Enchantment

The night deepened. Moonlight thinned, the stars vanished, the Earth Mother sank into shadow, and the mountains and forests returned to darkness.

The Imperial Guard Legion's camp was tightly watched, silent and grim. Elite warriors held torches as they patrolled beyond the camp. They guarded the king in the great tent, and they also kept watch against the nobles lodging in the small city.

Xolotl sat cross-legged in the great tent, dressed in full military attire. He held a scroll in his hands, seated atop a soft jaguar-skin carpet. A brazier burned in the tent, the roof vent left open, and now and then the night wind poured in. The south in November was still warm; one could sleep peacefully without a cotton blanket.

After reading for a while, the king felt an inexplicable heat and restlessness. He tossed the scroll in his hand aside, revealing its cover: it was the Alliance's newly issued tax ordinance, only recently promulgated. The ordinance further strengthened King Avet's authority, clarified the tribute obligations of the nobility, and would take effect beginning with this year's annual tribute. In other words, it meant centralizing power and raising taxes on nobles of every rank—naturally including the Lake Kingdom.

Xolotl drew in a deep breath, then slowly let it out. Then he looked toward the Captain of Warriors.

"Bertad, how are the southern nobles?"

"Your Highness, some of the nobles left overnight, while others are lodging in the small city. Most should have accepted their fate already. Only a few families seem to still want to struggle."

"Mm. Send envoys and have the three armies marching south quicken their pace! The Western Legion will control Apatzingan. The Eastern Legion will enter and garrison Kuramo City. The central army will cut off the two places from each other,