"I cannot begin to express how pleased we are to see the relationship between our kingdoms improving," Xicotencatl said as the nobles gathered in the great hall to witness the lords apply their royal stamps to the peace treaty. "My father had a similar vision but never a Mexica huey tlatoani willing to consider it. I'm sad he didn't live to see this day, but he would have approved."
Each of the lords stamped their royal seal in ink at the bottom of the page, next to those of the Triple Alliance. Acxotecatl applied his stamp with gusto; he didn't even argue over having to send Nauyotl to Tenochtitlan in two years. Because he thinks I won't be there to interfere with our son, Malinali concluded. She stiffened when he spoke with Cuauhtemoc after the signing ceremony, but he spoke only words of congratulations and admiration for their efforts at achieving peace between their peoples.
"My Lord tells me that he and Cuauhtemoc have reached an agreement to betroth the children," Lady Izel whispered to Malinali as the rest of the room chattered. "I thank you for speaking to him on our behalf."
"My pleasure." Malinali watched Acxotecatl from the corner of her eye each time he spoke to Cuauhtemoc, but when he caught her at it, she scolded herself. She shouldn't let him know she was bothered.
For the final feast, Cuauhtemoc insisted on a grand gathering of all the nobility, both men and women, to celebrate the peace that would benefit all citizens alike. "I didn't achieve this peace on my own, after all," he told Malinali as they headed into the great hall together. Musicians played flutes and drums throughout the meal while the nobles and their wives shared conversation and lavish food—provided by the Mexica delegation—from hundreds of bowls and gourds.
The children joined their parents once pipes were handed out for smoking, and they remained the rest of the evening. Acxotecatl sat Nauyotl between his wife and Malinali, perhaps hoping for a little sport, but Cuauhtemoc kept her engaged in conversation with Xicotencatl and his wife until the darkest hours of the night.
The next afternoon, they left Tlaxcala to better tempers than when they arrived. News of the treaty preceded them into the countryside, and while no one sang Cuauhtemoc's praises as their caravan passed from village to village, no one glared nor cast stones this time. They watched with a grudging respect.
The caravan reached the army camp in time for the evening meal then Cuauhtemoc and Malinali turned in early, in preparation for the long day ahead. Malinali woke before dawn though, anxious to get on their way, as far from Tlaxcala as she could. For years, she'd dreamed of leaving Tenochtitlan, but when they reached the pass on Mount Tlaloc after a long, hot day of riding, seeing the city in the valley below felt as if she was seeing home again.
"We should make it there by tomorrow afternoon," Cuauhtemoc said as he sat atop Tlazocozcatl next to her. "We'll eat dinner in Texcoco then take the barge back to Tenochtitlan." He patted the horse's neck when Tlazocozcatl tossed his head, irritated. "I've missed my own bed this last week."
Malinali chuckled. "Even the camp beds have been more comfortable than my sleeping mat back in the slave quarters, so I haven't missed mine at all."
"You won't ever have to go back to that again. Hopefully you'll find my bed a suitable replacement." He gave her a grin before moving Tlazocozcatl over to the other lords who had already dismounted to watch the slaves setting up the tents for the night.
It will be more than adequate replacement. Malinali's cheeks burned with excitement, but remembering the conversation with Lady Izel about her brother soured it. It's not a good idea to continue this affair. Cuauhtemoc will marry Ixtlil's sister and you will probably marry Ohtli, so better to end it now, before it gets too serious.
But when she looked over at Cuauhtemoc and her heart hitched in her chest, she knew it was already too late to avoid that.
¤
They reached Texcoco the next afternoon, and Ixtlil and Achicatl greeted them in the main courtyard. Achicatl flung herself into Cuauhtemoc's arms once he dismounted, and he hugged her tight, laughing between kisses to the cheeks and forehead. "I missed you so much, Tatli! I can't wait to tell you everything I did while you were gone!"
"Then you had fun?"
She nodded enthusiastically. "Lady Papantzin taught me some new dances, which I can't wait to show you, and Cozcatzin and I hunted lizards in the garden, though she screamed when I tried to get her to hold one. Isn't that silly?" Before he could answer though, she spotted Malinali—who had dismounted with Tenoch's help—and she ran to greet her. "I'm so glad you're back! Just wait until you see my weaving! I'm doing so much better now!"
Cuauhtemoc watched his daughter babble excitedly to Malinali, a smile on his face, but when he looked back at Ixtlil, he noticed Lady Xocotzin lurking behind her brother, done up in her best dress. She blushed when he bowed to her. "It's good to see you again, My Lady."
"I'm pleased to see you again too, My Lord." She kept her gaze fixed on his feet. "I trust your mission went well?"
"It went very well. The years of war against Tlaxcala are finally over."
Ixtlil chuckled. "As if there was ever any doubt. I look forward to a full report on matters over a hot meal."
"If I could get you alone for a moment before I leave tonight, there's something I want to discuss with you." Cuauhtemoc glanced back at Malinali, who knelt next to Achicatl, listening as his daughter regaled her with something about the flowers woven into her hair.
Ixtlil followed his gaze then nodded. "Of course."
¤
The feast lasted hours, and Cuauhtemoc spent most of it sitting between Ixtlil and his sister while Malinali sat with the wives. But in his mind, he was sitting next to her, listening as she told the other women what Tlaxcala looked like and what styles the women wore. She looked so comfortable, completely different than three weeks ago when his mother had interrupted their meeting in the garden. She was so beautiful and confident now. What a difference their time in Tlaxcala had made!
When the servants brought the pipes, Ixtlil motioned Cuauhtemoc to follow him, and they left the crowd of nobles and servants to walk among the flowers. Once they were alone, Ixtlil said, "She really seems to have blossomed, hasn't she?" He looked back at Malinali again then folded his arms behind his back. "And you look better than I've seen in a very long time, my friend."
"I think I've finally stepped out from under my father's shadow," Cuauhtemoc admitted. "We've made peace with Tlaxcala, and I'm going to name Tenochtitlan's first female Cihuacoatl."
Ixtlil blinked at him, confused.
"It worked perfectly, Ixtlil. The lords not only accepted her as my future Cihuacoatl, but they genuinely respected her. She easily proved herself, not only to them, but to me. She's the right choice."
"But she's a woman. The Council will think you're crazy."
"When they hear about what she did in Tlaxcala, and they see what she can do and how she handles herself and others, they will think it crazy they doubted her on something as silly as the body the gods chose for her," Cuauhtemoc insisted. "Even you said she would make a good Cihuacoatl. You gave me the notion to start with."
"I said if she'd been born a man," Ixtlil corrected him.
Cuauhtemoc frowned. "Then I can't count on your support for her with the Council?"
Ixtlil sighed. "Of course you can. But I don't understand why you insist on defying tradition. These have been our ways for hundreds of years—"
"And they would have seen us destroyed. We didn't defeat the Spanish by refusing to change; traditions define who we are, but it doesn't help us if those traditions destroy us. We will keep some but we will make new ones, and we will be stronger and fiercer for them. The Mixtecs have their war queens, so why can't the Triple Alliance have a female Cihuacoatl? What are we afraid of?"
Ixtlil stood straighter. "We aren't afraid of anything."
"The gods gave her to us, so let's listen to their good advice."
Chuckling under his breath, Ixtlil said, "I will speak in her favor to the Council, my friend. And here I was worried you were going to ask to get out of your betrothal to Xocotzin."
Cuauhtemoc stiffened. "I am a man of my word. I've agreed to marry her, and I will honor that commitment." He glanced back towards the crowd were Malinali was laughing with several of the nobles and their wives.
Ixtlil followed his gaze, a melancholy expression on his face. "I never would doubt your honor, my friend."
¤
It was well past midnight once Cuauhtemoc and Malinali returned to the palace in Tenochtitlan. Cuauhtemoc invited her to stay the night in his room, which she gladly accepted, but after tucking Achicatl into her bed then washing off the road dust in the bath, by the time they retired, the best they could do was fall asleep in each other's arms.
They slept past dawn and only rose when their body servants came to dress them for the day, and within moments of donning their clothes, the head steward came to deliver his reports and messages. He gave Malinali a sideways glance when he first came in—no doubt taking note of the noblewoman's dress she wore—but he kept his attention focused in Cuauhtemoc's direction, though never directly at him.
"The kitchens are running low on maize, and the shipment of deer meat from the north is late," the steward recited in a droning voice. "Lord Matlatzincatzin was feeling better for the first three days you were gone, My Lord, but he collapsed in his personal garden three days ago, and the doctors say he's unlikely to get out of bed again this time. His assistant has been overseeing as many of his duties as he could the last few days, but the court cases are stacking up and the prison yard is overcrowded. The Council has asked that you meet with them this morning, to discuss both the treaty with Tlaxcala and the appointment of an interim Cihuacoatl, to get the city back on schedule."
"We'd best eat fast then," Cuauhtemoc told Malinali as his body servants put his quetzal-feathered headdress on him. "Sounds as if we have much work to do today."
The steward cast Malinali another puzzled glance but said nothing as the servants brought in cups of atole. Cuauhtemoc downed his in three gulps, but Malinali continued drinking hers as they made their way downstairs, led by the palace steward. He took them into the west wing of the palace, to the court, where murals of the ancient goddess Cihuacoatl the Snake Woman decorated the walls; the title of the city's highest domestic advisor took its name from her, and if Malinali became the next Cihuacoatl, these halls would become her domain.
The steward showed them to the reception hall, where the Triple Alliance Council met to conduct business. Malinali had never been inside the room—only specially-chosen servants were allowed inside to serve the Council members—so she hesitated outside the doorway.
But Cuauhtemoc took her arm gently in his hand. "It's all right."
She remained frozen as the group of lords stared back at her, but when Ixtlil rose to his feet and smiled, the knot in her gut loosened. She followed Cuauhtemoc inside. The servants untied the ropes holding the heavy reed-woven curtains apart, filling the room with the loud clanking of large copper bells as the curtains fell together behind them.
The other kings rose and bowed to Cuauhtemoc but eyed Malinali with suspicion. The Cihuacoatls all bowed to Malinali, but their kings only followed suit after Ixtlil bowed to her.
"If I'd known we were bringing our women with us, I would have brought your mother," the governor of Tlatelolco said with a laugh once the greetings were finished.
"She is not my woman," Cuauhtemoc assured him with a polite—yet calculated—smile. "But let's start first with the treaty, which I'm certain everyone is eager to hear about." He sat down on a reed-woven throne covered in eagle feathers, similar to the one in the throne room. He motioned Malinali to take the mat next to him.
There were nearly twenty men in the room, but only three throne-like seats covered in feathers or animal skins, for the leaders of the Triple Alliance Council. Ixtlil sat to Cuauhtemoc's right, with his Cihuacoatl next to him on a feathered mat, and Lord Zolin, King of Tlacopan, took the one next to Malinali's mat, his Cihuacoatl sitting next to him on the other side. The remaining lords, who held no voting power on the Council, sat on mats on the floor before the thrones.
Once everyone was settled, Cuauhtemoc gave an accounting of his time in Tlaxcala and gave copies of the signed treaty to each city's leader. "To cement the alliance, each of the Alliance's mother cities have betrothed a daughter to one of the sons of three of the lords of Tlaxcala. As part of the agreement, the son of each lord will come to study the art of war in a school within one of our cities, corresponding to which daughter they are betrothed, except the son of Lord Acxotecatl, who will study in Tenochtitlan's House of Warriors. Lord Acxotecatl declined to betroth his son at this time, wishing to marry him to a Tlaxcalan princess. He reserves the right to ask for a concubine for his son at a future date."
"He probably didn't want any of our women in his house," Lord Zolin said with a laugh. "And I'm certain he was even less accepting of your fake Cihuacoatl. Not to speak ill of your skills, My Lady, but he is an old man like me and we haven't the patience for ploys," he told Malinali.
Malinali smiled carefully. "I assure you that I held my own against him."
Cuauhtemoc nodded. "I can say that Lord Xicotencatl personally expressed admiration for My Lady's skills and charisma in the negotiations. She impressed all the lords of Tlaxcala—even Lord Acxotecatl admitted that she had an answer for every objection he raised. When all is said and done, we owe the success of this treaty to her, which is why I've decided to appoint her my interim Cihuacoatl, to fully take on the title once Matlatzincatzin passes on into Mictlan."
Lord Zolin blinked, confused. "Excuse me, but...what?"
"I'm naming Malintzin my new Cihuacoatl, and since Lord Matlatzincatzin is too ill to leave his bed, I will personally train her in the responsibilities that come with the office. Given what I've seen of her abilities, she will catch on quickly and will be fully prepared should Matlatzincatzin not last the week."
Malinali's cheeks flushed at the praise but she worked to keep from looking away, embarrassed.
Zolin frowned. "I know the position is named for a goddess, but it is a title reserved for a man, Cuauhtemoc. You can't change that."
"I changed the way we wage war and I've changed our relationship with our oldest enemy. Now I'm changing the way Tenochtitlan governs itself. The gods leave us gifts to find, in men and women alike, and we should embrace and use that brilliance wherever we find it. We ignore it at our own peril."
"Eloquently put, Cuauhtemoc, but she's a former slave," Zolin pointed out. "We can at least agree that such an important position must be held by a fellow noble." When Cuauhtemoc opened his mouth to protest, Zolin quickly added, "Yes, I know you can bestow a noble title on anyone, but that doesn't change the fact that she was never educated in one of our schools, or any school for that matter. How can you expect her to understand the importance of this political position and its history when she cannot even interpret our historical texts?"
Cuauhtemoc tried again, but this time Malinali stepped in. If anyone should be defending her worthiness for this position, it should be her. "I appreciate your concerns, Lord Zolin, and your points are well-taken. As for my lack of noble birth, that isn't entirely true; I was the firstborn child of the king of Paynala and the rightful heir to the throne, before my father died and my mother and her new husband robbed me of that right. True, because of that I didn't receive the proper education that I would have if I'd been raised to adulthood in my family's home, but I learned many important skills in slavery, things that ensured my survival, things that will help the empire survive into the future. I may not know how to interpret the books of Mexica history, or even how to read the tribute sheets, but I'm confident I can learn, and quickly. Slavery taught me to adapt to difficult and dangerous situations. It also taught me how nobles think, how they view themselves in relationship to those they rule. But I also know how the lower classes see them, and where the breakdowns occur. I believe this experience gives me a distinct advantage in ensuring justice for Tenochtitlan's citizens when they come before me with their disputes. That is the primary job of the Cihuacoatl, is it not?"
Zolin tapped his chin, thoughtful. "It is, My Lady, and I have no doubt that you are a fast learner—my own Cihuacoatl has spoken highly of your involvement in the negotiations in Tlaxcala. But the job entails many long days and nights, and certainly you wish to have a family? How do you propose to balance the needs of the people with the needs of your children?"
"If the gods decide to bless me, I could not simply put aside the other gifts they gave me."
"Then you would neglect your motherly duties in favor of those of the Cihuacoatl?"
"Of course not. My Lord, have you ever visited a commoner's fields?"
"I have not."
"I have worked in fields, and common-born women routinely serve not only as mothers, but as farmers, right alongside their husbands. They dig the holes for the seeds and harvest the maize all while carrying a baby upon their backs, and in spite of this, they raise hardworking, honorable children. Devoting oneself to one or the other is a luxury many cannot afford; the goddess Cihuacoatl herself was not only a mother, but a warrior too, and as a woman unaccustomed to pointless luxury, I would embrace both duties and perform them to the best of my abilities. I couldn't imagine doing it any other way."
Ixtlil laughed. "Women are exceedingly versatile creatures; one part mother, one part lover, one part politician. I would never dare tell my wife that she is not capable of both raising our children and overseeing the slaves. It's a point of pride for her."
Zolin snorted but then told Cuauhtemoc, "You're right that she's very good at countering arguments. I do, however, want to see how she handles herself in the actual job, doing the things the Cihuacoatl does." To Malinali, he said, "It's nothing personal, My Lady, but Tlacopan has a vested interest in Tenochtitlan's success, so I must be certain about such an important appointment."
"No offense is taken, My Lord," Malinali assured him. "I look forward to proving my worth."
"Perhaps we could see that today. I hear Lord Matlatzincatzin has left quite a backlog of cases for the interim Cihuacoatl to deal with."
Cuauhtemoc finally spoke up again. "I would rather not throw her into the jaguar pit without proper time to train and acclimate to the duties. She needs to learn the court protocols and assemble a staff. I'd rather she eased into the position, but you are welcome to observe while I'm training her. Today we're moving her into the Cihuacoatl's palace, so we won't get to any cases until tomorrow."
Zolin nodded and rose to his feet, his own Cihuacoatl following suit. "Let us adjourn until next week, then. That should give her ample time to settle into her new accommodations and prepare herself for observation." He bowed to both Cuauhtemoc and Malinali before departing, his guards meeting him at the doorway.
When Ixtlil and his Cihuacoatl rose, Cuauhtemoc stood too. "Will you be staying for dinner?"
Ixtlil shook his head. "I promised to take my son hunting and I've put it off for weeks now. He thinks I make promises I don't intend to keep." To Malinali, he said, "I'd wish you luck with your training, but I suspect that you won't need any, My Lady. I look forward to seeing you impress Lord Zolin when the time comes." He bade them both goodbye and left.
Once all the other lords were gone, Cuauhtemoc took Malinali into his arms for a kiss. "I'm glad he's not staying," he said, once they separated to catch their breaths. "I want some time alone with you again."
"Me too." She ran her fingers over his bare flesh peeking out between the folds of his hummingbird-feathered robe, her cheeks flushed with joy.
He kissed her again, tantalizingly soft but brief, then smiled at her. "Let's get you moved into your palace."
¤
Malinali had never been to the Cihuacoatl's palace; Tecuichpo never had reason to go there. It didn't look much different from Cuauhtemoc's, though there were more scenes of battle and sacrifice on the walls. "The palace belongs to the Cihuacoatl so long as he lives," Cuauhtemoc said, "so until Matlatzincatzin passes on, you will be a guest here. But once he leaves us, the palace is yours to do with as you please. You'll be free to repaint the murals to something more suited to your personal tastes."
"They are out of step with how you've spent your time as huey tlatoani," Malinali noted. "A few murals about peace with Tlaxcala would be a nice addition."
It took only four servants to carry the few wicker baskets containing the clothes Cuauhtemoc had given her; otherwise, she had no other worldly belongings, and when they reached her quarters on the upper floor, that lack seemed stark. The anteroom was as large as Cuauhtemoc's but twice as empty, and the bed could accommodate a dozen people. Once the servants left, she and Cuauhtemoc claimed the new bed for their own, and everything seemed cozier and more intimate. They stayed under the blankets most of the afternoon, alternating between resting and making love, stopping only to eat at noon then bathe before the evening meal.
"We'll interview potential staff members tomorrow," Cuauhtemoc told her, while he dressed her as if he were her handmaiden.
"What about Lord Matlatzincatzin's children? I saw young ones in the hallways when we got here. What will happen to them once their father dies?"
"They will go with their mothers to Matlatzincatzin's brothers or his older sons. Don't worry. They will be taken care of. His palace slaves, however, will pass on to serve you."
"But what if I don't want any slaves?"
He paused to look up at her from where he bent down to tie on her sandal. "Well...I suppose because they are yours, it's within your power to free them. However, remember that a good number of them are indebted to the crown for a certain amount of time and you would be throwing aside that debt by freeing them before they've repaid it."
"I don't object to the debt slaves. This is the path they have chosen and it's only right and honorable that they repay what we've given them. I'm concerned about those like me, whose only recourse is to risk death and run for their freedom. Why is it illegal to sell such slaves here in Tenochtitlan but not illegal to own them?"
He didn't answer right away, instead focusing on tying her sandals. Once he finished, he stood. "Because they are tribute from our allies, who have their own laws concerning slavery, and we receive those slaves as a payment."
"But it isn't a payment the slave can work off," Malinali pointed out.
"It is a great debt," Cuauhtemoc agreed.
"Or is their work worth nothing to the empire?"
Cuauhtemoc set his jaw tight, looking annoyed. Now she feared she'd overstepped. "Are you suggesting that because I keep such slaves in the palace that I don't consider their work worth anything?"
She laughed, hoping to defuse his anger. "No, but I am saying that I won't have such slaves working in the Cihuacoatl's palace once I take the title. You may do what you wish in your palace, and I shall do as I wish in mine. Agreed?"
Chuckling, he said, "Of course. It isn't that I don't agree with you, but the people will react badly if we rush too many changes at once. It will be enough of a chore convincing them to accept a female Cihuacoatl. Small steps. But slavery in our empire will be a subject for discussion in the future."
Malinali raised an eyebrow. "Our empire?"
He smiled back. "Our empire."
¤
The next weeks passed in a blur. Every day started with reading lessons, followed by hours of sitting in the courts, listening to the backlog of cases and learning about the nuances of the laws in Tenochtitlan. Cuauhtemoc oversaw the proceedings, making judgments and passing sentences where necessary. In the evenings, while they ate, he tutored her in the actual laws and punishments, and as the work added up, they spent most nights only sleeping. With each passing day, he involved her in more of the court proceedings, asking her opinion on testimony and what she thought the appropriate judgment should be. By the end of the third week, she was deciding the judgments for Cuauhtemoc to hand down.
Zolin and Ixtlil stayed away during all this, though Malinali always watched the viewing gallery with fearful anticipation. She suspected that Ixtlil, being Cuauhtemoc's friend, would back her regardless, but Zolin had been adamant women had no place in positions of power such as this. She wondered if she would freeze up the day he finally decided to come watch her.
And it looks as if today is that day, she thought when she and Cuauhtemoc came to the courts to find not only Zolin and Ixtlil waiting for them, but also the minor members of the Triple Alliance council, such as the governors of Tlatelolco, Chapultepec, and Culhuacan. Everyone greeted her kindly, even Zolin, who told her, "So today's the big day, My Lady; your first time determining a case all on your own. And I hear that Cuauhtemoc made it a very challenging one as well. I look forward to seeing how you handle yourself." He then led the rest of the Council into the courtroom, leaving her and Cuauhtemoc outside by themselves.
"I'm truly to do this all myself this time?" she asked.
"You'll do exceedingly well," he assured her.
She wrung her hands as she stared into the court. There weren't any civilians in the gallery, only the council members and their Cihuacoatls, accepting cups of frothy chocolate from the servants she'd hired to see to the needs of the lords when they visited the court. She flinched when he set his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
"This is the position you were born to have," he reminded her.
She wanted to kiss him but settled for a grateful smile. "Thank you."
He motioned her to enter ahead of him, and when they reached the dais, he took the icpalli she usually sat in. He pointed to the one he usually occupied, and, after a hesitation, she sat down.
Cuauhtemoc nodded to the scribe, who shouted, "Bring forth the petitioned!"
Guards entered from the side entrance, where defendants and complainants came in. They escorted three people—two men and a woman.
Malinali’s breath caught as she watched them approach the dais. The older man dressed in noble robes and a headdress, his long, silvering hair tied in an elaborate knot atop his head. The younger man—no more than twenty years old—held the arm of a severe but frail woman. She clutched his arm as if she might fall if he let her go. Malinali couldn’t take her eyes off her as she limped forward.
"Mother?" she whispered, rediscovering her breath, her heart drumming.
The man—her mother's husband Lord Tilmatzin—bowed low when he reached the steps. The old woman followed suit, aided by the young man—My half-brother, Malinali realized, a spike of resentment rising inside her. She hadn’t seen him since he was a baby, but he had his father’s hawkish nose and her mother’s broad eyes.
When Tilmatzin broke his bow, he kept his eyes respectfully downcast, but his nervousness was unmistakable. "You honor us with your invitation to the palace, Revered Speaker. May I present my wife, Lady Huitzilxochitzin, and my son, Axoquentzin?"
"I’m aware of your family," Cuauhtemoc said, his voice icy. "Perhaps more acutely aware of its nuances than you’d care for."
Tilmatzin hesitated. "I confess confusion about this greeting, My Lord. I was told that you wished to speak with me in a diplomatic capacity and yet my family and I haven’t even been allowed to rest or take a meal since we arrived." He glanced up at Malinali but there was no interest or recognition there.
"That’s because you’re facing serious charges, Lord Tilmatzin. I've brought you before my future Cihuacoatl to answer for them."
This time, Tilmatzin took no care to keep his stance demure. "Paynala is not a Mexica territory and I am not your subject—"
Cuauhtemoc cut him off with a wave of his hand. "The case of who truly inherits the throne in Paynala is at dispute here." He then beckoned to the younger man.
Axoquentzin cast his father a worried glance but stepped forward and bowed.
"Tell us, Lord Axoquentzin, where is your sister?" Cuauhtemoc folded his hands across his belly as he leaned back in his icpalli.
Axoquentzin nearly looked up, but he caught himself before violating protocol. "I beg your pardon, Revered Speaker, but I haven’t any sisters."
"You don’t?" Malinali's voice boiled with anger and sarcasm.
Behind him, Malinali’s mother now stared at her, clutching her chest as if confronted by a specter. Axoquentzin glanced at her before answering, "At one time I did, but she fell into a canal and drowned when I was but a few months into this world."
"Is that what they told you?" The ball of anger unwound like venomous snakes inside her. To Tilmatzin, she cried, "Is that what you meant when you told the slavers that you’d make certain that no one came looking for me?"
Tilmatzin stumbled backwards, eyes wide, as if she were a disgusting, slimy lake monster. When her mother wept out her name, he spat, "Malinali is dead! We all saw the body the farmers pulled from the canal." He turned his hateful glare upon Cuauhtemoc again. "How dare you bring this impersonator forward to torment my wife?"
But Malinali suddenly found herself face to face with him, the fury carrying her like a tidal wave. "Have you no conception of the life you condemned me to, the humiliation and pain I endured?"
Stepping away from her, Tilmatzin cried, "You’re a raving mad witch!"
"What is going on, Father? What is this—?" Axoquentzin stepped towards his father but his mother gripped his arm, stopping him.
"I’ve lived with the lies too long," she moaned, pressing closer to Malinali. She held her hand out to touch her, pleading in her weary eyes.
Malinali recoiled. How dare this woman even think of touching her?
Huitzilxochitzin swallowed, shame on her face. "He wanted you out of the way, so our son would inherit the throne, so we concocted a plan to fake your death and sell you into slavery; the only alternative was for him to kill you, but I couldn't stand the thought of hurting you. Our chance came when a girl your age drowned in the canal. We promised her mother a noble title if she would say it was you." She covered her face with shaking hands, weeping. "I regretted it immediately, and I wanted to get you back, but the slavers had already left, taking you with them."
"Bite your tongue, woman!" Tilmatzin hissed through gritted teeth.
"I never should have let you talk me into this!" she cried back at him. "It was criminal enough that you killed my husband, so we might be together, but I weep for the selfish woman I was back then. What kind of woman turns her back on her own flesh and blood to please a man?"
He murdered my father! The realization slammed Malinali in the chest and she stumbled backwards, stunned. Someone caught her as she tripped on the steps and to her relief she looked up to see Cuauhtemoc holding her on her feet.
"It’s all lies!" Tilmatzin shouted. "I killed no one!"
Huitzilxochitzin fell to her knees, wailing, and Axoquentzin knelt to help her. "I give myself to you for judgment, my daughter! Whatever punishment you deem worthy will be a mercy compared to what I truly deserve!"
Malinali stared blankly at her, but eventually the numbness subsided as she saw the lords watching, their attention ensnared. They were all waiting to see what kind of judgment she would pass down, to see if she was worthy of the title Cuauhtemoc wanted to give her.
She lifted her chin towards Tilmatzin, and the guards grabbed him and forced him to his knees before the dais. She glared down at him. "As the huey tlatoani's chosen candidate for Tenochtitlan's Cihuacoatl, it's my duty to see justice given to all his people. And so now I pass judgment on you, Lord Tilmatzin, for your crimes against myself and my father. If I could, I would sentence you to the life of a slave girl, to live as I had to, so you’d know what I was forced to endure, so you’d know the humiliation and abuse I suffered, but only the gods can grant such justice. Instead, in payment for my father’s life, you will surrender your own." She waved him away.
Tilmatzin hurled curses at her as the guards dragged him from the room.
"What of our mother, Sister?" Axoquentzin clutched Huitzilxochitzin’s shoulders.
As Malinali cast her gaze back at her mother, she knew the law called for her to share her husband's fate, but suddenly she didn't care about the law or what the lords of the Council thought she should do. What she did was terrible, but if not for that same terrible act, would you be here now, in the arms of the love of your life? She glanced at Cuauhtemoc, to reassure herself that this wasn't all just a wonderful dream, but he was there beside her, a calm but encouraging look on his face. This is my personal pain, my personal injustice, and no one is better suited to decide what is right for it than me.
"Mother," she started, trying to keep her voice calm. When Huitzilxochitzin finally looked up at her, she said, "I forgive you."
Her mother stared at her, first in confusion, then disbelief.
"I can’t excuse what you did, but I forgive you for it. And I suspect that I cannot hand down a harsher punishment than the one you’ve already placed upon yourself." Malinali told Axoquentzin, "Take her home to Paynala and care for her for the remainder of her days. I’m sorry for what must be done to your father, but my father deserves justice, and as an honorable man, I trust you understand this."
Axoquentzin nodded, not meeting her eyes. "Will you return home and take up your duties as the rightful heir?"
"Tenochtitlan is my home now." She gave Cuauhtemoc a faint smile. "I trust you to oversee my kingdom in my absence, Brother."
"Thank you for your mercy, My Lady." Axoquentzin helped Huitzilxochitzin to her feet and led her crying from the court.
Malinali flopped into her icpalli, the gravity of what had happened overcoming her. Cuauhtemoc held her elbow so she made it safely down while the other lords flooded the dais in a flurry of conversation.
Lord Zolin chuckled. "I don't think that I could be so strong as to forgive her if I'd been in your position, Lady Malintzin. If it had been me, I would have sentenced her to spend the remainder of her life in servitude."
"She is already a slave to her guilt," Malinali said, not looking at him. "Besides, I owed her a debt and now it's repaid."
"A debt?"
Malinali nodded. "If she hadn't agreed to sell me into slavery, her husband would have killed me instead. She saved my life."
Zolin nodded thoughtfully. "Justice should be harsh but not unduly cruel. I believe you will make an exceptionally strong Cihuacoatl, My Lady." To Cuauhtemoc, he said, "And none too soon. I hear Lord Matlatzincatzin made his confession today. He could go any time now."
"Then we're all in agreement about Lady Malintzin?" When the others nodded and murmured their approval, Cuauhtemoc said, "She shall start preparing for the Cihuacoatl ceremony immediately, then." To Malinali, he said, "You'll perform several days of fasting, and the high priest of Cihuacoatl will put the goddess's blessing upon you, along with some other rituals. It will take about a week, and if the gods are in a merciful mood, they'll keep Matlatzincatzin with us long enough so there is no gap in our domestic leadership."
"The gods are seldom in a good mood," Zolin replied, "which is why we will leave now, so Lady Malintzin can start her fasting and penance rituals, in case she needs to take her oath sooner than expected." He motioned to the others. "My Lady looks as if she could use a moment alone after her ordeal." He granted her a kind smile before leading the other lords out of the courtroom.
Cuauhtemoc stayed behind though. Once they were alone, he sat down next to her and took her hand in his. "Are you all right?"
She nodded slowly, the numbness giving way to exhaustion. She felt as if she could sleep all day. "I never thought I'd ever get to face them...to make them answer for what they did to me."
Cuauhtemoc nodded. "I decided they needed to the moment you won your freedom, so I sent for them as soon as we got back from Tlaxcala. It seemed only right that they should face your judgment, but I'm sorry that it caused you pain." He squeezed her hand gently.
"It was painful. But a good sort of pain. I learned the truth, so I never again have to wonder why. And my mother...." She shook her head. "I hated her for so long for what she did, and even now I want to think that she had other options—maybe she should have run away, but then how could she, with a newborn and a young child...? Might I have opted for the same thing if it would save my own son's life?"
"Then I'm very glad I left this to you, for I would have sentenced her to death the same as her husband." Cuauhtemoc stood, still holding her hand. "Come. You look as if you could use something to eat."
She accepted his help up, but once standing, she pulled him into a fierce hug, burying her face in his chest.
He stroked her hair. "I wish I could do more for you, my precious flower. I wish I could take all the pain away, but the best I could do was give you justice, and your rightful kingdom back to you."
Malinali said nothing, but held him tight as she cried silent tears of relief—and grief—into the feathers of his robe.