CHAPTER 31
CITY OF HOKAIA YEAR 1 OF THE CROW
Rejoice! You go to battle now! A place of claw and tooth where there is no room for mercy.
—From the Oration of the Jaguar Prince on the Eve of the Frenzy
Balam walked the hall of the Mole Palace with Powageh by his side. “And then the Knife says, ‘I thought you killed your mother.’ And the girl replies, ‘So did I.’？”
“Seven hells,” Powageh exclaimed. “And then what?”
“Well, they had to arrest her. Pech was dead, after all, and we all saw that she did it. But he did pull her shoulder from the socket, and she is the Teek queen’s daughter. Mahina claims it was self-defense, so Naasut is treading very carefully. I think she’d prefer if it all simply went away.”
“And the other Cuecolan lords?” Powageh asked as they stepped out onto the open grounds that surrounded the palace. “Are they demanding justice for Pech?”
“I think we all know Pech was not particularly well liked. Sinik seems the only one who might protest. Tuun certainly won’t, particularly if the Teek are willing to offer restitution. In fact, I think she sees the opportunity in the Teek owing us a debt.”
Powageh grimaced. “Not what we planned for.”
“No,” Balam admitted. “But chaos can only benefit us. Speaking of benefits, did you procure the thing I needed?”
“Do I ever fail you, Cousin?”
“Surprisingly, no.”
“There’s a thriving underground market here. All kinds of strange items claimed to be from the Graveyard of the Gods. But these I am assured are the true thing.” He handed Balam a small fabric bag, dark rich dirt clinging to its slightly damp sides. “Godflesh. Not a great quantity, but it was all that was available.”
“Ah.” Balam quickly palmed the bag and secreted it away in an inner pocket of his cloak. “You’ll have to watch my door tonight, Cousin. You’re the only one I trust, and there’s work to do.”
“Naasut?”
“For one. And there’s the matter of the spy in the cells below. He can’t speak anymore, but I’d not leave him in such misery for his faithful work. And I’d like to get a look into Nuuma Golden Eagle’s dreams. She’s hiding something, that’s clear, and I don’t think I can wait for Layat’s arrival to know what it is.”
“Is there enough for that?”
His cousin’s concerns about the godflesh were well taken. “I’ll need more soon. It is a finite resource we must use sparingly, but our circumstances warrant the risk.”
“As are you, a finite resource. I fear you are careless.”
“You worry about the madness.” He dared not mention the ever-growing blur between reality and his memory. Even now, he caught glimpses of burning corpses out of the corner of his eye. Images from the war, he was sure. “I am fine.”
Powageh ceded the argument with a sigh. “We have made strange allies here, Balam.”
“It is a new age. Alliances shift. We must anticipate the unexpected.” He glanced at the sky. “And what of our comet? I had hoped for it to accompany our arrival, but it seems delayed.”
“My calculations did not account for being farther north,” Powageh admitted. “But it should be visible after sunset.”
“And last how long?”
“Its transit will be brief.”
“We do not need it to linger, only to grace the heavens long enough to make our point.”
“Patience, Cousin. The heavens do not disappoint.”
A young voice interrupted them. “Lord Balam!”
The two Cuecolans turned to find a Hokaia boy approaching at a run.
“Now what?” Powageh murmured.
“A message for you, Lord. The Princess Xiala of the Teek wishes to speak to you.”
He exchanged a look with his cousin.
“She awaits you in the Otter Palace.”
“And where is that?”
“Across the plaza, Lord, just opposite here. She said it was of some urgency, as she hoped you could speak in private before her mother returned from touring the city.”
“Not in jail, then.” He cleared his throat. “Then lead.”
They started to walk, but the boy balked.
“She said only you, Lord. It is a private audience.”
Powageh raised xir hands. “Please. Don’t let me keep you.”
“I will see you tonight, then?”
“I’ll be there.”