'We both know where Quenami stands.' Manatzpa sounded amused. 'Especially after tonight. You, Acatl- tzin, obviously have no ambition. ' He lifted a hand to forestall any objection I might have. 'Understand me, I say this as a compliment. To keep the balance is knowing your place in the order of things. I respect this.'
That we could agree on, if nothing else. 'And Acamapichtli?'
'Tlaloc's High Priest is also ambitious. The Storm Lord made a grab for power last year, after all. Though Acamapichtli's participation has not been proved, I wouldn't swear that he has the best interests of the Fifth World at stake.'
Me neither. Last year, he had also been quite busy trying to convict my brother Neutemoc on false evidence. I'd have to speak with him, if I could keep my calm long enough to do that. Better purge the abscess before it could fester.
'So you stand for no one?' I asked. 'To have no candidate–'
'Is to wish for the star-demons to walk among us, I know. But consider, Acatl-tzin. The Revered Speaker is the embodiment of Huitzilpochtli, the vessel through which the Southern Hummingbird's divine powers can spread into the Fifth World. A flawed vessel just means a flawed protection. Is that what you wish for?'
'No,' I said. It was one of the reasons I couldn't wholly support Tizoc-tzin, even though I knew he had been Axayacatl-tzin's choice of heir. 'But still, every day that we temporise looking for perfection…'
Manatzpa inclined his head. 'Make no mistake. If I can't have what I wish for, I'll settle for a flawed vessel rather than none at all. But I'd rather try to sway the council towards a more suitable choice of candidate.'
'Who?' I asked. I couldn't see any other suitable candidate, anyone who'd have the stature of a Revered Speaker.
Manatzpa looked away. 'Forgive me. To name him would be pointless, since he has so little support.'
I frowned. 'I don't want mysterious factions within the council, Manatzpa-tzin. I need to know…'
'You need to know who killed Ocome,' Manatzpa said. 'I can give you my word that my candidate isn't involved in this. He couldn't have been, since he doesn't even know of my support for him.'
'Your word?'
'As I said, I despise deception. I'll swear it by my face, by my heart. May I lose both if I have been deceitful.'
I watched him, trying to gauge his sincerity. His eyes shone in his moon-shaped face, burning with a fire I wasn't sure how to interpret. 'Fine,' I said, not sure if I could believe him. 'But if it comes to a point when I need his name…'
'Come back and speak with me,' Manatzpa said. 'I'll help you. My word.'
'I see,' I said. 'What else can you tell me about the council?'
He appeared relieved by my change of subject, and launched into a tirade on the various members, dissecting them in small, neat sketches. He was obviously a keen observer of men, and he had had enough time to read the currents of the council.
There wasn't much to be learnt. The council was nearly evenly split between the She-Snake and Tizoc-tzin, with a few supporting Xahuia. It was a bleak picture, promising endless days of debates before a clear vote could even be reached, days during which the star-demons would grow closer and closer to us, not to mention opportunities for the summoner to call more demons to roam the palace.
'You have no influence…' I started.
Manatzpa spread his long, elegant hands on the reed mat, palms up in a gesture of powerlessness. 'I'm just a man, Acatl-tzin. I speak for the council in matters of law, which makes my word respected. But, at times like this, it's not enough to make them remember anything but their own good.'
Great. I prayed that the Duality was indeed watching over us, because the days ahead promised to be fraught and messy at best.
'And about Ocome?' I asked.
'I've told you what I knew about Ocome. Truth is,' he smiled at that, 'most people would have leapt at the chance to get rid of him. A vote is a vote, but one you can't trust…'
'Did anyone have a quarrel with him?' I asked. 'I mean, more than usual?'
Manatzpa thought for a while. 'I know the She-Snake had words with him. But then again, he had words with everyone.'
Clearly, Manatzpa liked the She-Snake. I could understand his argument why he didn't want the She-Snake to claim the Turquoise-and-Gold Crown, but all the same, it must have pained him, because here he was, still trying to defend the man in spite of everything else.
I didn't trust the She-Snake, who was far too smooth and too ruthless. And I was definitely going to make sure I caught him and asked him about this quarrel with Ocome.
'I see,' I said. I talked more with him, but got nothing else that was useful. 'Thank you. Can you see if the other councilmen will speak with me now?'
Several hours later, I had not learnt much more. Most of the council members were of the same mould as Manatzpa, men of imperial blood bypassed by the succession and either proud of or resigned to their subservient roles.
Of the frightened ones, the only thing I was able to find out was that there had indeed been threats. The same envoys, perhaps, though they wouldn't admit to anything. Except for Manatzpa and the old magician, they seemed in fear for their lives. Hardly surprising, when one has enjoyed all their lives the riches and privileges of power without responsibility, to suddenly face that much danger must have been sobering.
The old magician was much calmer, and even his protective spells were nowhere as powerful I'd originally thought, mainly for protection against human attacks, nothing that would stand against a star-demon or other creature.
'I grow weary of the strife,' he said to me, bending to lift his bowl of chocolate.
