Tablet of Destinies (4 page)

‘Thais is the oldest of all the Chosen Ones,' Tory advised. ‘Perhaps even older than the first intelligent being of our kind.'

All went quiet as Tory got lost in thought once again and Candace reviewed the situation. ‘You will keep me informed of your discoveries,' Candace commanded more than asked. ‘If you will not advise the Governor, then I must insist that —'

Tory smiled and held up a hand in truce. ‘I promise to keep you informed.'

‘B
rian!' Albeit confused by the Vice-Governor's presence, Maelgwn was pleased to see him as he joined Brian in the council chamber.

‘Surprise!' said Brian meekly, before moving to greet his brother-in-law in their customary fashion — gripping each other's wrist, instead of palm, to shake in greeting.

‘It is, actually.' Maelgwn's tone was concerned, although his welcoming smile remained constant. ‘You haven't started a war, have you?'

‘Not I,' Brian advised, cocking an eye. ‘Not yet.'

‘Sounds like I need to sit down,' Maelgwn considered as he motioned Brian to join him at the conference table.

‘A stiff drink probably wouldn't go astray either,' Brian mumbled in conclusion, and Maelgwn looked at him, thinking the situation must be dire. ‘My news isn't really that bad,' he confessed. ‘It's more, untimely really … unexpected.'

‘Well, come on man, be out with it,' Maelgwn encouraged, as he manifested a pitcher of Bahula — deadly joy water — which was a locally grown and fermented brew that many of the mead drinkers had taken to. When they were both seated, Maelgwn conjured up a couple of goblets and poured their drinks.

‘You've been honing your psychic skills, somewhat,' Brian commented, impressed by what he'd witnessed.

Maelgwn winked at Brian and let go of the pitcher that he had held in mid-air. It continued to pour without assistance and then set itself down on the conference table.

‘It would seem I have some catching up to do,' Brian admitted. Having dedicated himself to diplomatic work of late, he'd found precious little time to dedicate to psychic endeavours.

The Governor shrugged in response. ‘Such things are only as hard to execute as you perceive them to be. I've discovered my capabilities are limited only by my own imagination … and always were, even when I was mortal.' Maelgwn, realising they were getting way off the subject, took the drinks in hand and gave one to Brian. Maelgwn raised his own in toast to the Vice-Governor, before drinking half of it down. ‘So, are you going to tell me why you've returned, or are you going to make me guess?'

‘I doubt you'd guess right.' Brian pulled a thought-band recorder from his jacket pocket which was akin to those the Nefilim used. ‘Our Lord Marduk has resigned his position in the Pantheon of Twelve.'

‘
What?
' Maelgwn was shocked right out of his seat, dropping his drink in the process. The goblet and its contents vanished before they hit the floor.

‘He requested that I pass this on to you, personally.' Brian stood and handed over the thought-recorder. ‘For your mind
only
. Marduk was very specific.'

Maelgwn's brain was on overload as he accepted the communication and thus he didn't notice the curiosity in his Vice-Governor's voice. He stood dazed for a time, before fixing his sights on his chief advisor once more. ‘What reason did Marduk give the Pantheon for his resignation?'

Brian opened his mouth to answer and had to smile as he considered how best to explain. ‘When Marduk appeared before the Great Pantheon, no explanation was necessary. The Lord had shed all trace of his physical being, as had my aunt, his Chosen concubine. They have transcended this earthly realm —'

‘
Of course
,' Maelgwn whined. ‘Marduk told me that he was to be my son,' he informed Brian, who appeared twice as bemused by the insight. ‘Damn it! I should have seen this coming.' Maelgwn began to pace, as he always did when he needed to think. ‘Marduk was reappointed into the Pantheon to safeguard the plight of the human tribes … Who can possibly replace our Lord in the Senate?' He stopped still to hear what the remaining members of the Pantheon had decided.

‘All eleven of the Nefilim representatives unanimously voted for you to assume his place, which, of course, would make you the first human ever to be appointed into the Great Pantheon of Twelve.'

You could have knocked Maelgwn over with a feather as the shock result sunk in. For, although the Nefilim had been more accommodating of the human tribes since the Chosen Ones had entered into a peaceful agreement with the Pantheon and assumed rulership of Kila, he'd never expected the Nefilim would openly consent to placing a human, especially an immortal, in the Senate.

‘But their decision makes no sense.' Maelgwn returned to his pacing, disturbed by the honour. ‘Why award us such power when we pose the single greatest threat to their interstellar monopoly?'

Brian raised both brows, having thought the same thing himself. ‘Either the Nefilim are emotionally maturing, or … they've figured out that having one of us in the Senate is the best way of keeping an eye on our movements.'

Maelgwn stopped dead still to meet Brian's gaze, thinking his latter suggestion was right on the mark.

At present, all of the Chosen Ones wore thought-wave neutralisers when in public to shield their thoughts from each other, as did the Nefilim for the same reason. But when in conference in the Senate all were required to open their minds to each other to prevent any secrets being kept from the head of the Pantheon, Nergal — son of the Lord Master Enki and younger brother of the Lord Marduk. This measure had
been newly introduced, and as Maelgwn was currently plotting a rebellion against the Pantheon for their continued mistreatment of the lesser mortal human tribes like the Delphinus, Leonine and Falcon breeds, this appointment was the last thing he needed.

‘Stand by,' Maelgwn bade Brian, as he seated himself at the conference table to view the communication from the ascended Lord. Once the thought-band's sensor was placed comfortably over Maelgwn's third eye area, he closed his eyes to perceive the communication.

Brian sat down to finish his drink, observing Maelgwn like a hawk.

The fact that the Governor was now perceiving a confidential communication meant there was something going on that Maelgwn hadn't made him aware of. Brian had considered that the confidential transmission could be personal rather than political, but as it was the nature of the Nefilim to be basically emotionless, it seemed unlikely that Marduk would be sentimental enough to send a departing message to Maelgwn. Brian was just about convinced that there was a conspiracy brewing and he desperately wanted to be made privy to it. For although he'd been playing the diplomat of late and had proven rather good at it, ultimately Brian was a crusader, not a politician. In his past lives as King Brockwell of Powys and Alexander the Great, Brian had had plenty of experience in both regards, but in this lifetime he'd dedicated himself to the study and perfection of the martial art of Tae-kwondo. Brian was a peaceful man by nature yet, strangely enough, the possibility of a conspiracy brewing had him so excited that he could barely sit still.

Maelgwn's expression gave nothing away as he perceived the transmission, which was over by the time Brian had finished downing the contents of his goblet. He refrained from inquiring after Maelgwn's thoughts to give the man time to assess the communication. But when the Governor continued to stare at the floor, his thoughts causing his face to contort with worry, the suspense proved too much. ‘Well?'

Maelgwn looked up to Brian with a look of apology on his face. ‘I will do as advised, for clearly there is no other option at present.' He paused again to consider any possibility that may have been overlooked.

Brian leant forward to recapture his brother-in-law's attention. ‘And what were you advised?'

‘To resign.' Maelgwn turned his dark eyes to Brian, whose own eyes of piercing blue were now wide.

‘But, that would mean that I would be …' He couldn't say it, the thought of playing interstellar diplomat all the time was too terrible.

‘Governor of Kila,' Maelgwn announced with a smile and a pat on the back.

‘Wait a minute.' Brian removed Maelgwn's hand from his shoulder to protest his predicament. ‘What is going on?'

Maelgwn took a deep breath; he couldn't tell his replacement anything, despite the fact that Brian was his closest friend. ‘I cannot in
good conscience
bring another two children into the world that I shall never get to see.' Maelgwn stated his reason, in no uncertain terms. ‘I will certainly not do it to Tory and I will not do it to me.'

‘Aw …' Brian grumbled. Maelgwn's reason was a good one, but Brian knew by Maelgwn's present demeanour that there was another reason why his brother-in-law was resigning. He also knew that if he was to sit in the Senate, he couldn't ask any more incriminating questions. Even having a recollection of Maelgwn sidestepping a pertinent issue would be enough to spark Nefilim suspicions and justify an investigation into his affairs. ‘Who would you suggest I elect as my Vice?'

Brian's question made Maelgwn grin, as it meant they had an understanding. ‘I know this appointment is not your ideal vocation, but the Nefilim are familiar with you now, and they may withdraw the position altogether should I suggest anyone else in my stead. Then the human tribes would have no one to fight their cause in the Senate.'

‘I know,' Brian admitted, calmer now that he'd gotten over the shock of his pending promotion. ‘Not that we get any thanks for our efforts … from what I have witnessed of the human tribes in other star systems, they despise the Chosen Ones for having been taken into the Nefilim's favour.'

‘That is to be expected,' Maelgwn proffered, ‘as we have made precious little difference to their plight.'

‘But we have freed many from slavery and enforced a code of living and working conditions for many others.'

‘But we do not have the numbers to enforce the law. And even if we did, the Nefilim are only telling us about a fraction of their mining ventures throughout this galaxy, all of which would be run by human slave labour of one species or another depending on the
terrain of the planet being exploited. That is your mission, Brian.'

Brian's head, which had been bowed to hide his disappointment, shot up at hearing the word ‘mission'.

‘I am going to suggest that you do a brush-up course on psychic self-defence with Hero,' Maelgwn continued, pleased that he'd captured Brian's interest. ‘She will also hone your telepathic knowhow. For if the Nefilim believe we are hiding something from them, they are going to find that they are very much mistaken.'

Maelgwn's address to Brian changed, for suddenly he seemed to be speaking to the Great Pantheon, who would find this memory in Brian's mind eventually and get the message.

‘For it is they who keep secrets from us! And therefore, we shall make it our mission to seek out every single hidden pocket of industry and exploitation.'

Brian was all for the idea, although he felt rather inadequate suddenly. ‘Shouldn't we be sending someone with greater telepathic knowhow, like Rhiannon or Rhun?'

‘Nay.' Maelgwn flattened the suggestion. ‘Your skills are completely at your command, Hero will see to that. No one is as intimately informed about the members and affairs of the Pantheon as you are. You are the only one, besides myself, worth sending. Still, if you truly believe that this appointment is beyond your scope, I shall not resign.'

‘Like hell you won't.' Brian was slightly insulted and felt he'd been misunderstood. ‘I have no problem battling with my wits for a change,' he announced,
convincing both himself and Maelgwn of his conviction. ‘And I shall appoint Rhun as my Vice,' he informed surely, and then smiled. ‘He's been planet-bound nearly a year now, and is probably hanging out for an excuse to do some deep space travel.'

‘It's settled then.' Maelgwn gripped Brian's wrist to shake on it and Brian nodded surely in accord. ‘Congratulations at being the first human being to join the Great Pantheon of Twelve.'

Brian was struck dumb as the realisation sunk in.

‘I shall send a communication to the Pantheon at once, informing them of our resolve.'

 

As Maelgwn had been caught up in conference all afternoon and would be busy until later in the evening, Tory took advantage of the time alone to chase up En Noah and see what he knew about Devas.

She located the famous historian in the private library of his audience chambers at the Institute of Immortal History, surrounded by piles of books.

‘I thought textbooks were redundant in this day and age,' Tory commented from the doorway.

When Noah looked up to spy the Governess, he sprang from his spot on the floor and invited her into the room so that she might be seated. ‘I didn't expect to see you up and about this day, Nin.'

‘Nin' was an old Nefilim term that could be applied to any woman in authority, as ‘En' venerated a man of position.

‘I understood you were feeling poorly.'

Tory smiled as she accepted his aid to waddle over to
the closest lounge chair. ‘Besides being three times my normal size, I am fine.' Tory crossed her legs and seated herself on the floor to use the base of the lounge as a support for her back. But before Noah raised himself again, Tory brushed a hand over the short hair on his head, and then held the little beard on his chin. She recalled the young journalist of slight build, with glasses and long blonde hair always falling in his face, whom she'd first met. But Noah's new look and physical fitness made him appear more mature and rather handsome really. ‘I do like the cyber-musketeer look you've got happening. It suits you very well.' The scholar's cheeks turned bright red. ‘So …' She decided to change the subject to save any further embarrassment and turned her attention to the mounds of literature before her. ‘It looks as though you are on a mission. What is all this stuff?' She took the closest open book in hand and perused its cover. ‘
The Secret Doctrine
?' She read the title aloud and looked at Noah curiously.

‘That's a theosophical text, compiled by the society of the same name, formed on Gaia in the late nineteenth century,' Noah informed.