan denounced.
"You're doing exactly that right now," Alfred provoked, rising from his seat as well, "And I'm not afraid of you."
"Alfred -"
Matthew spoke as he stepped forward to intervene, only for Alfred to hold his brother back with his left arm. Natalya bolted forward from Katerina's side as the Spade King's Sword materialized in Alfred's right hand for all to see.
"Is this how it will be then?" Ivan challenged as the Club King's Sword materialized in his right hand.
Natalya circled around her brother and stood directly in front of him, pushing him back and preventing him from charging into a sword fight with Alfred. Across from them, Matthew was maneuvering his own brother back from the table, pleading for Alfred to put the sword away. Peter suddenly materialized beside the brothers, and Matthew let go in time for the Joker to grab Alfred and teleport him away.
"Such is the way of Clubs," Arthur derided, "Taking advantage of others, while threatening those who oppose it as if you're the innocent ones."
"For fucks sake," Matthew griped, "Gilbert, can you please come get him too?"
Before anyone could rebuke Arthur's comment, the other Joker appeared at the side of the Queen of Spades, grabbed a sleeve, and teleported the belligerent one away.
"You can put that away, your Majesty," Matthew told Ivan, "There's no need for it."
Natalya could see that the two remaining Spade Royals in the room were clearly not in the mood to pick up where Alfred and Arthur left off, so she let go of her brother and nodded to him in agreement with Matthew. Ivan was still clearly fuming, but stepped back as he relented and allowed the Club Sword to dematerialize.
"Perhaps we should take a recess," Yao suggested as he rose from his seat, "Allow everyone to calm down a bit -"
"No, this is over," Ivan refused, "Your King and Queen refuse to cooperate, there is no reason to continue this bullshit. The four of you need to leave Clubs at once."
"But the negotiations -"
"They have failed, Ace Matthew," Ivan interrupted, "The only way to settle this now is on the battlefield."
"Don't say it," Matthew pleaded, "There's no need -"
"I'm declaring war on Spades," Ivan stated, "Get out of my sight."
As the King of Clubs and the Ace of Spades stood face to face, Natalya could see a conflict of emotions in Matthew's face. He was evidently disappointed that they had reached the point of declaring war, but also resilient in his refusal to give in and allow it.
While Matthew stood his ground, Yao rushed to gather all the Spades paperwork from the table into his arms. Once he had it all, he went over to the Ace and grabbed his sleeve.
"Matthew, we need to leave now," Yao insisted, "I've already called for Peter to get us out of here. Gilbert is taking Alfred and Arthur back to Shoburgh as we speak."
Matthew finally broke his eye contact with Ivan, and moved to follow Yao out of the room. Natalya followed as well, around the Clubs side of the table, to the door looking out into the hallway. The Joker had already arrived, and quickly grabbed the pair and teleported them out of sight.
"Well that was a fucking disaster," Erzsébet scoffed as Natalya re-entered the room.
"I can't believe you all," Katerina reprimanded, "How many times have I begged you to not let this turn into a war?"
"It's not like they left us much choice in the matter," Roderich defended, "The negotiations failed on both sides, and all other options have been exhausted."
"I'm sorry, Katya," Ivan apologized, "We have no choice but to declare that Clubs is at war with Spades."