‘I shall arrange it myself,’ assured Cornelin, getting them moving once more.
Indoors was a loading bay where a transporter beam took them straight to the Lord Gibal’s chambers.
The room where they alighted was by all appearances an audience chamber. Fish tanks of all shapes and sizes were built into the architecture, and here and there lounges and tables were suspended around the chamber.
A large arched inset in the farthest wall vanished to reveal Gibal wiping his hands with a grimy cloth. This Lord was not a warrior figure like his older brother Marduk — Gibal was as tall, but of a much slighter form. In his long, dark robes he appeared rather like a monk as he descended a few stairs to join them in the lounge. The technologist had a hardened look about him, although the features of his face were pixie-like, similar to Keridwen’s. His cropped brown hair and dark steely eyes added to his sour appearance. Still, Gibal gave off his own illumination as did the rest of his kin, and the whites of his eyes had a mesmerising glow. Thank you, Cornelin. He dismissed his advisor to speak with his new bodyguard alone.
As Cornelin stepped onto the transporter plate, he looked to his Lord to plead: ‘You wouldn’t —’
Leave the matter with me, Gibal advised firmly, whereby his servant made himself absent.
So, Dragon. My brother has awarded you the daunting task of protecting my research? He looked back to Maelgwn and eyed him keenly.
‘More specifically,’ Maelgwn corrected, ‘he has sent me to urge you to move your laboratory to where it shall be safest and remove the risk factor altogether.’
Gibal roused half a smile and then shrugged. The Pantheon would only come looking for me … whereupon the Nefilim would be plunged back into an age-old blood feud. It has been peaceful lately. I just want to savour that harmony a little longer.
Maelgwn, having ruled a kingdom for twenty years, could relate to the Lord’s reasoning.
Your kind is going to create an uproar, that’s for sure. Gibal shook his head, impressed, as he viewed one of his brother’s Chosen.
Maelgwn looked back to the vacated transporter plate and changed the subject. ‘How long has Cornelin been in your service?’
You suspect him of treachery, already! Gibal sounded rather sceptical. Because Cornelin knocked you out for the flight here without your consent?
‘Yes.’ Maelgwn was curious to know how Gibal knew about it.
He confessed as much to me before we brought you round.
‘And did he give an explanation as to why he did this?’
Cornelin seems to have this fanciful notion that you would have some interest in his niece, or rather she in you. Thus, Cornelin put you in stasis to prevent her from making your acquaintance.
‘There was a woman with him,’ Maelgwn uttered under his breath, he knew he hadn’t imagined it.
I have told Cornelin, however, that as his niece is my personal assistant and you are now my personal bodyguard, it shall be impossible for you and Aquilla not to associate. I am sure we both realise why there couldn’t possibly be any personal issue between yourself and one of the local breed … thus, I am assuring Cornelin he need have no fear in that regard.
‘But why should Cornelin even suspect such a thing, when I have never even met his niece?’ Maelgwn probed, avoiding Gibal’s supposition.
Apparently, you are the very image of her mate who was killed tragically some time ago.
She is Tory. Maelgwn’s excitement was momentary and quickly overrun by dread.
But, be that as it may, I expect you shall handle any confusion Aquilla may experience upon meeting you in a kind but professional manner. Gibal expression was solemn and demanded a response.
‘Of course,’ Maelgwn replied, as the situation set his mind off in a whirl of speculation.
Good, Gibal was satisfied. Aquilla is very dear to me, so the last thing I need is for her to fall from grace in the eyes of the Pantheon.
‘I understand.’ Maelgwn bowed his head, praying to the Goddess that he could keep the vow he was making.
Once this mutual agreement was reached, Gibal summoned a young Delphinus male named Uriah. To do this the Lord simply placed one hand over a brooch that was pinned to the front-left shoulder of his robes, and silently issued his command. The Lord explained to Maelgwn that Uriah would act as his squire and guide during his stay on Lura.
Whilst they awaited the lad’s arrival, Gibal outlined the way things were going to operate. One of his first conditions was that no one but himself and Aquilla entered his lab.
‘And now me,’ Maelgwn insisted.
I assure you, Dragon, my lab is impenetrable. Guarding me whilst I am at work is a complete waste of time.
‘If that were the case, my Lord Gibal,’ Maelgwn cut in, ‘and as you do spend a good deal of your time in the lab, I doubt my Lord would have gone to the trouble of sending me.’
Dragon, please, Gibal insisted, becoming somewhat annoyed. If you are privy to my work, you also become subject to being probed for information about it.
‘I do not fear death, Gibal, you know that.’
There are worse fates than death, Dragon, and my relatives are familiar with every one of them. If any of my kin discover the extent of your resilience, I dare say we’ll be in more trouble than we are at present.
‘I assure you, my Lord, I shall not award our enemy that opportunity.’
Gibal raised both brows at the warrior’s undaunted manner. Against my kindred, confidence in your own ability is not enough.
‘My Lord.’ Maelgwn decided to cut through the small-talk and get to the heart of the matter. ‘Should the worst happen, I shall be tortured in order to establish how much I know. Whether I have access to the lab will be irrelevant; the truth about me shall be known. I understand that the last thing you want is someone watching over your shoulder while you work, and I can allow for that, but I must insist on having access to you all day, every day.’ The Lord still appeared hesitant, and there was only one reason why that Maelgwn could conceive of. ‘I would rot for all eternity in darkness before I would betray my kind, Gibal … I will protect my lover and my children no matter what the cost to myself.’ Maelgwn removed the thought wave neutraliser from his wrist and held out a hand to Gibal. ‘If you doubt my conviction to the cause, my Lord, please check for yourself.’
Upon sparing a thought for his other fears regarding Cornelin’s niece, Maelgwn regretted making the offer, but did not retract it. Gibal stared at him for some time. Perhaps the Lord was as psychically advanced as Taliesin and could read the thoughts of others from a distance; Maelgwn hoped not.
I believe you, Gibal conceded, although he still did not seem entirely set at ease.
‘There is some other concern then?’ Maelgwn appealed, wanting the Lord to be completely comfortable with their arrangement.
My concern is not your fault, Dragon, the technologist raised a smile to assure him. I know you are courageous, loyal and wise … but you are also ignorant of the ways and means of the Nefilim.
This reason came as a relief to Maelgwn, for this matter could be remedied. ‘Then I trust my Lord will educate me,’ he clipped the thought wave neutraliser back onto his wrist. ‘For, in all honesty, what better tutor could I have than the head of technology?’
Gibal was flattered, but still maintained a wary mood. Shamash and Inanna have their own technologists specialising in primitive means of torture, the like of which obviously doesn’t interest me. Still, all our higher technology stems from yours truly, and I have other devices in development that even your Lord doesn’t know about.
Maelgwn understood by this confession that Gibal was taking him into his confidence. ‘I was assigned to protect your research, my Lord Gibal. To disclose information to anyone would be contrary to my mission directive, would it not?’
For the first time since they’d met, Gibal smiled sincerely. Perhaps we can really make something of our association after all, Dragon.
‘That is my w
ish,’ Maelgwn bowed slightly to assure him. Gibal produced a hand-held device from the folds of his robes.
This is a PKA locator. He handed the device to Maelgwn. It is a prototype and is the only one in existence, so guard it well. Used in concert with your physical teleportation ability, this will enable you to locate me without fail.
‘But my ability alone allows me to do that?’ Maelgwn frowned with curiosity as he checked out the tracking device.
The device you were sent here to keep secure casts a protective shield over the subject so that he cannot be sought via PK ability alone. Such a shield also protects my lab. There are numerous other nasty scenarios whereby an added tracking device could come in useful and I feel safer knowing you have possession of such a safeguard.
‘So by what means does this locate its subject?’
I don’t mean to seem distrusting, Gibal advised, but it is better you know only that it will serve you if required.
Maelgwn accepted this and as he committed the device to a spare pocket on his belt, he noted the transporter plate had lit up to deliver his squire.
As the lad materialised, Maelgwn could hardly believe his eyes. In the blue-skinned, silver-haired lad before him he saw his squire of old, Selwyn.
‘I apologise for taking so long, Lord, I was just —’
Spare us, Uriah, Gibal interrupted, whereby the squire humbled himself. Your timing is perfect. Please show the Dragon to his quarters here. He might also desire a bit of a tour of our establishment.
‘I trust my accommodation is close to yours?’ Maelgwn asked Gibal, who nodded to confirm this.
The technologist then stepped forward and attached a brooch to the front-left shoulder of Maelgwn’s suit. Should I require your services, Dragon, this will let you know.
‘You shall see me as soon as I familiarise myself with the premises.’ Maelgwn made it clear that Gibal was not going to shake his surveillance that easily.
‘Welcome to the team, Dragon,’ said Gibal as his new bodyguard followed Uriah onto the transporter plate.
‘Your quarters, En Dragon,’ Uriah announced, motioning to an open, arched doorway across the hall from the transporter plate where they’d manifested.
Maelgwn was turning in circles, viewing the hallway architecture. The white walls rounded into an arched roof, which had skylights all the way along the curving corridor. This made the most of what natural light there was filtering down from the watery dome above. ‘Fantastic,’ he uttered, staring up through one of the elongated transparent features overhead.
Uriah seemed to find Maelgwn’s obvious wonder amusing, and waited patiently by the door for him to get over it. ‘Here on Lura every room has an ocean view.’
‘I’ve always loved the ocean,’ Maelgwn followed the lad into the chamber, ‘and this place certainly allows a rare perspective of it.’
‘I find the sky far more amazing, myself,’ commented Uriah.
‘I wouldn’t think you’d get to see much of that here.’ Maelgwn gazed around at his new abode, finding it warm and welcoming.
As with all Nefilim construction, everything about the room was curved and rounded off — no sharp edges, no straight lines.
‘Actually, we do get to study the sky here,’ Uriah enlightened his charge, as he passed through an arch onto the balcony. ‘At low tide the water level drops below the top of the dome exposing our city to the wide open spaces above. This occurrence awards us spectacular views of both the day and night sky here on Lura. We even see rain sometimes.’
‘Wow,’ said Maelgwn in response to the information, trying to sound as thrilled about it as his squire obviously was. After fifty years of life in Gwynedd, Maelgwn would have been quite happy never to see rain again.
The balcony hosted a view across the city and the outlying mountains, parks and sand dunes to where the invisible dome that surrounded the city met the water and held it at bay. In the middle of the city stood a huge pyramid, the walls of which were entirely transparent. Steps on all four sides of the structure led to a plateau.
‘Is that a place of worship?’ Maelgwn pointed to the central city feature.
‘In a way,’ Uriah smiled. ‘That is what we call the Stargaze temple. At low tide that is where the best view of the sky is to be had. People picnic on the large plateau atop the pyramid, and the stairways that ascend up all four sides of the structure. Inside the pyramid is a marketplace, where there are also several nice places to sit and observe.’
‘I very much look forward to witnessing all the activity,’ Maelgwn assured Uriah as they moved back indoors.
Laid out on a table in the main living area was a platter of seafood garnished with fruit. ‘Will you join me for something to eat?’ Maelgwn took a seat in front of the feast.
‘I have already eaten.’ Uriah declined politely. ‘But as you have had such a long flight, I expected that you would be starving by now.’
That was the funny thing. Maelgwn hadn’t even thought about food — perhaps his immortal state of being made it non-essential.
‘I shall leave you to recuperate.’ As Maelgwn was about to protest, his squire was quick to add: ‘Just touch your communicator and think of me as soon as you are ready for a tour of the complex.’
After Uriah had gone, Maelgwn considered that the lad was far more confident and outgoing than Selwyn had been at the same age. Perhaps the Delphinus matured more quickly than Homo sapiens, or had a different ageing process? His memory implant told Maelgwn that he was right on both counts. Due to their telepathic ability, Delphinus children matured far more quickly than Homo sapiens offspring. Their lifespan was usually longer than the Homo sapiens of Maelgwn’s day and age, thanks to a better diet and their aquatic lifestyle.
Maelgwn had consumed a good part of the seafood and fruit platter and he was of a mind to call his squire back when he recalled the memory recorder pertaining to Taliesin’s reports on his kin back in Gwynedd that the Lord Marduk had given him. He knew before he even put the thought-band on that the accounts it contained were going to make him homesick. Still, as it was hard to foresee when he might have a quiet moment to himself again, it seemed to be a case of now or never.
As well as Rhun’s wedding, and the births of Maelgwn’s daughter, Rhiannon, and grandson, Cadwell, the thought recorder also contained footage of Maelgwn’s funeral, Rhun’s inauguration, and his son’s account of his quest into the Otherworld.
Rhun advised the men gathered at his initiation ceremony at Llyn Cerrig Bach that his father, meaning Maelgwn, had come forward to lead him to his otherworldly meeting with the Goddess. Maelgwn knew that this had not been the case. His inner knowing told him that it had been Gwyn ap Nudd in the guise of Rhun’s father who had led the young Prince to the Otherworld to receive right of passage. Hence, Maelgwn had to figure that it had not been his deceased mother, Sorcha, who had led him to the Goddess during his own inauguration ceremony, but the Night Hunter disguised as the person Maelgwn trusted most.
When the thought recorder abruptly switched off Maelgwn found himself in a highly agitated state, having just experienced every uplifting emotion known to man. His return to reality was a rude awakening; his wondrous surroundings felt foreign now, and Maelgwn had not felt this alone and alienated since before he’d met the love of his life.
Only creation knows how I miss her. He clung to his sadness a moment, before releasing it back to the universe with love via three deep breaths.
Maelgwn paged his squire to prevent himself stewing over the past, but his lover’s memory lingered as he awaited his tour guide. He had so many happy memories of Tory to choose from, and his heart soured as he suddenly recalled Marduk saying that he could experience Tory anew via at least two other incarnations he’d had. But such leisure activities would have to be reserved for when he finally enticed Gibal back to the Aten. Maelgwn needed to focus on the mission at hand and could not allow his pursuit of Tory to become a distraction which, judging from the band he held in his hand, co
uld become more like an obsession if he allowed it. He suspected this was the reason Marduk had supplied him with the band in the first place. More than a gift, Maelgwn suspected it was a test.
‘I am in control,’ Maelgwn assured himself, folding the band away and attaching it to his belt along with all his other apparatus — half of which he still hadn’t familiarised himself with, thanks to being knocked unconscious for the flight here. The reason Cornelin had given for his actions on that count led Maelgwn to wonder about the female they called Aquilla.
‘Aquilla,’ he uttered the name, finding it pleasing. ‘No. Don’t go there.’ Maelgwn snapped himself out of his Tory-induced delirium and stood to discipline himself. ‘I will maintain control, and I will not wonder about her. For she is no concern of mine …’
The brief glimpse he’d been allowed of the woman in question came back to haunt him.
‘… and can never be,’ Maelgwn concluded with regret.
12
Object of Desire
Gibal’s Technological Advancement complex was an expansive and amazing building; there were many different projects being developed therein by Delphinus scholars, the progress of which was constantly monitored by their Lord and instructor.
The Operations Centre of the city was also housed in this complex. The dome, oxygen levels, climate, security, power and all other communications for the city were monitored and attended to by different departments within Gibal’s headquarters.
‘So tell me, Uriah. What do you do here?’ Maelgwn wondered what kept his squire amused when he wasn’t running around after him.
‘Pretty much what am I doing right now … protocol. I assist Cornelin. My calling is not so dissimilar from yours, En Dragon,’ he supposed, ‘except that I am not required to have heroic tendencies.’
‘What makes you think I have heroic tendencies?’ Maelgwn mocked the lad’s observation.
Uriah stepped away from his charge and eyed him with a vague look on his face. ‘It’s hard to say, but … I think all that hardware you carry might have something to do with it.’