"Greetings to you, revered Divine King! You truly shine as bright as The Sun, your radiance illuminating the four directions!..."
"Xolotl, you've come. No need for so much ceremony... Come, sit over here!..."
Inside the Divine King's great tent stood the altar of the Main God, a panel of The Sun, and traces of sacrificial ash. Beneath the altar was a broad mahogany table, made from precious, hard, densely grained rosewood—in later generations, the famed "Kingwood." This kind of mahogany gave off a natural fragrance that mingled with the faint Divine Smoke, soothing the heart and making people relax without realizing it.
The corners of Avet's mouth lifted; he looked very approachable and kindly, as though he could hardly hold back his smile. He sat cross-legged on a large spread-out reed mat, its surface outlined with pure-gold thread in ripples of The Sun, and painted in rare Cochineal red with a pale-red sun. He reached out and beckoned Xolotl over. Xolotl still finished the rites respectfully before bending slightly and coming closer. But when he reached the Divine King's side, Xolotl froze.
"Your Majesty, Divine King... this... there's only one mat?..."
"Haaha! My son-in-law, don't be so bound by form... Sit beside me, sit together with me!..."
Avet reached out, pulling the anxious-looking Xolotl down to sit on the solar reed mat, shoulder to shoulder with him. Then, before Xolotl could speak, he smilingly pulled out a bark-paper letter stamped with the royal family's red mark and handed it to Xolotl.
"A letter from the capital, good news to make one rejoice!... A month ago, in the Lake Capital, Alisa gave birth to your pair of children—a sturdy boy and a lively girl!..."
"What! Alisa gave birth to twins?! My son and daughter, my children?!..."
Xolotl's whole body shook. He