Tablet of Destinies (55 page)

‘Mother.' Zabeel stood as he spotted her approaching. ‘We have had a revelation,' he announced, absolutely beaming with delight.

Tory was taken aback by his enthusiasm, having been given the impression from her husband that Zabeel didn't want to tell his beloved about his Chosen status until they were sure about the match. The fact that Zabeel referred to Tory as ‘mother' seemed to indicate that the cat was out of the bag.

‘May I introduce Cordella.' Zabeel motioned to the woman who was seated with her back to Tory.

The woman turned as she stood up to greet Tory,
and upon viewing her face Tory nearly fell over backwards. ‘Rose!'

At her proclamation, all at the table fell about laughing. ‘My reaction, exactly,' Maelgwn explained their amusement.

Tory suddenly saw Zabeel in a whole new light. ‘So you must be …'

‘Marduk incarnate,' Zabeel announced. ‘We haven't confirmed that with regression yet, but, at least we have a hope of verifying this match to Nin Rebecca's satisfaction.'

‘It all makes perfect sense now,' Maelgwn mused, as Tory sank to a seat, completely floored at the universe's capability to make its will known. ‘That's why Marduk sent me on that mission to meet Aquilla —'

‘He was ensuring his own conception.' Tory guessed the rest. ‘No wonder Gwyn ap Nudd got a good laugh when we thought Avery was Marduk, when here he was, right under our noses all the time.'

Returned to them as a human-Delphinus, with no trace of his Nefilim features, Marduk was not so readily recognisable as most human incarnations. Still, now that Tory looked closer, the truth was plain. Zabeel was Marduk, that wondrous soul who had defied the Great Pantheon to bring the Chosen into existence, the very same soul-mind who had spared the lives of those first twelve humans who fled Edin and Nefilim rule.

Tory picked herself up and ran around the table to hug her adopted son. ‘I am so happy for you, Zabeel. I feel you shall finally have the rewarding life that you have so long deserved.'

‘The future holds much promise,' he concurred, pleasantly overwhelmed by her sentiment.

Tory looked back at Cordella, who was obviously a little in awe of everything that was taking place. ‘We must sound like we are talking in code,' joked Tory sympathetically, as she sniffled back her emotion. ‘Forgive us, Cordella, but this is quite an unexpected, but welcome, shock.'

‘You took the words right out of my mouth,' Cordella agreed, near jumping out of her skin with expectation.

‘I declare that we plead your case to Rebecca and Noah without delay,' Tory posed to Zabeel. ‘That way Cordella can be made privy to all that you need to discuss before Brian's address tomorrow.'

‘I second that motion,' Maelgwn concurred, whereupon Zabeel swept Cordella right off her feet and kissed her as he carried her forth to the Institute where Rebecca could be found. ‘I never thought I'd be praising the Logoi for Dumuzi's infidelity,' Maelgwn commented as he wrapped an arm about his wife, and trailed his son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

‘Well, Dumuzi was once hailed as the God of Love,' Tory stated. ‘And as they are a match made in heaven, it looks as though he might finally have done something right.'

‘Dumuzi was actually hailed as the God of Fertility,' Maelgwn politely corrected her misconception, whereby his wife's smile broadened.

‘Then I expect we shall be blessed with many grandchildren.'

Maelgwn agreed that she was most likely right about that.

 

As Lahmu's address was being broadcast live, there was no need for everyone to cram into the Grand Ballroom of Government House, where the speech would be given. Only the officials of each of the four races involved in the mammoth reshuffle were to be present at the luncheon, all of whom had been nominated by either the Nefilim or Lahmu. Most residents of Chaliada would be viewing the event from home, including a good percentage of Kila's government officials, who, having been at the Nefilim inquiry, were already aware of the agenda.

The ex-Governor and Governess were listening in from home and most of the family were joining them for the day's festivities. Maelgwn and Tory had offered to attend the luncheon as moral support for Zabeel, but as his old crewmate, Hawk, was in the same predicament as Zabeel, they had each other and Thais to lean on.

Old habits die hard and, unable to keep away any longer, Maelgwn popped by the Governor's office to see how his brother-in-law was handling the build-up to his big gig. He arrived to find Noah inspiring Brian with a few final words.

‘Support for your rule is widespread,' the historian-turned-Sage reported. ‘Far more so than you could imagine. The masses will heed your word, even the outlaws.'

‘Maelgwn.' Brian noticed him standing quietly by and moved over to him, gratified by the visit. Brian
looked his visitor up and down, noting how casual Maelgwn's attire was compared to his own formal dress.

‘This is a pleasant role reversal, I must say.' Maelgwn gripped Brian's extended hand around the wrist and slapped Brian's shoulder in an endearing fashion.

‘It figures you'd think so, Dragon.' Brian was a little uncomfortable in the regal dress, as he inwardly walked the thin line between nerves and excitement. ‘I thought you'd be too busy sunning yourself by your pool today to be bothered vexing me.'

‘Surely nothing could vex anyone on so grand a day as this.' Maelgwn became more eloquent. ‘May the muses be with you, Brian. I thought I'd been given some enormous and amazing quests in my time, but the legend you create today will beat all.'

‘I did have a little help.' Brian smiled broadly and looked at Noah to include him in the equation. ‘I've been wanting to thank you both for the incredible job you've done over the past months. Your foresight and assistance has really saved my butt.'

‘And what a cute butt it is …' Candace entered, although she could have been mistaken for a Goddess from ancient myth in her long elegant gown of pale gold.

The colour of the dress was a stunning contrast to her dark Mediterranean complexion and her eyes of deep brown. Her long, dark curls were piled high into a bun that was interwoven with golden ribbon, and only a few long ringlets fell about her neck and shoulders.

‘Wow!' Maelgwn was stunned by her beauty, as was Noah.

‘You shall surely be the story on everyone's lips today, Governess,' Noah flattered her.

‘How lovely of you to say so, En Noah,' Candace said graciously, surprised at how eloquent the once shy historian had become.

‘I say we forget the address, as I am bound to with you sitting next to me looking like that!' Brian approached his wife and taking up her hand, he kissed it, then her palm, her forearm, her upper arm, her shoulder. ‘I suggest a more private luncheon is in order.'

‘It is against the rules to claim the prize before you've run the race, Governor,' Candace teased, slipping away from him. ‘Until this evening, gentlemen.' She waved to Maelgwn and Noah as she left them to finish up their conversation.

Brian drew in a deep breath and then released it completely. ‘Well, here goes everything.' He raised his eyebrows in expectation.

‘DJ Nova will ensure that you are well received,' Noah guaranteed, ‘so just enjoy the moment.'

‘Oh, I'll enjoy the moment, alright,' Brian scoffed, ‘the moment that this address is over.' He headed out the door in pursuit of his wife. ‘I look forward to seeing you both … afterwards.'

Maelgwn turned back to the historian after farewelling Brian. ‘Well, En Noah, today should prove to be another brilliant edition for your Chronicles.'

‘The dawn of a whole new volume, I'll wager,' Noah smiled, as he greatly looked forward to the unfolding of it. ‘The future is always a grand adventure.'

Maelgwn looked thoughtful, as the future had always meant work for him before today. ‘And for the first time I feel that the adventure is going to live up to expectation.'

 

Welcome PeaceKeepers. This is DJ Nova beaming to you live from Kila, where the liberator of our galaxy, Lahmu, will be enlightening us all very shortly with his vision for the future. But before we cross live to the address, I would like to take the opportunity to read to you the great work that made me aware of the coming of Lahmu and inspired me into this perilous vocation. I have read fragments to you before today, but here for the first time in its entirety is the Great Prophecy of the Sage of Eridu.

The DJ did not expose herself on the visual broadcast. All the images were being relayed from the ballroom, where Brian was making his way to the podium.

As Vice-Governor, Rhun was present at the luncheon, along with his wife, Sybil, the Secretary of State. All the rest of the Alexanders and extended family had made themselves comfortable in Tory and Maelgwn's lounge room and were intently watching DJ Nova's broadcast on a large soft-light screen.

Tory sat and took in the prophecy that had been made known to her before today. She thought it the perfect prologue for Brian's announcement, especially the verse that read: ‘All men being equal, the universe will seed a Chosen one of every breed.' This verse was sure to take some of the shock out of the day's announcements.

He has fulfilled the Great Prophecy and delivered the interplanetary chain from Pantheon rule. He has made good the promise of Marduk to abolish slavery in the galaxy. Many of you watching and listening to this broadcast today are experiencing your first taste of freedom, and every other citizen now knows a life without a Nefilim patron to serve. One man has risked all so that every human being would be given charge of their own life. That man is Lahmu. Please open your ears, eyes, hearts and minds to the new voice of the Allied Logoi.

As Brian stepped into the spotlight, a hush fell in the rowdy room. Tory crossed her fingers for her brother, although Brian appeared more confident and in command than she'd ever seen him — in this life or any other.

‘Delegates, dignitaries, friends and family. I am Brian Alexander, Governor of Kila, whom some of you will have come to know better as Lahmu.' A deafening round of applause broke out, and Brian was flattered to have to wait to continue his address. ‘I bid you all welcome to this gathering, from where it is our intention to reconstruct the political framework of our galaxy. Not an easy task, I grant you, but just a few short months ago it would have been completely inconceivable, so I trust we shall have an easier time of it today.'

This perspective amused the audience and Brian went on to confirm the disintegration of the Great Pantheon and their imminent return to their soul-source. Next, he praised the efforts of all the races in the construction of the shield for Anu, which was progressing ahead of schedule. If all continued to go as
well as expected, the shield would be operational within the fortnight.

It was smart of her brother to begin his address thus, Tory considered, for it illustrated perfectly what could be achieved when all the races cooperated.

Then came time for the big announcement.

‘As was prophesied to eventuate with the demise of the Pantheon, the universe has seeded a Chosen One of every breed.'

There was a great gasp from the audience, and a round of noisy mutterings broke out as Thais, Hawk, Tyrus-Leon and Zabeel came to stand on the stage behind Brian's podium.

‘As it was the will of the Logoi that I rule in the Pantheon's stead, so too is it the will of creation that these Chosen Ones serve under me, to be my eyes and ears for each of their individual races.'

The announcement that Thais was to rule on Karleashian came as no surprise to his people, and was cheered madly by the small delegation of Centaurs who'd accompanied him to the address. However, the full withdrawal of the Falcon military force from the planet raised a few eyebrows among those of the bird persuasion in the room, but they soon changed their tune when they learnt of the compensation. Ereshkigal's force would transfer to Tarazean, as this planet was to be placed under the leadership of Hawk, the pirate hero and father of the Chosen One of the Falcon race.

The arrangement made Tory smile, for her Falcon incarnation who was giving Hawk so much grief, would now be directly answerable to the pirate captain.
A
curious start for a relationship,
she thought, certain that Hawk and his warrioress would fall in love now that destiny had thrown them together.
They would have met anyway,
she realised, even if she hadn't lent a psychic hand to help Hawk find the twin-soul eluding him.

The Leonine, Tyrus-Leon, was welcomed as ruler in Nugia. Thanks to Maelgwn's timely repression of the Nefilim, the planet still had its capital city, Su. As they had not been forced to blow up the city to prevent Nabu from reclaiming it, the underground transportation system was also fully operational.

Tory was on the edge of her seat by the time Brian got around to announcing Zabeel's appointment. He was introduced as the Delphinus son of the Dragon, and Zabeel was given a standing ovation by many of the Delphinus representatives in the ballroom.

‘Gee, for a virtual unknown, Uncle Zabeel is sure being well received.' Asher commented back to his grandfather.

‘Many of these Delphinus are old enough to remember how the Dragon delivered the entire population of Mazua City to the Aten, before Shamash's deadly weapon destroyed their capital,' Noah advised the lad, so that Maelgwn didn't have to boast. ‘With a father who's a national hero to his race, Zabeel will be given a chance by his people. Now it is up to him to prove his worth.'

Naturally, the Delphinus' beloved water planet had been left to them, along with the huge mobile city, the Aten, which the Delphinus had been occupying since the Dragon delivered them there seventy years before.

The planet of Numan would now belong to the interplanetary chain; because of the building of the shield for Anu, the prime mineral mined on Numan, charichalum, was going to be in great demand and no one race deserved a monopoly. The production of Orme charichalum would have to be closely monitored now that the Chosen Ones had been made aware of its destructive potential. It was the responsibility of Lahmu's government to prevent the substance falling into the wrong hands.