Euthara by Michael McClain

“My second in command is now commander of her Royal Guards.”
    “Where is Carex now?” the King said.
    “He’s currently in command of Ghost Station in an overseer and training advisory capacity.” Gilas could play the game too. If they thought that Carex didn’t have any real power on the station, it was safer for him.
    “So, explain to me how the bond happened,” the King said. “How did he force the bond on my daughter?”
    “It was her that did the linking,” Gilas said. “The humans don’t bond and as far as I know have no mental powers I’m aware of.”
    “That you’re aware of; so it is possible that you’re not aware of them?” the King asked.
    “I…uh,” Gilas said. He wasn’t sure how to answer the question. He was sure Jon had no mental powers except those given by the bond and even those were limited right now.
    “Just answer the question,” the King said. “Yes or no, which is it?”
    “Yes, I guess it’s possible,” Gilas said. “But, I haven’t seen any evidence of such.”
    “Just because you haven’t seen any evidence of mental powers doesn’t mean they don’t have them,” Andara said.
    “So, it is possible he has forced the bond with my daughter to further his means here,” the King said.
    Gilas didn’t respond to the statement; he knew better.
    “If this is true we must talk to Deatra,” the Queen said. It was the first time she had spoken.
    “We will,” the King said. “I’ll summon her as soon as I can get in touch with her. Right now Commander Hunter is refusing my communications. Captain Gilas, would you happen to know why he is doing that?”
    'Perhaps it’s because you’re a pompous ass, and you need put in your place,' Gilas wanted to say. Instead, he said, “From what I understand, it’s because of your refusal to acknowledge the return of the Ga’sahde.”
    “Ah, the Ga’sahde’s reappearance.” the King said. “That came at the right time for him, didn’t it?”
    “In accordance to the prophecies, yes,” Gilas said. “The Weaver of Worlds shall awaken an ancient race for the benefit of all involved.”
    “You’re leaving out; The Ancient race shall once again move to power through the Weaver of Worlds and cause all to kneel before him,” Andara said. “Isn’t his sister the Matriarch of the Ga’sahde and she would do anything he said?”
    “That piece of the prophecy can mean many things,” Gilas said. “Yes, it’s true that Princess Hunter-C’loth is the Matriarch of the Ga’sahde and through her he is the House Primus. As far as the Princess doing anything Commander Hunter said, I would have to say no, she thinks for herself, and if she doesn’t agree with him she lets him know.”
    “So, he has insubordination in his ranks?” the King said.
    “No, not really. Commander Hunter accepts everyone’s ideas and suggestions and then makes a choice based on that input,” Gilas said. “However, when the time for decisions is over he acts without input and takes the course he thinks best. The Princess in her current role as Matriarch of the Ga’sahde has the option of following or not. He can still order the Ga’sahde to take a certain action even if she doesn’t agree. That’s his privilege as House Primus.”
    “You understand I dislike the Ga’sahde.” the King said. “I always have, even though they haven’t been around in my time until now. Their whole reason for being rubs me the wrong way. That is why I abolished the treaty when I took the throne. I knew someday they would be back, and I wanted no part of it.”
    “Which you have no right to do,” Gilas said.
    “Excuse me?” the King said. “I’m the King and I have every right.”
    “No, the treaty was signed by majority vote by the people of Euthara and the Council,” Gilas said. “As stipulated in the treaty it can only be undone by majority vote. No one person has the power to remove it.”
    “It doesn’t matter; I make the laws, and I speak for