Shaking them out now, I knew I had been making them for me.
I shed my dress and slipped on the breeches, tying the cording around the waist. I selected a sleeveless shirt and tucked the ends of it into my trousers. After gathering my hair into a tight knot at the base of my neck, I gave myself a quick glance in the looking-glass.
“Well, hello, Charlie,” I said. “Let’s see what trouble you can get into now.”
****
It was easy finding Tizoc and Daniel. I had only to link to Tizoc’s mind—something I could control and do easily now—to know his location. When I arrived at the armory, I strode into the warrior training circle where Tizoc stopped mid-sentence to regard me.
“Cihuapilli?” He looked at my garb with confusion. “What are you doing here?”
Daniel grinned at me.
“I’m doing whatever you ask of me.” I stepped closer to the warriors.
“I asked you to stay protected.” Tizoc folded his muscled arms across his chest.
Again, I glanced to Daniel, who had his left hand in his pocket and his eyes on me. He wouldn’t stop me. He knew better than that.
“Staying protected doesn’t mean I hide in your house.” I folded my own arms across my chest, imitating Tizoc’s defensive posture. “I’d much rather actively stay protected. I need to do something. I can do something.”
Tizoc looked over his shoulder at Daniel who raised his eyebrows. “I’ve seen her work on the Rose, Tizoc. She’s better than half the crew we sailed with.”
I stepped forward, a little miffed that Tizoc had checked with Daniel, and grabbed onto Tizoc’s forearms.
I can help you, I thought.
Can I talk you out of it? Tizoc thought back.
No.
I didn’t think so.
After letting out an exaggerated huff of breath, Tizoc said, “Zolin, it looks as if we can count on one more warrior among us.”
I released my grip on Tizoc. He ran a long finger down my nose and shook his head.
“If it gets too dangerous,” he started, “we will—”
“Protect each other any way we can,” Daniel finished, coming to stand next to me. Slinging his arm around my shoulders, he pulled me close to him, and I felt invincible.
Tizoc scrutinized me, assessed, decided. “I have a feeling you’d be good with a bow and arrow.”
Zolin disappeared into the armory. When he returned he held a sturdy looking bow and a quiver of arrows out to me. I took them, surprised at how light they were.
“Tochtli is our best archer,” Tizoc said. “He will instruct you.” Tochtli stepped forward, shouldering his own bow and quiver. “And you…” Tizoc looked at Daniel.
Daniel’s jaw tensed as he studied his feet then his empty right sleeve.
“You have been the brains behind our preparations,” Tizoc said.
Daniel did not say a word, nor did he look up. He jammed his left hand deeper into his pocket.
“A spear, perhaps?” Zolin held his own out to Daniel. “It can be thrown and wielded single-handedly. A powerful weapon.”
Slowly raising his head, Daniel leveled his eyes first on the spear then on Zolin. He curled his fingers around its shaft. The moment his hand connected with the weapon, a new fire gleamed in his blue eyes.
“This should do.” He tested the feel of the spear as he lifted it then set it down again. “The rest of you will need shields too. A great many of them. The Europeans will not be using spears or arrows. They will be firing guns, meant to kill from a distance.”
“Guns?” Coatl’s dark brows creased as he stood next to Tizoc. “I do not know this word.”
Tizoc shifted his gaze to Zolin.
“We do.” Zolin pushed aside his vest, exposing a horrid, circular scar on the left side of his stomach. The skin around it was pocked and discolored. It did not look as if it had received the proper attention such a wound would require.
My eyes wandered to the jagged scar on Tizoc’s bicep. Had Englishmen inflicted it? Had he defended his cousin?
Catching my gaze with his own, Tizoc said, “We all have seen battle in our own way. We have survived to this point for a reason, and we will be well prepared to defend our home.” He nodded to Zolin and Tochtli who led Daniel and me away from the rest of the warriors so we could begin our training with the weapons we had been assigned.
Actually aiming an arrow at someone sickened me, but I was honored to be part of the preparations, to be counted among the warriors.
I would not let them down.
****
After several rigorous training sessions with Tochtli, my competence with a bow and arrow had grown. I was able to hit a target and do it quickly. I spent many mornings out in the training circles at the armory practicing until my fingers were raw and burning.
On one such morning, Xochitl, Tizoc’s sister, visited me.
“You put some of our best warriors to shame, Charlie.” She came to stand beside me.
“It isn’t as hard as it looks.” I met Xochitl’s gaze, which she shifted to look at the bow in my hand. “Want to try?”
She shook her head but stared at the weapon. “It is not my place to take up arms.”
“You have the right to defend yourself and your people.” I wiped at the perspiration on my forehead. The Sunal sun could be intense. My shirt was soaked through, and my breeches were rolled up to my knees. I twisted my hair into a knot to keep it out of my face then held the bow out to Xochitl.
“You’re as good as any man, Xochitl, and the more we have fighting with us, the better chance we have. You don’t want to see all the beauty here destroyed, do you?”
“No.” She let out a small cry as she said the word.
“We could double our numbers if the women agreed to fight as well.” Again, I held out the bow to her. Her long, slender fingers took it from me. “Hold it like this,” I said, showing her the proper stance. With a few instructions, Xochitl fired off her first arrow with gifted precision.
“We must show my sisters,” Xochitl said. The gleam in her dark eyes told me we had strengthened our army considerably.
I held trainings specifically for the Sunal women. Those that had children or couldn’t bear weapons helped make shields and protective vests for the warriors. Those that got involved believed in doing anything to save Ezenoch.
Unfortunately, many—the emperor included—did not believe trouble was in our near future. Dimazuno patiently awaited the return of his steward, Aochmin. He fully expected to receive good word that the outsiders were not headed to the Sunal Empire, that these “gods” would give their blessings without treading on the paved streets of Ezenoch. Many people supported the emperor’s misguided notions and so, we that prepared did so secretly. More underground chambers were dug throughout the city. Hidden barricades were erected around the city’s perimeter. Weapons and supplies were amassed.
Tizoc, Daniel, and I somehow became leaders of those that wanted to defend Ezenoch. Tizoc handled most of the male warriors. I organized the females, and Daniel planned strategy. Tizoc’s family, his parents included, supported our efforts by training to fight, gathering supplies, or listening while working in Dimazuno’s court.
I went to sleep each night exhausted, as I had during my time aboard the Rose. Cradled against Daniel, I slumbered in the darkness of my room, renewing my energy for the next morning. We awoke each day, thankful that a quiet dawn had greeted us, but knowing all too well that it could be gone in a second.
****
“Wake up! Wake up!” Yaoti’s voice echoed throughout the house.
Daniel leaped out of the bed, making Ghost screech beside me, and fumbled with his tunic, trying to put it on quickly.
I jumped up as well, tangled in the quilts and not sure what to do to conceal Daniel when another voice reached my ears and my ears alone.
I will stop my father, Tizoc said in my mind. Do come down quickly though. His news must be urgent for him to shout.
> “There’s nowhere to hide, and I can’t get to my room without bumping into Yaoti,” Daniel whispered.
I put a hand on Daniel’s arm and a finger to his lips.
“Char—”
“Tizoc told Yaoti to go down to the kitchen. That we all heard him yell.”
I held my breath inside my room, Daniel standing as still as stone beside me. His heart pounded beneath my hand as I rested it on his still-bared chest. Retreating footsteps shuffled away as we sunk onto the edge of the bed, letting the breath ease out of our lungs.
“That was incredibly close,” Daniel said.
“Cripes. Too close.” I stood and slipped on a pair of breeches beneath my nightshirt.
“Charlie, I’ve been thinking…”
Something in the tone of Daniel’s voice made me stop dressing and turn to face him.
“Well, I’ve been thinking I shouldn’t be in here with you anymore. This morning only proves I’m right. We don’t want to disrespect Yaoti and Citlali. They’ve been so kind, treating us like real family.”
As my head shook back and forth to disagree, my mind knew he was right. Daniel took a step toward me and lifted my chin with his finger. His eyes locked onto mine, and the thought of sleeping without him cuddled beside me physically hurt.
“Just for now,” he whispered. “I have also been thinking about the future. Our future, Charlotte. Once we’ve helped Tizoc protect this city, I want to…” He paused and kissed me. I could live for days on nothing but his kiss. “I want to make you my wife. Then there will be no need for either one of us to ever be alone.”
I threw myself at Daniel, embracing him and raining kisses all over his face, along his shoulder. He stumbled back a bit, falling onto the bed and trying to stifle his laughter.
“I love you!” I kissed along his neck. “I love you so much.”
“You’ll marry me then?” He pulled on a long strand of my hair.
“Yes, of course. If we were in England, we’d be married already. We’re both old enough. I turned seventeen two weeks ago.”
“Charlie!” Daniel clamped his hand over his mouth. Lowering to a whisper again, he said, “Why didn’t you tell me your birthday had come? I would have done something special for you.” He circled his finger around my cheek, and my whole body quivered.
“A birthday seemed inconsequential compared to what we’re preparing for.” I lost myself in the feel of Daniel’s fingers against my skin.
“Nothing about you, Charlotte, is inconsequential to me. Please remember that, all right?” he whispered in my ear, his breath tickling my neck.
I kissed Daniel’s cheek. “I’m going to enjoy being Charlotte Connor.”
“We’ll both enjoy it.” He stood and pulled me to my feet. “We’d better get downstairs and you’d better get rid of that smile on your face.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
****
It turns out I could get rid of the smile. When we arrived in the kitchen, Yaoti and Tizoc were standing side by side while Citlali sat at the table. Their long faces spoke volumes without a single word being uttered.
“What is it?” Daniel said.
“Aochmin has returned.” Tizoc’s voice was low and serious.
“What news does he bring?” I grabbed onto Daniel’s hand to keep steady.
“He says the outsiders are from a place called Spain. They are terrifying with guns and a hunger for gold. Their leader, a man named Salazar, presented himself as the ambassador of a king who ruled most of the world. He wishes to speak to Dimazuno directly and sent Aochmin back to announce their approach to our city,” Yaoti reported.
“They have cannons too,” Tizoc added. “Which they so boastfully let roar, scaring Aochmin and the other Sunal with him. Some of them fainted during demonstrations where the Spaniards shot at trees with the cannon causing massive explosions.”
A wave of nausea crested over me as I lowered into a seat next to Citlali. She put her hand over mine in a soothing gesture, but it had little effect. Though we had been preparing, a small part of my brain never truly believed it would come to pass.
“Aochmin said they have deer, but I think he must mean horses, along with guns, swords, cannons, armor… who knows what else?” Tizoc threw his hands out to his sides and paced around the kitchen.
“What does your emperor think now?” Daniel asked, a hint of anger sifting through his voice.
“He has called for warriors to greet the outsiders when they come. He still does not wish to keep them out. Still believes them to be gods that will not harm us. Despite Aochmin’s fear, Dimazuno is honored these gods would visit Ezenoch.”
What would it be like to fight gods? And could we possibly win such a fight?
Chapter Twenty-eight
November
Word of the Spaniards’ leader, Salazar, came streaming in daily as he apparently conquered neighboring cities on his way to Ezenoch.
“He did what?” Daniel said as we sat with Tizoc by the armory after another series of training sessions.
“Sunk his ships. Thought his crew was turning on him.” Tizoc waxed the string on my bow.
“This Salazar,” I started, “he’s unbalanced, perhaps? Maybe we can use that to our advantage somehow.”
“Not a bad idea.” Daniel poked me in the shoulder as he went into the armory.
“Looks as if you’re a true warrior, Charlie,” Tizoc said. “You’re thinking like one anyway.”
“I’ll fight like one too. You haven’t seen me angry.” I raised one eyebrow at Tizoc.
“A cihuapilli who fights. I never thought I’d see such a thing,” Tizoc said.
A sailor who fights. A sailor’s wife who fights. The thought of being married to Daniel filled me with such light even in the shadows of what was happening.
Tizoc’s eyes darkened as he narrowed them at me. You’re going to marry Daniel?
I hadn’t meant to think of being Daniel’s wife. It just popped in there. Now it was too late.
Yes.
Tizoc’s eyes closed as his thoughts came to me. I wish you only good things, Cihuapilli.
I wish the same for you.
As Tizoc stood and walked away, our link was severed.
“What’s wrong with him?” Daniel asked as he came back outside.
“He knows about us getting married when our fight is done.” I cast a long glance at Tizoc’s retreating back.
Daniel and I sat together as night fell across the training circles. I loved Daniel, loved him more than anything, but a piece of me couldn’t help wondering what would have happened if I had come to this land without him.
Tizoc was kind, respectful, intelligent, brave, handsome, exotic.
He’d be just as easy to love.
****
That night, as I lay in my bed with only Ghost by my side, I thought of Eric and Riley. Where were they now? Were they home in Southampton or off trading goods somewhere else? Did they wonder where I was? Did my father?
And what about Benjamin? Would he still want to be friends with me? Did he miss me? I wanted to tell him everything about my adventure so far. He probably wouldn’t believe half of it, practical as he was. If I did return to England someday, with Daniel as my husband, what would Benjamin think of him?
Spaniards heading toward Ezenoch filled my mind next. Rolling over to my side, I pulled the quilts up to my chin, a sudden chill rippling along my body. I closed my eyes, willing myself to sleep, but when it finally came I wished it hadn’t. Nightmarish visions plagued me all night. Fire rained down on Ezenoch, streaking across the black sky. Two-headed beasts on enormous horses galloped into the city, brandishing their guns and slicing into the Sunal with their swords as they trampled gardens. Hoof beats thundered in my ears as I tried to scream out.
The entire scene froze and a single voice echoed in my mind.
“Charlie!” it shouted.
In the dream, I turned in all directions, seeking out the source of the cal
l. Dust clouds rose up from the ground, blurring my sight and disorienting me.
“Charlie!” Louder this time.
I squinted through the haze until my eyes rested on Daniel. He was on his knees in front of one of the beasts. I ran toward him, yelling for Tizoc to stop the monster from killing Daniel. The beast turned at the sound of my screeching, and I skidded to a halt. Its eyes, two sets of them, flamed red. When it curled its lips at me, a nasty set of blood-soaked fangs beamed a warning to stay away.
My eyes met Daniel’s, and as I took another step forward, the beast sank its teeth into his throat.
I bolted upright in bed, my chest heaving in labored breaths. Crossing my arms, I gripped my own shoulders and rocked back and forth as the vision still lingered in my mind.
A nightmare, came Tizoc’s velvety voice in my mind.
Not a prophecy? I tried to smother the panic. These dreams were getting to be too much to bear.
We are prepared, Tizoc assured.
Perhaps the Spaniards are more so.
Go to sleep, Cihuapilli.
And then he was gone. Did his voice sound rattled? Was he merely trying to calm me?
Easing back down on the bed, I brought my knees up to my chest beneath the quilts. I wrapped my limbs up tightly, trying to protect myself. A few flimsy quilts were not enough to combat that horrid vision and whatever was to come along with it. I fought the urge to go to Daniel’s room next door. I could deal with this. I could make it through a night on my own.
Couldn’t I?
****
“The scouts have reported in. The emperor’s steward leads a small party of Spaniards into the heart of Ezenoch,” Zolin was telling Tizoc and Daniel when I came into the kitchen the next morning.
The temperature in the room dropped. Or was it the blood in my veins that had gone to ice?
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