Dirk van den Boom - The Emperor's Men 8 - Stormy Heavens

Bahlam laughed again, but this time it sounded happier. “I don’t blame Mutal. One small detail bothers me: Chitam, it is said, is now determined not to just punish Saclemacal, to humiliate the king there and replace him with a more pleasing one, to plunder properly and to take slaves – no, the intent is to conquer the city. Permanently. Manage its affairs directly, with no intention of ever granting her independence again.”

Inocoyotl understood. He understood Bahlam’s fears too well. And he remembered why Teotihuacán was so happy that the Mayan kings were fully occupied with their own repetitive trades. Because if this wasn’t the case …

“Chitam is ambitious,” Inocoyotl said finally.

“He or those who stand behind him,” said Bahlam.

“Yes, these strange alleged messengers of the gods.”

“Supposedly or not, the fact that someone with special powers is fighting for Mutal is undisputed.”

Inocoyotl nodded. “And what plan do you have, my king?”

“An alliance.”

“An alliance against Mutal.”

“An alliance to march against Mutal, join forces before it marches against us.”

Bahlam leaned forward, eyes narrowed into narrow slits, and fixed his eyes on the ambassador, who knew exactly what was coming.

“This is a potential danger for the mighty Teotihuacán too!”

“My master is undefeated and invincible,” Inocoyotl said almost automatically, but he still felt a little out of balance. He didn’t want to believe much of what Bahlam was saying. On the other hand, the king was apparently not one who was prone to hasty alarmism. He seemed to be a careful ruler who knew how to assess risks. It was clear that he believed the reports of his agents. And Meztli had sent him, his ambassador, here at that time. The conclusion was overwhelmingly clear.

“Your city is powerful, more powerful than all of us,” Bahlam admitted, trying to sound somewhat respectful, an effort that Inocoyotl rewarded with a smile. “But if this attack on Saclemacal succeeds and turns into a tidal wave, it might be too late for all of us. After Saclemacal, Mutal will logically attack Tayasal or Yaxchilan, one of the other two cities that were involved in the original attack against Mutal. So we have a little time to make our own preparations and to position ourselves.”

“Then we have to think of several strategies at the same time,” Inocoyotl heard himself say, and immediately noticed the satisfied smile on Bahlam’s heavy lips. But now there was no going back for him, he was part of the discussion, and he wasn’t sure if that was wrong at all. There was a feeling of a threat, the magnitude of which could not yet be properly estimated. As diffuse as it sounded, the fear that came with it felt real.

“What do your ideas look like?” Bahlam asked.

“First of all, I will send a messenger to my master with all the information you have just given me. I may have to tell him myself at one time so he can see the urgency of the matter.”

“I want to provide an escort for this man, and he should travel quickly,” Bahlam said, nodding.

“Then I have to inform myself about these things before I recommend my king to join an alliance against Mutal. I cannot step before my master, only armed with second-hand information. I have to see.”

The fat king’s nod again. “I can understand that. It will not be too dangerous if you only act as an interested ambassador for Teotihuacán. In Mutal they are aware of your common history and feel connected to you. Chitam will speak to you, and you will be able to look around. I’ll give you the name of one of my agents, you can meet him on site, and he can tell you his view of things.”

“A good idea, noble king, and I am grateful for it. But you should continue and consider how you try to defend yourself against Mutal. If an alliance is your target and you want to attack Mutal to avoid the looming danger, you need a commander-in-chief. You can imagine yourself taking this office?”

Bahlam looked pensive as if he had never paid attention to this question. Inocoyotl, of course, didn’t believe that for a moment. “B’aakal is the most powerful of the cities that gather here. Popo’ alone can be regarded as equivalent, but the noble ruler has already indicated that he intends to leave the overall command to someone else.”

Inocoyotl’s eyes fell again on the quietly seated man who hadn’t spoken a word before and nodded to him. He got a slightly bowed head to answer.

The ambassador thought that he would not really be able to figure that man out.

But he had expected Bahlam’s answer, and it was now up to him to deliver bad news to the king.

“Noble Bahlam, your request is logical, because B’aakal is the first among the cities we are talking about. Of course, I don’t know yet whether my lord will join this alliance, but let’s assume he sees the danger as you do. When he declares himself as a full member of your alliance, it is clear at the same time, and I say this as someone who has served both him and his father for many years: My great sir will not accept anyone’s command except his own – exercised by himself or through one his generals, whom he will certainly send if he participates in this campaign.”

Inocoyotl bowed his head in a gesture of respect. It was better to address this unpleasant fact straight away than to trigger conflicts later which, if everything was as urgent as described, could have very negative consequences.

Bahlam looked at Inocoyotl, looking neither angry nor disappointed. “Ambassador, you must think I’m a fool.”

“Not even remotely!” Inocoyotl replied.

The rumbling, erupting laugh of the king was heard again. “I have the impression. I assure you, I am not. I am clear about who the king of Teotihuacán is and what rank he occupies in the structure of the world. If … I say it very clearly … if your Lord decides to march against Mutal together with us, I will leave him or his general in command and pray with him to all the gods, ours and yours, that they may give us victory – all of us.”

Inocoyotl felt relieved and confirmed in his good judgment of Bahlam. Truly not a fool. And he had already considered this question very carefully. He bowed again. “A wise decision.”

“I don’t claim wisdom. Security is my goal.”

“Should I take part in your consultations?”

“I don’t make that decision. You are, of course, invited. Your word will have weight. But if you have to make sure that everything I’ve told you is correct, you should leave while there is still the possibility of traveling peacefully.”

“That sounds wise again.”

“And again it’s all about security – yours in this case.”

“The mighty Bahlam’s concern moves me.”

The king liked to laugh, and so he did it again. However, he seemed genuinely amused and clapped his hands.

“Excellent, Inocoyotl from Teotihuacán. You will be attending my banquet that I will be giving to all my guests tonight. And then do as you see fit.”

“I’m traveling, but I’m leaving one of mine as an observer. He will not speak and take no position, but he will be my eye and my ear.”

“So be it. Now you are wise, my friend.”

Inocoyotl smiled softly.

“I just want to be on the safe side.”

Bahlam laughed loudly, with violent tremors in his body, and even the silent King of Popo’ managed to smile. Inocoyotl bowed again and found that the matter had gone well.

Then he left.

Lengsley touched Sarukazaki’s shoulder. He was allowed this confidentiality. He had been working side by side with the technician for weeks, and it was as if two related souls had found each other. Across all linguistic and cultural differences, the two men shared a common passion for everything related to technical devices. Be it the complicated machinery of the boat, be it the much simpler things they tried to convey to the Maya, it was all engineering, and everything was equally important. There were some among the Maya who shared this passion, a strange mix of builders, artisans, scribes, and some young people who might not have been all of these, often sons of influential nobles. They had formed an informal circle around Lengsley and Sarukazaki, a group of students and teachers, because even the time travelers had to understand what their hosts knew before they could set out to teach them anything useful.