CHAPTER XXIII.
A week had elapsed since the tzin and his party arrived at Tezcot's soopportunely, much of which time had been spent at the cavern informulating plans and instructions for the direction and government ofthe prince's friends, in the operations which would follow Euetzin'sreturn to the valley.
The final consultation had been held, and the instruments of authority,which made the tzin the accredited representative of Hualcoyotl, werein his possession; and Cacami and he, it was decided, would start forthe scene of their future labors the next day, leaving Oza to attendhis master.
The blessings of the gods had been invoked upon the young men and thecause they were engaged in promoting; a final leave had been taken ofthe prince and hermit, and they were now at Tezcot's waiting for theadvent of to-morrow to speed them on their way to Tlacopan, their firstpoint of destination.
It was in the last hour of day--an hour on the mountains which bringswith it a peculiar sense of subduedness--that Euetzin and Mitlastrolled away from the house to find a spot where they could be alonefor a short time to have a final talk before his departure, which hepurposed taking at an early hour the next morning.
After the adventure with the Tepanec soldiers, when the tzininadvertently allowed himself to say more than he should have said, hewas very careful to avoid giving further encouragement to Mitla'sevident regard for him; matters, therefore, had not progressed in thatdirection to any appreciable extent.
"Has it been well with my friend, to-day?" he inquired casually, by wayof saying something as they sauntered along together.
Mitla glanced up at her companion doubtfully with her large, full eyes,looking very sorrowful. Friend is a very cold sounding word whenapplied by a loved one to the one who loves, and thus it sounded toher, coming from Euetzin.
"Yes, it has, thanks to you, my preserver," she answered dispiritedly.She could not forget for a moment, when in his presence, the greatservice he had rendered her. Thoughts of it seemed to dispossess allelse in her mind, and she continually referred to it in theirconversations. Her voice, sad and low, attracted Euetzin's notice, and,looking at her, he caught her eyes as they were raised to his seeminglyalmost ready to weep, and he said concernedly:
"You are not happy; your eyes look too sadly appealing for that. Areyou in trouble?"
"My eyes reflect the sadness which is in my heart." She could say nomore; and the tears were seen to start, which she tried to conceal, butcould not.
"Why, Mitla, you are surely ill! Why do you weep?" the tzin askedsolicitously.
"Can you not guess? Is it not enough to sadden my heart to know thatyou are going away, perhaps never to return?" was her tearful reply.
"Am I, indeed, so much to you that my going should affect you thus?" heasked, not only surprised, but deeply moved by her evident distress.
"You will never know, because you can not realize it, how much you areto her whose honor you preserved inviolate. I will never see you again;it is for this that my heart is filled with sadness and my eyes withtears," she said sorrowfully.
Coming to a little shaded mound they sat down, and the tzin said:
"When I am gone you will soon forget, and only remember me as thefriend of Hualcoyotl." Her answer to this was a reproachful look. Anexpression of pain passed over her countenance, and her eyes suddenlybecame suffused again with tears. Euetzin saw that her feelings weredeeply wounded by his words, and, taking her hand, he hastened to say,repentantly:
"I have hurt you by my careless expression. May I not recall my words,and assure you of my great sorrow for having spoken them? I will comeagain, if only to learn more of the beautiful mountain girl who holdsfor me so much of kindly feeling. Yes, I will come again. You willforgive me now, I'm sure, for having caused you pain." He spokerapidly, and his voice grew almost impassioned in his earnestness.
A happy smile lit up the weeping Mitla's face, for she read in thetzin's fervent manner that he was not wholly indifferent toward her.She said in reply:
"If you have said aught for which forgiveness might be asked, you areforgiven. I am a foolish girl, Euetzin, to weep and laugh almost in thesame moment. But I can not help it: your words give me pain or joy,just as they impress me. I am a child; do not mind me," she repliedmeekly.
The tzin saw that the girl's gratitude, which was very great, hadchanged to love, a love that knows no bounds, and he was greatlytroubled. It was by no means displeasing to him, for he was a man; yet,he felt it to be most inopportune. In the few days he had been atTezcot's Mitla had won his profound respect--possibly more, which hewas not ready to admit--and he was truly sorry that he was compelled togo away so soon. There was something about the beautiful mountain girlwhich pleased and charmed him; and it was with difficulty he restrainedhimself from giving vent to feelings in which he felt he could notafford to indulge; still, notwithstanding his efforts to refrain fromdoing so, he had once or twice, and but now, permitted his feelings toget the better of him. He was not sure, therefore, of hisdisinterestedness: the feelings with which he regarded her, he thought,might be awakening love, or might prove to be only fancy. He would waitand see before committing himself. But what of Mitla's loving heart,should it prove to be the latter? This was the thought which gave himpain, and which would have much to do with moulding the impressionswhich would move him later.
The tzin's promise that he would come again had a cheering effect uponMitla, and she became quite animated.
After a half hour of more cheerful conversation they went back to thehouse, one of them, at least, feeling much brighter for their talk.
* * * * *
The sun had just dropped behind the western horizon; that consciousimpress of loneliness which affects the mind in the twilight ofevening, especially in the open country, was beginning to pervade notonly the animate, but the inanimate. The animals showed by theiractions that they felt it; so, also, did the fowls and birds, byseeking their accustomed roosts. The unwonted stillness of the leaves,the drooping of the flowers, the gentle purling of the running brook,and the placid surface of the lake's waters, all gave evidence of thenear approach of Nature's resting time.
Two men, hunters, from their appearance, were trudging along thehighway, going in the direction of Tlacopan, which lay just ahead ofthem. The tired motion of their limbs--of one of them, atleast--accorded well with the silent voice around them, and told, inlanguage mute but distinct, how welcome to them would be the rest whichcomes with the night.
In those travel-worn pedestrians we would have recognized the youngTezcucans, Euetzin and Cacami, who were nearing the end of their returnjourney from the mountains, which, owing to the fact that the tzin wasa slow traveler, had taken nearly two full days to accomplish. Theirdestination, as has been intimated, was Tlacopan, which they weremaking strenuous efforts to reach before dark.
"You are much the better traveler, Cacami," the tzin was saying. "Whilemy steps are flagging, yours are light and firm."
"You have not been trained, like myself, to physical toil; to work theground for bread, and climb the hills in quest of meat. Yours has beena life of seclusion, and, I might add, luxury--a life which little fitsone for enduring long journeys," replied Cacami.
"That is true," returned the tzin. "However, our journey will soon beended, and, with a good night's rest in Tlacopan, the morning will findus fresh as ever."
The city of Tlacopan, with its grand _teocallis_, magnificent palace,and ample _tianguez_--of the latter more will be said later--and otherobjects of interest, has long since disappeared from the earth, and inits stead now stands Tacuba, an unimportant Mexican village. The cityof Tlacopan, in the "Golden Era" of Anahuac, was the capital of a smalltribe of people who were kindred to the Tepanecs, but not in accordwith them. Maec-[=u]-[=a], the ruling prince, stood high among thenations, and was thought worthy to be associated with the greatest. Thecity was situated about two leagues southwest of Tenochtitlan, off fromthe lake, high and dry, and was constructed
, chiefly, of stone, whichwas convenient and abundant.
At the time of the conquest its people had become a part of the greatempire of the Aztec monarch, Montezuma, and subsequently becameabsorbed in the race revolution which wiped away all distinctionbetween the native tribes, resulting in the present mixed anddegenerate race condition of to-day in Mexico.
* * * * *
The reckless disregard of the rights of others by the emissaries ofMaxtla, and the new king's evident purpose to extend his empire byconquest and subjugation, as his father before him had done, so alarmedsome of the lesser ruling caciques that a coalition, for self-defenseand a better security, was being seriously considered by them, and asecret council had been determined on.
The times were propitious for the cause of Tezcuco.
The tzin's object in visiting Tlacopan at this time was to haveaudience with Macua, and, if possible, effect an alliance with him. Hewas not yet aware of the uneasy feeling which had been aroused byMaxtla's conduct, for the disquieted chiefs were very close-mouthed insuch matters; yet he believed the king of Tlacopan would not beunfavorable to an alliance, if he could be convinced of the advantagewhich would accrue from such a step.
Thus circumstanced, the tzin's visit to Tlacopan just now could only beconsidered a venture in the line of his mission.
The day following their arrival in the city found Euetzin and hiscompanion early at Macua's palace, seeking admission to his presence.In due time they were gratified by being conducted to his audiencechamber.
The presence of the pseudo hunters in the hall, showing so great adissimilarity in their manners and dress, caused quite a flurry ofspeculation and comment. Hunters, as a rule, were not a cultivatedclass; and the marked exception to the common, in the case of ourfriends, was so plainly shown that the attention of those present wasattracted to them.
Macua, king of Tlacopan, was a young man of pleasing address, who washighly regarded by his subjects. He was easily approached, and, thoughfirm in his purposes, was kindly disposed. He received the strangersvery cordially, and, when informed that they desired an audience withhim, said:
"We will hear what you have to say, but ask that you will be brief, forour time is much occupied."
"The king of Tlacopan is very gracious," spoke the tzin, with anobeisance. "What we have to say must be communicated in the presence ofMacua, the king, and his chief counselor, alone. Will it please yourmajesty to hear us?"
"Your communication must be of very great importance, indeed, torequire a proceeding so unusual as a private audience," replied Macua,a little severely.
"It is a matter of not only great but grave importance, of which wedesire to speak, and it should be communicated privately to the king,"returned Euetzin with dignity.
"Such being the case, if you will wait the departure of our subjectsyou shall have private audience," the king answered, urbanely.
"Macua, the king, is most generous. We will wait," said the tzin,saluting him and turning away to be conducted to a seat.
When the king's business with his vassals was disposed of he dismissedhis advisors, excepting his chief counselor, a man of advanced years,and, addressing the tzin, said:
"We are ready to hear what you have to say; proceed."
"Before your majesty are two Tezcucans--Cacami and Euetzin. Macua, theking, has no doubt heard of Hualcoyotl, our prince, whose life Maxtla,the Tepanec monarch, seeks to destroy," said the tzin, pausing for areply.
"Yes; we have heard of the young prince, who is now a fugitive," theking answered, looking wonderingly at Euetzin, and in turn waited forhim to proceed.
"We are friends of Hualcoyotl and Tezcuco. We desire that theemissaries of Maxtla be driven from our city and country, and thatHualcoyotl be put upon the throne of his fathers. To accomplish this,Tezcuco must have help from other states. We appear before you, O King,as the representatives of Hualcoyotl, seeking friendship andcoalition." Spoken with due deference and self-respect.
"What assurance can you give that you are friends and representativesof Hualcoyotl?" questioned the king.
"Relying on the honor of your majesty, we offer as evidence of ourtruthfulness this writing. Will you examine it?" replied the tzin,handing to the king a paper which was covered with hieroglyphics. Macuareceived and scrutinized it carefully, then passed it to his chief, whoalso examined it. After a short consultation between king and counselorthe former said:
"We are satisfied that you are Tezcucans, and that you come fromHualcoyotl, or some other person who has been highly honored by ourknightly order. Can you inform us as to the number of soldiers Tezcucocan furnish in the event of a coalition?"
"There is an army of men in the valley, composed principally ofTezcucans, who are waiting to be led against the Tepanec king,numbering twice that of Tlacopan," replied Euetzin, confidently.
"How know you that?" asked Macua, with a shade of resentment in hisvoice.
"When Tlacopan has shown her willingness to join Tezcuco in a war withMaxtla of Azcapozalco, the proofs of what we declare shall be placed inMacua's hands," rejoined the tzin, decisively.
"The friend of Hualcoyotl is shrewd. It is well. The matter shall haveconsideration. When the fifth sun is on its upward course, if you willcome again, you shall have our answer," said the king.
"How may we be assured that Macua will be faithful to the confidencewhich we have reposed in him?" asked the tzin, with the object ofsecuring some pledge from the young king.
"By the kingly honor of Macua, and this," he answered haughtily,handing the tzin a ring on which was the king's sign of distinction,the possession of which made the holder an accepted embassador, andgave him a pledge which the tzin well knew would be respected.
The position and person of an embassador was sacredly regarded amongthe nations of Anahuac. "They were lodged and entertained in the greattowns," says the historian, "at the public charge, and were everywherereceived with courtesy, so long as they kept within certain prescribedbounds." The king's signet was, therefore, a passport to the tzin inany part of Macua's kingdom, securing him the hospitality of thepeople, and free entertainment; it was not his purpose, however, totake advantage of it. The signet was to him only a pledge of Macua'sfaith.
On receiving the ring Euetzin said:
"The king's pledge is more than satisfactory to the friends ofHualcoyotl. When the fifth sun is on its upward course we will come forMacua's answer, and bring with us proofs of what Tezcuco can do." Thisended the interview, and, saluting his majesty very profoundly, theyoung men withdrew.
The tzin was well pleased with the result of his audience with Macua,and was much encouraged by it. He felt certain that he was about tosecure an important ally for Hualcoyotl in the king of Tlacopan, andwent about his business with the added stimulus of a strongerconfidence.
Euetzin had much to engage his attention in the time which wouldintervene before the advent of the day fixed for the second meetingwith Macua. He decided first of all to visit a few of the chief citiesfor the purpose of securing data from which to proceed in carrying outthe prince's instructions; and also to enable him to present anapproximate estimate of Tezcuco's undiscovered but existent oath-boundhosts to the king of Tlacopan, in support of his declaration. Also tooffer a word of explanation and encouragement to his coadjutors.
After calling on the leading Tezcucans in Macua's capital, he andCacami crossed over to Tenochtitlan.
A Prince of Anahuac: A Histori-traditional Story Antedating the Aztec Empire Page 25
