Loyalty

The Sun shone upon Earth once more. Earth was not much different from yesterday, save for a few extinguished campfires and shallow mounds of soil. The traces of death had been buried underground, while the living continued their campaign.

After breakfasting on tortillas and black beans, the Alliance Warriors shouldered their shields and war clubs.

The belongings of warriors from both sides were gathered up. The Otomi warriors had suffered heavy casualties, leaving much equipment scattered across the battlefield. The surplus weapons were carried by the warriors. Then, the extra leather armor was given to more than a hundred Otomi militiamen to carry. These fortunate men were promised that, so long as they transported the equipment back to the Mexica camp, they would be set free.

Beside the militiamen marched a large escort of Jaguar Warriors. They held javelins in hand, watchful of the captives' movements and guarding the seized supplies as well.

This was an age of extreme scarcity. Every suit of leather armor and every obsidian war club was precious. Damaged equipment would not be casually discarded, but taken back to camp for repairs.

The legion had captured three thousand Otomi captives in total: one thousand warriors and two thousand militiamen. The Mexica Warriors took out prepared sisal ropes, linked the captives' hands together, bound them into strings of twenty, and marched them in the middle of the column.

The captives were to endure a long journey, crossing mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes, before finally reaching the empire's great capital city to await the end of all things.

The army packed its gear and was soon ready to march. At that moment, more than a hundred warriors gathered of their own accord before Xolotl. They dropped to one knee and bowed their heads to him. Xolotl had seen them all before. They were the warriors who had offered up their hair at the end of yesterday's ritual.

The sturdy warrior at their head was a middle-aged man nearing forty, his face weathered and his expression composed. He wore yellow-striped battle armor and a feathered Beast Helmet, with a broad frame, thick knuckles, and red-patterned arm rings around his arms. Judging from his attire, he was actually a seasoned Level 4 Warrior, qualified to join the Eagle Regiment or Jaguar Regiment. He was only a step away from becoming a Level 1 Military Merit Noble.

The middle-aged man stepped before Xolotl, knelt on one knee again, and deeply lowered his head. Xolotl unconsciously imitated his grandfather's gesture. The boy placed his hand upon the warrior's hair and gave it a gentle grasp.

"Under the witness of Guardian Deity Huitzilopochtli, O sacred, victorious, and merciful Earth Wolf Priest, I, Bertad, a warrior from Tenochtitlan, am willing to protect you and fight for you until my last drop of blood is spilled."

The sudden oath of loyalty left Xolotl somewhat at a loss. He hesitated for a moment, steadied himself, and then asked in a low voice.

"Bertad, may I ask you a question?"

"At your command. I will tell you all I know."

"We have only known each other for two days. Why do you already wish to swear loyalty to me? Is it because of last night's ritual?"

"Main God bear witness! I thank you for mercifully guiding my younger brother's soul to the land of the dead."

"I see. Is there another reason?"

"Under your leadership, we won yesterday!"

"Uh... I see."

Hearing that, Xolotl pursed his lips, momentarily speechless. Yesterday, he had merely stood atop the hill, a priest watching from the sidelines as the battle began, unfolded, intensified, surged to its climax, and finally drew its curtain.

"Main God bless us! And you were born sacred. You were born not long after the great Montezuma I passed away—"

At this point, Bertad raised his head. A flicker of excitement appeared on his calm face, though his voice sank lower. It was low yet forceful, until at last only the two of them could hear it.

"The soul of a king is immortal. I remember that night—the evening star shone over the sky, and death brought new life!"

Xolotl shuddered sharply at those words. He remembered that in the Holy City of Teotihuacan, the king and his grandfather had also spoken of Montezuma I's death and the evening star. In the end, they had concluded that his birth was the blessing of Celestial Dog Xolotl. Then he had been bestowed the Celestial Dog Ritual Robe, and the king had taken him away. Not long ago, the king had even tested his understanding of the Sun and Earth Mother, with a faint killing intent beneath it all.

At that moment, everything connected like sparks struck from flint. Last came Avet's meaningful smile.

"You passed."

Xolotl fell silent for a moment, his body slightly stiff. At last, he clearly realized that in this ignorant age, myths and legends truly possessed the power to sway hearts and make warriors swear loyalty! The legend of the former king's reincarnation had followed him from the moment of his birth. There was no avoiding it, no escaping it. He could only struggle upward within the whirlpool of power. Yet within the boy's body was not truly a boy, and for the first time, a hint of gravity touched his features.

After a moment of silence, Xolotl finally asked in the same low voice.

"Then, Bertad, are you willing to walk on with the newborn Sun?"

Seeing the change in the boy's expression, the excitement Bertad could no longer conceal spread across his face.

"Main God bear witness! I am willing!"

"No matter what lies ahead?"

"No matter what lies ahead!"

"Until when?"

"Until the old day falls and the newborn Sun reigns over the sky!"

By then, Bertad's face was filled with fervor.

"And the great Montezuma will return to the throne!"

The intense exchange had been secret and swift. Once Bertad completed the rites of loyalty, his expression returned to normal, and he rose calmly before withdrawing.

Next, more than a hundred warriors stepped forward one by one to salute Xolotl, swear loyalty, and pledge to follow him.

Most of the warriors were friends or relatives of those who had died in battle, expressing their gratitude for yesterday's funeral. Another portion believed that, as a priest, he bore the gods' blessing and had brought victory to the war. No one mentioned the celestial signs at his birth again.

Perhaps they did not know. Or perhaps everyone simply buried it in their hearts.

Soon, the great army set out on its return journey to the siege camp outside Xilotepec. Several days of travel still lay ahead. The large force had to cross mountains and forests, making the return journey destined to be harder than the way there—especially for the captives.

The Alliance Warriors escorted the captives, drawing out a long column through the mountains. Avet remained at the front of the line, discussing the transport of captives and the handling of spoils with the commanders.

Xolotl walked farther back, chatting with the first group of warriors who had chosen to follow him. He discovered that their clothing and ornaments were relatively simple. Most had been born into ordinary commoner families. Advancement had not come easily to them. Though they were skilled in combat and adept at battle, they could rise no higher than seasoned Level 4 Warriors.

To advance another rank and become Level 1 Military Merit Nobles, gaining the privilege of holding land within a city-state, was exceptionally difficult. Luck, strength, and background—none could be lacking!

In other words, the warriors had chosen to follow him partly because of faith and emotion. But another part of it was the longing in their hearts for a future. After all, he was the direct grandson of the High Priest of the Holy City, and also the Earth Wolf Priest elevated by the king.

A new understanding arose in Xolotl's heart: faith and reality, moving side by side and carrying equal weight, were the foundation of loyalty.

And speaking with these battle-hardened warriors was, in truth, quite interesting.

Xolotl listened as the warriors spoke of life in the city-states, such as the ball games that had swept through them. Everyone competed for a leather ball made of rubber on a level rectangular court. Then, as though playing squash, they hurled the solid rubber ball into goals set high upon the walls. Usually, the losers became slaves, while the winners gained wealth and honor.

The loser of a match held on a ritual day would become the sacrifice of the ceremony. This was the famous "Human Sacrifice Ballcourt."

There were also mirrors polished from obsidian, clear as water's surface and able to reflect a person's face. These stone mirrors were costly and especially sought after by nobles.

Then there was the marvelous cochineal, tiny red insects that parasitized cacti. They secreted white fuzz, fine as dust, fed by sucking cactus sap, and grew into round, fat shapes. If the adult insects were ground into pulp, they produced the most gorgeous cochineal red. It was the finest dye, extraordinarily precious, used only on the most exquisite robes.

Xolotl also heard them speak of the Tarasco capital, Tzintzuntzan, a city built atop copper mines. Tzintzuntzan strictly restricted the outflow of copper ore from the city-state and controlled the sale of copper goods as well.

The people there could not only make sharp bronze daggers, spears, and axes, but also sturdy copper helmets and greaves. It seemed the Tarasco People had already mastered the making of bronze and had begun experimenting with copper armor.

"Actually, copper mines do not exist only in Tzintzuntzan, which the Tarasco People guard so tightly."

Upon hearing this, Bertad, who had remained quiet all along, suddenly interjected.

"As a scout, I once traveled westward along the Balsas River, where the Chontal People lived. After passing through the highland forests and journeying west for a month, one could penetrate deep into the southern lands of the Tarasco People, the region of Vetamo."

Xolotl's spirits rose sharply. He had heard new information about metal mines.

"The mountains there rise and fall, and the forests are dense. There are many small Tarasco city-states with strong autonomy. These city-states also use copper tools, and much of their copper comes from the mountains. There are many bare stone mountains where no grass or trees can grow. There is much granite, and the surfaces of the stones bear gilded patterns. Some patterns run together like golden threads, glittering beneath the sunlight and shining brilliantly."

"A large porphyry copper mine, one that can be mined in the open. And it is not tightly controlled by the Tarasco People."

Xolotl looked thoughtful, swiftly seizing upon three key points.

"Honored Earth Wolf Priest."

Bertad lowered his head and gave Xolotl a formal salute before offering his counsel for the first time.

"Copper equipment is both hard and durable. It will greatly aid your future. With copper spears, even a militiaman can threaten a warrior."

"Once this war ends, I am willing to infiltrate the south of Tarasco for you and purchase this important ore from the local villages and tribal states!"

At first, Xolotl had felt like laughing as he watched Bertad calmly and earnestly offer his counsel, explaining the importance of copperware. But when he heard that Bertad was willing to brave immense danger and enter Tarasco territory for the source of the ore, he felt somewhat moved.

After a brief period of thought, Xolotl nodded firmly, rose onto his toes, and patted Bertad on the shoulder.

The Alliance Warriors continued onward, chatting and laughing, until the setting sun dipped low and a bank of dark clouds arrived from afar.

Only then did Avet finally appear at an unhurried pace. He approached with a smile, then paused in surprise for an instant. His eyes narrowed as he carefully appraised Bertad, who stood calmly and weathered at Xolotl's side.

Then his gaze flickered as he looked over the more than a hundred warriors gathered behind Xolotl.

Finally, Avet's lips curved upward. He watched Xolotl, who was smiling as well, for a moment before saying with a beaming smile.

"Xolotl, it seems you gained quite a lot from this campaign!"