Three weeks.

It has been exactly three weeks since Luna was imprisoned, and it has been a bit nicer than she thought. The moment the doctors told the sentinels she was ready to be transported, they muffled her ears and put a dark sack on her head. They only removed it when she was already inside her cell, and Luna admitted that she did not know where they put her.

The cell had only one small window that was far above her reach and her only indication of time. She could tell by the sound of the wind that wherever they imprisoned her, it was somewhere high. The walls of her cell were made of white marble, which made them completely slippery to the touch, and she was unable to climb up. The door was made of heavy iron and britus with a small slat at the bottom. Luna also assumed that even the walls are made of britus steel only to be covered with marble.

No wonder Merlin hasn’t contacted me yet, she thought, as Luna fooled herself.

It was incredibly cramped too, with the cell being big enough for her to lie down. There was only a toilet and a thin mattress that had barely any stuffing left in it and a uselessly thin blanket. Luna was lying down on her mattress, and she shivered as her breath was visible.

Winter is properly settled, yet no one gave her any additional clothes. Her prison uniform, which was ridiculously thin, did nothing against the cold. Luna also expected her to be interrogated or even be put before a judge and jury, but there was nothing.

No one talked to her ever since they put her in weeks ago, and she had to admit it was a bit concerning. They even took her false arm, which to her felt a bit much. Luna sat on the floor and stared at the toilet. Judging from the light coming from her window, it was almost dusk and her visitor was coming soon.

As if right on cue, a mouse no bigger than her pinky finger popped out of the toilet. Luna smiled as she brought out a large chunk of bread she was hiding and placed it at the rim of the seat. The mouse that had a scar under its right eye, dried itself and started to eat. When the mouse started to visit her two weeks ago, she felt a little bit optimistic. She did not know why, but she felt that something would change soon.

"So how are you, Luna?" She pretended to be the mouse.

"Same problems but a different day, and how are you, mister mouse?"

"Just checking up on you to make sure you are still alive." The mouse looked at Luna as it continued to eat. "This bread is incredibly stale."

"Yes, that’s the prison special croissant. It’s a flaky bread made with the finest butter and soft pressed flour-" The mouse suddenly stopped eating, looked at her one last time, and then leapt back into the toilet.

There was a loud bang on the door, and Luna knew it wasn’t dinner time yet. When it opened, it was Diana herself, fully armoured and holding a sack and muffs in her hands. Behind her were two fully equipped Aspana soldiers, with their steam rifles at attention.

"The Chancellor will speak with you." Luna did not say anything but just looked up at her. "You will address the chancellor with respect and if you even try anything, anything. I will put you back in here and let you rot the rest of your life alone in this cell."

"Is that a promise?" Luna chuckled, but the warden commander’s face remained apathetic. Diana placed cuffs on her hand and feet, muffed her ears, gagged and blindfolded her, then placed a sack on her head.

=0o0=

Luna counted. Wherever they were taking her, it took three hours for them to get there. At the end, they sat her in a chair and then removed her blindfold.

They were in a small, dark room with a table with a lit candle and another chair behind it. Diana shackled her to her chair to prevent her from moving, and to Luna, it felt excessive. She could not even lean back as her bindings held her firmly in place. Diana did not even remove her ear muffs, so she could not hear a thing as she watched her finish locking her in place and then left the room.

She suddenly remembered when they removed her armour and the look on the doctor’s and Diana’s faces. When they saw her body, she expected shock, fear, and even disgust, but the one thing she never expected was concern, a look of concern and pity from the warden commander herself.

When she returned, Diana escorted an eccentric-looking old man. He had fair battle-scarred skin, a long trimmed beard, and a balding head, but the hair on his side was stylish. The old man’s eyes, a steely green, were something Luna was familiar with. The eyes of someone who had seen death and came out victorious. They were the same eyes Vhlad had.

He wore an all-black high-collared coat with gold cuffs and white gloves, and the front of his coat was decorated with numerous medals. He looked at Luna as though questioning the need for so many cuffs and chains on one person. Luna did not see it right away, but she saw he was carrying a thick folder, a vial, and a syringe.

He sat across from Luna while Diana removed her gag and ear muffs. The warden commander then stood at attention behind the old man.

"So…" The old man put on his glasses and read the contents of the folder. "You are the infamous Lady Luna.

Let’s see here. No last name. No country of origin. No... fingerprints? Really? That’s weird. Is that true? Don’t answer that. And looks like you have tons of titles and aliases. Let’s start with the famous one, the former top Ablan shadow. Another is the leader of the Dominion guild, the best bounty hunter guild in Aelmion. Formerly the best bounty hunter guild. These next two titles are interesting, though, because they say you are also known as the Nurin Arsonist and the Skyguard Butcher."

The old man whistled.

"Your criminal record here is… amusing to say the least. It looks like you collected them all, didn't you? Hundreds of charges? The most notable ones are arson, burglary, extortion, fraud, identity theft on multiple counts, illegal substance possession, manufacturing and cultivation, theft, vandalism... Diana, are you sure that should be there?"

He looked back at the warden commander and she just nodded.

"Let’s see where we are. Vandalism, Possession, Harboring and use of outlawed technology, Money laundering, conspiracy, Aiding and Abetting state wanted fugitives, second degree murder-"

"I did not kill Warden Commander Minerva." Luna directed it at Diana.

"The prisoner has not been given permission to speak." Diana said coolly. The old man just looked at both of them and then lifted his eyebrows.

"Uhmmm ok… moving on there, second degree murder and the most recent charge is kidnapping members of the Braenarim royal family.

Lady Luna, I must say, this is impressive, especially at the age of... twenty-seven, with the first charge dating back ten years... So you were already a bounty hunter and a criminal at the age of fifteen? You were lucky that you were a hunter and you managed to evade the law for ten years. Tell me first, do you know who I am?"

Luna bowed her head "I greet Otto Nikolaus Von Stahlblut, the Stalwart Iron Chancellor of Aspana."

"Well, that breaks the ice. And I greet Lady Luna, the founder and guardian of Defiance."

The chancellor smiled at her. There was no malice behind the smile, which made Luna wary.

"Commander Diana told me a lot about you, and believe me, you are a very interesting young woman. Now do you know why I am meeting with you?"

"No idea."

"The prisoner will address the chancellor with rank and respect." Diana cut in. Nikolaus looked at her and then at Luna.

"I believe she has a point. When talking to a head of state, it is proper to address them with their rank."

"Then you owe me the same courtesy, Chancellor." Luna replied.

"Defiance has not been recognised by any nation and is seen as a lawless or rogue state." Diana cut in again. Diana kept her composure while Luna stared daggers at her.

"Alright, alright, that’s enough." Nikolaus said, breaking the tension. "Diana I think you have made your point and I think I now know where you stand but that is a discussion for another day and we will drop it at that. I will ask you again Lady Luna, do you know why we are meeting with you?"

"No… Chancellor."

"Well, the reason is because of my granddaughter. You see, when she arrived at the Reichshall, the very moment she met with me, the princess of Aspana, in front of reporters, the knights cross and aristocrats, got on her knees and begged, begged, that we immediately let you go. It was a massive scandal, actually; the newspapers almost went ballistic with a princess pleading for the release of a bounty hunter. Had to stop the presses, literally." He chuckled.

"Naturally, we all declined, of course, but the princess resorted to locking herself in her room and refusing to go out. She then resorted to not eating or drinking anything, not even a sip of water, until we released you from prison. Elizabeth has already fainted three times from her protests. Three. For a seven-year-old child, fainting once is already bad, don’t you think?"

Luna kept her head down. "Yes Chancellor, I agree.”

"Of course, despite all this, it would be insanity if we released you so easily. Then two weeks ago, the revered mother of the inquisition, Inquisitor Marsilia, sent a personal message that they wanted to take over your custody and have been sending daily requests ever since. I’m pretty sure the mail carrier is just camping outside my office now.

A week ago, I received a message, or rather a threat, from the Lord of the Hunt himself, that you be immediately transferred to their custody. He threatened to end his services and allegiance to us if we did not comply.

Five days ago, GEAs, A group of GEAs came into the Chancellery, into a fully packed parliament chamber, and in front of all the members demanded that you be given to them. They exploded and luckily did not injure anyone, but they threatened that they would send more GEAs and their next target would include casualties if we did not release you to them.

Three days ago, Warlord Trongar sent a skull. I kid you not, a human skull with four words carved on it. It said: Give her to us. They are the most subtle, I’ll give him that.

On the same day, the chevaliers uncovered carts of explosives all around the city, and reports indicate they were all directed towards the Spire prison. It was said that former Syndicate members and bounty hunters were behind the plot to attack the prison.

The other day, a few gardeners in Reichshall were reported to be sleep walking. They are under observation in the hospital, but they said they could not stop writing these." He took out a piece of paper, which was filled with numerous lines that said: Free Luna, over and over again. “I’m going to assume that this is the Plantir at this point because the doctor said that their… excrement contained fully intact plants.

Last night, I got a message from Merlin himself. He said that you are a sovereign ambassador of the College of Mages and therefore qualified under the count of diplomatic immunity, cancelling your charges here and requesting that you be extradited to him. Also, he sent these." Nikolaus gestured toward the two vials.

“Finally, I got a message from an old friend this morning. He personally written a letter saying I talk with you face to face and to make a decision based on how you would respond. He asked that I mention to you that he is an old lion.

So that is the Inquisition, the Huntsmen, the Orks, the Syndicate, former bounty hunters, the College of Mages, the GEA's, the Plantir, An old lion and my own granddaughter; the princess of Aspana and Braenarim are all vying for your release. You have quite a list of friends. Politically, I would be insane if I did not release you, as these factions are very valuable potential allies and very dangerous potential enemies. Tell me this, did you really get yourself arrested because you knew that they would get you out?"

Luna did not speak.

She looked at Nikolaus, then at Diana. "May I speak freely Chancellor?"

"I’ll allow it."

Luna sighed. "I only expected the syndicate, the bounty hunters, and the Chairman of the College to intervene. I did not tell Princess Elizabeth to do any of those things for me, and I do not know why the Inquisition, the huntsmen, the orks, the plantir, or the GEA’s would get involved on my behalf. And I honestly can say that I do not know anything regarding old lions."

"Lady Luna, Did you abduct Princess Alicia and Princess Elizabeth." Nikolaus asked. His face became more stern and cold.

"No." She answered firmly.

"Do you know who did?"

"I do. Crown Prince Asterion of Silvus was working with some rogue former Syndicate members and a former council shadow guild."

"Do you know why?"

"No."

"How did you manage to find Princess Elizabeth?

"We were conducting a raid on a slaver's hold three months ago in the badlands. It was a mercy operation from the Syndicate. I found her in a slaver mine personally and have been watching over her ever since."

"Why did the syndicate, or you, not send a message that you had found the princess if you really wanted to bring her back?"

"At the time, we did not know she was the princess. She had told me her mother had instructed her personally to never reveal her identity, and I did not press on after that. We had prepared an armoured escort for her and the other victims of the slaver's hold, but their convoy was hijacked by rogue syndicate members. I saved her, but after that I did not know who I could trust, especially since we were deep in the Badlands and syndicate territory by then."

"When did you find out that she was the Princess?"

"After we received a contract from crown prince Asterion himself, he contracted me and my guild to find a woman and her child but hid the information that they were Princess Alice and Elizabeth."

"This is a serious allegation, Lady Luna. Do you have proof?"

"None but my word, Chancellor."

"Why would neutral hunters take a state contract? I thought such an action was forbidden among the brotherhood?" Diana asked.

"We did not know that it was a state contract when we accepted. Anyone can offer a contract. And his offer was extremely generous at the time."

"How generous?" Nikolaus continued.

"One hundred full untainted Cha ingots if both of them are brought alive and unharmed."

"So when you found out, why not tell anyone? Why did you not send a message to Aspana or the Sentinels?"

"By the time we found out, there was already word that we abducted the princess and were being hunted down by Silvus soldiers, syndicate members, and bounty hunters. Also, because of my history with the Warden Commander, I did not contact the Sentinels. My guild just agreed to deliver her personally into Aspana and contact you once we knew she was in a safe location."

"A Silvus strike fleet was found destroyed near the Geltic gate. Was that you?"

"Yes."

"You attacked a Silvus Strike Fleet? In peace time, that is a very serious crime, Lady Luna."

"They have taken Princess Elizabeth and hidden her inside. We assaulted it and freed her from them."

"Why? Why do all of this? What do you stand to gain? Do you seek financial compensation? Do you seek diplomatic support for Defiance? Do you seek amnesty or pardons? For yourself or your guild? What do you want in exchange for going through all… this?"

"I just wanted to bring a lost child back to her family. As an orphan myself, I know that no child should go through something like that."

Nikolaus looked at her straight in the eye as though he was looking for something. "Diana? Any questions?"

"Where is my sister?"

"I do not know. But I want to help you find her as well."

"Why?"

"Because I promised Princess Elizabeth."

Diana almost scoffed but held it in, "That’s it?"

"That’s it."

"Tell me, Lady Luna. What is this supposed to be then?" The chancellor held the two vials; one had his name, the other was for Luna. "The Chairman said that one is for you and one is for me."

"It is medicine, Chancellor. Nothing more." Nikolaus carefully opened it. He sniffed it as though he was sampling fine wine and drank one vial.

"Chancellor!" Diana rushed to stop him, but he had already finished. "Are you insane what if it was poison!"

Nikolaus however remained unfazed. "So what does the medicine do Lady Luna?"

"It should take an hour or more to take effect, but it should help you with your ailment. Give it a few minutes and you should feel some effects already."

"Do you mind if I wait and see?"

"Of course, Chancellor."

Minutes passed in silence, then the Chancellor began stretching.

"Feeling better, Chancellor?" Luna asked as he continued to stretch his arms and hands.

"I do, actually." Nikolaus cracked his fingers. He moved his neck around and loud cracking noises came out. He stood up and started stretching. With each movement, his smile grew. "It’s now just a mild numbness. I haven’t stretched like that in a while. Oh yeah. Diana, watch me look. Look, I can stretch now. I can’t wait to walk outside without a cane! Boy this feels great!"

"Chancellor... It’s not a cure. It will delay the sickness, slow its growth, but it cannot cure it. I’m sorry." Luna said.

"But it will delay the sickness?" Nikolaus said cheerfully.

"Uhmm... yes?"

"For how long?"

"It is a very experimental treatment. I did not even think it would work."

"Didn’t answer my question."

"It could be months up to years, but medicine can only do so much…"

"That’s good enough." He said, as he continued to flex and stretch, "Now your turn. Commander Diana, if you would be so kind?"

Diana got the vial and inside was a syringe that had amber-like fluid inside, different from what the chancellor drank. She carefully injected her arm and Luna immediately felt her gunshot wound from a month ago start to heal from the inside.

"Now. If I will let you go-"

"Chancellor!" Diana snapped at Nikolaus, "We did not agree to this! She is still a wanted criminal!"

"Indeed she is. And I will not overlook that fact. But I believe that for someone like her, community service suits her better than being locked away in some hole in the ground. If a woman with your skills can do so many impressive feats as a criminal, just imagine what you can do if you are on the side of the law."

"Chancellor, rethink this! This is an abhorrent mishandle of justice! She has killed people-"

"I did not kill Warden Commander Minerva!" Luna repeated.

"What about the others?! You butchered civilians! You wiped out towns! Burned cities to the ground! You have even worked to undermine governments! Just because you did one good act in your pathetic miserable life you expect that to redeem everything?!

You only surrendered because you knew you have a way out! You may pretend to be a hero, but i know what you truly are, Luna! You are a monster that only looks out for herself!

What about all the victims who were caught in your actions?! You are responsible for them! If you really want to redeem yourself then you need to be responsible for their deaths! All their suffering! You need to answer for those crimes as well!"

Nikolaus watched in silence. Diana stared down Luna, and the bounty hunter could only keep her head down.

"You are right, commander." Finally, Luna spoke. "I am responsible. Those are my actions, and my actions have caused thousands of people grief, suffering, and even their deaths. Even with the most noble of intentions, I still caused them harm. But I want to make amends for my past crimes and actions. But if you deem imprisonment or death to be a fitting sentence for all my sins, then I would accept your judgement as well. But all I ask is that you let my crimes be my own. My guild, Defiance or my associates had nothing to do with any of this."

Diana looked at the Chancellor while he looked at Luna straight in the eyes. "Tell me. Do you really want to redeem yourself?"

"I do, Chancellor."

The Chancellor looked at her intently. Luna could swear it was as though he was studying her. It seems he found what he was looking for and then he smiled. "That's good enough for me."

"Chancellor! Don't tell me you believe her pathetic act!" Diana roared.

"Warden Commander, I respect and acknowledge all your concerns, but as the Chancellor of Aspana and the one currently holding her in detention. I have now made my decision. I am granting her a full pardon with heavy conditions and limitations."

"You are making a grave mistake, Chancellor! She cannot be trusted! She will escape the moment we remove the shackles from her!"

"Duly noted. Lady Luna will you escape?"

"No Chancellor." Luna said honestly. Diana’s cheeks flared red, but the chancellor remained adamant.

"Warden Commander if you will?" He gestured towards Luna’s shackles. Furiously, Diana removed all her bindings, and finally, Luna felt that she could lean back on her seat. A motion that was denied to her for a month.

Luna then sat upright. "Chancellor, Warden Commander, I answered all of your questions. Before we continue further, do you mind if I ask some of my own?"

Diana looked at Nikolaus angrily.

"I’ll allow it." He replied.

"Chancellor, Warden Commander, did you find Heir Empress Catherine or Princess Alicia yet?" Luna saw Diana's face darken upon mentioning her sisters.

"With respect, I answered all your questions; it is only fair that you answer mine." Luna added.

"No." Nikolaus answered for Diana. "No word or trace has been found for Alice and Catherine." Diana gripped her hands tightly, which Luna picked up on.

"Did Braenarim or Empress Sophia try to find them at least?"

Diana visibly shook upon hearing the name of her mother.

"No. Empress Sophia has... stopped and blocked all search attempts for the princesses and condemned Heir Empress Catherine as a... traitor."

Diana huffed through the nose.

"Do you believe that, chancellor? That Princess Catherine is a traitor?"

"Why are you asking these questions?!" Diana could not hold back any longer. "Are you trying to get a rise out of me?!"

"Diana." Nikolaus urged her to calm down. "She has a point, though. Why are you asking for this, Lady Luna? Why would it concern you?"

"Because I want to help find her as well."

"You?! Why would you?!"

"Diana never shoot a gift horse in the mouth. But tell me, Lady Luna, how could you possibly help?"

"Chancellor, You and the Warden Commander cannot move because you are bound by the law. I have friends and connections who are not controlled by those limitations. As proof of my sincerity, I would be more than willing to offer you our services to help you find the princesses. That includes everything from Defiance, even up to our GEA allies. And if Braenarim finds out, you and the warden commander will not be involved legally in anyway."

"And in exchange? I know when something is too good to be true, it isn’t. So what do you want in exchange for all this?"

"This may seem too much but, In exchange Chancellor I ask for Defiance to be recognised as a sovereign country and to give us membership into the coalition of nations. Thousands of refugees from Ablan, Afrua and other countries have nowhere to go, and we cannot go down to help them because Defiance is being attacked on all sides, physically and politically.

If Aspana and the coalition recognize Defiance, the citizens and refugees who chose freely to live in it will have legal protection especially from extradition and anti immigration laws imposed by countries where they are from originally. And we have a legal basis to defend ourselves.

But this does not mean we have nothing to offer the coalition as well. If we are allowed to trade in the common market, our main exports will be agricultural and mechanised products. Aspana will have access to our vast range of vehicles, merchandise, and weapons, and we can supply the coalition from our vast food stores, especially now that Silvus, Braenarim, Rugnor, and the Nordlands have closed trading to other countries. And we can help with the impending famine as well. There will be other details we can discuss, but I think this is a fair proposal, no?"

The Chancellor just shook his head with a smile.

"Hmmm. Win-win in my book. But that is not my decision alone to make." He looked at Diana, who was just glaring at Luna. "Any other questions, Lady Luna?"

"I have many questions soon, Chancellor, but the last one for right now is for Princess Diana."

"Go ahead."

"It is only for her ears alone, Chancellor."

"I see. Well, That is for the Warden Commander to decide if she should take it."

Diana approached her, but Luna leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"I know your sisters and Elizabeth are mages too."

Diana’s eyes widened. If the Chancellor wasn’t with them, Luna had no doubt she would have choked her by now, but the Warden Commander kept her composure. She whispered again.

"Commander Diana, That knowledge is safe with us. Only people I can trust completely know of that secret and have vowed to keep it, as we know what happens to unregulated mages. But Asterion himself knows about it and soon the maker knows who else. Please. Let us help you find your sisters before they find them, before it’s too late."