The Highlander

by Zoe Saadia

  “Did you get to talk to him?”

  “Oh, yes, quite a lot. He is a talkative one, actually.”

  “What does he want with you?”

  “Oh, funnily enough, he seems to want to train me, to get me into his personal unit of warriors.” He shrugged. “Not that I’ll do it, but so far he keeps me safe from your people, so I’m not arguing.”

  “What did my people want to do with you?”

  “Oh, they were toying with the idea of stoning me. I was told that this is what probably would happen, after the judge was through with me.”

  Coyotl eyed the amusement spilling out of his friend’s eyes with disbelief. “Listen, if you won’t stop making fun of it, I’ll leave. You don’t make any sense, and you seem unable to comprehend the seriousness of your situation. It’s not funny. You could be killed twenty times and more. And you are still in a grave danger, whatever that Aztec wants with you.”

  The pointy eyebrows lifted. “Believe me, I know. I have all these wounds and the broken arm to prove the seriousness of my situation. But whether it makes sense or not, I’m telling you the truth. I was led to the court upon the Plaza when that Aztec interfered. In this typical, arrogant way of his, I must say. But he did interfere and here I am, not stoned and even treated by a healer.”

  Coyotl squatted upon the same mat. “Why did they take you to the court? Why would they want to stone you? It’s a punishment reserved for very special crimes against the Palace and the royal family.” He frowned. “A foreigner like you would be just strangled or handed over to the priests.”

  “Oh, that,” The amusement was back in place. “I’m no foreigner, just to let you know. They all kept assuming I’m a Tepanec. The Tepanec boy from that district called Tepanecapan here in Texcoco. At one point I became convinced of that myself. It felt safer.”

  Coyotl grinned, almost against his will. “I told you you looked like a Tepanec.” He frowned. “It still does not explain the judge and the stoning.”

  “Oh, this part made the least sense of all. They said I kidnapped a princess. Imagine that!” Kuini’s eyebrows jumped up again. “I talked to that girl on the Plaza. A nice girl, by the way. Very good looking. And the next thing I knew those warriors were upon us, dragging her away, beating me up, and when I came back to my senses, I was accused of kidnapping the princess.” His grin wavered. “What? Why are you staring at me like that?”

  “So it was you!” Coyotl tried to remember. At one point he did suspect that it might be his friend, but then she said he was a Tepanec and that he called himself differently. Oh Gods! “She told me that boy was a Tepanec and I didn’t think. But of course—”

  Suddenly, the broad face lost any trace of amusement. “What did she say?” The dark eyes sparkled dangerously. “Did the filthy cihua accuse me?”

  Coyotl gasped, startled by his own surge of an overwhelming rage. “She tried to tell them all you were not to blame,” he hissed, through his clenched teeth. “She called me in the middle of the night trying to make me go and save you. I didn’t know she was talking about you, otherwise I would have done as she asked. But if you ever call her ‘filthy cihua’ again, I swear I’ll kill you myself, and I’ll take great pleasure in doing it!”

  Trembling, he stared at the bruised face, seeing the uncertainty creeping into the dark eyes.

  “Oh, I thought for a moment…” Kuini shrugged, dropping his gaze. “Sorry. I know she is anything but a filthy cihua.”

  A silence prevailed. Coyotl took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. “Forget it.” He stared at the plastered wall. “Let us think how to get you out of here.”

  “Well,” Kuini shrugged, grimacing with pain. “The damn arm,” he muttered. “Listen, I think I can manage. I’ll stay with this Aztec for a few dawns, until he has to go back. By then, I’ll be much better, the arm and the head, with more chances of making my way home safely. It won’t be difficult if he takes me out of the Palace on his way to Tenochtitlan. Plenty of opportunities to go away. He says I’m not a prisoner. He told me I can go any time.”

  “And you trust him?” It was Coyotl’s turn to lift his eyebrows. “Never trust an Aztec, particularly this one.”

  “Why this one in particular?”

  “He is an arrogant bastard, ruthless and unpredictable. He has had this reputation for years.” Coyotl shrugged. “But maybe he is not destined to walk this Fifth World any longer,” he muttered.

  Will they really try to kill this man while here in Texcoco? he wondered suddenly, remembering the council held in the main hall. That could be a good solution to the cheeky old bastard, even if an unusual one.

  “Listen,” he said. “Let me try to smuggle you out of here. I think I can organize it after the next dawn or so. I should never have left you in the marketplace yesterday. It was stupid of me.”

  He saw his friend’s smile, suddenly open and unguarded. “All right. I suppose I didn’t think straight today. This Aztec, he is a really interesting man, but you are right, I should get away from all of them.” He grinned. “Thank you. You are a real friend.”

  “I was the one to get you into this mess, remember?” said Coyotl, embarrassed.

  “Oh, yes,” The twinkle crept back into the large eyes. “But it was an interesting experience, nevertheless. Bored I was not. And the Great Pyramid and the scrolls were well worth all of it and more.”

  “I’ll let you visit here safely, for as long as you would like,” said Coyotl gruffly, curiously unsettled. “You’ll be the honored guest here the moment I’m an Emperor. Free to go wherever you like, to read every scroll, to enter every temple, to live in the best guests quarters of the Palace.” He rose to his feet. “You’ll get to tour the whole city in a litter, and the army of your bodyguards would be busy moving the crowds out of your way.”

  “Sounds like fun.” The large, widely-spaced eyes did not twinkle, looking up at him, holding a smile. “I’ll make an offering for your people to win this war, so these times will come soon.” He sighed. “I wish I could join you in the fighting.”

  “Maybe you will. Maybe your father will agree to send his warriors.” Coyotl shook his head. “I’ll be off now, to see what can be done. Stay low, and don’t piss the Aztec off in the meanwhile.”

  Kuini got to his feet awkwardly, clutching a piece of paper in his good arm. “Will you give her this?” he asked, eyes avoiding Coyotl’s questioning gaze. “The princess. I promised to send her a note. Before it all happened.” The apprehensive gaze straightened. “Would you give her that if you see her? Please?”

  Coyotl hesitated, but only for a heartbeat. “All right. I’ll try. She is being punished too, and no one can see her. Another prisoner in the other wing of the Palace. But I’ll try to get to one of her maids.” He saw the frown, the concern in the dark eyes, and it puzzled him. “What happened between you two?”

  The broad face closed. “Nothing. She was just really nice and I promised her that.”

  Coyotl shook his head. “Funny that she liked you. We always thought alike, her and me. And she is quite a girl, I can tell you.” He shrugged. “Don’t fall in love with her, though. She’ll be given away soon, hopefully to a nice man, but it surely will be a ruler or a very exalted nobleman.”

  Chapter 7

  Unable to sleep, Kuini turned over once again, and buried his head under the blanket. What riches, he thought, relishing the touch of the soft cotton. The slaves, who had come to prepare the outer room for the night, had just given him the blanket with no second thought, along with a few pretty, colorful cushions. Unbelievable!

  Yet, despite all the softness, he could not sleep. His body hurt, and his head throbbed. The wooden planks fastened to his right arm annoyed him.

  He sat up, watching the sleeping warriors. The dull ache in his arm was neither better nor worse than before. The healer maintained it was broken, but Kuini doubted the verdict. Being a Highlander, he’d seen his share of broken limbs, remembering people twisting with pain or l
osing consciousness. Or screaming, shaming themselves. He shivered, recalling the sight of sharp, splinted bones peeking out of a bloody mess. No, his arm was damaged, but not broken. He could do without the stupid sling.

  It took him what seemed like ages to release the ties. With no planks, his arm felt ridiculously light. Making no sound, he got onto his feet, watching the sleeping figures curled around him.

  The moonlight streamed in through the large opening in the wall. He made his way, treading carefully, aware of the warriors guarding the main entrance and the Chief Warlord sleeping in the next, very private and richly furnished, set of rooms. The bushes outside the window rustled gently, not far below, just a small jump. Grimacing with pain, he made it over the edge.

  He landed carefully, still the impact hurt, sending shafts of pain up his neck. Damn it, he thought, enraged. He would never make it anywhere with his wounds. He felt the bandage with his palm, then stood for a while, pondering. What did he intend to do? He had gone over the window on an impulse, thrilled with being unwatched for a change. But was it wise to try to run away? Would he make it over the Palace’s wall?

  Breathing the sweet night air, he relished the silence around him. He could take a careful walk, then climb back through that window, should no unguarded openings in the Palace’s wall happen on his way. Where was the other wing of this vast structure?

  Sneaking behind the line of carefully planted trees, he felt more at ease. Here the shadows were deeper, the silvery moonlight not reaching through the thick branches, the torches - just a distant flickering. Walking the approximate line of the Palace, he turned when it seemed to be paralleled to the far edge of the building, and then made his way along the outer wall.

  Ears pricked, senses sharp, he listened intently. To venture out of the trees and their safety was unwise. He should go back. It was insane to sneak around the Palace when its inhabitants were still after his blood. Should he get caught, he would be done for, this time for certain.

  He shivered, then shrugged and went out carefully, running along the open patch of the moonlit ground. Crouching behind the bushes, he relaxed a little. The Palace looked dark, unfriendly, glaring down at him, the cheeky intruder. Yet, one rectangular opening on the second floor flickered with a faint torchlight, glimmering kindly, invitingly. The other wing. The second floor.

  He shrugged, but his heartbeat accelerated. What were the chances of this window being hers? None, none at all. And anyway, no princess would be awake in the middle of the night, keeping a torch alive and blazing. Not the First Daughter of the Second Wife, surely.

  The wide-branched tree swayed in a comfortable proximity to the window. He sneaked toward it, deep in thought. He could climb it and take a look with no one the wiser. Then he would go back into the safety of the Aztecs’ quarters.

  With only one good hand, it took him a long time to reach the higher branches, his damaged arm throbbing with pain, his breath coming in gasps. He tried to peer into the window, but it was too far to see clearly.

  He made it as close as he could, crawling along the wide branch, clinging to it with all his might. An easy feat, but not with the stupid injured arm, he thought, grinding his teeth, wincing with pain as the coarse branches brushed against his scratched limbs.

  He saw a silhouette moving and froze, clinging to his wet slippery perch. Someone was crouching, probably on a mat, and now got up and moved about. A slender arm shot out, threw something angrily against the wall.

  His breath caught, he narrowed his eyes, peering through the darkness. The movement seemed familiar, yet he could not tell for sure. He strained his eyes. Come on, he thought. Just come to the stupid window.

  The figure sat there motionless for a while, then rose to her feet. Yes, definitely a woman. A young one. He thought he had recognized her abrupt, purposeful movements. She, indeed, neared the window, but then turned back, kicking something on her way, judging by the motion of her hips.

  He slid his good arm up the branch, finding a small greenish fruit. It was difficult to direct his throw, clinging to the slippery branch with a damaged arm. The first fruit bounced off the wall, but the second went through. He saw her jumping to her feet, stumbling over something. Oh, that was her all right. He threw another fruit.

  This time she reached the window, leaning out, peering into the darkness. Another missile went flying before he waved carefully, almost losing his hold on the branch. He could hear her gasping, then putting a palm over her mouth.

  Her next move startled him. With no hesitation, she pulled her skirt high and went over the railing. Eyes wide, he watched her long shapely legs finding the ledge, standing on it firmly, hands gripping the bulging stones of the wall. There was no clumsiness about her anymore. Like a small, elegant lizard, graceful and full of confidence, she went down the wall as if she had done it before.

  Stomach fluttering with anticipation, he climbed down hastily, not as graceful, or as fast, as she was. When his feet reached the wet grass at the base of the tree, she was already there, eyes sparkling in the moonlight. She peered at his face, then gasped, but again clasped her mouth with her palm, grabbing his arm with another, pulling him into the protectiveness of the darkness behind the trees.

  Head reeling, heart beating fast, he trailed after her, not understanding any of it. One moment he was on the tree, trying to see her through the only window with a light, unsure of himself but protected; the next she was right beside him, having scaled the wall in the most un-princess-like fashion, dragging him after her with the determination of a war leader. The strangeness of it enveloped him, made his skin prickle.

  Deep in the safety of the Palace’s gardens, she halted and turned around. In the darkness he could see only the soft outline of her heart-shaped face, the dark sparkling eyes, the black mass of her hair now pulled up with many glittering pins and not sticking out everywhere and covered with dust.

  “You shouldn’t come here. It’s too dangerous for you,” she whispered breathlessly, her face so close he could smell the sweetmeats on her breath. “How did you manage to escape them?”

  “I didn’t,” he said, trying to think straight, fighting the dreamlike sensation, fighting the urge to pull her closer. “I’m still a prisoner here.”

  “Oh, so am I.” She giggled. “Two escapees.”

  “Did they punish you for running around the city?”

  “Well, no. Not yet. But I’m locked in my rooms until they decide, and it’s a punishment all right. I hate being locked in the room!”

  “But why? Didn’t they blame me for kidnapping you?”

  “Oh yes, they did!” He saw her frowning in the darkness, her eyebrows meeting each other across the smoothness of her forehead. “I tried to tell them, but no one listened to me. Only my brother, and I don’t know if it helped.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said, warmed by her passionate speech. “I’m perfectly all right now. But I don’t understand why they blame you, if they already blamed me.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. One can never understand these people. Everything they do is complicated and always to reach this or that goal. They must have a reason, but meanwhile, both of us are stuck here.” Her frown deepened, and she reached for his forehead. “They hurt you so much. I can see it even in the darkness.”

  The touch of her fingers made him shiver, sending waves of excitement through his stomach.

  “It’s nothing,” he said gruffly. “It’ll pass.”

  “I’m so sorry. I tried to stop them.” Her voice trembled. “They are animals, every one of them. All the warriors. Why do they always have to be so… aggressive, so bad-tempered, so cruel?”

  That made him laugh. “That’s what warriors do. I’m trained to be a warrior too. You can’t fight wars by being all soft and cozy.”

  “But you are not like that. You wouldn’t hurt anyone who is not another warrior.” She frowned. “I mean women, or children, or old people.”

  “I suppose not, but who knows?”
He shrugged. “Remember the Aztec leader? You told me he is ruthless and cruel, your brother told me he is an arrogant bastard, but he was the one who saved me, for no reason at all. I should be dead by now. Your people wanted to execute me this morning, but he interfered.” He peered at her. “You see what I mean? People are not always what we think they are. I never thought this way before, but now I do. He may be a bad man, but I don’t see this side of him, and not because he saved me. I watched him and we talked.” He shrugged again. “Maybe when I’m that old, they’ll say bad things about me too, and maybe I’ll be guilty of some of it.”

  She was peering at him, wide-eyed. “You talk strange, you know?”

  He wanted to hit himself. What was he talking about? “Forget it.”

  “No, it was interesting. Strange and unsettling, but interesting. Fascinating. I wish we could talk more.” Her face brightened. “And I received your note too, you know? You draw so well!”

  He smiled, his pride welling. “Glad you liked it.”

  “Oh, I’ll keep it until I’m very old! Those two people eating tortillas, oh, what a beautiful drawing. I looked at this note, and I sent my maid to fetch me a tortilla and avocado right away, your drawing made me that hungry. And you know what?” She drew closer, peered at him, so near again he could smell her breath, sense the warmth of her body. “It was not as good as back on the marketplace. I have to get back there, to taste those tortillas again. They were incredible. Will you take me there sometime?”

  He tried to concentrate, his thoughts rushing around, chasing each other with no consideration to his will. “Yes, I will,” he mumbled. “Somehow.”

  She beamed at him. “When?”

  “I don’t know. When can you get away again without them noticing?”

  Her face fell. He could sense more than see her elation evaporating. “Probably never,” she muttered.

  Curiously unsettled, he tried to see her face. “Never is a long time. They won’t be angry with you for that long. They’ll drop their guard some time.” As she kept staring at the ground, it felt only natural to put his hand under her chin in order to lift it. “You got away now. You are out here, see? You’ll be able to do it again. What can they do to you after all? They can’t kill you or even hurt you, I guess. You are a princess.”