Queen Melina was reviewing paperwork in her study with Nydia when an attendant came in.

“My Queen, Princess Tashanna and Sir Victor Armon are waiting in the lounge.”

“You may bring them in.”

A few minutes later Tashanna and Victor were escorted into the room by the same attendant.

“Mother I am sorry to disturb you, but Sir Victor wanted me to show you what he got me.”

Queen Melina Looked up from her paperwork to see her daughter practically skipping into the room. She had just turned sixteen but was still acting like a child most of the time. She had the same long blue hair that was common in her family. The older she got the more she resembled Queen Natasha, Melina’s mother. Natasha was always said to be the greatest beauty even amongst the women of the Volkov line.

The queen was only able to enjoy the sight of her daughter for a split second before her eyes locked on the black choker around her neck. All the color drained from the queen’s face. She was not sure if she would even remain conscious at the site before her. The queen panicked. Victor had full control of her now. There was nothing he could not make her do.

“Isn’t it lovely? He said it is a sign of our love, so I should never take it off.”

Tashanna leaned over to her mother so she could get a good look at the new choker, she was so happy about. Melina brought her hand up and ran her fingers over the metaphorical shackles now wrapped around Tashanna's neck.

“My queen, I told you I would make the decision if you were unable.” Victor stepped into the Queen's eye line.

“Oh mother, you helped him pick it out. No wonder I love it so much. I really may never take it off.” Tashanna wrapped her arms around her mother in a big hug.

“Well, that is just the sweetest sight. A mother and daughter bonding over their love of jewelry. You may be the royalty, but you are both women first, am I right.” Victor stood there with such a self-satisfied grin the queen wanted nothing more than to tear the flesh from his face.

“I cannot thank you enough for how well you treat my daughter. I look forward to the day I can repay you everything you are owed.” The Queen's fury was barely being held back. She knew lashing out now would do no good, so she settled for killing him in her head over and over.

“That will truly be a day to remember. I only stopped by to give princess Tashanna the gift. I have lots of duties that need attending to. I will leave you lovely ladies to talk to your girltalk.”

“Thank you so much Sir Victor.” Tashanna went over to victor and pulled him down so she could give him a kiss on the cheek. Victor never broke eye contact with the queen.

“Ah you spoil me princess.”

“Only because you spoil me. Here let me see you out. We don’t want you to get in trouble for neglecting your duties. I hear your boss can be a real taskmaster.” Tashanna winking at her mother as she escorted Victor to the door and waited for the attendants to close it firmly

She turned to her mother “Oh gods, I am going to vomit.”

“WHAT WERE YOU THINKING.”

Tashanna ignored her mother as she went to the water on the table and rinsed her mouth out. She looked around the room with her mouth full of water and then found a potted plant to spit in.

“My lips feel numb. You don’t think that slug is actually made of poison, do you?”

“ANSWER ME!”

“Gosh mother, what choice did I have? If I did not accept the ‘gift’, he would have only forced it on me, and we would tip our hand.”

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“But you know what that can do. It binds your free will.”

“Calm down mother. It did not have that effect on me.” Tashanna waved her hands dismissively at her mother.

“You are a fool. You knew what it could do and put it on anyway.”

“I had considered what the collars could do to me but dismissed it as unlikely.” Tashanna ran her fingers over the choker.

“How could you possibly have come to that conclusion? Only Nydia has been able to maintain her free will so far as we know.” The panic in the queen’s voice was clear.

“That is exactly why I was sure I would be ok. I know who Nydia truly is. Victor does not. That is why I don’t think he has figured it out.” Tashanna sat down in the chair across from her mother’s desk.

“What was Victor’s reaction after? He must know he does not have full control over you.”

“That part almost made it worth it to see the smug face twist in anger. He almost showed me his true colors.” Tashanna smiled wide, reliving Victor’s frustration.

“Shame I did not get to see that. So, what is your theory exactly.” The queen tried to calm herself so she could hear what her daughter had come up with.

“You and I both know Nydia is by far more than just your head attendant. Most know she is good with a sword, but we know she can do so much more than that. When I looked at the list of current victims, few have magical training if any at all. This means their control of mana and overall mana capacity are low. Since these collars must work by manipulating a person’s mana, I figured those with a high level of control would be able to resist it.” Tashanna pulled some of the grapes off her mother's lunch plate to eat.

“You know I sometimes think you are the dumbest smart person I know. That was too much a gamble to take on a hunch.” The queen’s panic from earlier quickly being replaced with anger.

“I think this may be a good thing. I was never able to study Nydia collar at any great length. Her absence from your side would not go unnoticed by Victor. Now I can study this until my heart’s content. Victor has unknowingly given us what we need to be free of him.”

“Tashanna, you don’t understand. The only thing holding Victor back from making me do whatever he wanted, was he still thought I would sacrifice those he had collared. He could not push too hard, always afraid what he asked may be too far. Now with you…” The queen brought her head down into her hands trying to control her emotions.

“We are committed now, mother. I will retire to my room and start researching this. Nydia, please send Susan to join me. She is the best among you at research. She will know what books to bring.” Tashanna's tone became very serious, speaking with the confidence of a queen.

Tashanna stiffened, almost as if she was afraid to ask, “Before I go. Any news of Anastasia?”

Nydia spoke in response “There was an incident that we believe connected at Waldron three days east of here. Robert Armon was killed.”

Tashanna's face gained a puzzled look at the mention of Robert’s death. “It does not seem like Victor knows. Is it possible that Anastasia's disappearance and Victor’s schemes are unrelated?”

“That is unlikely. The knights who were killed along with Robert were all from house Armon. He must at least know his brother is also missing if not outright dead. So, either he is hiding the fact or does not care. It is hard to tell with that man.” Nydia's face had trouble hiding her contempt as she spoke of Victor.

“So why are you sure that this is connected to Anastasia?”

“I have it from a reliable source that a young woman with blue hair was seen in town.”

“Be that as it may. I find it hard to believe that Anastasia’s guards could take out what I assume was Robert's personal unit. That man was insufferable, but he knew his way around a fight. So, she must have had help. Did your source know anything?”

“She did offer reassurance that the young woman would be safe. She was in the care of a mercenary my source trusted very much.” Nydia brow furrowed at the mention of the mercenary.

Tashanna could not help but be intrigued at the stoic Nydia's reaction to the mention of this mercenary. “Seems you know a little more than you let on Nydia, who is this mercenary?”

“I think it best not to speculate for now. I want to confirm the identity first.”

The queen finally interrupted. “Why is this the first I am hearing that you may know the identity of this mercenary?”

“I am sorry my queen. It just did not come up when I gave you my report.” Nydia had wanted to keep this fact from the queen. However, Tashanna probing may not have been the worst thing. The princess always had a strange way of looking at things and may offer insight Nydia had not considered.

“It did not come up! What is the point of a report if not to bring up the facts?”

Tashanna felt bad at giving something away that Nydia was not ready to share. “I am sorry Nydia, but I believe it may be best to just tell us who it could be. We will not hold it against you if you are wrong.”

Nydia nodded at Tashanna and then moved her eyes to the queen as she spoke

“It is a mercenary named Finn.”

The queen’s eyes widened in shock. As she dropped the glass she had been holding.