"The beautiful Long Causeway crossed the lake, and the towering Great Temple pierced the clouds... That was the Land of the Lakes, of prickly pears and stone—the immortal Tenochtitlan..."
Night lay deep, and the camp gradually fell quiet. The Mayan merchant Tikalo spoke in a soft murmur, coaxing the two children of the royal families to sleep. Then he came to the flickering firepit, felt around in his clothes for a while, took out the last roll of Mayan Divine Smoke, and handed it to the old militiaman Chiwako.
"Captain Chi, want a roll?"
"Mm."
The old militiaman Chiwako reached out and took the Divine Smoke, setting it against the edge of the firepit to light it. Then he placed the rolled smoke in the middle of the seated crowd. Several leaders of the fleet all leaned forward together, their brows easing as they breathed in the relaxing scent.
"Captain Chi, I have a suggestion. I'd like to discuss it with you..."
"Mm?"
The Mayan merchant Tikalo lowered his head and drew in a deep breath of smoke. Then he looked at the old militiaman and requested sincerely, "Tilan and Tidan are still young... Sleeping rough in wind and meals in the open, and now there's a storm coming... I'm afraid they won't endure it..."
"They're the last hope of Mayapan's royal house, and also the hostages the Cocom family handed over to the Alliance... When the merchant fleet's boats come tomorrow, let them leave with the boats, all right?..."
"Captain Chi, please believe me... I'll arrange the men and have them secretly sent to the coast occupied by the kingdom, aboard the merchant fleet's trading ships..."
Hearing Tikalo's words, the old militiaman Chiwako lifted his head and looked deeply into the other man's eyes for a while, as if