you think to arrest me? There's no proof. Nenetl was burnt four years ago.”
“I'm no magistrate,” I said.
“But still you judge. She was a slut, whose only dream was to become mistress of the house. As if a mere slave could rise high enough for that. I'm the only one in Yaolt's heart.” There was hunger, too, in her eyes, but a different kind from Nenetl.
“But you used her,” I said. “You'll pay the price.”
“After death?” she said. “I don't care.”
“No,” I said. “You're paying it now. Do you love Yaotl, knowing what he did to conceive Chimalli?”
“I talked him into this. We have a child, and he's alive,” she said. “Yaotl loves me.”
“Do you truly think that he does, knowing what you did?” And, seeing her recoil, I knew I had been right. There was darkness between her and Yaotl now. He feared her for what she had imagined, for what she had accomplished. Only Chimalli kept them together.
“We're happy,” she said, and her eyes told me she knew it was a lie.
I smiled. “Then enjoy your happiness,” I said, and exited the room.
It was dark when I came out of the house and started back towards my temple: clouds had covered the stars and the moon had set. But that darkness held no fears for me, for it would be dispelled in the morning.
I walked away by myself, and left Yaotl's house behind, and the darkness that coiled at its heart, hopefully never to return.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
A
Acamapichtli (Handful of Reeds): High Priest of Tlaloc.
Acatl (Reed): narrator, High Priest of Mictlantecuhtli.
Ahuizotl: see Teomitl.
Axayacatl-tzin: former Revered Speaker of Tenochtitlan (deceased).
C
Ceyaxochitl: former Guardian of the Sacred Precinct (deceased).
Chalchiutlicue (Jade Skirt): Goddess of Lakes and Streams. Tlaloc's wife, and Teomitl's patron.
Chalchiunenetl (Jade Doll): Moquihuix-tzin's Tenochca wife.
Chipahua: a warrior.
Coatl (Serpent): deputy for the Master of Raining Blood, member of the war council.
Cozolli: priestess of Chalchiutlicue, and Consort of Tlaloc.
Cuixtli (Quail): a war prisoner from Mextitlan.
E
Eptli: a warrior.
Ezamahual: novice priest in Acatl's temple.
H
Huitzilpochtli (the Southern Hummingbird): the Mexica patron god and youthful God of War.
I
Ichtaca: Acatl's second-in-command.
Itamatl: deputy for Master of the Bowl of Fatigue, member of the war council.
M
Matlaelel: offering priest in Acatl's temple.
Mazatl: Neutemoc's daughter.
Mictecacihuatl (Lady Death): Goddess of Death, wife of Mictlantecuhtli.
Mictlantecuhtli (Lord Death): God of Death, Acatl's patron. Husband of Mictecacihuatl.
Mihmatini: Acatl's sister. Guardian of the Sacred Precinct.
Moquihuix-tzin: Revered Speaker of Tlatelolco (deceased).
N
Necalli: Neutemoc's son.
Neutemoc: Jaguar Knight, Acatl's elder brother.
Nezahual-tzin (the Fasting Prince): Revered Speaker of Texcoco. Agent of Quetzalcoatl in the Fifth World. Full name Nezahualpilli-tzin.
P
Palli: offering priest in Acatl's temple.
Patecatl: God of Medicine.
Pochtic: Master of the House of Darkness, member of the war council.
Q
Quenami: High Priest of Huitzilpochtli.
Quetzalcoatl (the Feathered Serpent): God of Wisdom and Knowledge.
S
She-Snake: Viceroy of Tenochtitlan.
T
Tapalcayotl: Acamapichtli's second in command.
Teomitl (Ahuizotl): Acatl's student, Tizoc-tzin's brother. Master of the House of Darts, member of the war-council. Married to Mihmatini.
Tezcatlipoca (Smoking Mirror): God of War and Fate, and of sorcerers.
Tizoc-tzin: Revered Speaker of the Mexica.
Tlaloc (the Storm Lord): God of Rain and Lightning, husband of Chalchiutlicue.
Toci (Grandmother Earth): Goddess of Harvest and Old Age.
