"Cuauhtemoc, I...." She choked on the words though.
He knew what he had to do: the penalty for trying to influence the huey tlatoani of the One World with magic was death. But the pain swelling in his chest made it impossible to utter the condemning order. He turned from her, squeezing the bag in his fist. "Get out of my sight," he muttered.
Malinali stared at him, disbelief and distress on her face. She looked about ready to speak again but then she burst into tears and ran from the courtyard. Her guards watched her go, stunned and confused looks on their faces, but eventually Tenoch jogged after her, convincing the other guard that he should follow as well. All three disappeared into the sacred precinct.
Seeing the amused grin on Acxotecatl’s face, Cuauhtemoc nearly lunged at him—and the threat must have been plain on his face, for the other man backed away, the pleased look suddenly gone. Cuauhtemoc took a deep breath, calming the blinding fury, then he cut past him, back into the palace, his own guards jogging to keep up with him.
He made it all the way to his anteroom before the turmoil chewing him up inside finally broke loose. He snatched the skull of Hernán Cortés off the mantle and threw it at the maguey screen wall of his study. The blow took down the screen, scattering papers and quills from the desk on the other side. The lime-white skull lay in five pieces, the cranium laced with cracks and missing shards, but it still grinned at him, enjoying his heartache.
He collapsed against the wall next to the hearth and sank slowly to the floor, the tears squeezing past his defenses. Why had I ever been foolish enough to believe anyone can ever truly escape the destinies the gods lay out for us?
¤
Malinali cried all the way back to the Cihuacoatl's palace, and Tenoch and her other guard ran to keep up with her. She wished they wouldn't bother, but Cuauhtemoc hadn't relieved them of their duties to her, so of course they would remain steady as always. She needed to be alone with her shame and anger, and she only got it once she reached her quarters and collapsed on the bed, weeping.
But when Xochitli arrived and took her into her arms to comfort her, she realized she didn't really want to be alone after all. "Why was I such a fool, so pathetic? So what if I caught him with Tayanna? Sex doesn’t equal love, but still I went out of my mind over it!" She hid her face in Xochitli's shoulder, but her friend said nothing, merely stroked her hair and held her.
She drowsed off in the silence, but she woke with a start when the bells on her door curtain rang. Predawn gray leaked through the open window. She scrambled to her feet when Tenoch came inside, a hard look on his face. Xochitli—who had been sitting next to her bed all night—rose too, putting herself between Malinali and Tenoch. He's come to arrest me. Her stomach knotted. Last night she'd thanked the gods that Cuauhtemoc hadn't demanded her head right there in the courtyard, but she knew it had been shock that had saved her, not mercy.
"Pack a bag for My Lady," Tenoch told Xochitli. "We're departing before sunrise."
"What?" Malinali asked, unsure she'd heard him right.
He cast a disgusted look at her but answered, "I have my orders." He stepped out again, closing the curtain behind him.
Xochitli hurried into the side room where Malinali kept her clothing. When she returned a moment later to see Malinali sitting on the bed, dumbfounded, she said, "You should change clothes, My Lady. Your dress isn't appropriate for travel."
She stared down at her wedding dress before conceding, "You're right." She hurried into her dressing room and changed into her buckskin pants and her riding xicolli.
"I packed some of your jewelry, so we'll have something to barter with," Xochitli told her, shouldering the pack.
"You should stay. They'll consider you a runaway slave, and if you're caught—"
"I'm coming with you, and that's my decision to make."
Malinali frowned even as gratefulness threatened her with fresh tears. "Then we'd best hurry."
¤
At daybreak, Cuauhtemoc went down to the gardens, looking for some breakfast, but to his surprise, the Council was at the table, eating. Wedding feasts often lasted into the darkest hours of the night, but none of them had gone to bed yet, and they were still talking over platters of food. Lord Zolin was particularly boisterous, sloshing his cup of chocolate as he roared with laughter. Even more surprising, Ixtlil's wife was with them, leaning against Ixtlil so he could keep an arm around her and feed her bites of fried prickly pear with his free hand. She blushed but smiled when he whispered in her ear. Cuauhtemoc had never seen them so intimate.
Ixtlil must have taken my words to heart. But the joy of seeing them mend things wasn't enough to let him forget the raw wound in his own heart.
When Ixtlil saw him, he laughed and rose to greet him. "Aren't you supposed to be praying for a fruitful marriage?"
Papantzin looked behind Cuauhtemoc. "Isn't Malintzin coming to breakfast too?"
Everyone's eyes came to him, and the truth felt like a rock in his gut. He had to tell the Council that Malinali wasn't the Cihuacoatl anymore, so they could find her replacement as soon as possible, but imagining the looks on their faces when he admitted that she tricked him, that she'd made him a fool—a lovesick fool, of all things.... They'd lose all faith in him. And gods! He could hear his mother already. I warned you about bedding your slaves, Cuauhtemoc! You're just like your father!
And how would he explain sending Malinali away instead of putting her on trial for witchcraft? He shouldn't have done that, but imagining the guards garroting her in front of the entire city had left him unable to breathe. It's the magic speaking, he told himself, but it didn't completely convince him. Better to let her get away than be wrong and never able to forgive himself.
"Lady Malintzin received an urgent message from her family last night," Cuauhtemoc said, struggling to keep his voice level. "Her mother fell gravely ill on the way back to Paynala, so Malintzin went to sit at her deathbed."
Zolin raised his cup. "Your wife is an inspiration to us all, My Lord."
Cuauhtemoc smiled wanly then joined the table, sitting next to Ixtlil.
"Will she be gone long?" Papantzin asked.
"A while, I imagine," he answered with a frown.
Ixtlil clapped him on the shoulder. "I'm sure she'll be just fine."
¤
It took until daybreak for Tenoch to row the canoe all the way to Texcoco, and from there he, Xochitli, and Malinali took the mountain pass, heading east towards Tlaxcala. After several hours of walking, Malinali's legs felt like hot wax. Too much luxurious living, she thought, but she refused to complain. Tenoch had hardly said a word to her since they'd left Tenochtitlan, and she didn't want him thinking her weak and pathetic.
Eventually they stopped to share some of the tortillas he'd packed in a bag for the journey. They ate in silence, for the day's heat was oppressive. Malinali couldn't wait until they reached the pass, where the weather would be cooler and they could finally get some sleep. The little bit she'd gotten the night before was quickly wearing away.
Tenoch tied his bag closed then stared down at his second tortilla. "Why did you do it?"
Malinali looked up, startled. "Do what?" But when he cast an icy glare at her, she bowed her head. "I've been asking myself that same question all day, and all I can conclude is that I was stupid."
"You aren't stupid—" Xochitli said, but Tenoch held up his hand to silence her.
"No, you're not stupid; you're evil, and you should be put down, for crimes against the empire."
Xochitli stood between Malinali and Tenoch, drawing a knife from the sheath at her belt. "Best not even try."
He guffawed. "I won't. Unlike some, I'm loyal to my huey tlatoani. When he gives me orders, I follow them, and I'd rather die than betray that."
"I was loyal to Cuauhtemoc too," Malinali shot back.
Tenoch laughed. "And you show it by bewitching him?"
"I didn't bewitch him."
"Liar."
Malinali sprang to
her feet, clenching her fists. "Yes, I made the potion, but I never gave it to him!"
"You didn't?" Xochitli asked.
Malinali shook her head, tears choking her. "How pathetic, thinking I needed magic to make him love me when he already did, and more. I share your contempt for me, Tenoch, because I deserve it."
Tenoch stared at her a moment before looking away, perturbed. "I have my orders and I will fulfill them."
"What are your orders, exactly?"
"Take you away from the valley and keep watch over you, until the huey tlatoani gives me new orders."
New orders to dispose of me, perhaps? "Will you take me all the way to Paynala then?"
"If that’s where you wish to go."
She started to answer, but suddenly soldiers sprang out of the bushes all around them, swords drawn and bows and arrows ready.
Tenoch sprang to his feet, drawing his sword, but almost immediately he took an arrow to the shoulder. He fell backwards over the rock he'd been sitting on.
"Don't stand there. Get her!" a familiar voice called from the road ahead of them.
Tenoch stood again but three soldiers dragged him away cursing and yelling. Another one wrenched Xochitli away while she kicked and screamed.
Malinali drew an obsidian dagger from her belt and slashed Xochitli's captor across the back, making him drop her with a crying howl. "Run!" she shouted at her friend as two soldiers advanced on her, their swords ready to deflect any counterattack.
Xochitli didn't run though. She grabbed her captor's dropped sword and rushed to help, but she took a swift kick to the gut from one of the soldiers, leaving her gagging on all fours.
Malinali swung her blade, but one man stopped her arm with both hands while the second one punched her in the side, sending pain blazing into her chest. She fell to the dirt, struggling to breathe as the soldiers disarmed her and threw her blade into the bushes. They wrestled her to her feet again and held her arms behind her.
"Look at what I caught!" Acxotecatl stepped out of the trees onto the road, a triumphant sneer on his face. "A slippery little Snake Woman. I should have known Cuauhtemoc wouldn't have the stones to give you the death sentence you deserve. One simply cannot trust others to do the work for them." He pulled an obsidian blade and advanced on her.
Malinali tried to break free but the men held her firm.
She expected Acxotecatl to bury the knife in her gut, but instead he stood studying her face. "You always did have a mesmerizing look about you, such delicate cheekbones, such soft, sensual skin." He slashed the blade across her cheek.
She gasped, startled, but once the blood began dripping warm down her cheek, the stinging set in.
"Well, you used to have a face worth staring at for hours." He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "How do you wish to die? Swiftly, as a warrior facing the eagle stone, or slowly, like a cowardly dog that runs from the battlefield in fear?"
"Or maybe you should be a man, Acxotecatl, and face her like a gladiator before the sacrifice," Xicotencatl came up the road behind them, flanked by a small regiment of soldiers. "Certainly a seasoned warrior such as yourself doesn't need two men to hold down a woman so you can gut her."
Malinali didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Acxotecatl glared at Xicotencatl, but then he nodded at the soldiers. They shoved Malinali so she landed on her knees at his feet.
Not waiting for him to attack, Malinali scrambled away on hands and knees, searching for anything to defend herself with—a rock, a sharp stick. When she heard him coming up behind her, she scooped up a handful of dirt and flung it at him.
Acxotecatl raised his hands to shield his eyes, but too late. He stumbled backwards a few steps, cursing as he blinked tearing eyes. Malinali continued crawling away.
Xicotencatl chuckled as Acxotecatl rubbed furiously at his eyes. "What could this poor woman have possibly done to earn such deadly ire?"
"She gave me this," Acxotecatl snarled, pointing at his scar. He then stalked after Malinali again, murder in his eyes.
Malinali reached the edge of the road and tried to pull a large rock out of the ground. It wouldn't budge though. Just then she saw her knife lying among the tall grasses, where the soldier had thrown it. She snatched it up.
She swung around to find Acxotecatl looming over her and without second thought, she drove the blade home.
He dropped his own knife in surprise and stumbled backwards, staring down at the dagger handle sticking out from under the hem of his xicolli. He pulled it out as if it was a mere splinter, but the crimson spot spread quickly on the white maguey fabric. His guards moved to catch him as his knees gave out under him.
But when Xicotencatl waved them away, they hesitantly set Acxotecatl down on the ground. Acxotecatl raised a hand at his fellow lord, imploring help. "Do you see now where clinging to the past gets us, Acxotecatl? Had you actually killed her, I would have had to kill you too, to prevent war with the Triple Alliance."
Acxotecatl stared at him, eyes wide, but with a final groan, he dropped his hand to the ground.
Turning from the body, Xicotencatl asked, "What made you give him that scar, My Lady?"
"He took my son and gave him to his wife." Tears choked her voice.
"Nauyotl is your boy?"
She nodded. "I was a slave...and Lord Acxotecatl took a liking to me...." It embarrassed her to admit any more.
"The first time I saw you, I thought you looked familiar." He turned his gaze back down to Acxotecatl and shook his head. "The gods finally caught up with him."
"What will become of Nauyotl now?"
"He is the heir to his father's throne but he's much too young for such a responsibility. Which means Acxotecatl's brothers and cousins will scramble to claim it themselves."
"Please, you must protect him!" Malinali insisted. "I know he's not supposed to go to Tenochtitlan until he's old enough to go into the House of Warriors, but they'll come after him. He'll only be safe in Tenochtitlan."
"He will be taken care of."
"But what about you, My Lady? Tenoch is injured and you can't return to the valley," Xochitli said.
"I am well enough to continue on." Tenoch shrugged off the soldiers who'd been holding him, then, gritting his teeth, he pulled the arrow out of his shoulder. "It's merely a scratch."
"That's hardly a scratch." Malinali took her cloak off and shredded it into strips to wrap his bloody shoulder. "You and Xochitli should go back, before I get one of you killed."
"I have my orders, and I fully intend to carry them out."
"And I'm not going back until I know you're safe," Xochitli added.
Xicotencatl scrutinized Malinali as she bound Tenoch's wound. "Then Acxotecatl was telling the truth? You really bewitched Cuauhtemoc with a love potion?"
"I didn't bewitch him!" Malinali gave a sharp tug on the cotton bindings before adding, "Not that I'd expect you to believe me; no one does."
After a contemplative pause, he said, "Well, you did help bring peace between Tlaxcala and the Triple Alliance for the first time in hundreds of years, and that is no small favor. For that, I will escort you and your people as far as the nearest city, so your man can get medical attention, but I warn you not to overstay your welcome in Tlaxcalan lands. I don't know why Cuauhtemoc let you go, but if he demands I return you to him, know that I value peace more than I do your life."
"I wouldn't ask you to go to war on my account."
"And whatever passed between you and Acxotecatl matters not to me; your son's future is in Tlaxcala, on his father's throne, and any attempts to interfere with Nauyotl will be met with great prejudice." He pinned her with his dagger-like gaze. "If you come to the capital looking for him, you will forfeit your life."
"I won't. Just promise me that you will send Nauyotl to Cuauhtemoc, where he'll be safe."
Chapter Twenty
Even three weeks later, Cuauhtemoc still hadn't told the Triple Alliance Council about Malinali. He'd expected the pain in his hear
t to subside as the spell wore off and his wits came back to him, but instead it became a dull ache that followed him through his daily routines and intensified whenever Achicatl asked him when Malinali would return.
The guard Tenoch sent a messenger a week out, informing him of what happened after he and Malinali left Tenochtitlan. Cuauhtemoc practically paced a rut in the floor of his private anteroom listening to the account of Acxotecatl and his men ambushing them on the pass. Relief swept over him though when he heard Malinali survived and that Xicotencatl had escorted them to a small town just inside Tlaxcala, where they were waiting for Tenoch to recover from an arrow wound before making the rest of the journey to Paynala. Tenoch promised to send word again before they left.
News of Acxotecatl's death—at the hands of bandits inside of Tlaxcala, according to official word—reached Tenochtitlan a few weeks later, when Xicotencatl came back with Ichtaca and Nauyotl. "The boy's uncles and cousins are already squabbling over Acxotecatl's throne, and Lady Ichtaca was nearly stabbed while defending Nauyotl against a would-be assassin," Xicotencatl told him. "He can't stay in Tlaxcala, so I'm asking you to please take him and his mother in, so he can claim his rightful throne once he comes of age."
Cuauhtemoc agreed, but seeing Nauyotl at breakfast every morning reignited the ache in his heart. Would it never go away? Had Malinali cursed him so deeply that even time couldn't cure him?
That morning, Ixtlil and his wife came to breakfast too, having stayed the previous night, and Ixtlil was in a gregarious mood, cracking jokes and telling Nauyotl stories from when he and Cuauhtemoc were boys, trying to make him smile. The boy never did, instead picking aimlessly at his food.
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