"The Main God bears witness! I am the county magistrate of River Mouth County in the Lake Kingdom, a legion commander personally promoted by His Highness!... Divine King Avet is supremely revered, and as one of the Mexica People, I likewise kneel and offer praise... But this enfeoffment, please forgive me—I cannot accept it!..."
The sacrificial platform was a full seven or eight meters high. The cheers and shouts beneath it were like a surging tide! And the exchange of gazes and answers atop the platform was like a great canoe floating on that tide, facing fierce wind, rain, and thunder head-on, liable to capsize at any moment!...
Monkey Kuluka lowered his head, his fingers tightening around the Scepter His Highness had bestowed on him, refusing calmly and firmly. He answered in a low voice, then glanced again at Marivelo, the Chief High Priest of the lake, standing solemnly beside him, giving him an unmistakable signal with his eyes.
This time, Marivelo, the Chief High Priest of the lake, could no longer remain silent either. He deeply furrowed his brow, looked toward the God of War Elder at the head, and raised his voice in opposition.
"Honored God of War Elder! Kuluka is a great general of the lake fiefdom. If he accepts the Divine King's enfeoffment, I fear that would be rather improper, would it not? The Divine King and High Priest Xutl once had an agreement, and he also swore an oath with Prince Xolotl... West of the old Tarasco lands, all matters are to be decided by the Holy City line itself, while the central Alliance does not interfere!... Have you come this time to break the oath between the Divine King and His Highness?!"
"Haaha! The Divine King did indeed say that west of the old