“Of course not ancient one,” Ra replied as if such a thing was unthinkable. “I am speaking in regard to the Nephilim and how we should determine who among us will exercise the most authority. My esteemed grandmother and the other two honored matriarchs have made it clear they agree with you. I myself agree with you. While they out rank me in potential, they have also made it clear they will not take a side or interfere in determining who among us should possess the most authority. However I bring up the fact that Sheba chose me above all the Nephilim descended from her to lead in the time of crisis. Herara chose Zeus and Lilith chose Oden. Obviously they have confidence in our judgement.”
“He has a point,” Zeus finally spoke up, unfortunately on the side of Ra, which meant his other brother, wife, and children would side with him. Appointing them as government officials might have been a mistake, giving too much power to one family group.
Hera nodded, the twins frowned but nodded, Ares nodded immediately, Kronos also nodded, and so did Poseidon, all agreed with Zeus. Roddy hoped Jubal would show up before matters deteriorated further. The issue could be resolved without him but it was best to present a united front.
Oden, who was sitting beside Hades, who was sitting beside Poseidon, slapped the palm of his hand down on the table. “We agreed to let you be the chief administrator and to call yourself king after we move to Semidon, mostly because of your ability to compose Aakas of power, and because the people need to have a public face to view as their leader. Even so, neither of those reasons changes the fact that you were not chosen by Sheba, your own matriarch, to lead.”
“That’s right. As long as you produce your tunes of power you will keep your position as chief and be called king, if such pleases you,” Hades added conditions for keeping those titles as if he had the authority to do so. “But we will be the true rulers.”
Roddy did not appreciate the way his brother and his allies turned the point of the spear back on him. He decided to try a different angle. “Thoth is also a Silver-trident. He is the oldest first-Gen Nephilim, is more knowledgeable than any of you, and has a larger repertoire. By your reasoning his authority should be greater than all of yours.”
Ra shook his head. “Thoth’s major goal in life is to increase his knowledge of, well, of everything. He has no time to waste on what he considers petty affairs. As long as we do not disturb him, he does not care what we do.”
Roddy disagreed with that assessment but decided it was time to assert his own claim to power. While he usually enjoyed being the center of attention, being suspended against his will and held up in ridicule was proving to be irksome. “I am the Aakasear and none of you would be wielding potential or even know your ranking as Aakacarns if not for me. Did you think I did not know that Nephilim possessing amber, bronze, silver, and gold tridents would think they are superior to me? I knew it the moment Jubal performed Ranking and three lightning bolts appeared on his shoulders. He was quick enough to appreciate and point out to me what you have apparently failed to comprehend, that no matter what rank any Nephilim enjoys, he or she can only be Aakacarns. I am the only Aakasear, the only source of powerful Aakas.”
Oden waved his hand in the air as if dismissing the point as meaningless. “No one here denies your talent. Concede the argument so Ra will let you down and we can progress the discussion. Jubal’s thoughts, while true, are irrelevant.”
“Funny, you did not say that when I taught you how to summon and focus potential or the Aakas; Elevation, Status, or Lasso of Air,” the voice came from the open doorway. “Are the producers at your belt and at the belts of the other Nephilim in this room irrelevant?”
Roddy’s gaze swept to the right and fixed on his friend. Yesterday the man looked to be on the brink of death, but that was then. He vigorously strode into the room with Vashti and Victoria following right on his heels, bowed his head toward his mother and father, to the ancients, and then faced Ra. “Your being bigger and stronger than me and Nimrod did not make you a better Weapocarn. We are both quicker and more skilled than you at hunting and wielding weapons and the same applies in this situation. The level of personal potential alone should not be the major determining factor in who is superior and certainly not in whose opinion holds sway.”
“Back off little brother,” Zeus warned. “We made you an Instructor and we can take away the title.”
“That’s right,” Hades agreed while jabbing his finger at Jubal. “A title given can be taken away.”
“It might be prudent to stay out of the argument,” Poseidon counseled his younger sibling. “We came here to show our appreciation for the way you handled yourself during the earthquake. It would be a shame to lose status over so small a matter. Besides, you, like Zeus, have three lightning bolts of potential and equal my bronze trident. By that measure alone you out rank ninety percent of the Nephilim.”
Roddy wondered briefly if his friend would turn on him. The thought was gone in an instant, him having confidence Jubal would remain faithful through both the threat to his status as an Instructor and the ego boosting idea of where he stood in terms of personal potential among the Aakacarns.
The Instructor shook his head and then a chuckle escaped, followed by a full-throated laugh. Roddy wondered if his friend was going mad as Jubal brought hand to mouth, stifling himself.
“Son,” Herara spoke up, perhaps frightened for him. Dehydration might have affected his brain. “What is funny about this situation?”
Jubal turned to his mother. “Folly, I always laugh at folly when I see it, especially in folks reputed to be wise.”
“Are you calling me a fool?” Ra demanded in ominous tones.
Turning back, Jubal scratched the side of his temple, clearly unimpressed. Roddy recognized the sign; his friend had something clever in mind. “I am siding with Nimrod. What you and the Nephilim in this room are doing is foolish but what you do in the next few minutes will determine the answer to your question.”
Roddy had considered calling Ra’s bluff, several times, and using the new Aaka on the fool, but had hoped it would not come to that. Jubal had a tendency to be hasty at times and might not be so hesitant to go on the offensive. The wolf pack was about to pounce on him and he was clearly unafraid. They should be worried.
“Jubal,” Noah spoke up. “I have made it clear no one is to resort to violence.”
“Noted,” Jubal replied without so much as looking at him. “But we are under my roof and therefore my rules apply.”
If someone had dropped a stylus at that moment everyone in the room would have heard it hit the floor. No one, absolutely no one, disregarded the words of the ancient man so casually, until that moment.
Set raised his baton, aiming it at Jubal, yet fortunately had the good sense not to actually focus potential through it. Tension in the room went up another notch. “Both of my father’s producers are already in use. It would be unsportsmanlike to strike at him.”
“Jubal, do you feel alright? You nearly drained the life-force out of yourself yesterday and might not be thinking clearly,” Herara was reminding everyone of his recent condition.
“I am perfectly fine,” her youngest son claimed even though his actions were questionable.
Zeus fixed his most intimidating gaze on him. “If you insist on siding against us on this issue, I have no choice but to strip you of your title. You will no longer be the official Instructor of Aakacarns.”
Jubal bowed his head as if in defeat, swallowed, and then looked his older brother in the eyes. “In that case I have no choice but to agree with you.”
Roddy stared hard at his friend and wondered if his ally since childhood still had his back. Victoria’s lips formed a slight smile as if Jubal’s reaction pleased or amused her in some way.
“So,” Ra began as a wicked grin formed, “you agree those commanding the most potential should have authority over those of lesser rank?”
After the loss of status proved not to have been a bluff, it was a legitimate
question, yet Jubal chuckled, perhaps his brain was not quite right. He shook his head, possibly clearing it of any fuzziness, and his face sobered. “Do all of you agree with Zeus?”
His niece and two nephews nodded their heads and so did the sons of Ra; Set and Osiris, along with Isis. Roddy was saddened but not surprised to see all of the administrators and judges side against him. Would the weight of their decision sway Jubal?
The possibly-former-instructor nodded his head, acknowledging their responses and then took a deep breath. “I agree to no longer be the official Instructor. The terms for my keeping the title are unacceptable. It is your loss if you do not want to learn what I have discovered in regard to Melody wielding,” his sweeping gaze took in everyone seated at the table, “even though I possess only three bolts of potential, this morning I wielded six, that is thirty-six times the power of a One-bolt and more than twice the power of Ra,” he stated and paused for what was possibly dramatic effect.
His eyes hardened by several degrees and swept over every Aakacarn in the room, then locked onto Ra. “I must insist you lower Nimrod gently to the floor or I will make you release him.”
“Now, Jubal, don’t do anything rash,” Hades cautioned his younger brother.
Kronos shook his head. “Idiot, you do know who you are speaking to, don’t you?”
Nimrod could not hold back the smile those words triggered. Even so he was only marginally sure his friend would not strike out at Ra. Roddy also wanted very much to learn how to wield more potential than his rank would allow, and no doubt so did every other Nephilim in the room. It was very clever of his friend to casually throw that tidbit out for their consideration. If the breakthrough was a bluff, it was a good one.
“Even though I am no longer your instructor, I will give one more lesson to all of you, but it will not be free,” Jubal stated as if neither of his brothers had spoken.
Set waved his baton and then pointed at Jubal’s belt. “He has that pretty producer with gold caps on the ends but it is not in his hands. It would be a mistake if he were to reach for it now.” The threat was clear.
Roddy watched as his friend folded both arms across his chest, demonstrating he had no intention of taking hold of the Aakatool. Noah nodded approvingly. “Good choice. Keep violence out of this meeting.”
Perhaps his words had not been disregarded.
Vashti stood at the side of her husband. “Jubal can cast multiple beams of potential at once. You all witnessed what he did yesterday without the use of an Aakatool.”
Then again, violence continued to be a real possibility.
Roddy remembered hundreds of beams radiating down from his friend and levitating people out of danger. The number of Nephilim filling the chairs seemed quite small in comparison. The level of control demonstrated was beyond any attained by the people in the room or outside of it for that matter, even the man who had composed the Aaka, hard as that was to admit. The reminder caused more than one Melody-wielder seated at the table to blink.
Jubal nodded to his wife and then fixed his gaze on Ra. “I am going to count to ten. You will release Nimrod and you and every administrator and judge in this room will agree he is your leader right here in front of the six elders and two ancients. Failure to do so will be costly for you and everyone siding with you.”
“Son, think about what you are doing,” Shem cautioned.
“One,” the count began.
“Be reasonable,” Ares urged his youngest uncle. The son of Zeus was still wearing red and black silks rather than official robes like the rest, showing high regard for Jubal, yet took the side of his father. “You don’t have an instrument and so cannot wield six bolts the way you did earlier. You won’t be knocking any of us on our butts this time.”
“Don’t bet on that,” Vashti cautioned everyone.
Roddy figured the claim of his friend wielding six bolts had just been verified. He also wondered what an instrument had to do with it and how people were knocked on their backsides as a result, but those things could be discussed at a later time. A major confrontation was brewing and demanded immediate attention.
“Two,” Jubal continued.
“You are the one who is proving to be a fool,” Ra shouted. His nerves were on edge and anger was the way he usually expressed uncertainty.
“Stop this foolishness!” Oden’s voice was commanding. Most anyone would have obeyed at once.
“Three,” Jubal persisted, standing perfectly still without taking his eyes off of his challenger. It reminded Roddy of a hawk preparing to dive onto its chosen prey.
“We don’t want to hurt you,” Apollo and Artemis spoke in harmony. Both of them suddenly had producers aimed at their uncle.
Ra noticed their coming to his defense and smiled.
“Four,” Jubal counted without batting an eye, wiping the smile away from his opponent and the twins’ brows to crease with worry.
Roddy winced at the sight of each judge and administrator pulling their producers and aiming them at his friend. Perspiration dripped from their faces; clearly they remembered how formidable the one they were opposing could be. Not a soul among them knew exactly how far he had progressed in skill and so was understandably nervous, especially after Vashti’s reminder of his prowess.
Jubal’s gaze shifted to Roddy, he winked, and quickly shifted focus back on Ra. It was a signal to be prepared for something, but what?
“Five,” the former instructor enunciated clearly and then the beams coming from the two producers ceased, “six, seven, eight, nine, ten,” he quickly finished counting.
Roddy dropped, but had leapt from greater heights and so had no difficulty landing on his feet.
“What have you done?” Ra made the demand while shaking his producers as if such would make them work.
Set was jabbing his baton at Jubal as if a vigorous enough thrust would send a beam flashing out of the Aakatool. Everyone was examining their own producers and pointing them at various objects in the room. None of the devices worked.
Roddy seized the moment. “I will continue to compose Aakas of power and Jubal will continue to do, well, what he does best, innovate better ways of focusing the power. Unless you acknowledge me as your leader in front of the elders and ancients, not one of you will be taught new Melodies or anything more than you already know.”
Jubal stepped over to stand beside Roddy. “You people were taught a few Aakas and now you believe you know everything and are all powerful. Nimrod must have told you he knew you would do this, yet you failed to listen. Those were not the only Melodies he composed. A good number have been restricted by him and are known only to him and I,” he stated correctly, although the good number was three; Leader of the Pride, Truth Speak, and Producer. Jubal continued, “The priest told me our Aakasear will compose many more.”
There were already more Melodies than Jubal knew about, but that was because time and opportunity had not allowed it to be so. Roddy had every intention of sharing his new compositions with his friend and learning how to wield greater potential from him.
“My producer does not work,” Set complained and threw it on the table.
Jubal unfolded his arms and spread them wide. “I warned the lesson would be costly. The devices were made using my potential with Da Capos tied to my life-force. Making them cease to function only required an act of will on my part. See, Ra, I made you release Roddy. There was nothing you and your silver equivalent of four bolts could do to stop me. Might alone does not guarantee victory.”
“Well done and a strong point,” Noah stated approvingly.
“We all paid good silver for our batons,” Set raised a valid objection.
Jubal eyed the man. “None of you will be getting a refund; that is the price of this lesson. I cannot remove the education I gave you from your minds, but I can deprive you of your Aakatools, and any other devices I come up with,” he stated and then turned to his wife. “Show them the newest version that will be made available to tho
se who acknowledge Nimrod as their leader.”
Vashti pointed her fist at the nearest standing lamp and a beam of light shot from the ring on her finger. She lifted the light source into the air and then placed it back on the floor.
Roddy was pleased to see Jubal had wasted no time using Producer to create fancier Aakatools. Every Nephilim in the room was wide-eyed with envy. They all definitely wanted one.
The tools could be taken from the users, at least made inoperable, but the idea of removing an education or possibly making an Aakacarn forget the notes got Roddy to thinking. Ra’s little attempt to seize power demonstrated a need for an Aaka, one that would deprive any challenger of his repertoire.
“You said you would count to ten,” Apollo pointed out as if he felt cheated. Roddy wondered how a man older than him could be so immature.
Jubal turned to his nephew. “I did count to ten. I simply did not tell you I would take action when I reached five.”
Artemis giggled while Victoria and Vashti laughed out loud. Kronos rolled his eyes as if he should have taken into account the past antics of his youngest brother. The judges and administrators had been played as thoroughly as any musical instrument. Jubal always knew when to sound the right note for best effect and Roddy did not bother to hold back the smile his friend’s timely action engendered.
Ra re-attached both batons to his belt while fixing his gaze on the former official instructor. “We do not need your producers. I am certain Thoth can figure out how they work and make his own version.”
Zeus slapped the table. “Hephaestus could do the same thing. He is clever at making things.”
Jubal nodded his head. “Both of them are clever fellows and probably could take apart one of my original producers and figure out how to make one, but I doubt either of them could make a producer out of a piece of jewelry. After they succeed at duplicating my original version, be prepared to pay a lot for their devices because they will charge far more than I ever have. Thoth especially, he would want to be compensated for the time taken away from his pursuit of knowledge.”
Dawn Of The Aakacarns Page 27