Free Young Jaguar, The by Zoe Saadia Page B

arm and led
her out of the small room, rolling her eyes as she walked. “You wouldn’t
believe how stupid, inept, inefficient those slaves are! Are your slaves any
good?”
    “Some of them,” muttered Sakuna.
    She didn’t like talking about slaves. She could have
been one of them, had things turned out differently. She knew there was more to
life than the noblewomen of Azcapotzalco would ever dream. “I’m so glad he did
drink the potion after all!”
    “Oh, he is a stubborn one, even when sick.” Nopalli
sighed. “But I really feared for him this time. With the outbreak of the summer
disease, one can never be sure, can one? I hate this season. It’s so hot and
humid, and so many people get sick and die.” The young woman shook her head as
if trying to banish the gloom. “He did get me worried, this child. I can’t
believe he would not swallow the medicine!” She laughed and led the way toward
the spaciousness of her inner rooms. 
    “It’s really very bitter. I can’t blame him.”
    Nopalli giggled. “I am prepared to bet ten cocoa
beans it was not as bitter as the drinks I was made to swallow while birthing
him.”
    “No!”
    They laughed, and the stocky, talkative hostess
clapped her hands. “Tell the cook to send us chocolate drinks and
refreshments,” she said to the servant. “We deserve a snack even if it’s not
the best time of the day to eat, don’t we?”
    Sakuna shifted uncomfortably. “I should go home
soon. It’s getting dark.”
    “Oh, what nonsense! I’ll get an army of slaves to
take you home safely, sister. And the Warlord would know you are here, so if he
is back, he’ll send for you.” The large, oval eyes sparkled. “But it’ll be a
while before he comes home.”
    “Why?”
    “The delegations from all over the Great Lake arrived
to pay their respects to the new Emperor. Even the representatives from the distant
Texcoco showed up this morning, surprising everyone. They’ll be talking and
scheming and planning, keeping your husband busy for most of the night.”
Nopalli was famous for her gossiping skills. There was no Palace story that she
didn’t know about.
    “It’s all quiet in Texcoco now, isn’t it? No new
wars or anything?” That refined Acolhua altepetl was so distant, placed
on the other side of the Great Lake. She hoped Tecpatl would not have to go out
there.
    “No. Since we took their altepetl from the
savage Chichimec, it’s all quiet and peaceful around there.” Nopalli inhaled
loudly. “What a war it was! So many slaves, so many spoils. The markets were
bursting with exotic jewelry and clothing, remember?”
    “I was not yet in Azcapotzalco when it happened,”
admitted Sakuna, uncomfortable once again.
    “Ah, I keep forgetting.” The large eyes measured her
guest mischievously. “But there were wars in your lands too. I remember our
esteemed Chief-Warlord-to-be coming back all bruised and limping, his leg
almost rotting away. I was just a girl, but I remember. He looked magnificent.
All of the girls wished their fathers would give them to him. Who would think
he would bring you back and would never take another?” The large eyes twinkled,
throwing Sakuna further off balance. “Do you know why he’d been sent away in
the first place?”
    Sakuna shook her head, not sure she wanted to know.
    “He had done something shameful. Made a mistake,
something to do with some battle, something wrong and disgraceful. They said he
might have been captured, Imagine that! Such a promising warrior getting
himself almost captured alive. I don’t know exactly what it was. There were
plenty of rumors. So, his father asked my father, who was by then already one
of the Emperor’s advisers, to smooth the matter. And my father made sure
Tecpatl got sent away. To live it down, you know. To let the matters calm.” The
young woman’s eyes sparkled, their excitement spilling. “But do you think he
was grateful for such a perfect solution? Do you think he wanted to