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The Priests and Warriors of Huitzilopochtli
Travelling home from Yucatan
Now that all lies behind me and the pressure and fear seems to be only a blurred memory,
I try to bring all to paper to send it to my old, fragile father. I don't know why I
agreed to fulfill the last wish of my dying father and with the knowledge I have now,
I perhaps wouldn't do it again. The merciless blank piece of paper is lying in front of me
and my shaking hands seem to still be caught in the memory of the last days.
The tiny cabin of the small ship has a round window not larger than a plate my mother used
to make my breakfast on. Outside I can only see the calm ocean with the strong shining
sun and some seagulls hovering in slow motions over the soft waves of the sea blue water.
It's not long ago, since we left the jungle shore of Yucatan behind us and it is still
warm and humid, with only a light ocean breeze tickling my hairs from time to time.
The air tastes salty and the smell of wet wood and rotten ropes, mixed with a slight fish
smell, gives me a feeling of being endless free. A feeling that is now much stronger than
when I first sailed here. Splashing water hits the ship in tranquilizing rythms, underlined
with quiet squeaking of ropes scratching over the wet wood of the ship. Unregular knocks
of the sails and the indistinct voices of the working ship crew are sometimes broken
through the loud screams of a seagull.
My eyes wander across the endless horizon and always seem to get stuck in the hurting sight
of the bright shining sun. Incredible, comfortable warmth drives through my heart and
the fear seems to leave my body. I know how to start the story now.
Leaving the home lands behind
Dear, loved father,
Now that I'm on my way back home, I can inform you about the incidents of my journey and
the mysterious discovery I had to face to fulfill the task you gave into my hands.
When I left Razza and our home behind, I travelled first to Padorn making sure I have all
things with me you need for a long trip into an unknown land. The money I had with me was
not enough to buy an own ship, so I was dependant on the public ship lines. It was good
you didn't tell me about the dangers I will have to face, so my youthful energized
curiosity pushed me forward with endless power.
There were many people offering help to sail me around for a certain amount, but the fact
that my destiny was the jungle area Yucatan spreaded fear over them and I couldn't convince
a single crew to bring me there. Somehow I had the feeling that it wasn't the jungle they
feared, but that what was hidden in it. Later on, it turned out as the truth, but about
that I will write later.
Finally I found a ship that would sail to the jungle realm. It started from Tortoise main
harbour and was the only official ship line towards that region. With my leather backback
on my back and my hat attached on my cutton belt, I arrived at the harbour to ask the
captain to bring me to Yucatan. I must admit that he didn't look like one of those people,
you would like to travel without being scared to ge your throat cut, but as this seemed to
be my only chance of reaching Yucatan, I took all my heart and booked the route.
On the ship 'Man of Whale'
When I arrived on board, all my fears seemed to turn into reality. The crew was a bunch of
rough sailors with a pirate styled look. Their captain was wearing an eye patch and one
of his arms was replaced by an iron hook. The ship was in not a good shape, so that you
could only pray for reaching the next shore before it would sink down onto the white ocean
ground. The sails have been patched up several times and here and there a small crack was
to be seen.
I was sitting on deck, as far away as I could manage from the strange crew, one hand always
on my purse. Not that my weak and small appearance would have been able to hinder them
to just take it from me, so I would say it was a reflex. No idea if it was the cold wind
or my fear which made me shiver and wrapping my cotton cloak tightly around my body. For a
moment I regreted to fulfill your task - my dear father - being sure that the ship would
never arrive anywhere and the whole, strange crew, the scary captain, myself and the precious
item you gave to deliver, would be lost.
I always trusted your word and decisions, but this time I wasn't sure if your task came
out of a sane mind. I asked myself why that silly sword is so incredible important for
anyone. I removed my backpack and opened it to check if it was still there. It was a
wooden sword and not that big as the ones those people wield, who study in the Razza
fighting school. I'm not a warrior so I do not know much about swords, although this one
seemed to be difficult to handle. It was hanging over our fireplace and the name of the
sword was one of the first words you taught me to speak - maquahuitl.
On its handle there was a small inscription with the name 'Arayel'. I heard you talking
often about that man, sometimes it were thrilling stories, sometimes they were sad. But
the thing I will never forget, was the light in your eyes when I asked you to tell me
another story about that mysterious priest, who lives in the jungle of Yucatan. I can
remember when you left my mother and me alone for a journey that happened regulary.
When I was little, you told me that you would help Arayel to keep the sun moving and
after I grew up you said you cannot talk about the secret reason of your journeys. With
the knowledge I have now, I know that you told me the truth when I was little.
The sky was darkened by heavy grey clouds and lightnings started to chase each other
across the mudy looking sky. Oh, father, how I hated those lightnings, the task you
gave me and my fear that seemed to devour me.
Finally the captain ordered the crew to set sails and my adventure seemed to start with
no possibility to escape.
Arriving at Yucatan harbour
After a long and trying time, I finally heard the captain shouting that there was land
in sight. Something that gave me the feeling of happiness to have true earth under my
feet again, but on the other hand squeezed my heart with fear from not knowing what will
await me there.
I grabbed my belongings and joined the crew who were busy caught in happy chatting and
pointing to the horizon. And then I saw it. Far away I saw the green lines of a country,
not too far away. The sky has cleared up a long time ago and the air became heavy and
humid, like on a hot summer day. The sailors were discussing about a hidden secret city
deep in the jungle and spent the last minutes of the trip with telling thrilling stories
about their adventures they had in Yucatan.
Oh father, you won't believe what a feeling that was when I finally left the ship and
was able to feel normal ground under my feet again. The harbour wasn't big and there
weren't many ships seen, somehow the harbour looked left. The people were much different
from those I used to know from Razza - much smaller and their complexion was tanned.
Not knowing how to start to search for the owner of the sword, I decided to follow the
sailors into the harbour pub. Not that our Inns are extremely tidy and clean, but this
tavern was extremely dirty and the sweet smell of old whiskey made my mind dizzy without
drinking one.
I sat down at the bar, to have a glass of water that quenched my thirst, I had from the
long journey and listened to the loud, yelled stories about agressive indians, poisonous
manticores, large snakes and amazing huge amounts of chimpanzees which make the jungle so
dangerous. Suddenly a wise looking old man attracked everyones attention while he
said that all that isn't the real danger in Yucatan. After a short while of silence the
rough bunch of sailors started laughing and shouting again and left the harbour tavern
and me at its bar behind. Although I didn't like them, I felt terribly lonely and lost
in a sudden and fear started to press my lounges, so that I had it difficult to breathe.
Hords of apes, snakes and poisonous creatures ... and agressive indian tribals who
lure in the deep jungle made me assure of the danger I would be in. That what scared
me most, though, was the sentence of the old man that silenced the wild strong bunch
of sailors. What could he mean with something that is 'more dangerous'?
A small town called 'Woonoonga'
For a moment I didn't dare to move and I felt watched by every thing I did, even felt
as if my mind was read. Now I was left alone with the task to deliver a wooden sword
with a strange name to a person that was actually a hero out of a fairytale from my
childhood, in a land I never have been before and which is known as being dangerous.
How could I be so stupid to come here? The twinkling eyes of the barkeeper couldn't
give me a satisfying answer and so I decided to look around a bit.
With a raft I crossed the river northwards. On both sides of the shore there was the
thick green wall of jungle plants to be seen. Huge trees reached high into the light
blue sky and their branches and leaves formed an almost impervious green roof. I saw
beautiful coloured tiny birds sipping at oriental large blossoms and flying fishes,
who were chasing each other across the brown water of the river.
Father, oh father, I know you told me about the beauty of the jungle and its sounds,
but I never expected what I was able to see there. Being absolutely fascinated by
all the new impressions I almost forgot why I'm actually here. The indian on the
river was able to speak my language, a bit broken though, and told me how to reach
the next city which he called Woonoonga.
Remembering the sailors words to always keep on boots while walking through the jungle
because of the snakes, I only removed my warm cotton cloak and my leather shirt.
The air was humid and it started to get hotter. The town wasn't far away from the
river and rather small. A bit smaller than Razza and surrounded by wooden palisades.
Not that I expected a crowd of people rushing through the streets here, but this was
too calm. Not a single person to be seen on the street and I felt again the lonliness
inside and the fear started to get stronger. Merciless sun rays folloed each step I
made and so I fled into the shade of a building to eat my sandwich I brought with
from Padorn Inn.
Refreshed and cooled down, I entered the town hall and browsed through the citizens
papers, to see if I find the name of the man you sent me to, dear father. Unfortunately
I wasn't able to find him, but found some register about priests of the same order that
Arayel was, the Priests of Huitzilopochtli. Amazed about the fact that the stories you
told me were true and not only grown out of a rich fantasy, I had new hope to find
this mysterious man and was filled with fresh courage.
I had no idea in which direction I should start with searching, so I went to a shop
and asked about the Priests of Huitzilopochtli. The people reacted strange, not really
hostile, but not helpful either. So I only bought a machete to be able to cut my
way through the thick jungle and left Woonoonga.
In the deep jungle of Yucatan
No idea how long I wandered through the jungle, but with time I got more and more tired
so I decided to take a break. Being incredible thirsty from the heat and hungry from my
long walk, I discovered some pineapples on a tree, which quenched my thirst and my hunger
for the moment. My feet hurt terribly and the machete almost got blunt from slashing away
lianes. But I knew I couldn't give up now. I know how important it was for you - my dear
father - to deliver the maquahuitl to your old friend Arayel before you have to die. And
who could refuse the last wish of a dying man?
A puddle of water has summoned in a strange grown plant and looked inviting to drink from,
so I did, when suddenly an indian stepped out behind a huge tree. You can imagine how
shocked I was. The stories of the sailors about agressive indians came back into my mind
a hard push of adrenaline was streaming through my chest. Petrified I watched him
searching through my belongings and hoped he wouldn't hear the the beating of my heart.
With a broad smile the indian pulled cotton cloak out of my backpack and threw it into
the jungle where it vanished into the thick plants, that seem to suddenly speak and move.
I wasn't sure, but I would say his friends were hiding there and now carried their new
achievement away into their tribal liar. The indian pierced my heart with a last look
into my eyes and vanished as fast and mysterious as he arrived.
That cotton coat was not what I needed most here in the heat of the jungle, so I was
more glad he didn't want my life, than anything else. After my heartbeat slowed down
to a normal rythm again I packed my stuff and moved on. I should have payed more
attention, but I guess I was too tired. And so didn't notice that the loud screams of
jungle animals got louder and louder. I knew they came from chimpanzees, beacause here
and there I saw one of them on a tree branch, watching me and commenting that with
loud screaming. But they seem to be scared, because no one of them tried to get closer.
When I did my last slashes to reach a small clearing in the jungle, I crashed into a large
number of chimpanzees who didn't like me disturbing them as I had to feel. They ran
around me in circles, loud screaming and shouting at each other and myself until one
of them - the leader I would say - started to attack me with its hands. All I had to
defend myself was the blunt machete, which used to be there for slashing the jungle wood.
When I tried to kick the chimpazee, the whole group started to attack me, and father
what can I say, I'm not that strong to face so many of them, so I decided to run away.
I passed large black cats and yellow black striped ones, stumbled over snakes where more
my luck than my dexterity saved my life from their bite and finally reached a small
clearing where I stopped to run. No chimpanzee screams were to be heard near, so I was
able to walk more slowly. On the clearing I saw an indian girl sitting on a tree trunk
and eating one of the oranges that grew near by. She didn't look that scary as her brothers
I met earlier and so I decided to talk to her. Luckily she was able to speak my language,
and after some questions about a hidden village, she pointed into a direction and said
that it wouldn't be a long way to ge there.
In a small tribal village called Tarmez
And, my loved father, she was right. Although she described not the village I was
hoping to find. It was rather a small tribal village with several tents and large fireplace
in the middle of it. Not long, and I was surrounded by countless curious eyes of
the inhabitants and was not absolutely sure, if it is a good idea to stand still.
But they were a friendly folk, not like the sailors told in their stories. It seemed
to be a wandering tribal, because they used tents and no normal huts out of wood, stone
or earth. They even got a tent where you could buy food and one where I was able to
buy a new machete. That was actually also the place I found my coat with a prize sign
on it. They didn't appear to be very rich and so I decided to just buy it back instead
of heating up a discussion about the silly coat.
Reaching Timbookedtwo
Their chief was a wise man and able to tell me about a city lying in northern direction,
where some of their brothers live now, its name is Timbookedtwo. Armed with a new and
sharp machete, a filled stomach and waterskin I started to head northwards in hope to
find the hidden city where the Priests of Huitzilopochtli should live.
I reached the dusty road of Timbookedtwo and it was that deserted as the rest of the
huge land. The huts looked dirty and the smell of wellknown sweet whiskey reached my
nose again. I entered the first hut I saw, to see what I would find and suddenly knew why
the indians left their jungle village. I saw several drunken indians lying around on
the floor, some with half open eyes and a blurred view. That cannot be the place I was
searching for, i thought to myself and looked around in the small village.
Finally i found a wooden hut with an old indian inside, who didn't look drunk at all.
I told him that I heard about a hidden city in the jungle and that I was searching for
the Priests of Huitzilopochtli. Father, I was never eyed that suspiciously in my life.
No chance to flee from his piercing eyes. But somehow he didn't see me as a danger with my
skinny body and few belongings I carried with me. And so he told me the way to the
hidden city called Zynaya, where the Priests of Huitzilopochtli live. He told me
to be careful and to not anger them, which was a hint that burned itself so deeply
into my mind that I said it to myself the whole long walk until I reached the city
walls of a large city, which was built on a island of a lake.
Zynaya
I wandered around the lake, trying to find a bridge that would allow me to pass the river without swimming through in company of crocodiles and other strange fishes. I found a way to cross the river, but my luck got as fast destroyed as it was built. The city was surrounded by a large wall and the path ended at a massive gate, that seemed to be locked.
I knocked at the gate and all that happened was that someone checked the peek hole in the gate from the other side, but didn't open it. Oh, dear father, I never have felt that weak and hopeless in my mind. I travelled the whole day, got robbed by indians, attacked by snakes and chimpanzees, saw large cats with dangerous claws and wandered through deserted streets of villages. And now, when I finally reached my destiny, the gates are closed and there seems to be no chance to get into the city.
After some hours of waiting, the gate suddenly opened and a man in a long red robe left the city. Obviously surprised he eyed me as suspicious as the indian in Timbookedtwo. It seemed to me as if people in this region do not have many visitors. But this man was really friendly and helpful. Maybe you know him, father, his name is Ingtan. He said he cares for the kitchen of the priests and warriors. Now it rushed again into mind - those stories about war with the pride aztec warriors and priests, how they look like and how they acted. And this one really might be one of them, even if he is only the cook, he is more than I will ever be and additionaly my only chance to deliver the sword you gave to me, my dearest father. I told him about you, my childhood and this terrible tiring day I had.
Somehow he was trusting me and offered his help to meet a leader of the priests of Huitzilopochtli and I entered the city Zynaya together with him. This was a huge city, father, I would say as large as Padorn is. Beautiful houses and not deserted at all. Busy people and heavily armed aztec warriors were travelling through the streets. I even felt at home here, when I smelled the strong herb scent in the air, which reminded me of my hometown where the alchemists have their main branch. Here and there you could hear mysterious humming and chanting in laguages I couldn't understand.
The Eagle Warrior
Ingtan brought me into a nice pub, called 'The Flying Eagle', where we met one of those aztecs guards of the city, drinking a large glass of beer. He talked to him in a language I wasn't able to understand and then Ingtan left me alone with him. The aztec warrior eyed me for several minutes, then returned to his drink. Well, father, I could have sat there and painting my fantasy thoughts about what bad could happen to me, or I could at least try to start a small chat. So I asked him about the city and why he guards it and so on.
Then he explained to me that there is a difference between being a normal town guard and a warrior like he is. He was only a bit older than I was and so I doubt you ever met him, father but he looked exactly like those heros you described in your stories.
He said that there is only a group of very few people, who got chosen from a god to save the world and that he is one of them.
I wasn't sure if I was dreaming or not, but how would you react if you childhood fairy tale become true suddenly? All those mysterious stories weren't only 'told', they were true! The proof was sitting right in front of me.
Furthermore he told me that he protects the priests in their holy task to spread their knowledge across the world, which is an absolutely dangerous task. He said that people built up hate through past wars and rumours. He was calm, but looked incredible strong and trained to me. Some scars in his faces showed that he wasn't afraid of fighting and I could see dried stains of blood on one side of his sword.
Yes, the sword. I didn't mention that it looked exactly the same like that one I carried in my backpack? Just a bit larger, what do I say, very much larger it was - I doubt I could even carry it without breaking to the floor after a minute.
What an honourable task he has, I thought. He protects priests and even saves the world. Nothing I could reach in my life, as sad as you might be now, father. But I'm not strong enough from physique to even wear that armour or weapon this man had. But perhaps ... with a bit of training ... who knows ...
The Priest of Huitzilopochtli
After a while of talking, my fear slowly seemed to fade. Somehow the calmness of this Eagle Warrior was transmitted to me. Then the cook, Ingtan, came back in company of a robed and hooded person. Maybe I'm strange, but not being able to look into ones eyes I get nervous somehow. The Eagle Warrior stood up and stepped close to the hooded person, with one hand on his large maquahuitl. That was the time when I got wet hands again, and my throat started to get dry. Somehow this hooded man was the leader or kinda, because he ordered Ingtan to leave us alone.
A bit nervous but energized with adrenaline streaming through my veins, I told the hooded person about you, my dearest father, the sword that belonged to the priest Arayel and my journey to Yucatan. I got the maquahuitl out of my backpack and offered it to the hooded person. He took it and since that moment he didn't speak a word to me.
How can I put it into words, father. How does one transmit a sad message? How to find the right words for a weak heart that you have, my loved father?
That person first introduced as Priest of Huitzilopochtli and then told me that Arayel is not with them anymore. He left a long time ago, to explore new lands where he could spread their belief and never returned. He was very thankful that I brought back Arayels sword and promised to send someone home to you, my father, as you wished to see Arayel for a last time.
I was sitting with those two people for quite some time in the pub of Zynaya and talked about several things. Somehow I felt at home, as if I would lie in my bed with you sitting on its edge, loved father, telling me those stories about Priests and Warriors who saved the world. I stayed over night and started my way back home early in the next morning. The Eagle Warrior and the hooded priest acompanied me towards Woonoonga and when they left me behind to travel back to Zynaya, I felt a certain pain in my heart as if something important in my life is missing.
Reaching Padorn Harbour
Oh father, looking through this small window of my cabin, I can see the harbour of Padorn already. I think you will understand why a man has to do what a man has to do and you don't judge me for what I will do now.
The day in Yucatan changed my life, dear father, and I want to return there to do as much as I can to save the world like those people do I met there. Fulfilling a childhood dream - to be a hero in one of your endless fairy tales. I won't return for a long time and hope we meet again, when my day has come and I can visit you sitting next to Huitzilopochtli close to the warm sun.
In deep respect and love,
your son.
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