Part 2 of Xoctol

Chapter 3

For two hours Xoctol had already been working. The raucous sound of hammer against metal was gradually bringing the churning thoughts of yesterday’s activities out of his mind. He continued with his work diligently, trying to keep his mind off the bugs.

He tried to think about things he was looking forward to, like maybe practicing with his bow later with one of his many friends. He’d had the bow since he was a child, but it had been too big before. Now it was finally his size and he enjoyed his time with it. Bow’s were very rare with the Aztecs; most men used swords or spears. But he regretfully stopped daydreaming with a grunt for the noise in the street he could no longer ignore.

He reluctantly placed his hammer down and lifted the flap to see what had happened. He saw a large group of people arguing about something. He went closer to learn some more information and was surprised to hear them mention the white prisoner of the day before.

It seemed one of the people in the crowd was one of the guards of the white prisoner. He had spoken to the guard and told him of his homeland. Apparently there were thousands of white men less then a hundred miles away. And then farther away were millions of white men living on an entire continent. If he died he would soon be revenged he said.

These words filled the crowd with fear, but Xoctol knew better. He had seen the powerful army of the Aztecs and he wasn’t afraid. But it was a surprise for him, because he suddenly realized, the Aztecs were alone.

Chapter 4

The guard was right. Xoctol woke up to see his father rushing out the door. He asked him what had happened and was shocked to find that an army of white men had been sighted. They were still miles and miles away but Aztec runners had brought the
news in last night. The emperor tried to keep it a secret, but his father had heard the news

when he was delivering one of his gold products to a noble man. Xoctol rushed to get
dressed and ran outside undecided about what to do. He decided to check the streets to see if any new information had been discovered. He knew that as soon as one of the servants heard something, they would immediately spread the word to the streets, so it sounded like the best place to start. He was rewarded by sighting a crowd just a little farther down the road. He went nearer and heard the bad news about the rate at which the whites were coming. He learned that they are marching nonstop. At this rate, they would arrive in a week. The leaders were trying to keep it hidden but everyone knew that the Aztec army was preparing for warfare. They had begun training and messages had been sent out to the surrounding cities collecting men. While the Aztec generals were hard at work trying to determine whether to stay put and defend the city, or to take the offensive and attack the whites, Xoctol was confident that no matter which one was chosen, the Aztecs would win. After all there were rumors that there were only a few thousand whites, while the Aztecs could get an army of over one million. Yes the people’s fear isfoolish.

Chapter 5

A week had passed since Xoctol had laughed at the talk of the people. And life had drastically changed. The whites were pushing on with great avidity at the rumors of immense amounts of treasure. They were only a day’s journey away but the Aztec army was ready to fight. The priests had predicted a quick battle and the whites being utterly crushed. The emperor, confident of success decided to take the offensive and meet the whites out in the open. The army marched out with all of its grandeur. Xoctol glowed with anger at the memory of the soldier trainer’s response to his plea of joining the army.

The trainer had dismissed him with out even a word. Xoctol had been humiliated, but he wasn’t going to helplessly wait at the city. He was busy scheming a plan as he watched the queues of men walk by.

Husbands bidding goodbye to families, and promising a quick return. The noble soldiers led the procession in their finery, and the rest of the army followed arrayed in cotton armor and carrying impressive swords. The flags of the various cities were held high by their prestigious armies. And they strode out with the chiefs urging them on to make a better show for the people at the city. The emperor had not sent his entire army though. He being so confident of the advice of the priests, had left some of his best and most valiant soldiers at the city, the Jaguar warriors. Believing it to be a quick battle he wanted to keep them fresh for more pressing matters. Xoctol watched the army, but he was not only watching. A circumvention in his mind slowly began to form as the army faded into the distance.