Secrets of Power

         Silandis sat down next to Zadir, her bodyguard. In her old age he had become a welcome companion. Even though he was just a servant, he was sure fun to look at. “My dear friends, we gather today to discuss the powers in the East. Their strange ability power poses a threat we have never seen if they choose to come against us.”

         Everybody in the meeting knew who she was, despite the bright orange masks and glowing red robes that adorned them. The purpose of the attire was for protection, hiding identity was just an additional benefit. Silandis had been the Queen since she was seventeen years old. This meeting of twelve individuals had been built over the last fifty years, into a organization that controlled the nation. From the Army, to the Banks, and even the Markets and Poor Quarter, all was controlled from this room and this table, despite there being an actual Government Council. 500 people in one room will never agree, let alone get anything proper done. Yes, this meeting was necessary if a nation was to be run and controlled.

         “They are no threat. We have armies more than double their size.” A deep voice came from across the table. The Queen knew the man very well. Too well, as his bed would attest. To her, he was the leader of the 7 Armies of the People. To the table, he was number 4. “Despite their ability to share power between two individuals, it will not be an issue if they choose to attack.” 9 laughed on the other side of the table, a soft, sultry, feminine voice issuing from her mask. “How…. delightfully unintelligent you are 4.” She mused. “Not only do these people share power, they can increase it between themselves. As they fight, they can raise their abilities in each other. Producing a combined strength far beyond what is known to us.”

         “Ah, you know so much. How, may I ask?” 4 sneered, his voice making the disgusted look on his face obvious despite the mask. “9 has spent time studying them, I sent her to the East to trade with them. She came back with knowledge. I do not doubt her. Mostly.” The Queen stated. Zadir sat up a bit and grunted. “9 is correct.” He stated. So simple. So daft.

         7 coughed, a weak voice filled with stunning intelligence slipped from between the carved lips of the mask he wore. “Our power is stronger. We have utter control over our subjects. We each are connected to only a single individual. We control how much power they can issue, the lust the Chained have for the feeling of utter pleasure that power brings keeps them tightly obedient. We should have no fear. Our forces are better trained. Better controlled. Better fodder to throw at a supposed power in the East.”

         “That is the problem you are all facing, our Superiors have only a single Chained they can give power to. The Superiors sit in the fine dining tents we provide and watch their chained throw themselves at the enemy during battle. They do not fight. They are weak. The armies in the East are together. They are one. Both sides of the relationship share power. Both know how to fight. Both are strong where our Superiors are weak!” 9 Practically yelled.

         “No need for such aggression 9.” The Queen chuckled. The issue is not our Superiors, we will simply start training them to fight. They can assert themselves into battle if needed. How long should it take them to learn to use a blade of some sort? A month?” Zadir scoffed next to her. How dare he. “My Lady, if I may.” Silandis rolled her eyes. “Yes, 12. You may offer whatever your small brain can give us.” She stated. Zadir may be a glory to look at and play with. But his brain was never a thing to be enjoyed. Not like 4.

         Zadir spoke, the words coming slow, but full and strong. “I have trained with blades since I was able to walk. I have been in the service of my Superior for that same time. It takes much longer than a month to use a blade with any skill. It takes years. It takes.” He was cut off by 4. “See, there is your problem. You are a Chained. You are a Slave. Of course, it would take you years to learn what a Superior can do in much shorter time. There is no worry in this case.” Zadir was alone in this meeting, allowed in because he was the Queens Chained. She provided him power. He provided her protection. It had been that way since they were barely considered children. “12 I agree with 4. You know nothing us what a Superior can do.” Silandis focused on Zadir, gently pulling on the mental string that connected them. She drank in the power he had. Decreasing his strength.

         Zadir began to slouch in his chair. His muscles beginning to atrophy. She would give it back when she needed something big and strong to look at. She smiled under her mask, pleased with the control she had over such a man. 9 sat up in her chair. The Queen stared at her. Did she seem bigger? That whore was gaining weight. She filled out her robe much more than she had before.

         “9” the Queen said sweetly, trying to hide her disdain for the woman. “Would you kindly tell us why you think that two individuals sharing power are better then one individual being given as much power as we see fit?” 9 looked down, her hand coming up to her mask, a sigh issued from her as she removed the protective mask. Her long red hairs cascaded down her back, bright blue eyes seeming to shine in the semi darkness of the candle lit room. 4 laughed “Ah, Clarise, I had thought for years it was you under that mask. No wonder I detested your voice all these years. The Lady of Trade. Ha!”

         Clarise stared at 4, eyes burning with an edge of hatred. “I want you all to see my face as I explain the threat you all are under. These people. They do not give and take power. They share and amplify it. Two using the same power create a circuit that strengthens both. They use it and know how to fight together, as one. I have lived among them, my position as the Lady of Trade gives me an opportunity to see what they are like. To see their lives.” The Queen released her hold on the strand connecting her to Zadir. She wanted him to have his strength in case this conversation got out of hand. She would feed him power if needed. She didn’t like him to have that pleasure unless it was needed. Control was the most important thing with a Chained.

         “I have seen how they work, how they treat each other. How their relationships are strong.” 9s voice was raising, becoming almost a yell of passion and anger. “I have seen their strength. I have seen their power. I have seen how much better they are, and how much better their people are because of it.” The Queen stood up, slamming her hand down on the table. “Silence you whimpering woman!” She yelled. Although, the last word to truly describe Clarise was whimpering.

         “We have the wealthiest nation in the world. We have the largest army in the world. We have no reason to fear these people simply because a Man and Woman can share power.” The Queen laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “We have tried exchanging power with our Chained before, it never works. By what means do they do this?” Clarise stood up, eyes glaring at the Queen.

         ” It is not just Men and Women combinations like we have here. It is any combination. It is a Man and a Man, a Woman and a Woman, a Brother and Sister. Their power is shared much more widely.” 4 stood as well, he may be a Superior, but unlike most he was strong. He worked as hard as any man or woman in his armies. The others at the table tried to lower themselves in their seats, the tension in the room increasing by the second. “What you are saying is beginning to sound like treason. Do you so love these people we will soon be at war with? If they are so strong, so different, they deserve annihilation like every other nation we have vanquished. We call ourselves Superior because we are. Any nation that challenges that will cease to be.” Clarise lowered her eyes, running her finger over the table slowly, almost sadly.

         “They are” She said, slowly choosing her words. “Better than us. They have peace. They don’t fight each other. There are no house wars. I would gladly see this kingdom implode rather than see theirs destroyed.” The Queen sat down. A grin forming on her face under the mask. “12, Arrest this traitor.” She stated. Zandis did not move. He sat there. Fine, there were other ways to control a Chained. She grabbed the mental thread between them and started feeding power into it. A Chained could be made to fight, overfill them with power and they had to release it. 4 drew a knife out of his robes and jumped atop the table, lunging to stab Clarise! When the blade met her forehead she fell back,  4 and 9 disappearing in a bundle of robes and wood as the chair beneath her broke.

         4 flew back, landing on the table, his mask crushed and mangled, almost as if a hand and crushed it. Clarise stood up, no knife stuck in her forehead. Not even a scratch or dent. “You asked how they were able to share so easily. How their power was able to increase in both parties. Their power works better then ours for one reason.” Clarise turned her gaze to The Queen. Silandis desperately fed as much power as was possible into Zandis in a panic! She could feel it building inside him! Zandis stood up, power surging in him as he lunged out and kicked the Queen.

         She flew into the wall shattering bones in her side and leg and mangling the chair, splinters digging into her hands. The others around the table stood, lunging at Zandis but Claris jumped over the table, kicking 2 in the chest and grabbing 6 by the face and crushing his head as she had done to 4. She threw him into 5 as he got on the table with his sword. She grabbed that as he fell, throwing the blade to Zandis who climbed up on the table to join her. They stood back to back, quickly making a pile of bodies on and around the table, their movements seeming a dance coordinated between them.

         The Queen stared up in horror as her subjects died. Pain in her body growing as she realized more inside her was broken than a few bones. After the nine others in the room were dead, laying on the ground in pools of blood, the protection of their robes and masks nothing in the face of the power Claris and Zandis held. Zandis climbed off the table. Walking towards the Queen and kneeling beside her.

         She reached out, pulling on her link to him, trying to suck the massive power he had inside him away, she would drain him until he died! Nothing happened. Her connection was there, but not connected to him. She could feel the link, but it stopped just before it got to him. Her mouth dropped open in a silent shriek of fear and pain. Zandis reached down, cradling her head. “The secret, my Queen. Is Love, Love enables the bonds that give true strength.” His words were slow, simple, and strong. Claris walked up, resting her hand on his shoulder. “Its ok Brother. Finish it. We will leave this place. They won’t find us in the East.” Zandis slowly took of the mask of The Queen, staring into her eyes as he spoke. “You took me from my family. You made me a Chained. Now, love has made me free.” Her world went dark. She had no more thoughts. No more commands, her superiority, was finally gone.