"Ha ha ha ha! He does, he really does! Little Xiuhua, you're just like your father!... Now take Tidan and go play!"
"Great-uncle, I want to take Tidan... to play in your studio, and use a little cochineal pigment..."
"Oh?... You want to paint? Paint what?..."
"Mm-hmm! Tidan can paint Maya murals. I want her to paint a red divine bird..."
"Hmm?... And you? Paint a Divine Tree?..."
"Um... no. I want to use a little gold dust to paint a golden pyramid, and tell her... this is her home..."
".Ha ha ha ha! Fine, very fine! Then go use it. Just give orders directly to the servants in the studio!..."
"Thank you, Great-uncle!... Mm, thank you, Father!... Uh... and thank you, Mother!..."
Little Xiuhua held little Tidan's hand, lowered his head, and bowed once each to his great-uncle and to his parents. After that, the "tap-tap" of wooden shoes skipped away in delight. In the great reception hall, only three people remained, and they could discuss proper matters.
"Little Xolotl, little Alisa, have you eaten?"
"Not yet..."
"Then just have a little brunch!... Servants!..."
Cacamatzin called the servants over and gave them a couple of instructions. Soon, three cups of Vanilla Chocolate Drink, a large serving of Corn Tortilla with fillings, several plates of dried fruit and insect snacks were brought up.
"Praise the Main God!"
As usual, Xolotl prayed before the meal, then drank half a cup. Rich natural vanilla powder, paired with hand-ground and pressed chocolate juice, then mixed with warm well water—the drink filled his mouth with lingering fragrance and made his spirits lift!
This sacred stimulating drink, in truth, served the purpose of coffee and tea among the various peoples of Mesoamerica; there just was not much of it produced. Only after drinking half a