The amulet was both intricate and simple. The metalwork was set in a dark, dull stone disk. Slightly tarnished, antique silver formed a diamond in the center, with matching triangles radiating from the four cardinal points. Each discolored shape housed an etching.

A strange tree graced the center diamond, while an Eagle spread its wings and guarded the Northern triangle. The Horse raced in the Western triangle, as a Wolf howled in the East. In the Southern triangle, a majestic Lion roared its dominance over the other three animals.

It was an artifact of the Qikan, her people, and only members of the royal family were allowed to wear it. Everyone had thought it lost in the Great Cataclysm. Erza herself had only ever seen sketches of it.

"Ye called for me, Regina?" Roderick's deep brogue jerked her back to the present. She hadn't realized she'd been staring at the amulet for so long.

"For over three hundred years, I've asked you to drop formalities and use my name. Why do you insist on calling me Regina?" she demanded, rubbing at the headache already piercing her temple.

"Protocol dictates respect be shown to the ruler of any society."

His face never wavered. There was no spark of humor in his eyes, nor twitch of a smile at his mouth. Emotionless jerk.

"Protocol also dictates that you do as your ruler orders, and I've repeatedly ordered you to use my name. I've also begged and threatened you. You can't follow protocol on one and not the other. Your logic is flawed," she said, squeezing the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger.

"Yes...Regina,” he said, staring at the corner of her desk. She felt a nerve tick under her eye.

Deciding to forego further argument, she held up the amulet for his inspection. "Lucius brought us a gift. Want to guess what your job is?"

"No guess needed, Regina. I am to interrogate the inebriated human who is currently staring at the fireplace in a stupor," he replied, turning away to snag his helpless victim.

"Roderick..." Warning darkened Erza's tone.

"Regina?" he intoned back. If she didn't know any better, she'd swear he was mocking her.

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"What's the rule?" she asked.

"What rule would that be, My Lady?"

His expression never changed. He didn't avert his gaze, nor did he twitch an eyelash. The man was murder on poker nights.

"Roderick Cano, you will answer your Regina," she growled.

"He is human and drunk..." he hedged.

Why is he acting like this? He would never test me like this, normally. Erza scowled. His actions worried her.

"Warrior, answer me, what is the rule when interrogating humans?" she asked again.

"Do not break humans beyond repair. Do not emotionally traumatize them. Use humane methods to extract the required information. Knock them out and place them somewhere they will be found." He sighed! Roderick never gave away any emotion--because he didn't feel.

"Lucius will aid you. When you've finished, call everyone together so we can discuss what is to be done with the information you gather," she said, shooting Lucius a silent message. Watch him.

"You do not trust me, Regina," Roderick said, turning back to her. When she opened her mouth to reply, he said, "You are right not to. I seem to be falling into the Madness. When finished with our meeting this evening, I will perform mortem rituali."

"You. Will. Not!" Rage burned through Erza's veins as she crossed the room and jabbed him in the chest. "As your queen, I order you to do no such thing. I can't afford to lose you to either the Madness or death; especially if we end up following that damned amulet to its origins. I need you here to help me rule our people, not to mention your House. You do realize that if you die, your sister will end up being the head of Cano House and in turn, one of my Warriors? Do you think she'd survive her first fight? Then who's left? No one. You two are in the same boat as me."

She placed a callused hand against his cheek and said softly, "We're a dying race, Rick, and we need every man, woman, and child to live and fight the Madness as long as they can or there'll be nothing left of the Qikan."

Roderick closed his eyes, pressing his cheek against her palm, and then nodded. He gripped the human by the back of his shirt and dragged him out of the room without another word.

She glanced at Lucius, who tapped a finger next to his eye and jerked his thumb toward the door. His silent message was clear. I'll keep an eye on him.

She nodded her thanks and turned back to her paperwork. She needed to get all the political crap done before their meeting. She had a feeling there would be no time to spare afterwards.

Ruling a mysterious race of people within another country was daunting work; especially when Erza's council fought her every move and treated her like an errant child. She'd need to gird her nerves for the coming brouhaha the Council intended to subject her to.