Thanatos looked back over his shoulder at Coronis as he walked away. Meddling woman, he thought silently. This is my business and Ares' business. She has no right to question me and I have no obligation to answer her questions.
But as Coronis attended to Cerek and then suddenly rushed over to where Burning Mirror was assisting his daughter, Thanatos made it a point to slowly, casually walk somewhat near to where the young man, Edes, was standing with Edes' ever-present white-faced friend.
Thanatos paused near Edes, but not too closely, for he saw the young man's right hand tighten on the hilt of the Spartan sword hung at his waist the closer Thanatos came. Thanatos looked at Edes and then wordlessly nodded his head just once. Then the Ares' worshipper walked towards the edge of the area and sat down. Three sailors near where Thanatos sat promptly walked away and found a new place to stand and wait for their orders. Thanatos noticed the expressions of dislike on their faces, but he didn't care. Ares' take them, the insignificant fools!
"What was that all about?" asked Bartuc.
"He was thanking me for saving his life," answered Edes.
"Well you could have fooled me!" said Bartuc in a voice dripping with sarcasm.
"No one will be fooled for much longer," observed Edes, who then walked over to speak with Zeos. Bartuc stared after his friend now more puzzled than before.
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"Are you the gods who appeared on the waters riding the great river boat?" asked Macxutequa.
"We are of the boat," replied Aythadis. Macxutequa looked down at his bound hands.
"Why are you here?" asked the Aztec.
"We have been sent to this land by one of the gods," answered Aythadis. "We are from the lands beyond the great waters." Aythadis pointed towards the west.
"Why are you here?" repeated Macxutequa. Aythadis seized the opportunity.
"We come to give a message to the Aztecs... Cease preying on the peoples who live around you, enslaving them and using their young children for your sacrifices. The gods do not approve."
Macxutequa shook his head. "That is not what our priests say."
"Are your priests gods?" retorted the tall man.
"They do not claim to be gods, just that they speak for the gods," said the Aztec.
"Then when the gods themselves speak to the Aztecs, should not the priests be silent and listen as well?" said Aythadis.
"That is so," agreed Macxutequa. He raised his head and studied the mysterious tall man with the green eyes standing in front of him. "Are all of you from the boat gods? Are you the chief god among them?"
"That is for you to decide now that you have heard the message. Decide correctly and your people shall survive. Decide wrongly and your nation shall be destroyed, its people scattered and all of your cities will become ruins."
The Aztec scanned the strange bearded men with their never before seen weapons and various pieces of dulled or gleaming body armor.
Macxutequa turned his head back to look at Aythadis. "How shall I carry this message to my people if I am bound and held prisoner?"
"You will be freed and may return to your city." Aythadis and Burning Mirror both raised their hands to still the angry murmuring coming from the men behind them who bore no good will towards the Aztecs.
Macxutequa hesitated momentarily. "It shall be as you want. I will carry the message to my people and will see that it is inscribed in our lessons and legends. But I cannot do much more. It will be for the king and the priests, now and to follow, to decide if what you say shall be done or not."
"Yes it shall," agreed Aythadis. At a nod from Aythadis, Burning Mirror drew a small knife from under his clothing and cut the vines that bound the Aztec's hand. Macxutequa rose to his feet and looked first at Burning Mirror and then at Aythadis. The warrior bowed to them both and then turned. The Aztec set out for his city at a steady run and soon disappeared into the lush green forest.
Burning Mirror turned to Aythadis. "Will he do as you ask?"
Aythadis nodded. "Yes, my friend, he shall. But I fear the priests may not be so willing." Aythadis' green eyes took on a far away look. "Yes, there will come a time when Macxutequa's people will be judged by their acts; but whether by the gods or not will be unclear for centuries afterwards..." Then Aythadis' eyes refocussed and he spoke directly to Burning Mirror. "It's time we return these people to your village and ourselves to our vessel, don't you think?"
Burning Mirror smiled and nodded and so preparations began to return to the Olmec village. On the walk back, Yanil manuevered himself to a place at Edes' side. When Edes looked down, Yanil could not help but smile at Edes. The young swordsman smiled back, but his mind remained occupied by a myriad series of oddly disjointed thoughts about Cerek, Thanatos, the red jewel of Ares, a black cat-beast... and Yanil.
[This message has been edited by Civis Romanus (edited 01-02-2001).]