Long had Ek Chuuah contemplated a decisive victory over Lakam Ha, an axing or chopping event to destroy the very heart of his former city. His dismay over the Triad Deities’ disregard of sacred justice in the Flower War set the framework for his scheme. In Usihwitz, especially after the city broke alliance with Lakam Ha and strengthened ties to Kan, the Triad Deities lost respect. Spiritual focus shifted to K’in Ahau the Father of the Triad. Feeling the hold of the Triad Deities on him dissipating, Ek Chuuah conjured an image of desecrating the most sacred shrine in Lakam Ha, the Sak Nuk Nah - White Skin House. Damaging this link to the Triad Deities and razing the city would indeed “chop down” Lakam Ha.
In that would be justice – and revenge.
Clouds low in the western sky glowed pink and gold with the sun’s final rays. Wukhalal, lagoon of seven colors, faded from turquoise to pale green to milky white closer to shore. The setting sun cast golden glints across placid waters. The long canoe closed in on the curving shoreline, paddlers seeking coves with muddy sand beaches between clusters of reeds on which to ground the hull. Finding one to his liking, the captain ordered rowers to jump into shallow water and pull the canoe far enough on shore to stabilize it. Passengers and crew disembarked and set up camp in a grassy meadow bordered by scrubby trees. They found an “eye of water” nearby, small springs bubbling sweet water to surface through the limestone plateau. Fish caught during the voyage were soon roasting over spits, savored by travelers along with maize cakes and fresh wild papayas.
After the meal, Ek Chuuah drew the captain into conversation. Yax Chapat listened attentively, his bright eyes taking in every gesture and voice tone. He knew this trip was training him for leadership and he shared his father’s ambition to become ruler of Usihwitz.
“Your family has traded along this coast for generations, yes?” Ek Chuuah asked.
“Yes, many generations,” the captain replied. “Our people have lived on the peninsula since the town of Yalamha was founded over 2 baktuns ago (789 years). The largesse of the sea and prosperous trade along the coast has brought us abundance. It is a good life.”
“So must it be. Know you of the region’s history? Your trade brings opportunities to speak with leaders and rulers, those who shape their cities and people.”
“In this I have much interest. What would you know?”
“The relations between the Kan and Zodz dynasties, their cities and influences. To have more knowledge will help me when I meet with Uneh Chan.” Ek Chuuah smiled and bowed in deference, gesturing the captain to continue.
“The house of the snake, Kan dynasty, is most ancient. Their family goes back to the greatest city in the lowlands, the famed and magnificent Nakbe, the Chatan Winik city (Second Center of Humans). Rising in splendor above a sea of trees, temples larger and grander than any built since, Nakbe commanded the entire region. Then came time to leave, the ahauob and people went away from their grand city for the gods ordained it. This I do not understand, but the ways of gods are obscure to men. Families from Nakbe went to other locations in the lowlands, found suitable conditions and built many other cities: Xpuhil, Kuhunlich, Becan, Dzibanche, Uxte’tun. Perhaps Uxte’tun is the oldest, more ancient than my town of Yalamha. There great pyramids, huge complexes were built to remind them of Nakbe, but none so large as the mother city. It is said, by scribes and sages, that the Kan family founded Uxte’tun. They resided there many generations and spread their influence in the region. But then came the Bat people.”
The captain paused, relishing the attention of the two Usihwitz ahauob. Ek Chuuah reached into his pouch and removed cigars of dried and rolled tobacco leaves. Passing them to the captain and Yax Chapat, he used a dry branch to catch the campfire flames and lighted the cigars. The men puffed in silence, savoring the aromatic fumes curling through their nostrils and creating an astringent taste. Tobacco smoke also kept the large and bloodthirsty lagoon mosquitoes at bay.
“These are good,” the captain observed. “Where do you obtain the leaves?”
“Near Usihwitz, in the higher hills,” Ek Chuuah said. “If you visit our city, I can show you the fields.”
“Ah, your city is so far inland,” the captain bemoaned. “Too much overland travel. It will not suit my trade, there are not connecting rivers. Such good tobacco… perhaps I could send an envoy. ”
“Perhaps. You were saying the Bat people came?”
“Ah, the Bat people.” The captain pulled thoughtfully on his cigar, blowing smoke rings. “Where did the Bat people come from? No one knows. They were not from Nakbe, not from this region. Perhaps from the north? It remains mysterious. They are a strong and determined people, war-like, ever ready to fight. They entered Uxte’tun and evicted the Kan family, though the battle was fierce. Then they defaced the Kan monuments, removed the Kan family history, and replaced it with their names. Kan has never gotten over this insult, yet they have not felt powerful enough to assault the Zodz rulers. Kan left and established themselves at Dzibanche, where they now reside.”
“When did that happen? Kan has expanded its influence in my lifetime, delivered a remarkable defeat to Mutul and courted alliances among K’umaxha River cities.”
“Less than a baktun ago (396 years), perhaps four or five generations’ span. As you say, Kan has expanded its power. Many cities bowed to Kan influence and had their rulers installed by them, or had katun ceremonies overseen by Kan lords. Uneh Chan is experienced and ambitious; he will seek more glory and tribute to fatten his coffers.”
Ek Chuuah smiled inwardly; that suited his plan perfectly.
“Do you trade with Uxte’tun?” Yax Chapat asked.
“Very little. Their ways are too foreign, I trust them not. All my goods are quickly taken up by ahauob in Dzibanche and other cities in the region.”
“Of Kan ruler Uneh Chan I would know more,” Ek Chuuah said. “You trade with him often, you are clever in obtaining the best value for your goods. Yours is a keen appraisal of motives and desires, most important for successful trading. Has Uneh Chan any qualities that one should note?”
“Ah, yes.” The captain basked in praise that he considered well deserved. Savoring the moment, he puffed his cigar and contemplated. “Of Uneh Chan will I say, a quality well worth noting, that he is a handsome man and vain of his appearance. This trait makes my work easy, flattery being a staple of my occupation. Ha!”
The men all chuckled. All Maya elite practiced body adornment with jewelry and costume, and rulers felt compelled to outshine their ahauob.
“This can I use to advantage,” said Ek Chuuah.
“Perhaps even more so with an impressive gift. Yes, I have just the thing, a rare turquoise jade pectoral pendant, carved with K’in Ahau’s face, set in strands of spondylus beads so red as to drip like sacred blood after penis-piercing rituals. The perfect gift to express his royal status.” The captain smiled broadly, pleased at this trade opportunity. “Let me show you, it is very fine work.”
Another round of cigars and the best part of Ek Chuuah’s cacao pods were required to complete the deal. He carefully folded the heavy pendant in thick cloths and slept with it close to his side. It was a gift worthy of the gods.
Dzibanche nestled in park-like meadows, long expanses of grass bordered by stately mahogany trees and white flowering willows. Palmettos rustled and thin stemmed Sabal palms waved starburst leaves in the gentle breeze. Golden ferns peeped out from dense stands of logwood trees with undergrowth of kopte bushes with red flowers, some forming small fruit. The city was large with impressive pyramids rising above multiple plazas, some connected by raised platforms. Houses of nobles clustered in complexes around the periphery with the palace situated at the eastern side. Signs of recent building activity abounded, several structures were in process and workers toiled placing large stones and mixing plaster. Plazas buzzed with activity as richly attired ahauob shopped, visited and promenaded among artisans, farmers, traders and musicians plying their trades.
The impressi
on given to the visitors from Usihwitz was one of prosperity and expansion. They passed the area where their captain was already spreading his wares on blankets as nobles crowded around. He waved cheerfully and gestured greetings, but was too occupied for a visit. The Usihwitz nobles were en route to the palace for an audience with Ka’an K’uhul Ahau Uneh Chan, and did not tarry. The palace sat atop a four-tiered platform accessed by wide stairs, upon which warriors stood in light cotton armor, holding long spears. Such military display rarely occurred in the K’umaxha River cities, and it signaled a different mind-set, one of deliberate muscle flexing to impress or intimidate.
Ek Chuuah took note of this, for it fit his purposes. He knew the Kan rulers were aggressive and intent upon spreading their influence, and he planned on cultivating these traits. His fingers squeezed the bundle containing the magnificent pendant, relishing its bulk and weight.
At the top of the stairs, the Royal Steward greeted the visitors and guided them through narrow corridors with high corbelled arches into a waiting chamber. It faced a quiet inner courtyard where a few nobles stood in conversation. After a considerable wait, the visitors were summoned to the ruler’s throne room. Long and narrow, the throne room also opened to the inner courtyard, rising above it atop a flight of broad stairs. The nobles glanced upward and watched curiously. More warriors stood on the stairs.
The throne was supported by a Witz Monster mask with a sky bar along its upper edge, ending in two serpent heads. This signified that the ruler sat in the sky, the Upperworld, above a cave giving access to the Underworld through a witz or sacred mountain. Serpent heads on either end formed the Celestial Serpent, as the Milky Way was known, indicating the ruler’s command of cosmic forces. In a double word play, the serpent heads also represented the glyph for Kan, the snake dynasty.
Uneh Chan sat with one knee folded beneath the other leg that dangled over the edge of the throne in the Maya ruler’s typical throne posture. He was of middle age, his body strong and well-muscled, his face sculpted perfection of Maya elite: tilted almond eyes, straight nose proceeding without dip to the forehead of his elongated skull, high cheeks and full chiseled lips, defined chin and powerful jaw line. Dancing upon his head was an elaborate headdress of feathers, jade and beads with K’awill and K’in Ahau images and the Kan serpent glyph prominent over his brow. Only a richly beaded neck collar covered his upper chest, and his short skirt sported the woven mat pattern of rulers accented by a colorful loincloth. Heavy jewelry of jade and stones adorned his wrists and ankles, and he wore large earspools.
Ek Chuuah and Yax Chapat sank to their knees and bowed deeply, right hand clasping left shoulder. They remained still until the ruler called them to approach, and then wriggled forward on their knees until they reached the mats at the foot of the throne. Finally able to look up directly at the ruler, Ek Chuuah was gratified that the captain’s assessment rung true. In the subtle lift of his chin, the haughty stare down his long straight nose, the outward thrust of hard pectoral muscles, the Kan ruler revealed vanity. He also displayed supreme confidence; more than Ek Chuuah thought was merited in light of the captain’s story about the Bat dynasty take-over. This would be more fuel for the fire that Ek Chuuah intended to ignite.
After courtly formalities of greeting, the ruler inquired as to the purpose of their visit. Ek Chuuah’s eyes swept the throne room, noting the presence of the Royal Steward, the ruler’s scribe, and three other well-attired nobles whom he took to be main advisors or courtiers. One appeared to be a Nakom or war chief from his burly form and multiple scars, and the large obsidian dagger hanging from his waistband.
“Long has it been my desire to pay homage to the ruler of mighty Kan,” said Ek Chuuah. “In the associations between our cities, I have met some of your warriors and nobles, wise and strong men, much admired in Usihwitz. The prowess of Kan commands great respect; many are the seatings of sahals and oversights of ceremonies in cities under the dominion of Kan’s leaders. In honor of these accomplishments, and to acknowledge the recent accession of the new ruler of Ka’an polity, Uneh Chan the Holy Lord of Ka’an, do my son and I travel this great distance.”
Uneh Chan nodded, making the feathers of his headdress bobble gracefully, and gestured his acceptance of these compliments. His advisors maintained neutral faces.
“Much is it our pleasure to receive your acknowledgements,” he drawled. “This night shall you join us in a feast, that you may enjoy the delights of these bountiful lands.”
“Our hearts burst with gratitude, Holy Lord. It is clear that your prowess is matched by your generosity. Greatly shall we anticipate this wondrous feast. In humble thanks, I should wish to offer you our gift, a symbol of our deep appreciation and respect.”
Ek Chuuah lifted the pendant bundle and offered it to the ruler. The Royal Steward moved quickly, taking the bundle and holding it level with the ruler’s chest. At the ruler’s gesture, the Royal Steward unwrapped the cloth and held up the pectoral in its shining magnificence. Light rippled over the red spondylus beads, glinted from bronze disks and illuminated the turquoise jade face of K’in Ahau. All eyes were riveted upon the unusual piece of jewelry.
“For the Holy Lord whose perfection of form reflects truly his divine nature, a pectoral pendant whose maker was surely inspired by the deities themselves. May it be a fitting complement to that Sacred One who is, in himself, already perfectly complete.”
A smile flitted across Uneh Chan’s lips and his eyes sparked. Not only was the pectoral exquisite, the giver’s words were the epitome of courtly Maya speech. Beauty and eloquence pleased the ruler. He gestured for the Royal Steward to remove his neck collar and hang the pendant. Murmurs of praise accompanied this exchange as the ruler turned, showing the pectoral pendant to his advisors. His fingers caressed the jade, and he nodded toward Ek Chuuah.
“This holds much beauty and power,” said Uneh Chan. “You have done well.”
The atmosphere relaxed and the Royal Steward called for refreshments; fruit juices lightly fermented. The ruler inquired about conditions in Usihwitz following the seating of Yahau Chan Muwaan, done under the auspices of Kan. Ek Chuuah related that the city was content with this choice, avoiding mention of his real views and ultimate ambitions. What did trouble his city, he added, was the treachery of Lakam Ha and the continued threat that they might reassert their dominance.
“What is needed is a decisive defeat of Lakam Ha, a chopping down event,” he finished.
“Memory does serve me that your last raid on Lakam Ha was unsuccessful,” observed Uneh Chan. “Why would another attack now fare better?”
“Leadership at Lakam Ha has changed and is no longer strong,” replied Ek Chuuah. “You are aware that Aj Ne Ohl Mat is ineffective, that much discontent rumbles in Lakam Ha about rectifying their loss of the ball game with us, and restitution for our raid. In essence, governance is done by the ruler’s father, Hun Pakal and brother-in-law, Kan Mo’ Hix. Without full authority, however, they are unable to dispel dissidence. It is a charged situation, ripe for exploitation.”
“The real reason why our raid failed was the seer ability of Yohl Ik’nal,” Yax Chapat added. “She foresaw the attack, knew who in her city were involved, allowed Lakam Ha forces to prepare. Without her ability, our raid would have succeeded.”
The young man’s passion was obvious, though he had been only a child then and could not take part in the raid. His wounded pride over his father’s humiliation still smarted.
“So have I heard, this woman ruler had great powers as a seer,” said Uneh Chan. “Does she not have a daughter? Might it be that the daughter also possesses such abilities?”
“Yes, there is a daughter, Sak K’uk. From all I can discern, she does not have many abilities as a seer,” replied Ek Chuuah. “Her temperament is impatient and hot-headed, she has not the depth of shamanic training as her mother, nor the natural visionary capacity.”
“Ummm. Then there is a different situation in Lakam Ha.”
/> “Yes, and Lakam Ha could become another gem in the headdress of Kan. A gem ripe for collecting, should we join forces. I have warriors ready for this attack, but our forces alone are not enough. We need the strength of Kan, of your skilled warriors, to accomplish it. Lakam Ha is prosperous, full of tribute. Kan could gain much in this mission.” Ek Chuuah was at his most persuasive, dark face alive with enthusiasm.
Uneh Chan stroked his new pectoral and contemplated. He turned to his Nakom.
“Wamaw Took, what think you?”
The war chief came forward and stood next to the throne. He asked a few questions about Ek Chuuah’s forces and his estimation of Lakam Ha’s defenses.
“It could be done,” he said shortly. “Have we enough reason?”
“More reason than glory and bounty can I give you,” interjected Ek Chuuah. “There resides in your fair land a blight, one that has thwarted the greatness of Kan. I speak of the usurpers, the foreigners of the Zodz dynasty who infamously took the great city of Uxte’tun from the Kan dynasty. In this is the same injustice that casts dark shadows upon Usihwitz; one who is undeserving takes power from the righteous rulers. Such injustice cannot be allowed to prevail.”
Uneh Chan’s body tensed and Wamaw Took bristled. Suspense crackled in the atmosphere, for none expected Ek Chuuah to focus upon this source of Kan’s shame.
“We can bring justice to both our cities,” he continued, voice resonant and compelling. “After we join forces to defeat Lakam Ha, bolstered by our certain victory, we will turn our wrath toward the Bat dynasty and drive them from Uxte’tun.”
Silence hovered, suspended like electric charges before a thunderstorm. Uneh Chan’s eyes blazed with the fire of revenge. No greater act could a Kan ruler achieve than to restore their dynasty’s heritage city, the most splendid accomplishment in their legacy of power. He yearned for restitution; now he was beginning to believe it was possible.
The Controversial Mayan Queen: Sak K'uk of Palenque (The Mists of Palenque) Page 4