Servant of the Underworld
Page 38
I could imagine what words Mihmatini would have for us. "Tell her you've almost died. That helps."
"It never does," Neutemoc said, with a quick, amused smile. He walked a few steps away from me. "You're not coming?"
I blinked, genuinely surprised. "No," I said. "My place is in my temple."
Neutemoc said nothing. His face had gone as brittle as clay. "Come to my house when you want, Acatl. I…" He struggled with the words. "It will be less lonely with you around."
My heart contracted to an impossible knot of pain; and the only words I could find seemed to come from a distant place. "Yes," I said. "When my affairs are in order. Thank you."
I watched Neutemoc walk away in silence. Next to the last of the boats, Teomitl was talking with Ceyaxochitl, punctuating his narrative with stabbing gestures. Giving a detailed account of what we'd done, I guessed.
They were both walking towards the palace. The palace, where Tizoc-tzin and Axayacatl-tzin would be waiting for their wayward brother: a brother who would one day, the Duality be willing, take his place as Revered Speaker for the Mexica Empire.
My work was done.
I turned away from them, leaving them to their conversation, and followed the warriors with the corpses, back into the safety of my temple.
• • •
As I'd foreseen, many things needed to be organised. Under my direction, the dead priests and Ixtli were laid in empty rooms, where the survivors could start the preparations for the vigils. The wounded were laid out in the infirmary, along with Ichtaca, though he seemed to suffer from nothing more than extreme exhaustion.
Once, I would have conducted the vigils. But instead, I made sure that everything was ready; then I retreated to the top of the pyramid shrine, where I browsed through the records of the temple, reading all I could about the dead novice priests.
Cualli of the Atempan calpulli, son of Coyotl and Necahual, born on the day Three Eagle of the year Five Rabbit… Ihuicatl of the Coatlan calpulli, son of Tezcacoatl and Malinalxochitl, born on the day Thirteen Crocodile of the year Six Reed… They had died for the continuation of the Fifth World; for what they'd always been pledged to. They were with the Sun.
But it wasn't enough. It would never be enough. I bore the responsibility for their deaths, and I would make sure that they had not died in vain. I would make sure Ixtli had not died in vain.
"I thought I'd find you here," a voice said.
Startled, I looked up, expecting Ichtaca. But it was Teomitl: still wearing his mud-stained clothes, still pale and exhausted.
"I thought you'd be at the palace," I said.
Teomitl shrugged. "Perhaps later. They'll be busy, in any case."
"They'll need you."
His eyebrows rose. "How about you?"
I made a short, stabbing gesture. "Me? I don't think so."
"You saved the Fifth World," Teomitl said.
"And I should expect some recognition?" I asked, more scathingly than I'd intended. "I don't think I'd accept it."
Teomitl laughed. "You haven't changed so much, have you? Still loathing politics."
I'd have to enter that arena, sooner or later. I'd have to second Ichtaca in the running of the temple, to take my true place as High Priest. But there were limits. "Why are you here?" I asked.
Teomitl said nothing. He walked towards the altar under the impassive gaze of Lord Death. "I have proved myself."
"You should be glad," I said.
He spread his hands, an unreadable expression on his face. "Perhaps. But it shouldn't end here. If I want to take my place."
His gestures were quiet, measured: the mark of an adult.
"Go," I said, gently. "Claim your place."
Teomitl shook his head. "Not without you."
"My place is here."
"I know," Teomitl snapped; and for a moment I saw again the impatient youth who had first come to me in my temple. "But I still need you."
"What for?"
He laughed, bitterly. "Do you think me wise, Acatltzin? Do you think me mature enough to handle the Jade Skirt's gift of Her magic?"
Startled, I said, "There will be plenty of priests willing to–"
"Flatter me for their own gain!" Teomitl snapped. "I came for you."
Unable to see where I stood, I flung his words back at him. "Do you think me wise? There's little I can teach you."
"You know about magic."
"A little," I admitted, cautiously.
"Enough for me, then."
I could probably teach him to control Chalchiutlicue's magic – and to have enough patience – but… "Is this what you want?"
"Don't be a fool," Teomitl said. "Do you think I came this way for nothing?"
In many ways, I realised, he hadn't changed: still impatient, abrasive, arrogant. But still quick to lend his heart, and to expect trust in return.
Since Payaxin, I had not taken on an apprentice, even less one of Imperial Blood. "I…" I started, and realised I had been running away from this possibility for so long I couldn't even envision it. "You'll have to show me some respect," I said, finally.
Teomitl's smile was like a sun rising. "I'll work on it. Besides, I have to get your consent for courting your sister, haven't I?"
I made a mock-frown, hiding the mixture of unease and pleasure his request gave me. "We'll see about that, young man. When this night is over."
I stood on the platform of the shrine, and watched the light finally fade behind the rain-clouds.
Below me, Teomitl was descending the stairs. "Come on, Acatl-tzin," he called. "The vigils have already started."
From behind him came the mournful sounds of the death-hymns, and the reedy music of conch-shells, signalling the first Hour of the night: that of Xiuhtecuhtli, the Fire-God.
I sighed and gathered my grey cloak around me, before following Teomitl down the stairs in the growing darkness.
Above us, the clouds had broken a little, leaving just enough space for the light of one star to fall upon my temple. It was the most beautiful sight I had seen in a long time.
"Come on, Acatl-tzin!"
I was a priest of Mictlantecuhtli. I would neither have children, nor know the glory of warriors.
But this – the vigils and the conch-shells, and the setting sun that would rise again, and Teomitl, waiting for me on the steps with unbounded impatience–
This was my place, and my legacy.
Cast of Characters
Acamapichtli: High Priest of Tlaloc.
Acatl: Narrator, High Priest of Mictlantecuhtli.
Axayacatl-tzin: The current Revered Speaker, Emperor of the Mexica.
Ceyaxochitl: Guardian of the Sacred Precinct, and agent of the Duality in the Mexica Empire.
Chalchiutlicue (The Jade Skirt): Goddess of Lakes and Streams; Tlaloc's wife.
Cozamalotl: Student at the calmecac. Cocochi: Mahuizoh's mother.
Duality: The supreme deity, residing in the Highest Heaven, also known as Ometeotl.
Eleuia: The abducted priestess. Eliztac: Priest of Chalchiutlicue.
Ezamahual: Novice priest in Acatl's temple.
Huacqui: Disgraced Jaguar Knight. Huei: Neutemoc's wife.
Huitzilpochtli (The Southern Hummingbird): God of War and of the Sun, protector of the Mexica Empire.
Ichtaca: Fire Priest of Mictlantecuhtli's main temple, Acatl's second-in-command.
Icnoyotl: Poet. Ixtli: Warrior of the Duality.
Mahuizoh (of the Coatlan calpulli): Jaguar Knight. Mazatl: Toddler, Neutemoc's daughter; also the name of a child in the Floating Gardens.
Mihmatini: Acatl's and Neutemoc's younger sister. Mictlantecuhtli (Lord Death): God of the underworld, Acatl's patron.
Mictecacihuatl (Lady Death): Mictlantecuhtli's wife. Mixcoatl (The Cloud Serpent): God of the Hunt, Father of Quetzalcoatl.
Neutemoc: Acatl's older brother, of the Atempan calpulli; Jaguar Knight.
Nezahual: Priest of Tlaloc; Acamapichtli's envoy.
Ocelocueitl: High Pr
iest of Huitzilpochtli. Ollin: Neutemoc's infant son.
Oyohuaca: Slave girl in Neutemoc's house.
Palli: Offering priest at Acatl's temple, in charge of the storehouse.
Papan: Student at Zollin's calmecac. Patecatl: God of Medicine.
Pinahui-tzin: Magistrate at the Imperial Palace. Popoxatl: A child in the Floating Gardens.
Quechomitl: One of Neutemoc's slaves, usually on guard duty.
Quetzalcoatl (The Feathered Serpent): God of Creation and Knowledge, son of Mixcoatl, traditionally opposed to Tezcatlipoca.
Quiyahuayo: Jaguar Commander.
Tezcatlipoca (The Smoking Mirror): God of War and Fate and of sorcerers.
Teomitl (Arrow of the Gods): A young warrior at the boys' calmecac.
Tizoc-tzin: Master of the House of Darts, heir-apparent to the Mexica Empire.
Tlaloc (The Storm Lord): God of Rain and Abundance. Tonatiuh (The Fifth Sun): Incarnation of Huitzilpochtli as the Sun-God.
Xochiquetzal (The Quetzal Flower): Goddess of Beauty and Love.
Xochipilli (The Flower Prince): Xochiquetzal's consort, God of Youth and Games.
Xoco: Mahuizoh's wife (deceased).
Yaotl: Ceyaxochil's personal messenger. Yolyama: Guard in the Jaguar House.
Zollin: Priestess in charge of the girls' calmecac.
A BRIEF GLOSSARY OF
Aztec Terms and Concepts
Ahuizotl: Beast living in Lake Texcoco, feasting on the eyes and fingernails of the dead.
Calmecac: (lit. House of Tears) School where the children of the wealthy and those destined to the priesthood were educated.
Calpulli: Clan. In reality, a clan had both a geographical extent (the calpullis owned their land, and Tenochtitlan was split along the lines of calpulli lands), and a political and religious one (the elders of the calpulli were responsible for basic justice as well as for worship).
Chinamitl: (also chinampa, Floating Garden) An artificial island used to grow crops.
House of Youth: The counterpart to the calmecac. Trained warriors not of the nobility.
Knights: Elite corps of warriors, reserved for those with strong prowess in battle. Includes the Jaguar Knights, the Eagle Knights and the Arrow Knights.
Macuahitl (sword): A wooden club with embedded obsidian shards; the traditional Aztec weapon.
Nahual: Protector spirit, usually in the shape of a jaguar.
Patolli: Aztec board game, played with beans as dice.
Peyotl: Drug obtained from dried cacti (better known today as the basis for mescalin).
Priests: The priestly hierarchy had various ranks, the lowest ones being those of priestly aspirants, and of calmecac students. Then came the novice priests, who served a particular god in a particular temple. With time, they could be promoted to offering priests. Those cults which offered human sacrifices had a higher rank: the fire-priests, responsible for choosing the victims and for lighting a fire in their chests. Finally came the High Priests.
Tzin: Aztec honorific, equivalent to "Lord". I have taken the liberty of using it as a mark of reverence (much in the way of the Japanese "sama"), and not as an actual title.
About the Author
French by birth, Aliette de Bodard chose to write in English – her second language – after a two-year stint in London. Though she has trained as a engineer (graduating from Ecole Polytechnique, one of France's most prestigious colleges), she has always been fascinated by history and mythology, especially those of non-Western cultures. Her love of mysteries gave her the idea to write a cross-genre novel which would feature Aztecs, blood magic and fiendish murders.
She is a Campbell Award finalist and a Writers of the Future winner. Her short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in venues such as Interzone, Realms of Fantasy, and Fantasy magazine, and has been reprinted in The Year's Best Science Fiction. She recently finished her second novel, the sequel to this one, entitled Harbinger of the Storm.
She lives in Paris, where she has a job as a computer engineer.
www.aliettedebodard.com
Extras...
Author's Notes
The Historical Setting
The bulk of this story is set in Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec/Mexica Empire, in the year 1480. Of course, the events in this novel aren't historical – but I have tried to keep the setting as historical as possible.
This has two drawbacks: the first is the scarcity of sources about life in the Aztec Empire. The second is that most of those sources were written after 1519: after the Spanish invasion, and forty years after the events of this book. Quite aside from questions of reliability, there is also the problem that the Aztec way of life had no doubt changed between 1480 and 1519. Also, inevitably, I will have mangled some of my sources; any glaring historical errors come from me, and not from the sources I consulted.
I did twist history in several respects. The post of Guardian, and its attendant worship of the Duality, is an invention of mine. The Aztecs did have a concept of the Duality as supreme gods, but they seemed to have been content to have that remain an abstraction, and worship mostly the expressions of the Duality (such as the Lord and Lady of the underworld). Similarly, I gave the clergy of Mictlantecuhtli the responsibility of funerals, whereas we have no evidence of a widely organised religious body in charge of that aspect of life (it's likely the clans would have taken care of their own). I also twisted their worship slightly by not having them offer human sacrifices; in reality, like most cults, they would have relied heavily on those.
Similarly, most of the characters in this book are fictitious, the exception being those of Imperial Blood. Axayacatl and Tizoc were both Revered Speakers of the Mexica Empire.
As for Teomitl… The successor of Tizoc was his brother, a young man named Ahuizotl. Not much is known of him, other than that Ahuizotl was not his real name, and he took it on ascending the throne – but no reason is given why. Ahuizotl is known for two things: his military conquests, which brought the Mexica Empire to its greatest extent yet; and his massive refurbishment of the Great Temple in Tenochtitlan. He died in a freak flood in the year 1502, said to be the anger of Tlaloc and Chalchiutlicue.
The "Obsidian Snake" to whom the Goddess Chalchiutlicue refers in chapter twenty is the literal translation of Ixcoatl, a previous Mexica Emperor who was the grandfather of Axayacatl, Tizoc and Ahuizotl.
As to the conflict between Tlaloc and Huitzilpochtli: an interpretation commonly put forward is that the Rain-God Tlaloc was the god of peasants and farmers, and that his was a very old worship. There is evidence that a rain-god with similar features to Tlaloc was worshipped in the time of Teotihuacan, about one thousand years before the beginning of the Aztec Empire.
Huitzilpochtli is a newer god, most probably the tribal god of the Aztecs – but the Aztecs elevated him to the highest rank in their divine hierarchy, twinning him with the Sun-God Tonatiuh and promoting his worship on a massive scale. Obviously, there was some room for divine discontent.
Further Reading
Manuel Aguilar-Moreno, Handbook to Life in the Aztec World, Oxford University Press, 2006
Warwick Bray, Everyday Life of the Aztecs, Batsford, 1968
Roy Burrell, Life in the Time of Moctezuma and the Aztecs, Cherrytree Books, 1992
Inga Clendinnen, Aztecs: an Interpretation (Canto), Cambridge University Press, 1991
Aurélie Couvreur, La Description du Grand Temple de Mexico par Bernardino de Sahagún (Codex de Florence, annexe du livre II), Journal de la Société des Américanistes, 2002
Nigel Davies, The Aztecs: a History, University of Oklahoma Press, 1973
William Gates, An Aztec Herbal: the Classic Codex of 1552, Dover, 2000
David M. Jones & Brian L. Molyneaux, Mythologies des Amériques, EDDL, 2002
Roberta E. Markman & Peter T. Markman, The Flayed God: the Mythology of Mesoamerica, Harper SanFrancisco, 1992