The blazing sun rose and fell, leaving a day's fiery red and haloed glow across the broad coastal lands. And when dusk deepened, the difference between day and night temperatures, the difference in air pressure between sea and land, whipped up a great wind by the shore, blowing until robes snapped and feathered crowns streamed.
"Ekat, the moisture in this wind is heavy... The rainy season in the coastal lands comes earlier than on the plateau. It'll be here very soon!"
Xolotl wore a feathered crown and a white robe as he stood on the little hill beside the Adobe River. His eyes were deep as he gazed across both banks of the great river, watching boats come and go, watching large columns of Militia march forward under heavy loads...
The young king watched the eastern horizon for a long while before he finally spoke, his voice low and distant.
"The latest report... Black Wolf Toltec has taken Coyote City and captured thirty to forty thousand Coyote tribesmen in all. But the new Coyote Chief resisted to the death, and under the incitement of the priests of Hidden Snake City, he burned the grain stored in the city, and burned half the city-state with it... Black Wolf drew lots and killed five thousand people, executed every resisting noble chief, priest, and warrior, then withdrew to Cone House City with the captured tribespeople..."
Hearing this, the Captain of Guards Ekat lifted his brows, then lowered his eyes. He knew of this newly arrived report, but compared with the contents of the report, compared with the life and death of several thousand people, he cared more about His Highness's reaction...
"House Master, the coastal lowlands have a warm climate, so the rainy season comes early, and spring plowing comes earlier than on