I'd thought so. 'Acamapichtli wants a conviction?'
Ceyaxochitl shook her head. 'He wants revenge, Acatl.'
I mulled on this for a while. 'He supported Eleuia's nomination as Consort, I presume.'
It was a useless fight: every priest cherished the hope of serving at the Imperial Palace. I'd seen that, all too well, back in calmecac school; it had been one of the reasons why I'd turned my back on the most prestigious priesthoods, those of Huitzilpochtli or the Storm Lord, and chosen to make a living as a priest for the Dead, beholden to no one but grieving families.
Ceyaxochitl was watching Neutemoc. 'High Priest Acamapichtli had an interest in her. He doesn't like losing pawns.'
For some reason, Teomitl's face came back to me, shining with admiration for Eleuia. 'I hope his interest was only political,' I said, darkly. 'She looked as if she was drawing attention, and not because of her talents.'
'For some of them, at any rate,' Yaotl said, with an amused smile. 'You forget that she served the Goddess of Lust.'
My fingers clenched of their own accord. 'I don't find this funny.'
'A shame,' Yaotl said.
Ceyaxochitl banged her cane on the platform. I winced. Below the platform, a few passers-by had gathered to watch us: Eagle Knights in their feather uniforms, artisans carrying birds' cages and bars of silver, housewives with their ceramic wares on their back. 'Enough, both of you,' she said. 'Acatl, I apologise for the discomfort, but I had no choice. And neither have you.'
'It doesn't mean I'll bow down meekly,' I snapped.
Her gaze was wryly amused. 'I didn't expect you would. Have you made progress?'
She meant well, but I still didn't feel I could share information with her. 'Yes.'
Her lips tightened. 'I see. We'll leave you to it, then.'
'Stay out of it,' I said, as calmly as I could. 'No more interference.'
'I can't promise that. I'm not the mistress of High Priest Acamapichtli,' Ceyaxochitl said, clambering down from the platform. 'You're intelligent enough to realise I cannot.'
Yes. I didn't like it, but it was a given that once the High Priest of Tlaloc had started interfering, he wouldn't stop. If I wanted Neutemoc to have a fair trial, I needed to act quickly. I approached his cage, and knelt to peer through the bars.
'No improvement planned on my situation, I take it,' Neutemoc said.
I sighed. 'No. Not in the immediate future. How are you feeling?' 'You have some nerve,' Neutemoc said. 'You're the one outside, asking the questions.'
'Yes,' I said. 'And I'm not the one who had a long-lasting affair with a priestess, not to mention a child.'
'We didn't–' Neutemoc started, then fell silent.
'Neutemoc?' I asked.
His eyes gazed beyond me, towards the throng in front of the palace. After a moment's hesitation, I turned, and saw a tall woman making her way straight towards us, carrying a baby in a shawl tied around her chest.
Huei, and Neutemoc's youngest child, Ollin, born this last dry season. This was obviously not the moment to broach the subject of illegitimate children.
Huei walked towards the platform as if fighting her way through a press of warriors. She wore a long, flowing tunic with an elaborate pattern of glyphs, and a skirt the colour of jade.
Her hair was brushed in the fashion of married women, in two braids, with the two ends of the braids raised to form two tufts on either side of her forehead, like small horns. Her face was grim, every step deliberate. Neutemoc was clearly going to have an unpleasant moment.
'I think I'll leave,' I said.
Neutemoc's gaze didn't move, but his lips tightened. I couldn't tell if he was ashamed, or simply embarrassed. 'Please, Acatl.'
'It's private,' I said. But Huei was already close enough to hear us.
'No,' she said. 'It's not private. Not once you're arrested and exposed like a common criminal.'
Uh-oh. She was really furious, though I couldn't blame her.
'Huei,' Neutemoc said.
Her gaze swept him, up and down. 'What in the Fifth World did you think you were doing?'
'I know it's not a favourable situation–'
'It's not 'unfavourable',' Huei said. 'It's a disaster, Neutemoc. Tell me what I should tell the children, when they ask me about their father.'
'There's been a misunderstanding–'
'No,' Huei said. 'You were foolish enough to get caught bloodyhanded in a priestess's room. I don't think I want to know why.'
'Huei,' I said. 'I don't think this is the time.'
'Then when?' she asked. 'After they've strangled him, or crushed his head?'
She clearly knew what was going on. Those penalties she had mentioned were those for killing a woman, and for adultery.
'Priestess Eleuia isn't dead,' I lied. 'We'll find her, and she'll explain.'
