Young Jaguar, The (18 page)

The woman backed away, and while the impressive
Mayan screamed at her attacker, Sakuna clutched her head, making sure her scalp
had not come off. She tried to control her sobbing, hard put not to burst into
real tears.

“Come,” said Eek, taking her elbow and propelling
her away, in the direction of the painted wall where her colorful blanket was
spread, displaying a variety of roots, plants and spices.

“Here, drink this.”

The flask contained more than just water, but Sakuna
drank obediently, swallowing the spicy drink and choking a little.

“Is it
octli
?” she whispered, wiping her
mouth.

“
Pulque
. Who wants to drink water after a
fight?” The slanted and somewhat crossed eyes of the Mayan twinkled with
amusement. “You really can’t recognize the taste, eh?”

Sakuna shook her head, regretting the question.

“The filthy woman was right. You are a perfect upper
class lady, even with this love for herbs and healing you have.” She looked
around, surprised. “Where are your slaves and that fancy little litter of
yours?”

“It’s a long story.”

She eyed the slender woman gratefully, not deterred
by her appearance, which was decidedly strange, beginning with the wild hair
and the dark clothing and ending with the necklace composed of tiny skulls of 
birds strung together, encircling her neck. The woman’s earlobes, laden with
heavy stone earrings, stretched almost past her shoulders.

She had known this woman for many moons, liking her
very much. The liking seemed to be mutual as Eek, while selling the rich lady
her herbs, had also taught her a great deal about all kinds of medicine.

 “Thank you! Thank you for everything. I… I don’t
know what I did. I wasn’t even near her tomatoes when she started yelling at
me. Then, the next thing I knew she was grabbing my hair…” Sakuna took a
convulsive breath, trying to calm down.

“She sensed that you did not belong here, so she
picked on you.” The compassionate smile of the Mayan widened. “Forget it, and
tell me what are you doing here, running around the marketplace all alone on
such a day? Of all people I would expect you safely at home. Your husband
shouldn’t allow you out, let alone unescorted.”

Sakuna stared at the woman with a measure of
disbelief. Had the rumors of the turmoil in her household reached the markets?

“How do you know I’m not allowed to go out?”

The Mayan studied Sakuna’s face, then burst out
laughing. “Listen, sister, you do act strange today. I don’t know if you are
allowed out or not, but I do know there are plenty of rumors seeping from the
Palace, each wilder than the other. Warriors are running all over the city. A group
of the elite ones just passed the markets in all their splendor of brilliant
blue and feathers. They are rumored to be on their way to the Palace. People
say there is some fighting going on over there. They say the Emperor’s heirs
are busy killing each other, would you believe that? Such a mess.” The woman paused,
smiling crookedly. “And now I have you, running around the marketplace, picking
fights. An unusual morning, if you ask me.”

“They fight in the Palace?” repeated Sakuna
incredulously.

 “So they say.” They could hear the clamor as
another group of warriors rushed down the main road that had cut the marketplace
in two. “So, what were you doing here all alone? What was so important to make
you sneak out without your litter and your slaves, with your husband not
allowing you to go out?”

“You.” Sakuna looked up guiltily. “I was looking for
you.”

“Is this a good morning to buy herbs?”

“I don’t need herbs. I need something rare and
expensive.”

The word “expensive” triggered a thought. She
searched frantically. The bag with the cocoa beans and the jewelry was missing.

“What’s wrong?” asked Eek, surprised.

“I lost the bag with the beans.”

She could not hold her tears anymore. They streamed
down her face, and she knew it would make her look ugly and stupid, but she
didn’t care. She had failed miserably. There would be no poison, the Emperor
would not die, there would be much fighting, and anyway, Eek said they were
fighting in the Palace already. And her husband would not survive, and even if
he did, he would throw her out or even kill her. Back home they would know she
had ran away by now, and what would they think? They would assume she went out
to see more of her lovers.

She felt the slender arms holding her, caressing her
shoulders. “It’s all right.”

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I’m sorry. I just have to
go home now.”

“Come on, sister. Have some more
pulque
.
Here, sit here.” The woman moved two of the baskets, clearing a space on the
mat. “Here, drink some and tell me exactly what happened. Why were you looking
for me? What is this special thing you need?”

The crossed eyes held Sakuna’s gaze, willing her to
obey, calming and suddenly irresistibly dominating. She could not look away,
wouldn’t want to. She knew she could tell it all.

“I need to buy a very strong poison of a kind that
could not be suspected.”

Eek gasped, and the magic broke. “You what?”

Sakuna cringed, wishing she had stayed home.

The Mayan’s laughter rang in her ears. “Am I to
presume we will have a new Chief Warlord soon?” Her laughter piqued as she
studied Sakuna, who was gaping at her, unable to understand. “Or is it someone
else? Whom are you going to poison, sweet lady?”

“Listen.” Sakuna fought to control her voice. “I…
I’d really better go. The more I talk, the less sense I make. Will you be
prepared to forget all about it? Please?”

“Sakuna!” The gaze holding hers grew sterner by the
moment. The power the crossed eyes radiated took her breath away. “Listen to
me. You came here, and it’s too late to back away, understand that. You are
like a scared little animal, peeking from your safe hiding to do something
brave, then fleeing back into your snug little hole in the middle of the deed,
scared by your own bravery. You are brave, I know you are,” she added hurriedly
when Sakuna began to protest. “But you are out of your depth, and it’s scaring
you. Listen, in my homeland I’m a priestess of the mighty Ixchel, the earth and
moon goddesses, the Lady Rainbow. I’m not deterred by the necessity to kill
people. It’s perfectly all right to poison someone. And I may have something
for you.” The crossed eyes narrowed. “I won’t even charge you for that right now.
You can bring me the payment later on. I trust you. I have known you for too
long, and I also read people like they were drawings upon a bark sheet. That
cihua
that attacked you was scared, for example. You scared her by not running away,
and it made her aggressive. People are not what they usually pretend and would
want you to believe they are. I can see through you, Sakuna. You love your cozy
little life, but you are a fighter. If it’s threatened, and I suppose it’s
threatened now, you will put up a good fight. So stop acting like a silly
little girl. What way do you intend to poison whomever you are about to
poison?”

Her will was cringing under the dark, eerily glowing
gaze. “I’m not the one to administer the poison. I am supposed to find one. A
good one, not of local origins.” She hesitated. “You are so good to me. I will
never forget it.”

“When do you need it?”

“At high noon.”

“So soon?” The broad face frowned. “I’m not sure
I’ll be ready in time.”

She felt her world crashing about her again and
fought to stay calm. “Maybe something else then? Something that takes less time
to prepare?”

Eek laughed. “You are really funny. This is not a
game, girl. If you need something strong and good and
untraceable
, then
you need just that. Not something else that can be prepared more readily.” She
sighed as if reaching a decision. “Go home now, and be here right before noon.
I hope I’ll be ready by then.”

They looked up as the screams erupted. People came
running, and it seemed as though a fight was developing at the far end of the
alley.

“Help me with the baskets,” said Eek curtly. She
began pouring the contents of the smaller vessels into a large one. “Quick
Sakuna, empty the baskets.”

“What’s happening?” asked Sakuna, picking a bucket
with yellowish seeds.

“I don’t know, and I really don’t want to find out.
Something is wrong around here today. We had better be off.”

A crowd of agitated men was pouring down the alley,
waving and yelling, their improvised clubs high.

“Quick, follow me.”

The Mayan thrust a heap of empty baskets into
Sakuna’s hands, picking the full one up with a surprising strength and
disappearing into the small alleyway hidden behind the column. Sakuna followed,
fighting to keep her balance without dropping one of the baskets. The screams
from behind made her hasten her step.

As they came out on the other side of the main road,
they saw another fight, other people screaming and running. Some warriors tried
to break up the hostilities, but did so half-heartedly, watching the commoners’
melee, amused and exchanging comments.

She could hear Eek cursing softly. “Follow me. Don’t
make yourself noticeable.”

They ran past the brawl as quickly as they could.
She didn’t look around, afraid to find out that the warriors saw them.

What would she say if questioned? The Chief Wife of
the Honorable Warlord running around the market, carrying baskets for a common
witch.

They dove into another alleyway and stopped for a
moment, regaining their breath. She could see Eek’s slender figure sagging
under the heavy burden.

“Why are they fighting?” she asked.

The Mayan shrugged, putting her basket down. “If
there is fighting in the Palace, then it will spill into the city soon enough.”
She sighed. “I hope they will sort out their differences soon. It will turn
ugly, if it goes on. Your husband had better start doing something.”

“I’m sure he is busy doing everything he can to
prevent that!”

Eek laughed. “I’m sure he is.” She picked up the
basket. “Now just help me with those, and I’ll make sure you’ll get back home
safely.”

A group of warriors appeared at the far end of the
small alley. She could feel Eek tensing by her side, but the men went past
them, apparently paying no attention to the two market women.

She watched them, trying to recognize if they were
her husband’s people. Of course, they were not. The brilliant blue of the elite
warriors was easy to pick, even from a great distance. Yet, these were no
commoners either. Dressed in colorful cotton cloaks, they seemed well fed and
well kept, their hair tied in a typical topknot.

One of the warriors caught her gaze and winked.
“What are you looking at, pretty one? You like warriors, eh?” He stopped and
Sakuna took a step back, terrified. “Did you get it from a warrior before, eh?
Would you like that?”

Another warrior joined them. “Come girls, what do
you have in those baskets? Something to drink maybe. I need a drink badly.” He
eyed them, amused, his gaze twinkling unpleasantly. “Which one do you want?” He
elbowed his companion. “The witch or the pretty one?”

Sakuna felt Eek’s arm sliding down her waist,
tucking something into her palm. The cold touch of sharp obsidian made her
wince.

The warriors stepped closer, but were startled by
the sharp call of their leader.

“You two. Move on. Leave the market
cihua
alone; they’ll wait for you. First the Palace.”

Sakuna shivered, recognizing the voice. It was one
of the men who had escorted her home last night, after her interview with
Tecpatl’s Uncle.

She took another step back, but the man was already
nearing.

“Move on,” he repeated, and the warriors backed away
reluctantly.

His gaze brushed past them both, dwelling upon Eek,
clearly aroused by her striking appearance. For another heartbeat, he eyed the
Mayan appreciatively, then began turning away.

Sakuna breathed with relief, taking another hurried
step back, forgetting about the baskets. The high heap swayed, and she tried to
catch her balance. When it fell and scattered around, she gasped and
immediately wanted to strangle herself.

Not sparing a glance to the laughing warriors, she
dropped to her knees and began picking up her cargo, careful to turn her back
toward them. But the tall warrior was already in front of her, peering at her,
amazed.

“The Chief Warlord’s wife?” he said, almost gaping.
“It can’t be.”

There was no point in trying to deny it. She
straightened up with all the dignity she could muster.

“Well, yes, I needed to buy something.” She met his
gaze and added cheekily. “It’s good you showed up. My slaves seem to be
scattered all over, and I would appreciate if you could spare some of your men
to escort me home.”

The man kept staring at her. “You don’t know what’s
going on, do you?”

She felt her heart missing a beat. “I’m sure my
husband will take care of the Palace’s problems,” she said haughtily, amazed by
her own cheek.

“Oh yes, he seems to be taking care of the problems.
But that was before we met you…” The contemplating gaze dwelled upon her,
before the man turned to his warriors. “You two, get a litter, no matter where
from. Just get it. Something with curtains.” He turned to her. “Please, lady.
Let us escort you. You wouldn’t mind if we detour by the Palace, would you?”

She looked at him hard. “I would prefer to go home,”
she said coldly, marveling at the fact that her voice was still cool and aloof.
Her heart made some wild leaps inside her chest. “I’m afraid my appearance is
not nearly adequate for visiting the Palace.”

He didn’t avert his gaze. “Oh lady, you would be
welcomed in the Palace, trust me. Your appearances are always exceptional.”