Young Jaguar, The

by Zoe Saadia

  “I know there is a problem!” stated the girl crossly. “You are not allowed to leave the house. Of all mornings!” The frown didn’t sit well with Flower’s gentle features. “But I thought why can't I go by myself? I’m thirteen, old enough to enter the temples’ services, so surely I can attend the ceremony, even without you. You may send as many slaves to guard me as you like.”

  Sakuna didn’t hear much of the tirade, staring at her daughter speechless.

  “Who said I’m not allowed to leave the house?”

  The girl lifted her eyebrows. “Father, who else?” Her large eyes narrowed. “I heard him saying it yesterday, when you were busy making things decent women are not supposed to. I heard everything!”

  Her rage was so sudden and overwhelming, she was afraid it would choke her.

  “How dare you? How dare you presume to judge me or your father? How dare you to listen to grown people’s conversations?” She took a deep breath. “You are still a child, Flower. You don’t understand any of it. And you know what? You are not allowed to leave this house either. No ceremony for you! Actually, you are not allowed to leave your room. Do you hear me? It’s a punishment for being so insolent and ill-mannered.”

  The girl’s hands clutched onto the wooden screen of the doorway.

  “You can’t do this!” she called, beginning to sob. “You are not… not worthy enough. Father will come home, and he will not let you treat me like that.”

  “Your father will come, and he will not interfere. The education of a girl is her mother's responsibility, Flower. You know the laws so well; you should know this one too. And now, go to your room, I have things to do.”

  “I hope Father will throw you out or kill you,” cried the girl as she ran away toward the patio.

  Sakuna clenched her hands tight. The cheeky little fox. She didn’t need an adolescent crisis on her hands now; they were full as it was.

  She drew her breath loudly. So, apparently the whole household was sure she was having an affair. Great!

  Hurriedly, she changed into a plain unadorned cotton blouse and skirt. The domestic problems would have to wait. First things first, she decided, heading toward the small window.

  It was not difficult to squeeze through the rectangular opening. Nor did she find it hard to cling to the wooden railing and work her way down the ledge. Growing up in Great Houses had made her an expert on climbing.

  Clutching the small bag with cocoa beans and some jewelry, should the poison turn out to be expensive, she ran toward the low wall, hoping no one would see her scaling it.

  ***

  Walking the sunlit alleys of the waking city turned out to be a kind of exercise she had actually needed badly.

  Her mood improving with every step, she made it toward the marketplace, enjoying the rare opportunity to walk. She should do it more often, she decided. Whatever the custom said, she would not use her litter anymore, not every time she ventured into the city.

  The sun was warming, and she felt like a young girl again, relishing being completely unattended.

  The noblewomen were so restricted, she thought. For all the luxury, they should try to behave a little like commoners from time to time.

  She chuckled at the thought.

  The marketplace looked ruffled after the night storm. Some stands were broken, and a few wooden beams lay across the road, forcing the passersby to detour or to climb over.

  She climbed those readily, happy to be able to do so without being frowned upon. No one paid her any attention; she must have looked common enough. How Flower would be appalled had she known about it. She scowled at the thought of her daughter, then brushed it aside. She’d have to talk to the girl when she got back.

  As she entered the clamor and the variety of mats spread between the painted walls, her happiness began to evaporate. The market seemed to be in a state of turmoil, the sellers, the buyers, the usual frequenters all moving about, agitated and gesturing. Many were talking and arguing at the top of their voices, more uproarious than usual.

  She was jostled and elbowed as she rushed past the groups of animated men and women. They were all talking at once, flustered and excited, and she gathered it had something to do with the politics and the Palace. Usual and unusual. Markets were definitely a place to discuss it all, yet the regular frequenters would behave more calmly on the normal mornings, before the vast amount of octli or pulque was consumed.

  “Oh, pretty one, where are you going in such a hurry?” called someone, as she pushed her way past the group of men. A rough palm clutched her arm. “Stay with us, pretty one. On such a day your shopping can wait.”

  She pulled her arm away and dashed for the opening between the crowds, her heart thumping. With no sturdy slaves to watch over her, she was quite defenseless, she realized with a sudden tug of panic.

  To her relief, the man didn’t follow, and she ran on, turning the corner toward the quieter parts of the walled area where women would shop for vegetables and fruits.

  What if Eek, the strange Mayan with her variety of unusual herbs and roots, was not there?

  She pushed the thought away and rushed past the piles of avocado and tomato and stacks of the sweet first maize, her eyes scanning the mats, searching for the ones filled with baskets and seeds.

  “Careful, you filthy lump of dirt!” yelled a woman shrilly.

  She whirled, not accustomed to being yelled at. The woman glared at her, squatting but leaning on her hands, ready to spring up.

  “What are you staring at? You almost trampled on my tomatoes, you stupid piece of meat. You have to pay for that one.” She pointed at the small fruit that had rolled away from the glittering pile of neatly arranged fruits.

  “I didn’t touch your tomatoes!”

  “Oh, you didn’t?” The woman sprang to her feet. “Look at this upper class I-didn’t-touch-your-tomatoes!” she cried out, addressing her neighbors and the nearby customers. “Strutting around, all dressed up in nice cotton. No maguey material for such a pretty lady.” She grabbed Sakuna’s arm. “You pay for that tomato or your pretty little blouse will not look that pretty anymore.”

  Sakuna tugged at her arm, trying to break free. The woman shifted closer. She smelled of spicy sauce and unwashed clothes. People began to gather around, chuckling, preparing to watch a good show.

  Clenching her teeth, Sakuna pulled harder, now more angered than panicked.

  “Let go of me, you filthy woman,” she hissed and pushed the woman away.

  The commoner gasped and threw herself at her, amidst the cheers of the onlookers, the abrasive hands reaching for Sakuna’s hair, tearing the beautiful pins on their way.

  Crying out, Sakuna pushed at the woman with all her strength, but it did not help, and when she received a kick in her shins, she began to be afraid. Still she kicked back, her sandals of a much better quality, making the woman cry out too.

  Then, someone was between them, and though her eyes were blurred with tears, she recognized the slender figure of Eek, her hair wild and stringy, streaming over her unusually dark tunic.

  “Let her go!” shouted Eek in her heavily accented speech, pushing at the woman with a surprising strength. “If you don’t leave her hair now, I’ll put a curse on you and will make all your tomatoes rot.”

  The woman backed away, and while the impressive Mayan screamed at her attacker, Sakuna clutched her head, making sure her scalp had not come off. She tried to control her sobbing, hard put not to burst into real tears.

  “Come,” said Eek, taking her elbow and propelling her away, in the direction of the painted wall where her colorful blanket was spread, displaying a variety of roots, plants and spices.

  “Here, drink this.”

  The flask contained more than just water, but Sakuna drank obediently, swallowing the spicy drink and choking a little.

  “Is it octli?” she whispered, wiping her mouth.

  “Pulque. Who wants to drink water after a fight?” The slanted and somewhat cr
ossed eyes of the Mayan twinkled with amusement. “You really can’t recognize the taste, eh?”

  Sakuna shook her head, regretting the question.

  “The filthy woman was right. You are a perfect upper class lady, even with this love for herbs and healing you have.” She looked around, surprised. “Where are your slaves and that fancy little litter of yours?”

  “It’s a long story.”

  She eyed the slender woman gratefully, not deterred by her appearance, which was decidedly strange, beginning with the wild hair and the dark clothing and ending with the necklace composed of tiny skulls of birds strung together, encircling her neck. The woman’s earlobes, laden with heavy stone earrings, stretched almost past her shoulders.

  She had known this woman for many moons, liking her very much. The liking seemed to be mutual as Eek, while selling the rich lady her herbs, had also taught her a great deal about all kinds of medicine.

  “Thank you! Thank you for everything. I… I don’t know what I did. I wasn’t even near her tomatoes when she started yelling at me. Then, the next thing I knew she was grabbing my hair…” Sakuna took a convulsive breath, trying to calm down.

  “She sensed that you did not belong here, so she picked on you.” The compassionate smile of the Mayan widened. “Forget it, and tell me what are you doing here, running around the marketplace all alone on such a day? Of all people I would expect you safely at home. Your husband shouldn’t allow you out, let alone unescorted.”

  Sakuna stared at the woman with a measure of disbelief. Had the rumors of the turmoil in her household reached the markets?

  “How do you know I’m not allowed to go out?”

  The Mayan studied Sakuna’s face, then burst out laughing. “Listen, sister, you do act strange today. I don’t know if you are allowed out or not, but I do know there are plenty of rumors seeping from the Palace, each wilder than the other. Warriors are running all over the city. A group of the elite ones just passed the markets in all their splendor of brilliant blue and feathers. They are rumored to be on their way to the Palace. People say there is some fighting going on over there. They say the Emperor’s heirs are busy killing each other, would you believe that? Such a mess.” The woman paused, smiling crookedly. “And now I have you, running around the marketplace, picking fights. An unusual morning, if you ask me.”

  “They fight in the Palace?” repeated Sakuna incredulously.

  “So they say.” They could hear the clamor as another group of warriors rushed down the main road that had cut the marketplace in two. “So, what were you doing here all alone? What was so important to make you sneak out without your litter and your slaves, with your husband not allowing you to go out?”

  “You.” Sakuna looked up guiltily. “I was looking for you.”

  “Is this a good morning to buy herbs?”

  “I don’t need herbs. I need something rare and expensive.”

  The word “expensive” triggered a thought. She searched frantically. The bag with the cocoa beans and the jewelry was missing.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Eek, surprised.

  “I lost the bag with the beans.”

  She could not hold her tears anymore. They streamed down her face, and she knew it would make her look ugly and stupid, but she didn’t care. She had failed miserably. There would be no poison, the Emperor would not die, there would be much fighting, and anyway, Eek said they were fighting in the Palace already. And her husband would not survive, and even if he did, he would throw her out or even kill her. Back home they would know she had ran away by now, and what would they think? They would assume she went out to see more of her lovers.

  She felt the slender arms holding her, caressing her shoulders. “It’s all right.”

  “I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I’m sorry. I just have to go home now.”

  “Come on, sister. Have some more pulque. Here, sit here.” The woman moved two of the baskets, clearing a space on the mat. “Here, drink some and tell me exactly what happened. Why were you looking for me? What is this special thing you need?”

  The crossed eyes held Sakuna’s gaze, willing her to obey, calming and suddenly irresistibly dominating. She could not look away, wouldn’t want to. She knew she could tell it all.

  “I need to buy a very strong poison of a kind that could not be suspected.”

  Eek gasped, and the magic broke. “You what?”

  Sakuna cringed, wishing she had stayed home.

  The Mayan’s laughter rang in her ears. “Am I to presume we will have a new Chief Warlord soon?” Her laughter piqued as she studied Sakuna, who was gaping at her, unable to understand. “Or is it someone else? Whom are you going to poison, sweet lady?”

  “Listen.” Sakuna fought to control her voice. “I… I’d really better go. The more I talk, the less sense I make. Will you be prepared to forget all about it? Please?”

  “Sakuna!” The gaze holding hers grew sterner by the moment. The power the crossed eyes radiated took her breath away. “Listen to me. You came here, and it’s too late to back away, understand that. You are like a scared little animal, peeking from your safe hiding to do something brave, then fleeing back into your snug little hole in the middle of the deed, scared by your own bravery. You are brave, I know you are,” she added hurriedly when Sakuna began to protest. “But you are out of your depth, and it’s scaring you. Listen, in my homeland I’m a priestess of the mighty Ixchel, the earth and moon goddesses, the Lady Rainbow. I’m not deterred by the necessity to kill people. It’s perfectly all right to poison someone. And I may have something for you.” The crossed eyes narrowed. “I won’t even charge you for that right now. You can bring me the payment later on. I trust you. I have known you for too long, and I also read people like they were drawings upon a bark sheet. That cihua that attacked you was scared, for example. You scared her by not running away, and it made her aggressive. People are not what they usually pretend and would want you to believe they are. I can see through you, Sakuna. You love your cozy little life, but you are a fighter. If it’s threatened, and I suppose it’s threatened now, you will put up a good fight. So stop acting like a silly little girl. What way do you intend to poison whomever you are about to poison?”

  Her will was cringing under the dark, eerily glowing gaze. “I’m not the one to administer the poison. I am supposed to find one. A good one, not of local origins.” She hesitated. “You are so good to me. I will never forget it.”

  “When do you need it?”

  “At high noon.”

  “So soon?” The broad face frowned. “I’m not sure I’ll be ready in time.”

  She felt her world crashing about her again and fought to stay calm. “Maybe something else then? Something that takes less time to prepare?”

  Eek laughed. “You are really funny. This is not a game, girl. If you need something strong and good and untraceable, then you need just that. Not something else that can be prepared more readily.” She sighed as if reaching a decision. “Go home now, and be here right before noon. I hope I’ll be ready by then.”

  They looked up as the screams erupted. People came running, and it seemed as though a fight was developing at the far end of the alley.

  “Help me with the baskets,” said Eek curtly. She began pouring the contents of the smaller vessels into a large one. “Quick Sakuna, empty the baskets.”

  “What’s happening?” asked Sakuna, picking a bucket with yellowish seeds.

  “I don’t know, and I really don’t want to find out. Something is wrong around here today. We had better be off.”

  A crowd of agitated men was pouring down the alley, waving and yelling, their improvised clubs high.

  “Quick, follow me.”

  The Mayan thrust a heap of empty baskets into Sakuna’s hands, picking the full one up with a surprising strength and disappearing into the small alleyway hidden behind the column. Sakuna followed, fighting to keep her balance without dropping one of the baskets. The screams from behind
made her hasten her step.

  As they came out on the other side of the main road, they saw another fight, other people screaming and running. Some warriors tried to break up the hostilities, but did so half-heartedly, watching the commoners’ melee, amused and exchanging comments.

  She could hear Eek cursing softly. “Follow me. Don’t make yourself noticeable.”

  They ran past the brawl as quickly as they could. She didn’t look around, afraid to find out that the warriors saw them.

  What would she say if questioned? The Chief Wife of the Honorable Warlord running around the market, carrying baskets for a common witch.

  They dove into another alleyway and stopped for a moment, regaining their breath. She could see Eek’s slender figure sagging under the heavy burden.

  “Why are they fighting?” she asked.

  The Mayan shrugged, putting her basket down. “If there is fighting in the Palace, then it will spill into the city soon enough.” She sighed. “I hope they will sort out their differences soon. It will turn ugly, if it goes on. Your husband had better start doing something.”

  “I’m sure he is busy doing everything he can to prevent that!”

  Eek laughed. “I’m sure he is.” She picked up the basket. “Now just help me with those, and I’ll make sure you’ll get back home safely.”

  A group of warriors appeared at the far end of the small alley. She could feel Eek tensing by her side, but the men went past them, apparently paying no attention to the two market women.

  She watched them, trying to recognize if they were her husband’s people. Of course, they were not. The brilliant blue of the elite warriors was easy to pick, even from a great distance. Yet, these were no commoners either. Dressed in colorful cotton cloaks, they seemed well fed and well kept, their hair tied in a typical topknot.

  One of the warriors caught her gaze and winked. “What are you looking at, pretty one? You like warriors, eh?” He stopped and Sakuna took a step back, terrified. “Did you get it from a warrior before, eh? Would you like that?”

  Another warrior joined them. “Come girls, what do you have in those baskets? Something to drink maybe. I need a drink badly.” He eyed them, amused, his gaze twinkling unpleasantly. “Which one do you want?” He elbowed his companion. “The witch or the pretty one?”