Fugitives of Fate

by Morganfield, T. L.

  Ixtlil stood straighter. "We aren't afraid of anything."

  "The gods gave her to us, so let's listen to their good advice."

  Chuckling under his breath, Ixtlil said, "I will speak in her favor to the Council, my friend. And here I was worried you were going to ask to get out of your betrothal to Xocotzin."

  Cuauhtemoc stiffened. "I am a man of my word. I've agreed to marry her, and I will honor that commitment." He glanced back towards the crowd were Malinali was laughing with several of the nobles and their wives.

  Ixtlil followed his gaze, a melancholy expression on his face. "I never would doubt your honor, my friend."

  ¤

  It was well past midnight once Cuauhtemoc and Malinali returned to the palace in Tenochtitlan. Cuauhtemoc invited her to stay the night in his room, which she gladly accepted, but after tucking Achicatl into her bed then washing off the road dust in the bath, by the time they retired, the best they could do was fall asleep in each other's arms.

  They slept past dawn and only rose when their body servants came to dress them for the day, and within moments of donning their clothes, the head steward came to deliver his reports and messages. He gave Malinali a sideways glance when he first came in—no doubt taking note of the noblewoman's dress she wore—but he kept his attention focused in Cuauhtemoc's direction, though never directly at him.

  "The kitchens are running low on maize, and the shipment of deer meat from the north is late," the steward recited in a droning voice. "Lord Matlatzincatzin was feeling better for the first three days you were gone, My Lord, but he collapsed in his personal garden three days ago, and the doctors say he's unlikely to get out of bed again this time. His assistant has been overseeing as many of his duties as he could the last few days, but the court cases are stacking up and the prison yard is overcrowded. The Council has asked that you meet with them this morning, to discuss both the treaty with Tlaxcala and the appointment of an interim Cihuacoatl, to get the city back on schedule."

  "We'd best eat fast then," Cuauhtemoc told Malinali as his body servants put his quetzal-feathered headdress on him. "Sounds as if we have much work to do today."

  The steward cast Malinali another puzzled glance but said nothing as the servants brought in cups of atole. Cuauhtemoc downed his in three gulps, but Malinali continued drinking hers as they made their way downstairs, led by the palace steward. He took them into the west wing of the palace, to the court, where murals of the ancient goddess Cihuacoatl the Snake Woman decorated the walls; the title of the city's highest domestic advisor took its name from her, and if Malinali became the next Cihuacoatl, these halls would become her domain.

  The steward showed them to the reception hall, where the Triple Alliance Council met to conduct business. Malinali had never been inside the room—only specially-chosen servants were allowed inside to serve the Council members—so she hesitated outside the doorway.

  But Cuauhtemoc took her arm gently in his hand. "It's all right."

  She remained frozen as the group of lords stared back at her, but when Ixtlil rose to his feet and smiled, the knot in her gut loosened. She followed Cuauhtemoc inside. The servants untied the ropes holding the heavy reed-woven curtains apart, filling the room with the loud clanking of large copper bells as the curtains fell together behind them.

  The other kings rose and bowed to Cuauhtemoc but eyed Malinali with suspicion. The Cihuacoatls all bowed to Malinali, but their kings only followed suit after Ixtlil bowed to her.

  "If I'd known we were bringing our women with us, I would have brought your mother," the governor of Tlatelolco said with a laugh once the greetings were finished.

  "She is not my woman," Cuauhtemoc assured him with a polite—yet calculated—smile. "But let's start first with the treaty, which I'm certain everyone is eager to hear about." He sat down on a reed-woven throne covered in eagle feathers, similar to the one in the throne room. He motioned Malinali to take the mat next to him.

  There were nearly twenty men in the room, but only three throne-like seats covered in feathers or animal skins, for the leaders of the Triple Alliance Council. Ixtlil sat to Cuauhtemoc's right, with his Cihuacoatl next to him on a feathered mat, and Lord Zolin, King of Tlacopan, took the one next to Malinali's mat, his Cihuacoatl sitting next to him on the other side. The remaining lords, who held no voting power on the Council, sat on mats on the floor before the thrones.

  Once everyone was settled, Cuauhtemoc gave an accounting of his time in Tlaxcala and gave copies of the signed treaty to each city's leader. "To cement the alliance, each of the Alliance's mother cities have betrothed a daughter to one of the sons of three of the lords of Tlaxcala. As part of the agreement, the son of each lord will come to study the art of war in a school within one of our cities, corresponding to which daughter they are betrothed, except the son of Lord Acxotecatl, who will study in Tenochtitlan's House of Warriors. Lord Acxotecatl declined to betroth his son at this time, wishing to marry him to a Tlaxcalan princess. He reserves the right to ask for a concubine for his son at a future date."

  "He probably didn't want any of our women in his house," Lord Zolin said with a laugh. "And I'm certain he was even less accepting of your fake Cihuacoatl. Not to speak ill of your skills, My Lady, but he is an old man like me and we haven't the patience for ploys," he told Malinali.

  Malinali smiled carefully. "I assure you that I held my own against him."

  Cuauhtemoc nodded. "I can say that Lord Xicotencatl personally expressed admiration for My Lady's skills and charisma in the negotiations. She impressed all the lords of Tlaxcala—even Lord Acxotecatl admitted that she had an answer for every objection he raised. When all is said and done, we owe the success of this treaty to her, which is why I've decided to appoint her my interim Cihuacoatl, to fully take on the title once Matlatzincatzin passes on into Mictlan."

  Lord Zolin blinked, confused. "Excuse me, but...what?"

  "I'm naming Malintzin my new Cihuacoatl, and since Lord Matlatzincatzin is too ill to leave his bed, I will personally train her in the responsibilities that come with the office. Given what I've seen of her abilities, she will catch on quickly and will be fully prepared should Matlatzincatzin not last the week."

  Malinali's cheeks flushed at the praise but she worked to keep from looking away, embarrassed.

  Zolin frowned. "I know the position is named for a goddess, but it is a title reserved for a man, Cuauhtemoc. You can't change that."

  "I changed the way we wage war and I've changed our relationship with our oldest enemy. Now I'm changing the way Tenochtitlan governs itself. The gods leave us gifts to find, in men and women alike, and we should embrace and use that brilliance wherever we find it. We ignore it at our own peril."

  "Eloquently put, Cuauhtemoc, but she's a former slave," Zolin pointed out. "We can at least agree that such an important position must be held by a fellow noble." When Cuauhtemoc opened his mouth to protest, Zolin quickly added, "Yes, I know you can bestow a noble title on anyone, but that doesn't change the fact that she was never educated in one of our schools, or any school for that matter. How can you expect her to understand the importance of this political position and its history when she cannot even interpret our historical texts?"

  Cuauhtemoc tried again, but this time Malinali stepped in. If anyone should be defending her worthiness for this position, it should be her. "I appreciate your concerns, Lord Zolin, and your points are well-taken. As for my lack of noble birth, that isn't entirely true; I was the firstborn child of the king of Paynala and the rightful heir to the throne, before my father died and my mother and her new husband robbed me of that right. True, because of that I didn't receive the proper education that I would have if I'd been raised to adulthood in my family's home, but I learned many important skills in slavery, things that ensured my survival, things that will help the empire survive into the future. I may not know how to interpret the books of Mexica history, or even how to read the tribute sheets, but I'm confident I can learn, and
quickly. Slavery taught me to adapt to difficult and dangerous situations. It also taught me how nobles think, how they view themselves in relationship to those they rule. But I also know how the lower classes see them, and where the breakdowns occur. I believe this experience gives me a distinct advantage in ensuring justice for Tenochtitlan's citizens when they come before me with their disputes. That is the primary job of the Cihuacoatl, is it not?"

  Zolin tapped his chin, thoughtful. "It is, My Lady, and I have no doubt that you are a fast learner—my own Cihuacoatl has spoken highly of your involvement in the negotiations in Tlaxcala. But the job entails many long days and nights, and certainly you wish to have a family? How do you propose to balance the needs of the people with the needs of your children?"

  "If the gods decide to bless me, I could not simply put aside the other gifts they gave me."

  "Then you would neglect your motherly duties in favor of those of the Cihuacoatl?"

  "Of course not. My Lord, have you ever visited a commoner's fields?"

  "I have not."

  "I have worked in fields, and common-born women routinely serve not only as mothers, but as farmers, right alongside their husbands. They dig the holes for the seeds and harvest the maize all while carrying a baby upon their backs, and in spite of this, they raise hardworking, honorable children. Devoting oneself to one or the other is a luxury many cannot afford; the goddess Cihuacoatl herself was not only a mother, but a warrior too, and as a woman unaccustomed to pointless luxury, I would embrace both duties and perform them to the best of my abilities. I couldn't imagine doing it any other way."

  Ixtlil laughed. "Women are exceedingly versatile creatures; one part mother, one part lover, one part politician. I would never dare tell my wife that she is not capable of both raising our children and overseeing the slaves. It's a point of pride for her."

  Zolin snorted but then told Cuauhtemoc, "You're right that she's very good at countering arguments. I do, however, want to see how she handles herself in the actual job, doing the things the Cihuacoatl does." To Malinali, he said, "It's nothing personal, My Lady, but Tlacopan has a vested interest in Tenochtitlan's success, so I must be certain about such an important appointment."

  "No offense is taken, My Lord," Malinali assured him. "I look forward to proving my worth."

  "Perhaps we could see that today. I hear Lord Matlatzincatzin has left quite a backlog of cases for the interim Cihuacoatl to deal with."

  Cuauhtemoc finally spoke up again. "I would rather not throw her into the jaguar pit without proper time to train and acclimate to the duties. She needs to learn the court protocols and assemble a staff. I'd rather she eased into the position, but you are welcome to observe while I'm training her. Today we're moving her into the Cihuacoatl's palace, so we won't get to any cases until tomorrow."

  Zolin nodded and rose to his feet, his own Cihuacoatl following suit. "Let us adjourn until next week, then. That should give her ample time to settle into her new accommodations and prepare herself for observation." He bowed to both Cuauhtemoc and Malinali before departing, his guards meeting him at the doorway.

  When Ixtlil and his Cihuacoatl rose, Cuauhtemoc stood too. "Will you be staying for dinner?"

  Ixtlil shook his head. "I promised to take my son hunting and I've put it off for weeks now. He thinks I make promises I don't intend to keep." To Malinali, he said, "I'd wish you luck with your training, but I suspect that you won't need any, My Lady. I look forward to seeing you impress Lord Zolin when the time comes." He bade them both goodbye and left.

  Once all the other lords were gone, Cuauhtemoc took Malinali into his arms for a kiss. "I'm glad he's not staying," he said, once they separated to catch their breaths. "I want some time alone with you again."

  "Me too." She ran her fingers over his bare flesh peeking out between the folds of his hummingbird-feathered robe, her cheeks flushed with joy.

  He kissed her again, tantalizingly soft but brief, then smiled at her. "Let's get you moved into your palace."

  ¤

  Malinali had never been to the Cihuacoatl's palace; Tecuichpo never had reason to go there. It didn't look much different from Cuauhtemoc's, though there were more scenes of battle and sacrifice on the walls. "The palace belongs to the Cihuacoatl so long as he lives," Cuauhtemoc said, "so until Matlatzincatzin passes on, you will be a guest here. But once he leaves us, the palace is yours to do with as you please. You'll be free to repaint the murals to something more suited to your personal tastes."

  "They are out of step with how you've spent your time as huey tlatoani," Malinali noted. "A few murals about peace with Tlaxcala would be a nice addition."

  It took only four servants to carry the few wicker baskets containing the clothes Cuauhtemoc had given her; otherwise, she had no other worldly belongings, and when they reached her quarters on the upper floor, that lack seemed stark. The anteroom was as large as Cuauhtemoc's but twice as empty, and the bed could accommodate a dozen people. Once the servants left, she and Cuauhtemoc claimed the new bed for their own, and everything seemed cozier and more intimate. They stayed under the blankets most of the afternoon, alternating between resting and making love, stopping only to eat at noon then bathe before the evening meal.

  "We'll interview potential staff members tomorrow," Cuauhtemoc told her, while he dressed her as if he were her handmaiden.

  "What about Lord Matlatzincatzin's children? I saw young ones in the hallways when we got here. What will happen to them once their father dies?"

  "They will go with their mothers to Matlatzincatzin's brothers or his older sons. Don't worry. They will be taken care of. His palace slaves, however, will pass on to serve you."

  "But what if I don't want any slaves?"

  He paused to look up at her from where he bent down to tie on her sandal. "Well...I suppose because they are yours, it's within your power to free them. However, remember that a good number of them are indebted to the crown for a certain amount of time and you would be throwing aside that debt by freeing them before they've repaid it."

  "I don't object to the debt slaves. This is the path they have chosen and it's only right and honorable that they repay what we've given them. I'm concerned about those like me, whose only recourse is to risk death and run for their freedom. Why is it illegal to sell such slaves here in Tenochtitlan but not illegal to own them?"

  He didn't answer right away, instead focusing on tying her sandals. Once he finished, he stood. "Because they are tribute from our allies, who have their own laws concerning slavery, and we receive those slaves as a payment."

  "But it isn't a payment the slave can work off," Malinali pointed out.

  "It is a great debt," Cuauhtemoc agreed.

  "Or is their work worth nothing to the empire?"

  Cuauhtemoc set his jaw tight, looking annoyed. Now she feared she'd overstepped. "Are you suggesting that because I keep such slaves in the palace that I don't consider their work worth anything?"

  She laughed, hoping to defuse his anger. "No, but I am saying that I won't have such slaves working in the Cihuacoatl's palace once I take the title. You may do what you wish in your palace, and I shall do as I wish in mine. Agreed?"

  Chuckling, he said, "Of course. It isn't that I don't agree with you, but the people will react badly if we rush too many changes at once. It will be enough of a chore convincing them to accept a female Cihuacoatl. Small steps. But slavery in our empire will be a subject for discussion in the future."

  Malinali raised an eyebrow. "Our empire?"

  He smiled back. "Our empire."

  ¤

  The next weeks passed in a blur. Every day started with reading lessons, followed by hours of sitting in the courts, listening to the backlog of cases and learning about the nuances of the laws in Tenochtitlan. Cuauhtemoc oversaw the proceedings, making judgments and passing sentences where necessary. In the evenings, while they ate, he tutored her in the actual laws and punishments, and as the work added up, they spent most night
s only sleeping. With each passing day, he involved her in more of the court proceedings, asking her opinion on testimony and what she thought the appropriate judgment should be. By the end of the third week, she was deciding the judgments for Cuauhtemoc to hand down.

  Zolin and Ixtlil stayed away during all this, though Malinali always watched the viewing gallery with fearful anticipation. She suspected that Ixtlil, being Cuauhtemoc's friend, would back her regardless, but Zolin had been adamant women had no place in positions of power such as this. She wondered if she would freeze up the day he finally decided to come watch her.

  And it looks as if today is that day, she thought when she and Cuauhtemoc came to the courts to find not only Zolin and Ixtlil waiting for them, but also the minor members of the Triple Alliance council, such as the governors of Tlatelolco, Chapultepec, and Culhuacan. Everyone greeted her kindly, even Zolin, who told her, "So today's the big day, My Lady; your first time determining a case all on your own. And I hear that Cuauhtemoc made it a very challenging one as well. I look forward to seeing how you handle yourself." He then led the rest of the Council into the courtroom, leaving her and Cuauhtemoc outside by themselves.

  "I'm truly to do this all myself this time?" she asked.

  "You'll do exceedingly well," he assured her.

  She wrung her hands as she stared into the court. There weren't any civilians in the gallery, only the council members and their Cihuacoatls, accepting cups of frothy chocolate from the servants she'd hired to see to the needs of the lords when they visited the court. She flinched when he set his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

  "This is the position you were born to have," he reminded her.

  She wanted to kiss him but settled for a grateful smile. "Thank you."

  He motioned her to enter ahead of him, and when they reached the dais, he took the icpalli she usually sat in. He pointed to the one he usually occupied, and, after a hesitation, she sat down.