The twilight bled like blood, engulfing the heavens and earth, reminiscent of a river of life converging or flas devouring the sky. The New Year’s festival danced within this river and flas, as jubilant cheers filled the entire capital.
"Go, little Aviloztli! Take my ssage to him!"
Crisp voices called tenderly, and a young golden eagle suddenly soared up! In just monts, it reached an altitude over a thousand ters. It soared into the sky with full wings, bringing the rustle of wind, like a king of the skies, startling the birds over Lake Texcoco.
Little golden eagle Aviloztli was now three years old. Once a small chick that could be cradled in the palm, it was now a massive creature with a body length over half a ter and a wingspan beyond one and a half ters. Its nimble neck was yellow-brown, and its broad wings dark brown, though it still retained the juvenile white down at the tips of its wings and tail. And at this very mont, tied to its slender eagle legs was a small scroll of cotton cloth bearing a letter.
"Yo, yo!"
Aviloztli circled in the sky thousands of ters high, swaying its head proudly, issuing a juvenile joyful cry. Then, widening its pupils, it looked down at the white-robed girl gazing upward, calling out "yo yo" proudly once again.
After a while, it seed to finally understand the young girl’s expectations and flew a nostalgic circle before flapping its wings, heading straight for the mountains in the west. The golden eagle’s flying speed could maintain at least 200 li per hour; from the lake capital to Qinchongcan Capital, it took less than four hours. Fearless of threats along the way and capable of long-distance navigation, it was the era’s best ssenger!
Of course, all this depended on whether it truly understood its master’s command.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Aviloztli reached the mountainous areas in the western part of the Alliance. Looking down from the sky, the layered mountains undulated on the ground, smoke rose from settlents between the mountains, and stone fortresses looked especially tiny. From here going west, crossing the rugged forest, one would reach Xiulote’s fief, the boundary of the Kingdom of the Lake.
The little golden eagle did not venture further west; the prey here was already abundant. It soared freely in the sky, first spotting a running wild wolf, it reduced its altitude and followed effortlessly, filled with a desire to pounce. The wild wolf sensed the lurking danger, stopped in its tracks and looked up. Shortly after, it howled several tis, and several of its kind gathered, together vigilantly staring at the threatening spot in the sky.
Aviloztli circled cautiously for a long ti, but eventually gave up the risky pounce. It continued searching and then spotted a running young elk. Such prey was not too challenging for it. The little golden eagle quickly lowered its altitude, and at 100 ters, swiftly pounced fiercely. The roaring wind from high above rapidly swept down, and its powerful wings knocked down the young elk.
The little golden eagle extended its sharp claws, forcefully tearing at the neck of its prey. Blood gushed out, accompanying the mournful cries of the elk. After monts of struggle, the elk ceased to move or make a sound. Aviloztli arrogantly raised its head, issuing a "majestic" cry once again.
"Yo, yo!"
Then, Aviloztli grasped the elk, vigorously flapping its wings! It struggled on the ground for a while, trying to take the prey with it, but found it impossible to take off. Monts later, the little golden eagle reluctantly set down the heavy elk and flew to a nearby river, pouncing once again!
This ti, Aviloztli caught a fierce and beautiful purple-red fish as a gift for its mistress. Proudly flaunting its catch, it called out joyfully and soared upwards, hastily returning to the lake capital. The letter tied to its feet remained intact, and after hundreds of li back and forth across the sky, it was about to safely return!
"Yo, yo!..."
Under the sky hundreds of li away, the New Year’s festival in Qinchongcan Capital also just reached its conclusion.
Xiuote, dressed in black ceremonial attire, stood at the very top of the Akatla Pyramids. He raised the erald Divine Staff in his hands, facing the setting sun, and amid the kneeling of tens of thousands of citizens in the capital, he offered the most sacred fire sacrifice to the burning sacred fire.
The first sacrifice presented was a young coyote, its blood already drained beforehand, and intentionally positioned with its head facing west. In the xica animal worship, the coyote was a creature of loyalty and unity with innate divinity. The animal form of God of Death Xiulotel was that of a black wolf howling to the heavens.
In front of the citizens of the lake, Xiulote cast the divine body of the coyote into the fire, offering it to the departing Sun God, while chanting aloud.
"Praise the Sun God, I offer you the coyote! It is the companion of the sun, journeying toward the Abyss after sunset!... Praise the Chief Divine! May you take away death and grant us enduring life!"
After the offering, Xiulote raised the Divine Staff again, and a boiling cheer erupted instantly. Below the pyramid, both the Prepetcha and xica people prostrated themselves on the ground, their faces showing sincere joy as they shouted with all their might. Although the burnt sll of fur lingered at his nostrils, the young King took a deep breath and smiled slightly.
As a Priest King, this was Xiulote’s first ti to fully lead the New Year sacrificial rites!
Based on his family background and the legends of the Alliance, he boldly altered the sacrifices for the New Year celebration. Under his strict demands, the Kingdom of the Lake’s New Year ceremony focused on the Chief Divine, incorporated different customs from both the Alliance and the Kingdom, and replaced human sacrifices with animal ones!
"Give enough ti, and I can change everything!"
Xiulote whispered silently, filled with confidence in reshaping civilization. He then took the second sacrifice, a deer shot dead, with its head pointing to the East. In the tradition of the Prepetcha people, the deer stood as a symbol of the Nobility and a pet of the Moon Goddess.
"Praise the Sun God, I present to You this deer! It is a sprite under the moon, ascending toward the path to the Divine Kingdom when the moon rises!... Praise the Chief Divine! May You bless us with peace and bestow upon us a pleasant afterlife!"
As the sun set and the moon began to rise, another burst of fervent cheers erupted. In the myths of both tribes, the Moon Goddess held different divine roles, both good and evil, which were now erased in the ceremony, leaving only the common afterlife. And after the sun and moon, ca the earth, symbolizing tolerance and vitality.
Xiulote finally took a river fish, held it high with its head pointing to the ground. In the shared culture of Central Arica, fish represented the common peasantry, born of the earth and lakes.
"Praise the Sun God, I present to You this river fish! It is life of the earth, going to the rivers among n after the rain falls!... Praise the Chief Divine! May You grant us blessings, bestowing a bountiful harvest on our fields!"
"Praise the Chief Divine, grant us a bountiful harvest!"
As the multitude looked on, Xiulote threw the river fish into the fire. The most intense shouts erupted at this mont! The people of the Lake Region had been troubled by war and famine for nearly two years, with thousands dying from starvation. For them, only a plentiful harvest could quench their deep-seated desire.
The continuous cheers surged and created waves of sound that reached the heavens. Not until the sun dipped below the horizon did the Lake Region’s New Year ceremony conclude. Next ca the grand feast at night. The entirety of Qinchongcan City, and indeed all the residents of the Fief, ca together to celebrate. They celebrated the end of the war, and also a hard-won peaceful New Year.
After a day of hard work, the grand ritual was finally over. Xiulote, maintaining the deanor of the divine, entered the Temple at the top of the pyramid. He then removed his heavy Ceremonial Dress, changed into a festive robe, and proceeded to the Palace of Wind’s New Year banquet accompanied by Ugus and Mawilo.
The Envoy from the southern Zicao County had been waiting outside the Palace of Wind for a long ti. The banquet circle that evening was small, limited only to the upper layers of the Kingdom. He did not qualify to attend and could only wait there.
Xiulote kindly reassured the Envoy with a few words, not directly responding to the delicate inquiry about the Fief Issue, and then left under the escort of the High Priest.
Soon, the young King sat solemnly on the throne in the grand hall of the Palace of Wind. He looked up at the dark sky outside the window, seeming to hear a familiar yet distant cry. The recently sacrificed wolf, deer, and fish flashed through his mind, embedding a prolonged contemplation of the situation.
"By sacrificing the King of Tarasco, the New Year’s grand ceremony in the Capital City of the Lake will shake the world! All the factions will know the power of the xica people, and will perceive the threat of the Alliance’s conquest. ... A new year is about to begin, and a new journey is underway!"
"For the Alliance, the Tlaxcalans are like the united Coyotes. They are closely connected with the surrounding factions, moving as one. For the Fief, the Chapala Lake Region is like a robust deer. They are delicious prey, only requiring ti to hunt, ti to digest. And for , what then is the river fish at arm’s reach?"
The bright bonfire in the great hall glimred, and the King’s contemplation sparkled in the firelight. His brow slowly relaxed, as plans of various preparations converged in his mind, forming a continuous serpent.
Soon, the generals took their seats in order, grouped according to their affiliations. The maids also brought in exquisite dishes and drinks. The fragrant aromas filled the air, and relaxed laughter gently arose. A lavish banquet was about to comnce!
User Comments
0 comments from readers