The Serpent Road

by Anthony James

  “So, what happened,” said Xquic as the pair of them reached his position.

  “The priest up there seemed to know what I was talking about, why we’re here.”

  He looked around the square, seeking options.

  “And…?”

  Tohil sighed. “He gave me his name to use to get us inside. Apparently, the Jaguars can turn people away.”

  “Yes,” said Tepeu. “We saw it happen. More than once.”

  Tohil sighed despite himself. As the priest had said, the Dwarf King was beholden to no one, and Tohil was a mere youth, a villager at that. Why Haracan had though that he’d be able to even get before The Dwarf King was a mystery.

  “We will have to do something,” he said finally. “Didn’t that man say it was once every two days?”

  Tepeu nodded.

  “Well, we aren’t getting in today and if we try to cut to the front….” He looked at the existing lines. The remaining petitioners would be none too happy and there were those who held evident status among their number.

  “But what do we do?” said Xquic.

  Tohil shrugged. “We go back to the hostelry, wait there until they throw us out, take our things and spend tomorrow exploring. In the meantime, we find somewhere else to sleep, though it is probably not going to be pleasant. You never know, it might be better than what we’ve had over the last few nights. We might have enough food left for tomorrow morning, but I doubt there will be anything after that. We’ve got nothing left to trade. We will just have to make do.”

  He looked to each of them and each in turn, they nodded back.

  They talked then, discussing and deliberating; they agreed, they united their words and their thoughts. Then while they meditated, it became clear to them that when dawn would break, man must appear.

  — Popol Vuh, Part I, Chapter 1

  TWENTY-ONE

  Effectively two days to wait, and it appeared there was very little they could do about it. They learned a lot about the city in the interim, about the poorer quarters and those more well to do. They wandered amongst stalls and workshops, watched the seemingly endless supply of goods and foodstuffs arriving on the long boats in a ceaseless stream all through the day. Apparently, it would not have mattered if they had arrived during the hours of darkness, because at sunset, torches were fired all along the docks. Tohil started to wonder if anyone ever slept, because the activity just continued unabated. The mechanisms to control this constant trade had to be enormously complex, but then, so were the calendars. He supposed, in a sense, they were related. It prompted other questions. Were these mechanisms, these forms of knowledge something that the people had developed by themselves or had they been handed down for somewhere else? Did the Seelee have a hand in it? There was no way he could possibly know. Perhaps there was someone in the palace who did know.

  By the end of the next day, their heads were brimming with sights, sounds, smells, so many things to experience, but their bellies were empty. The sat together by the dock’s edge sharing out the last of their dried provisions, meagre though they were. Their remaining tools and weapons, other provisions lay around them. Workers, nobles, officials walked past and around them, seeming to pay them no mind whatsoever. As the sun dipped and the torches were lit, Tohil moved them back towards a wall, out of the main traffic flow. He was hungry, and he knew the others were too. If they couldn’t find a way in to see The Dwarf King, he didn’t know what they were going to do.

  “I think this is a good spot,” he told the others. “We’re sure to be woken by the traders. They start early. We can get to the Grand Palace and be the first in line.”

  “If we manage to get any sleep at all,” said Xquic, looking around the activity on the dock.

  “Perhaps I can find us something else to eat,” offered Tepeu.

  “And how would you do that?” asked Tohil. “We’ve got nothing left to trade. Do you intend to steal?”

  Tepeu shrugged. “I don’t know. Better than sitting here hungry.”

  Tohil looked around the area, his jaw set and then shook his head and sighed. “I suppose there might be a chance, some scraps or something.”

  Tepeu nodded and got to his feet then turned and wandered off down the dockside.

  After he’d moved on a distance, Xquic leaned in to him.

  “What are we going to do if we can’t get in tomorrow. And then after we’ve delivered the message. What then? We can hunt after we’ve left the city, but will that be enough?”

  Tohil shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”

  “Well, shouldn’t we think about it?”

  Tohil turned to meet her gaze. “Yes, I suppose we should. But right now, let’s worry about getting in to see The Dwarf King. Let the gods look after the rest for now. They’ve got us this far.”

  He could feel, a little too much of his frustration had crept into his words, and Xquic had obviously seen it. She blinked and frowned and then reached out a hand to place it on his thigh.

  “Listen, Tohil. It is not the gods that have brought us this far. It is you.”

  He turned away then and chewed at his lip.

  “No. It’s all right,” she said then. “We will see what happens tomorrow, and then we can worry about the rest. You are right.”

  Slowly, he turned back to look at her, and she squeezed his leg, never breaking her gaze. Reluctantly, Tohil nodded. It would do for now. It was a few moments more before Xquic withdrew her hand.

  Sometime later, Tepeu returned carrying a fistful of breads.

  “Where did you get those?” Tohil asked.

  “They were going to throw them out. A bit stale, but….” He shrugged.

  Tohil reached for one of them and tore into it greedily. Tepeu was right. It was a bit dry, tough, but it was better than nothing. He didn’t want to be kept up all night with the growls from his empty belly. The few stale breads were soon gone, shared out between the three of them. As they settled back to wait out the night, Tohil regarded Tepeu thoughtfully. He was turning out to be quite resourceful, this young man, and stronger than Tohil might have expected with the loss of Tzité and everything they had been through.

  All through the evening, people wandered up and down the dock, paying little or no mind to the small group huddled near one of the walls. Eventually, Tohil was able to drift off into a kind of sleep, broken by periods of dozing and half wakefulness. At last, finally, first light came, and he stirred the others. He felt far from rested, and looking at the other two, they were the same. He looked around, decided that salt water wasn’t the answer. They should be able to find some fresher water on their way to the Grand Palace, drink something, splash their faces. Tohil wrinkled his nose. They were starting to become a little fragrant as well. That would just have to keep.

  They had a pretty good feel for the city’s layout by now, after all their wandering about, so after gathering together their belongings, it took them only a short time to reach the large central plaza and the Grand Palace. Tohil stopped as they emerged into the open space, his mouth falling open. Already, there were lines forming in front of the palace, despite it being barely after sunrise. His shoulders slumped.

  Xquic placed a hand upon his back.

  “At least they’re short enough that we have a chance to get in today. Let’s go,” she said.

  There were only about twenty people ahead of them in the line they joined. They took up position on the hard stone, sitting cross-legged with their goods beside them. It would be some time before any of them were admitted to the palace, if the experience from a couple of days ago was anything to go by. Despite that, it was only a few more minutes before more people joined the line behind them and started swelling the ranks of the one leading to the other palace door. Tohil observed them, taking note. There were different people, different clothing. There were nobles and obvious farmers. There appeared to be no unifying theme to the types of people joining the lines, apart from one soul thing; they all wanted to see
the Dwarf King. He wondered what sorts of requests they might have of him, all these different types. So much that he didn’t know, couldn’t imagine. They had been so protected back in the village.

  Eventually, the sun already baking down on the open stone plaza, the pale paving reflecting the sun’s heat, the first petitioners were admitted. They stood, picked up their gear, and moved a step forward. When two separate groups ahead of them were turned away, they moved a few steps more, but it made the nervousness grow in Tohil’s belly. The closer they got to the temple steps, the tenser he felt. He started convincing himself that they too would be turned away. Xquic seemed to sense his tension, because she reached out and gripped his upper arm, waiting for him to meet her querying gaze, but he nodded, and she nodded briefly in return.

  Before too long, they had reached the top of the stairs. Tohil looked at the Jaguars and felt himself intimidated once again. These were royal warriors, not just the run of the mill. The Jaguars were already the elite, but to be Jaguars in service of the Dwarf King, that was something else. Nonetheless, when they were beckoned forward, Tohil plucked up his courage and stepped up.

  What ensued was a brief conversation with the Jaguars at the door. Tohil mentioned their business, and made a point to also invoke the priest from the Temple of the Moon, Naran, and his blessing. The Jaguars became more deferential at that, and finally, they said that they could proceed, but that they would have to leave all their gear and weapons. Xquic held their spot as Tohil and Tepeu dashed to the building’s corner and made a small pile of their belongings. The mutterings from petitioners behind them in the queue did not go unnoticed. Once more, the Jaguars looked them over, and then they were inside.

  Now, finally, Tohil had a better chance to look around, to take in everything. Again, it was almost too much. The wall paintings were intricate and colourful. Across one wall, in blues and greens and yellows, a line of noble petitioners brought tribute to the Dwarf King. They were decked out in feathers, jewellery, jaguar skins and other finery. On the opposite wall, there was a scene of a vast battle, warriors in masks, bearing spears and macuahuitl, feathers and costumes faced off against each other. Colour was everywhere. Large stands held pots containing plants, and this time, the dais at the front was not empty. Several men of rank stood there, some of them very short. Tohil could not work out what function they might perform, though one of them could be an astronomer. Sitting on the ornate throne sat a squat figure, his face painted and bejewelled. Large earrings stretched his lobes which were plugged with jade. A headdress of bright blue quetzal feathers sat atop his head. He looked up at the new entry into his audience chamber and frowned, holding up his hand to halt the conversation taking place with the couple of merchants who now stood before him. He motioned to one of the men sharing the dais to approach. For a moment or two they tilted their heads together speaking quietly and then the functionary left the dais and walked towards them. He spoke quietly with the Jaguar accompanying them and then walked briskly back up to the dais and approached the throne once more, leaning over and saying more words to the figure who sat there.

  The small figure looked over at them once more and then lifted his hand. Tohil’s heart was pounding and his mouth dry.

  “Clear the chamber,” said the Dwarf King, for that was clearly who he was. “Those here, stay.”

  As various people of all ranks and functions started filing out through the rear doors, the Dwarf King waved his hand at the merchants in front of him. “You too,” he said. “Go.”

  “But we have waited all morning,” said one of them.

  “And you will wait again,” said the Dwarf King.

  He beckoned Tohil and his group forward.

  “Not you,” he said to the Jaguar accompanying them. “Leave them now.”

  The warrior inclined his head and turned on his heel. Within moments he too had gone. All that remained were the collection of functionaries on the dais and the Dwarf King sitting on his jaguar throne. Tohil did not fail to notice the guards to either side. He swallowed and stepped forward nervously, Tepeu and Xquic moving up to stand beside him. The short, squat decorated man looked them over, and then finally spoke again.

  “You have no reason to be afraid,” he said. There was a distinct hint of amusement in his voice. Though they were accented, his words were very clear. “But this had better be worth it.”

  He looked them over again. “So, Naran has decided to disrupt my day with a collection of villagers, and mere youths at that. Who are you? Where do you come from?”

  “This is Xquic and Tepeu,” said Tohil hesitantly. “And I am Tohil. We come from a village far across the mountains.” He didn’t know quite how to address a king, so he left it at that.

  “And which one of you carries this message?”

  Tohil placed his hand upon his chest.

  “Well, speak boy. Let us hear this thing of great importance that you have travelled so far to deliver.”

  Tohil spoke the words that had run over and over in his head for the past few weeks as clearly as possible.

  “The Elders have seen the temple open and the Dark Serpent ride the sky.”

  There was silence then, a long pause where Tohil could almost hear his own breathing, and then the Dwarf King nodded, levered himself off the throne to stand at the front of the dais before them. Even though he was several steps above them, Tohil could see that his head would only reach as far as Tohil’s chest. His arms and legs appeared shorter, but his features were similar to Tohil’s own. There were two more on the dais that were of a similar height. Looking at him now, Tohil thought, there was nothing that looked particularly magical about him.

  “And this village you come from, it is called Xalabia?”

  Tohil thought for a moment. They never referred to the village by its name. It was always just the village.

  “Yes,” he said finally. “That is it.”

  Again, the Dwarf King nodded and then walked across the platform to stand next to one of the taller men there, who leaned down to speak to him. The king glanced across at the travellers and motioned for them to stay where they were. Despite his nervousness, Tohil took the opportunity to glance around the audience chamber some more. He couldn’t spot anything that reminded him of the Seelee, and for that he was at least grateful.

  The conversation up above seemed to end, for the Dwarf King walked back to face them again.

  “It is good that you have brought this to us,” he said. He turned back to his throne and then climbed up once more to sit. “My astronomers have been expecting this, as have the priests. I have been waiting for it too.”

  He held his gaze upon them for a few seconds, apparently considering.

  “All right,” he said finally. “Test them.”

  One of the other shorter people on the dais stepped forward. This one was attired something between a priest and an elder. His hooded cloak bore many designs and feathers. There was gold and jade at his wrists and ankles, and within his hands he held an obsidian knife and a bowl that seemed to have appeared from nowhere. All eyes upon the platform were on them now. The other shorter man on the platform ducked somewhere behind the throne and came back carrying two more bowls and he also stepped forward to join the other, then they both walked down the few short steps to stand in front of Tohil. He had been right, the first one stood as high as his chin, the second a little shorter.

  The first one reached out. “Your hand,” he said in a harsh, whispering voice.

  “But what…?”

  “Shhhh. Just give me your hand.”

  Tohil took a step back. The small man frowned in displeasure and took another step forward.

  “No!” said Tohil. “Tell me what’s happening. What are you doing?”

  “Tohil,” hissed Xquic from beside him.

  He looked back up at The Dwarf King, who immediately climbed down from his throne and walked to the edge of the dais.

  “Please, let him do this,” said The Dwarf King, �
�and then we can talk more.”

  Slightly intimidated by having this powerful figure ask, rather than command him, Tohil reluctantly let the little man take his hand. The next moment, the magician, for that was what he had to be, was scoring his palm with the razor-sharp obsidian blade. Tohil drew in his breath through his teeth. The magician tilted Tohil’s hand to one side, and caught the spattering blood in the bowl he was carrying. Then he closed Tohil’s fingers and released the hand.

  “What…?” said Tohil, his thoughts suddenly full of pictures of sacrifice. His heart started pounding, the heart that was very shortly likely to be ripped from his chest.

  “Shhhh,” said the magician again.

  He handed the bowl to his companion and replaced it with another, then, wiping the blade upon his robe, performed the procedure on Tepeu. As the blade scored his palm too, Tepeu hissed, clutching his hand away, but the magician grabbed it, pulled his arm forward and held his wrist firmly so that he could collect his blood as well. Again, he got a fresh bowl and stepped up to Xquic. Xquic made not a sound, just stood there, stoically, her expression set. She didn’t even flinch. The first magician nodded to the second, and then they both rapidly disappeared from the chamber, heading off through one of the rear doors, carrying the bowls between them. Now Tohil had no idea what was going on. He looked down at the cut on his palm, blood still flowing, a couple of drops pattering on the smooth stone slabs at his feet. He looked up at the Dwarf King on his throne, a frown upon his face.

  He had a sudden burst of frustration and anger. “What’s next?” he asked. “Do you take us for sacrifice?”

  He regretted the outburst as soon as it had left his lips, but there was no taking it back now. Xquic was looking at him in horror.

  Instead of anger, he was surprised to see The Dwarf King burst out in laughter. The others standing around up there quickly joined in.

  “Oh-ho, Tohil,” he said, finally managing to bring his laughter under control. There were a few lingering snickers from around the platform. “He has some spirit, at least, I see. That is good.”