A World Darkly (Wrath of the Old Gods Book 3)

by John Triptych

  The acolyte of Tlaloc was able to pull his own knife out from beneath his tattered robes and he tried to stab Tepiltzin’s side. The high priest of Xipe Totec saw the flash of the blade and he was able to grab onto the other man’s hand just as the knife was mere inches away from his ribcage. Tepiltzin grimaced as part of his hand that was holding back the knife had begun to bleed as he had grabbed part of the razor sharp blade. The other priest was hurting as he tried to bring his other hand up but Tepiltzin was able to wedge it underneath his own body. With one arm free, Tepiltzin elbowed the other man in the face several times until he let go of the blade. The junior high priest’s mask had fallen away and it revealed his bloody face. Tepiltzin was able to get on top of the other man as he used both his hands and began choking the junior priest’s throat. Tepiltzin was exhausted, but a last desperate surge of adrenaline seeped into his arms as he used all of his strength to push his thumbs down, right into the other man’s windpipe and crushed it. The acolyte began to choke and within minutes, was soon lying still.

  Tepiltzin took deep breaths as he slowly got up and looked around. The alleyway was still deserted and his victim’s screams were drowned out by the crowds who were cheering at the child sacrifices occurring up in the temple summit. His right hand had a deep cut from the other man’s knife and he had bruises all over his body, but otherwise he was alright. Tepiltzin dragged the second corpse and placed it on top of the first one. Noticing a pile of unused baskets, he placed them on top of the bodies to cover them up. There was no time to properly dispose of them, but at least it would give him some time since a casual observer probably wouldn’t notice anything strange if he walked by.

  As he limped his way down the alley, he noticed an old, discarded feather cloak lying on the ground nearby. It was torn and dirty, but he picked it up and placed it over his body anyway. By the time he was close to the temple of Xipe Totec, the sounds of revelry were a distant cacophony of unintelligible noises. A part of him regretted the murder of the two priests, but if he had failed in this then he would never hear the end of it from his mother.

  When he finally made it to the almost deserted first floor of the temple of Xipe Totec, Chipahua was there along with Atl. His assistant was sitting in an old, blue colored Volkswagen Beetle and had started its engines as soon as he came into view. Tepiltzin smiled at the young boy who was still trembling in the backseat, before opening up the passenger door and he sat down with a heavy sigh.

  Chipahua looked at the blood on his master’s body. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” Tepiltzin said softly as he closed the car door. “Let’s head back to Tenochtitlan as fast as possible. I feel there will be hell to pay over this.”

  Yaotl raised his cup of pulque as he faced his friends. “To the newest recruits of the Eagle Knight Regiment, us!”

  Along with his two other friends, they all downed their cups of fermented agave sap in unison. Night had fallen over the city, and most of the crowds had dispersed. Everyone had waited for the rains to begin after the last child was sacrificed to Tlaloc, but for some strange reason, the clouds over the city had dispersed soon after. There had been rumors of some sort of desecration that had affected the rituals, but nothing definite had been announced. The high priests had declared the day’s ceremonies had been completed, and more rituals were scheduled for the next day. The remaining patrons for the bars in the area were now the soldiers, as they finally received a break from their ceremonial guard duties. Yaotl and his friends were celebrating their acceptance into the elite Eagle Knights Regiment. Their training was to begin in earnest as soon as the festivities were over, but they were all hoping to forgo any additional time spent in the rear lines. As young men, they feared the war against the Americans would be over by the time they finished their training.

  Achcauhtli was the youngest in the group at eighteen years of age. He could barely control himself as he swallowed his fifth drink of the night. He started coughing as he used his free hand to support himself on the bar counter. “Ahh, this pulque is stronger than normal, I think.”

  Yaotl winked at the bartender as he poured another round for them. “What if I told you that I had them add some tequila into the pulque? Would that make you feel better, yes?”

  Ichtaca grinned and wagged a finger at Yaotl. At over six feet four inches, he was the tallest in the group. “You animal! How did you get a bottle of tequila? I thought there weren’t any left?”

  Yaotl laughed as he raised his cup once more. “If one has money, there’s always a way!”

  A booming voice came from the entrance of the bar. “All of you, cease this disgraceful display immediately!”

  The three young warriors turned. Standing near the entrance were four Eagle Knights in full costume, their feathered uniforms seemed subdued in the night. Yaotl noticed they weren’t equipped with shields, but they did carry pistols and clubs strapped to their belt holsters.

  Ichtaca placed his cup on the bar counter before lurching forward on a few steps. “What can we do for you, fellow eagle warriors?”

  One of the Eagle Knights stepped forward as he placed his hand near his pistol. “Which one of you is Yaotl, of the Obsidian Knife?”

  Yaotl stepped forward until he was beside his big friend. “I am.”

  “We need you to come with us,” the first Eagle Knight said. “You are wanted for questioning.”

  Yaotl frowned as he crossed his arms over his chest. “What for?”

  The Eagle Knight shook his head. “That is not for me to say. We have orders to bring you to the temple of Xipe Totec by any means possible. You will either accompany us voluntarily, or we will force you to do so.”

  Ichtaca tilted his head as he whispered in Yaotl’s ear. His breath smelled of alcohol and agave. “They don’t look so tough. You want me to take the first two and you and Achcauhtli take care of the rest?”

  Despite downing several tequila laced cups of pulque, Yaotl was still somewhat sober. He sensed something ominous in the air. “No, this sounds serious. Stay here and I’ll catch up with you later.”

  Ichtaca shook his head violently. “No! We are friends! We fought together and we have fun together! I shall stand by your side!”

  Achcauhtli staggered forward until he was beside his two friends. “Me too!”

  Yaotl shrugged as he stared back at the Eagle Knights. “Do you have any objections if I bring my drunken friends along?”

  The Eagle Knight kept a straight face. “None, as long as they behave themselves.”

  In their intoxicated state, the walk to the temple of Xipe Totec took longer than usual. Two of the Eagle Knights led the way as Yaotl and his friends would sometimes meander back and forth as they headed to the base of the temple, while the two remaining knights prodded them forward from the rear. The night seemed strangely silent, as if the gods refused to even let the wind blow.

  By the time they had made it into the temple’s inner hallway, the effects of the drinks had dissipated from Yaotl’s body. His two other friends were still somewhat tipsy, but he already had a growing sense of foreboding. Something was going on and they were suspecting him, but of what, he had no idea. As they walked up the inner stairs, Yaotl had stopped talking as he pondered what it was that was so important that it would involve him.

  When the three young recruits entered the grand inner hall of the temple, they all gasped in surprise. Standing before them on the raised platform were the two avatars of Xipe Totec and Huitzilopochtli, along with High Priest Eleuia, who was the leader of the Tlaloc faction. Standing beside the leaders of the empire was High Priest Coaxoch, the avowed enemy of Yaotl’s brother, Tepiltzin. Their superior, Commander Huemac, was also present, along with a full squad of his Eagle Knights.

  The three youths were pushed by the Eagle Knight guards behind them as they alternately stumbled and staggered until they were only a few feet away from the platform. Ichtaca and Achcauhtli began to sober up in a hurry as they instantly bowed to the assembled
leaders on the stone stage. Yaotl hesitated at first, but he shifted his stance as he made his bow of respect to everyone except the current high priest of Xipe Totec, Coaxoch.

  Tlazopilli, the avatar to Xipe Totec, was wearing a golden skin suit and held an ornate staff, his face painted in red and yellow. Yaotl knew it was his uncle, but he sensed the avatar was only half there, it was as if two beings shared the single body standing before him. Ixtli, the avatar of Huitzilopochtli, was painted entirely in blue and wearing his customary feathered headdress and loincloth. To Yaotl, he seemed to be the most distant as the avatar of the patron war god of the Aztecs didn’t seem too concerned about what was happening, he continued to stare out into the tall windows of the room. Eleuia was wearing the goggle-eyed, fanged mask of the rain god, and Yaotl couldn’t discern what he was thinking.

  Coaxoch was also carrying a nearly identical staff that Tlazopilli had, but it looked to be of lower quality. The three youths instantly turned to look at him as he pounded the floor with the staff to get everyone’s attention. “There has been a grave violation of the temple of Tlaloc. The rituals that were supposed to bring forth the avatar of the rain god have been desecrated and he is very angry. Two priests of Tlaloc have been murdered in cold blood, and one of his chosen children was stolen today. This is the most heinous of crimes and the perpetrator will be brought to justice!”

  Yaotl’s heart started pounding. So the rumors about the failure of today’s ritual were indeed true. Something had happened. Why would they be brought here? Unless…

  Eleuia raised his arms high up in the air. “We beseech thee, oh god of rain, please forgive us for spoiling the ritual that was to bring your spirit into one of our own. We ask for your forgiveness and for your patience, for we shall try again!”

  Tlazopilli pointed to his nephew. “Yaotl, you are a promising young man. You have been recruited to the Eagle Knights, a very prestigious faction of our warriors. Your best days are ahead of you. We are of the same family, and you are of my blood. I must tell you our family name has been dishonored. Your brother who is my nephew, High Priest Tepiltzin, is under suspicion of causing the grievous sacrilege that has stopped us from calling forth the avatar of Tlaloc. You must help us, you must answer when we ask you if you know the whereabouts of your brother.”

  Yaotl’s mouth trembled. “M-my brother? He did all of this? B-but that’s impossible!”

  “Liar!” Coaxoch hissed as he stepped forward until he was less than a foot away from the youth. “Your brother Tepiltzin has been lying to us from the very beginning! He lied to your own uncle, the avatar of Xipe Totec, about a traitor within, when all the while it was actually him! He stole one of the children destined for sacrifice and killed two priests of Tlaloc, he is the despoiler of the empire!”

  Yaotl turned to face his former servant. His face was flushed with rage. “I don’t believe you! You have always been trying to undermine my brother and I bet you are making false accusations just to discredit him!”

  Coaxoch grimaced. “I have witnesses! Your brother’s personal assistant was seen in the city today, and Tepiltzin was supposed to be present for the ceremony in his full regalia, but he was nowhere to be found!”

  Yaotl snorted. “That is all circumstantial, it doesn’t prove a thing!”

  “As soon as the murder was reported to the garrison, we did a search throughout the city,” Commander Huemac said. “We found costumes that supposedly belonged to the litter bearers for the sacrifice, but we couldn’t identify who wore them.”

  “One of my acolytes reported that one of the supervising priests where the sacrifices were to be received was not the same person assigned to the task,” High Priest Eleuia said. “It was a different man and unknown to us. He murdered the priest assigned to that duty, and he engineered a way to take the child sacrifice away from the procession. He disappeared before we had a chance to question him.”

  Yaotl threw his arms up in frustration. “That still doesn’t prove my brother was that man.”

  Coaxoch’s voice continued to drip with menace. “Listen, you young fool. When I questioned the witness, he described the exact height, voice and mannerisms of Tepiltzin, there is no doubt it was him!”

  Yaotl stared back at him with slit eyes. “Did he actually see Tepiltzin’s face?”

  Coaxoch shook his head. “No, it was covered with a mask. But his description of the voice and mannerisms match your brother’s! There is no denying that!”

  Yaotl placed his hands on his hips and sneered. “Just because you say so doesn’t make it true.”

  Coaxoch moved another step forward until his face was mere inches away from Yaotl’s. “If your brother is so innocent, then why is he not here to defend himself then? Only the guilty run away! I accuse not just your brother, but I also accuse you of helping him. You scum are one and the same, you are a serpent, just like Tepiltzin!”

  The lingering effects of the alcoholic drinks and his inflamed passions for defending his brother got the better of him. Yaotl’s punch hit Coaxoch right on the high priest’s nose and broke it, the unexpected blow staggered Coaxoch and he fell backwards into the stone floor of the temple. Caoxoch’s staff rattled on the floor as two of the Eagle Knights reacted by grabbing a hold on Yaotl’s arms and pulling him back. The other two youths were still somewhat inebriated and they instantly threw kicks and punches at the guards. Within seconds, more Eagle Knights leapt into the fray as the three youths were pushed back and Coaxoch was helped on his feet. Yaotl and his friends were soon held fast by the guards as their respective adrenaline surges began to die down.

  “Enough,” Tlazopilli said calmly. “Nephew Yaotl, you have made a serious violation by striking a high priest. You and your friends will face a severe punishment for that.”

  Yaotl raged as he struggled while being held by two guards. “He insulted me! He accused me and my brother without any real proof! This is not fair!”

  “We must resolve this standoff so that we can continue the rituals to bring my god’s avatar into the world,” Eleuia said. “These two men are bitter enemies and I am not sure who is telling the truth right now.”

  Ixtli swayed his head back and forth as if in a trance. “Neither can I. Huitzilopochtli sees through my eyes, but even he cannot see towards the truth in this matter. A great void is all I can sense. Something is very confusing in all of this. It is as if the gods themselves might be at odds with each other, and they are actively clouding our collective judgment.”

  “Then we must choose the path that retains the peace between our factions,” Tlazopilli said. “Both men have been dishonored. One is a young warrior and the other is a high priest. If word of this gets out, our empire will be divided by the accusations. The Triple Alliance must be maintained at all costs.”

  Coaxoch wiped the blood from his nose. “But I have been attacked. By a lesser warrior too! I demand justice and satisfaction! No one is allowed to strike a high priest!”

  Yaotl shook a fist at him. “And I have been falsely accused of being a traitor, along with my brother! If you want a duel of honor, you’ve got it!”

  “Stop!” Tlazopilli said as he raised his hand. “We cannot allow any bloodshed such as duels. This must be resolved peacefully and honorably. A warrior cannot challenge a priest to single combat, that would be unfair.”

  “This must be resolved quickly,” Eleuia said. “Tlaloc’s avatar must be brought forth without any delay.”

  “Let them play the game,” Ixtli said softly.

  Eleuia turned to look at the avatar of Huitzilopochtli. “What?”

  Tlazopilli nodded as he realized the genius of the suggestion. “Yes, it is an excellent compromise. The game of ullamaliztli. The ball game. My high priest can choose his players. Both sides retain their honor.”

  Yaotl looked at his other friends and grinned. Yes. The game. Ullamaliztli was the classic ball game played by the ancient Aztecs. Two teams would face each other with the goal of putting a rubber ball through a
vertical stone hoop. Players were not allowed to hold the ball with their hands- only elbows, knees, hips and the head were used. Yaotl and his friends played the game every chance they had and were very good at it. “I accept,” he said. “My friends and I will play the game to restore our honor.”

  Coaxoch sensed a moment of opportunity. “Avatars and leaders, since I have been wronged, then I demand to choose my own players.”

  Tlazopilli glanced at his counterparts, who nodded in accession, before turning to face his high priest. “Your request is granted.”

  Coaxoch nearly smiled as he pointed to the man he wanted. “I choose … Commander Huemac as my team captain.”

  All three youths gasped. Huemac was considered to be the best ullamaliztli player in the empire. It was said that if he wasn’t a warrior, he would be the greatest champion to ever play the game. Achcauhtli and Ichtaca glanced nervously at Yaotl, but Tepiltzin’s brother was not to be denied. Yaotl only nodded as he looked at Huemac, who remained impassive but signaled his acceptance to be the representative of the high priest.

  “Then it is decided,” Tlazopilli said. “The game is to be played at dawn tomorrow. Commander Huemac, remove the youths from the temple and have them rest and prepare. You should also do the same.”

  As he was being led out of the great chamber, Yaotl stole a glance at his enemy Coaxoch, who he noticed had a grim smile on his face. The young man knew he had already lost. After his brother, Yaotl practically worshipped Commander Huemac, it was one of the reasons he volunteered to join the Eagle Knights, to be led by a great warrior and hero of the empire. Huemac was also a good friend of Tepiltzin and no matter what the outcome was, Yaotl knew that he would be paying a terrible price for it. If he lost the game, then he and his friends would no doubt be sacrificed. Even if he was somehow able to win the game against the greatest player ever, he would be heartbroken to see Huemac being sacrificed just to protect his brother’s honor. That was when he realized that deep inside his heart, he had sensed that his brother might be guilty after all. If his brother was indeed the guilty one, then how could he save his family’s honor, yet still prevent the death of his idol and mentor?