Chapter 6: Of Power
“You have me Anexia, but what will you do?” Zaedus lowered Cindy and the claws around him lowered as well. “I warn you; no one has ever managed to hold me captive.”
“I don’t have captives, just allies and the dead.”
“Well no one’s been able to kill me either, so all you have left is an alliance or an exit.” Zaedus matched her gaze. “The choice is yours Queen.”
“Who are you?” She asked again.
“I told you, I am Zaedus.”
“Your are more than a name Zaedus.” Her claws hovered dangerously close to his skin. “You have much pain and walk a path of blood and death.” She turned around and beckoned him to follow. “We do the same. This complex is series of caves, each cave has a portal. They were once above ground, created to serve an ancient race. We use them to travel discreetly, searching…”
“Searching for what?” Zaedus asked as he followed her into another chamber.
“These creatures build our tunnel network.” The room was filled with the beasts Zaedus encountered before. “We believe them to be the left over slaves from a bygone era. I control them all. Most portals only have almost no tunnels; the vermin expand them to the surface. Then my agents search the world above. We operate in perfect secrecy. The humans will never know.”
“You’re obviously not secret enough,” Commented Zaedus. Anexia looked at him contempt, “But why are you doing this?” He looked into her eyes as if attempting to see her motives. “What are your goals, and why the secrecy?”
“It is not your place to know.” She replied cold as stone, “You can not be trusted…yet.” Her final word was an oddity. Regardless her intentions were unclear. “You will stay the night here.” Anexia led him to a room with a simple bed roll. “In the morning I shall decide your fate.”
“Am I not your captive?” Asked Zaedus.
“Consider yourself an oddity, I have never seen reptile of such strange colours as you. You are different and shall be treated as such.”
“Do you want to take my weapon?”
“Your attempts to attack me have failed; I do not fear you. Keep your weapon.” She walked away leaving Zaedus alone. Zaedus could not shake the feeling he had been insulted.
“Well Cindy what do you make of these people?” Zaedus opened his mind and thoughts to Cindy who listened.
“I’m not sure, they are an enigma.” Cindy spoke into his mind, this way they could avoid being overheard.
“Yes they are,” agreed Zaedus. We shall learn more soon enough.” Zaedus unsheathed Cindy and using a small cloth began to polish her, “We’ve got to look our best…”
“Yes of course, nothing else is as important.” Cindy replied sarcastically.
“Just for that, I’ll touch up my shoulder pads instead!” Placing Cindy on the ground he took of one shoulder pad and got to work.
“You could at least sheath me!”
“Sheath yourself!” Zaedus threw down his sheath beside Cindy.
“You’re never hearing the end of this!” Cindy yelled.
“Fine!” Zaedus sheathed Cindy, “What ever you say O’ Sword of Merciful Viciousness.” He sheathed Cindy, “Well I’m going to sleep. You get first watch because I’m fairly sure you don’t need sleep…”
“How would you know?”
“I don’t, but when you’re the adventurer you can make the rules ok?” Zaedus went to sleep in the provided bed roll.
Sometime later, Cindy woke him up and they changed watch. Zaedus attempted to look as if he was sleeping but stay awake. It was easier said than done, and he slept through his watch.
#
Zaedus awoke feeling rested, but he felt different. He couldn’t move! He couldn’t feel anything!
“What’s happening?” He could speak! This was good. He opened his eyes and saw more than he had ever seen before. He could see all around himself. It was almost too much, but what really got him was when he saw himself, pick him up.
“We switched,” His body replied, “Now I’m the adventurer and you’re the sword, so I make the rules!”
“I don’t mind the switch, really, but you don’t know how to deal with these people! And you can’t fight what if something goes wrong. Horribly wrong! Cindy we’ve got to switch back!”
“Later, I’m enjoying this. Let’s go walk around.”
“I guess I have no say in this…”
“Exactly,” Cindy slung Zaedus over her back and began to walk around the tunnels.
They saw other such rooms, some with sleeping felines others without. They saw the odd feline walking around and Cindy gave them a friendly wave. More often than not, the wave was not returned. Zaedus was unaccustomed to the lack of control, but soon realized it was really easy going being the sword.
“I don’t really mind this too much,” He said and then continued, “I’m as light as a feather, but as heavy a falling tower. I am as strong as a thousand men, but as flexible as willow. I can be slow, but I deal swift death. I am Zaedus the Sword Of Merciful Viciousness!”
“I thought I was the sword of merciful viciousness?” Cindy asked.
“Well you were, but now you’re the adventurer. It’s a trade off I guess,” Reasoned Zaedus. “But if you want to switch back, no problems here.”
“Later, Ok?” replied Cindy
“Fine with me, and wake me if you need me.” Zaedus paused, “Can I even sleep like this?”
“Oh course, it’s just really hard to do when you’re on someone’s back.”
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