The Highlander

by Zoe Saadia

  “You make love to your chosen mate, to that one perfect person that was made by the gods especially for you.” She paused, and he could sense her sudden sadness. “To make it with someone else would be to lay with them and nothing more. I wish there was a way to avoid it.”

  He peered at the sky, seeking a familiar arrangement of stars. “I should have kidnapped you for real.”

  He could hear her chuckling, a sort of lilting sound. “Back on the marketplace?”

  “Yes. It would have saved me much trouble.”

  “Would you have carried me to the Highlands?”

  “Yes. Right up the treacherous paths of the Blue Mountain. Or the Smoking One. No one would find us there. Not even my people.”

  “And we would make love day and night.” She raised her head, leaning on her elbow, peering at him, her face shining with excitement. “But what would we eat?”

  “I would hunt things, and you would cook them.” He grinned. “I’m afraid there would be no maids with tortillas, and no tamales either.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Oh, I can live without those. But you would have to go down to the Lowlands to get me the chocolate drink. This one I really need every morning.”

  “No, no chocolate drinks either,” he said firmly. “Sorry, but you’ve been kidnapped, princess. So, no luxury of the capital for you.”

  She lifted her brows, eyes twinkling, challenging his authority. “Oh, we’ll see.” Her grin widened. “So, what else would we do for summers upon countless summers in your mountains? Make love, hunt and cook… What else?”

  He shrugged. “Make more love.” Then he brightened. “Oh, and you’ll have all those canyon walls to climb. We’ll see who beats whom on climbing.”

  “It’s no competition,” she said smugly. “I climb much better. Yesterday it took you half a night to climb down that tree.”

  “I was wounded and exhausted,” he protested. “After I kidnap you, we’ll find a trail with a suitable wall, and we’ll see who climbs better.”

  “I bet you ten cocoa beans I’ll win.”

  He laughed and pulled her back down so her head rested on his shoulder, her disheveled braids tickling his chin. “How did you know where I’m from?” he asked idly.

  She giggled. “I know everything.”

  “Last time we talked about my origins, you thought I was a Tepanec.”

  “But now I know you are a wild Highlander. One who looks like a Tepanec, though.” She stretched and turned to her side, running her fingers along his chest, sending rays of pleasure spreading like waves across his skin. “My brother told me. He told me he has known you for many summers. He thinks highly of you.”

  “Does he know about us?”

  “No.” She chuckled. “I almost told him. But then… Well, then we got to the less pleasant part of the conversation. He tried to make me feel better about Tenochtitlan, to make me see the good in it.”

  “Is there anything good in it?”

  She shrugged. “He says their Emperor is nice.”

  He could feel her sadness, the way her head now lay listlessly upon his shoulder, her body tense and unresponsive. He felt it coming in waves, bleak and desperate, corrupting the wonderful freshness of the night.

  “I wish I could do something,” he said, pressing her tightly against him.

  “Why don’t you really kidnap me?” Her whisper was so soft it hardly reached his ear, brushing against his cheek like a gentle breeze.

  He caught his breath. “Would you…” He swallowed. “Would you really want that?” Stomach fluttering, he cleared his throat. “It’s so different up there. The life, I mean. It’s nothing you would know or recognize.” He shifted uncomfortably. “It’s not an easy life, you see?”

  She was silent for a long while, and he bit his lips, annoyed with the sense of acute disappointment welling in his chest.

  “I think you don’t know how this kidnapping works,” she said finally. “You don’t report to the princess the conditions of her future life, like an Emperor’s adviser would. You just take the woman you fancy and go away. It’s that simple.”

  He lifted his head and watched her, laying there, lips quivering, eyes glittering, teasing.

  “That simple, eh?” he repeated, finding it difficult to contain his excitement. “Well, maybe I’ll do just that.”

  Her eyes shone at him, so dark he could see the sparkle of moonlight reflecting in them. He cupped her face in his palms gently but forcefully, a new sense of ownership welling. She was his, truly his, and he would make sure she belonged to no one else.

  “I’ll take you away, I promise,” he said, when he was able to control his voice. “You will be mine, and mine only.”

  The sparkle of laughter disappeared, replaced by a different glow. Her face shone at him, dominating the surrounding night, taking away the Palace, the Lowlands and the Highlands, the Aztecs and the Tepanecs. The boiling conflict around the Great Lake disappeared, replaced by an eternal tranquility, by the peacefulness of the night, by the perfect feeling of their bodies, already familiar with each other, and their mutual future, so bright it shone.

  “How many dawns do we have?” he asked as they washed in the pond, having finished with more kissing. He wanted to make more love, but knew better than to press her. Everyone knew the girls would hurt and even bleed for the first time, unable to make it over and over.

  “What do you mean?” she asked, splashing in the dark water.

  “Until you should be sent to Tenochtitlan.”

  “Oh, I think a few market intervals at the very least. My brother says they may not reach an agreement for quite a while, maybe never even.” She shrugged. “But we better hurry. In case they reach it fast.”

  “How long is this market interval?” he said thoughtfully, tying his loincloth as he left the water.

  She looked surprised. “Five, six dawns. Didn’t you know that? Don’t you have markets up there in the mountains?”

  “No,” he said curtly, slightly embarrassed. “Not like your markets, anyway.” He frowned at her. “I told you it would be quite different. So make up your mind now, before it’s too late.”

  Her cupped palm shot out, sprinkled him with drops of water. “I told you I don’t mind. I insist only on the chocolate drink. And I also wish it to be sweetened thoroughly.”

  He leaned forward, trying to reach for her, but she was fast, leaping backward, retreating deeper into the pond.

  “I’ll get stuck with a willful princess, oh gods,” he laughed, sprinkling her with more water as best as he could. He got back to his now wet loincloth. “Anyway, your brother is going to smuggle me out of the city tomorrow. So, let me see. Two dawns for my way there, three to get back. One market interval.” He frowned. “Can you get out of the Palace, so I could meet you somewhere out there? Say, on the Plaza or something. I would rather not enter that Palace again; in my entire life if I can help it.”

  “Oh yes, I can do that. But how do I know when you’ll be there? On what day exactly?” She climbed back out of the pond and stood there, naked and dripping, beautiful in the moonlight. He caught his breath. When she bent to pick up her gown, he had a hard time restraining himself.

  “I’ll send you a note,” he said, concentrating with effort. “When you receive it, just make it out to the Plaza the moment you can. Don’t worry if it takes you a day, or two, even. I’ll wait.” Unable to resist, he came closer, catching her in his embrace, squeezing hard. “I will wait even if it takes you moons to come out. You are mine. You are the gift of the gods, and you belong to me only.”

  Her eyes made his heart beat faster. Unguarded, they beamed at him with so much love, so much innocent trustfulness, he knew he would do anything to reach her.

  Chapter 10

  The night was still deep when he made his way back to the Aztecs’ quarters. Having watched her climbing the wall safely and nimbly, sure-footed and confident, he found himself sneaking into the shadows smiling, deep in thought. S
he would perfectly fit the ridges of Huexotzinco, his home town. She would enjoy the life up there. Texcoco or Tenochtitlan had nothing to offer her, while the Highlands, and a certain Highlander, would make her happy and free.

  All the soft summer grass around the river, he thought, grinning. So many places to make love, and then to climb rocks and jump into the river. Did she know how to swim? He climbed into the window easily, the dull pain in his arm almost unnoticeable now.

  Jumping into the room, he froze, unable to breathe. The warriors squatted around the low table, about half of twenty, fully dressed, including their cloaks, their swords attached to their girdles along with other bundles. Obviously immersed in observing what lay on the table, they now sat straight, looking at him, their surprise and their open displeasure made worse by the single torchlight lighting the darkness.

  He took a step back, felt the smoothness of the wall behind his neck. His eyes sought the Aztec leader, seeing the man’s broad face, tired and pale, looking older in the dancing light, his imposing headdress thrown carelessly upon the nearby mat.

  “Well, is it not our wild boy, wandering again through the night?” The large eyes twinkled, observing the intruder, less surprised than the warriors, almost amused. One corner of the generous mouth lifted in a sort of crooked grin, cold but not entirely unfriendly. “Had difficulty sleeping once again?”

  Kuini licked his lips, unable to think. He should be saying something now, answering, probably explaining. He stared at the man, speechless.

  “Well, kid, you came right in time. Come here.” The curt nod invited Kuini to come closer to the table.

  With his legs heavy and difficult to control, he made his way toward them slowly, still ready to flee should any of the warriors try to get up. He had nowhere to go and no way to leap over the windowsill quickly enough. Still, he would try to get away, he decided. With those unpredictable bastards one never knew.

  The scroll on the table spread long and creased, well-used, evidently folded and unfolded many times. Kuini studied the images, his mind refusing to work. The drawing resembled the map of the Great Lake the Aztec had shown him earlier, but this time the brown area was smaller, tucked at the upper corner of the picture, while the rest was unpainted and covered with large and small symbols.

  “See, here.” The rough finger pointed at one image, placed under the drawing Kuini recognized as the symbolic Texcoco he had seen on the other map. “Can you guide us there? Or maybe even there?” The finger moved down the brown borderline, pointing at another image.

  “I… umm… what are those?” asked Kuini, painfully aware of the helplessness of his question.

  “Coatlinchan,” said the Aztec, unperturbed, moving back to the first image. The rest of the warriors raised their brows. “And this one, this one is…” He turned to one of the warriors. “What do they call that town?”

  “Chimalhuacan,” said the man. His dark gaze rested on Kuini, skeptical, even disdainful. “Honorable Leader, he doesn’t even know what the pictures on the map are. How could he guide us?”

  “He knows what they look like for real,” said the Aztec. He looked at Kuini, one eyebrow raised. “Don't you?”

  “I’ve been around Coatlinchan, yes,” muttered Kuini.

  “Is it close to the Great Lake’s shores?”

  “Well, yes. It’s on the mainland, but it’s not really far away from the lake.”

  “All right.” The Aztec turned back to his companions. “So all we have to do is to reach this Coatlinchan. As quickly as possible. This boy is the best guide we can have for the moment, so he’ll do.” He rose to his feet. “Let us move. We still have to get out of this filthy altepetl before the dawn.”

  Paces long and determined, the man headed for the window, full of purpose and looking somewhat younger again. The rest of the warriors came in. Kuini count about twenty of them.

  “Keep an eye on the boy,” said the Warlord to one of the warriors - a tall young man with a badly scarred face. Quietly, he disappeared into the darkness outside the window, leaping over the edge with the agility of a much younger man

  So much for “you are not a prisoner,” thought Kuini, enraged, jumping back into the familiar ground. How many times had he gone over this window?

  The darkness had turned chilly and the stars dimmed. It was well into the second part of the night, although the dawn was still far away. Soundless and sure of himself, the Aztec led them into the darkness of the Palace’s groves as if familiar with the place. The warriors followed, making no sound upon the wet grass.

  Circumventing the Palace, but from the site opposite to the one Kuini used to walk, they reached the wall and kept moving along it, soundless and lethal, jaguar-like in their spotted cloaks. When their leader halted, Kuini recognized the place, his heartbeat accelerating. They were just a few tens of paces from the pond. He tried to keep his face blank.

  The Aztec nodded, and two of the warriors leaped into the darkness, while the wave of the man’s hand made the rest wait. After some time, the two warriors returned, gesturing, their nods reassuring.

  “Is it guarded?” breathed the Aztec, almost inaudibly.

  The warriors nodded once again, the question in their faces obvious.

  “Get rid of them, but don’t leave the bodies. There is a pond somewhere around. Throw them there.”

  No, not the pond, thought Kuini, clenching his teeth. Somewhere else, but not in their pond. He could picture her coming here the next morning, to re-live some of the night, maybe. It would be so much like her to do so. And what would she find there? Floating, mutilated bodies!

  Then he remembered her punishment and breathed with relief as the warriors began moving again. She wouldn’t be coming to the pond with the dawn. She was not allowed out of her rooms. Oh Gods, he thought fervently. Please let me get away from those Aztecs and be back in time. A market interval, five to six dawns. Yes, he should have plenty of time, he thought, passing the narrow gates, his elation welling. He was out of that accursed Palace and still alive and in one piece.

  ***

  The Emperor paced the reception hall, his steps long, his elaborate, decorated cloak swirling angrily. The man was beyond any regular stage of rage.

  “Disappeared just like that?” he bellowed once again.

  The kneeling advisers cringed, and even Coyotl, standing behind the Emperor’s chair, fought an urge to flee. He had never seen his father so enraged.

  “Oh, what a traitorous, dirty, arrogant low-life!” exclaimed the Emperor once again, fists clenched. “Just went away, sneaking under the cover of the night, while my warriors must have been sleeping, snug under their blankets!” He turned to the Chief Warlord. “Are the gates of my Palace not guarded?”

  “Many of your faithful warriors are guarding the gates day and night, Revered Emperor,” muttered the veteran warrior, off balance for a change. He looked up imploringly. “The dirty Aztecs didn’t use the gates.”

  “Then how did they get out?”

  “They must have scaled the wall.” The man almost stuttered over his words.

  “That Warlord is an old man!” exclaimed the Emperor. He turned around, resuming his angry pacing. “No, they must have used one of the gates.”

  Surprised with the open dismay of the usually short-tempered leader of the warriors, Coyotl just stared, his own worry nagging. What about Kuini? Did the filthy Aztecs drag his friend along? They must have done just that, filthy bastards. But then, it might have been for the best, he thought, suppressing a shrug. The Highlander was capable of sneaking away once back in his element.

  “Has the delegation to Tenochtitlan left yesterday as planned?” The Emperor’s voice broke into his thoughts.

  “Oh, yes, Revered Emperor,” answered one of the advisers hastily. “Composed and instructed exactly the way you wished.”

  “So, they will still reach Huitzilihuitl before his Chief Warlord will.” He turned back to the kneeling warrior. “Have you checked the shores? Tho
se Aztecs may still be busy around the wharfs.”

  “Yes, Revered Emperor. They did not attempt to sail out of the city. Their long canoes are still here.”

  The Emperor stomped his foot. “Then where did they go?”

  “I think they may try to go away by land,” mumbled the Warriors’ Leader from the floor.

  “They cannot reach Tenochtitlan by land!”

  “Maybe they will attempt to sail from another location.”

  “Get up.”

  The warrior jumped to his feet hastily.

  “Send a group of warriors - a large group! - to comb the countryside, to search for their traces. How many warriors were they?”

  “About twenty or so, Revered Emperor.”

  “Send twice as many men. No, three times!”

  “What would be their instructions?”’

  “Kill them to the last man.” The Emperor frowned, then looked as if fighting a smile. “It is not safe to roam around our countryside in the time of war. The Highlanders may have attacked them. Those savages are just the people to do that and leave no survivors.” The smile showed eventually, the mirthless grin. “This man will yet wish he did not try to outsmart me.”

  As the Chief Warlord hastily left, the rest of the people present breathed with relief. Coyotl shivered, aware of the cold sweat covering his back, despite the pleasant midmorning breeze. Oh Gods, let Kuini get away from the Aztecs before our people reach them.

  “Nezahualcoyotl,” his father's voice broke into his thoughts. “You go out into the provinces as planned. Leave now, with no delay. How many warriors are you taking with you?”

  “Two times twenty of warriors, Revered Emperor,” said Coyotl, heart beating fast.

  “Leave with no delay, and be back in a market interval.”

  “Yes, Revered Emperor.”

  Relieved to be out of the tension-filled imperial chamber, Coyotl rushed past the corridors. One market interval, he thought, heading for the quarters of the Palace guards. He’d never manage. Six dawns to cover five provinces. Impossible. And yet the Emperor was not in the mood to anger him any further. When the Tepanecs arrived, Texcoco would need every warrior it could gather.