“M-Majesty??”  It was barely a whisper, but it was enough to catch the Queen’s attention, turning to the other and looking up in surprise.

“Ah.. h-hello…” The white queen simply stared at the stranger… blinking absently.  Who was this man?  Surely he wouldn’t be so calm (or unharmed) if he had been the one abusing Harry…had he saved the bishop?  He didn’t remember ever seeing him before…

“H-Hello…”

“Ah… fair…” he said softly.  “Here let me help you up…”  He at least got the other to sit up before looking back to the Mad.  “Is the infirmary still in the same—”

“Ah!! Mad, I saw a few frightened pawns and figured you were–”

:”HARRY???” He rushed over, nearly bowling Ayato over to hover over his bishop.  “Are you alright what in the world is going on what happened here??”

Titleless cad boy… Ayato chuckled, looking down at the man as he settled into a stance.  It was good form, he would give the other that, despite how taut he was.  In contrast, Ayato relaxed, eyes focused.

The knight rushed into action, but with a flurry of his sword that gave Ayato enough time to move from the arc, back to back, his hand twisting the other’s wrist to loosen the other’s grip with a yelp of pain.  He shifted his weight, pushing on the locked arm to separate knight from blade.  He picked up the sword then, testing the balance.  “A sword, no matter how well made it is, means nothing if you don’t know how to use it…”

The men who had followed the knight, seeing him so easily disposed of, faltered just a bit, but surely the others would be able to best one man, right??”

One by one, Ayato’s newly acquired blade unarmed them, sending them backing away in fear.  “W-who the hell are you?”

“We should… we should go….”

The pawns all left then, rushing away before anything else could happen.

The knight forgotten in favor of the bishop who was still on the ground, Ayato rushed over.  “Bishop are you unharmed??”  He undid the bindings and the cowl… ah.  The sudden card talk made sense.  He had never seen a redhaired man on the board before. “…I don’t remember seeing you before”

“I’m afraid it may already be too late,” he smiled softly.  “As your friend, your worries are mine.  If I can be of any help, you know me.  I will do all I can to help.”  

Card?  Corruption? His disgusting flaws.  Everything he said made him press his lips thinner.  “If you ask me, if it was true corruption, as knight, you shouldn’t hesitate to bring it forward… even in the instance that it may disturb the Queen.  But this is subterfuge…which means this is nothing but your own selfish desires and prejudices at play, whatever these supposed flaws may be.”  

The hatter mentioned, the step and it’s dangerous intention, Ayato just sighed, shaking his head.  “The fact that you think the Hatter has designs on the Queen tells me that you don’t know the first thing about the man, which is one thing I can forgive.  

“But your lack of faith in the White Queen, or rather, your wish to lay your own influences on them instead of simply voicing your concerns, make you the corruption you so desperately seek. A puritanian corruption that is blind and deaf to differences no matter how small, and a xenophobia that makes you no better than the Bloody Red Queen themself. So step as close as you want, false knight, but if you draw your blade I’ll make you use it.  And you’d better kill me at the draw.”