Naamah's Blessing

made a sweeping gesture with one arm. “So beg.”
    Fearing my lack of eloquence might hurt our cause, I signaled Denis de Toluard with my eyes.
    Clearing his throat, he stepped forward. “I do not know if his majesty remembers, but we have met. With your permission, I will speak for Lady Moirin.”
    In slow, careful Nahuatl, Denis outlined the reasons for our quest, describing it in glowing terms as a matter of honor. He exaggerated my status in Terre d’Ange, speaking passionately of the vision that had led me here and the hardship and sacrifice it entailed. He beckoned to Brice de Bretel, who approached the throne to offer our tribute-gift on bended knee, his head bowed.
    One of the Emperor’s attendants accepted it, untying the gold braids and unwrapping the thick brocade to reveal the mirror.
    Achcuatli studied his reflection in it, tilting it back and forth. “Very fine. And?”
    Denis described the goods we had brought to trade, especially the steel tools and implements, lingering over their superior efficacy. By the time he had finished, he was sweating. “All this, we are willing to trade for your aid, your majesty,” he finished. “All we ask is that you assign a
pochteca
with knowledge of Tawantinsuyo to guide us in the search for our missing companions.”
    The Emperor was silent.
    Pressure beat about my skull. I breathed the Breath of Wind’s Sigh, but it didn’t seem to help.
    “This one is different.” Achcuatli pointed at Bao. “Why?”
    Bao smiled and narrowed his eyes.
    “Ah…” Forgetting he wore a chain-mail shirt beneath his brigandine, Denis de Toluard wiped his brow with one forearm and winced. “Lady Moirin’s husband is a prince from a faraway land, even farther than ours, across many seas. He gave up his throne for love of her, that he might accompany her on this quest.”
    “Is that even remotely true?” Balthasar whispered to me.
    I hushed him.
    The Nahuatl Emperor rose and descended from his throne. Attendants with handheld brooms bent low, hastening to brush the path before his gold-shod feet. They were forced to back out of the way when Achcuatli stopped before Bao and thrust his face close to Bao’s, staring aggressively at him.
    Bao planted the heel of his staff with a thump and stared back at the Emperor without blinking.
    Someone chuckled.
    Belatedly, I realized the Jaguar Knight Temilotzin was among the warriors attending Achcuatli.
    The Emperor smiled, returning to his throne. Once again, he spoke deliberately enough for me to understand. “Before I consider this request, I must be assured your warriors have skill sufficient to protect any
pochteca
I might assign you.” He made a careless gesture. “I know one who is curious. Temilotzin?”
    The spotted warrior sprang into action, his obsidian-studded club raised high above his head.
    “
Mine
!” Bao called out gleefully, already in motion, his staff a blur. No one contested him for it.
    It was a short skirmish. It ended with the Jaguar Knight upended and sprawling on the floor of the throne-room, undone by unfamiliar tactics and weapons, the butt of Bao’s steel-laced bamboo staff hovering over his vulnerable throat. Our D’Angelines looked startled and a bit sick at the suddenness of it all. I couldn’t help but wonder if any of them could have dealt with the challenge as effectively, and if Temilotzin would have slain them if they hadn’t. By the looks on their faces, they were wondering the same thing.
    “Interesting,” Achcuatli mused.
    My skin prickled.
    “Enough.” With a flick of his fingers, the Nahuatl Emperor ordered Bao to disengage. Bao obeyed. Temilotzin climbed to his feet, massaging his throat. The Emperor regarded us. “Your company is worthy, but there is another matter to consider.
I
have been dishonored.”
    I shot Denis a bewildered look, and he gave his head a little shake, spreading his hands. “Forgive us, your majesty. Have we given offense?”
    “You have not given it, but you have caused it.” Achcuatli pointed at me. “The Aragonians thought this one was a gift for me.”
    “Yes, but it was a misunderstanding,” Denis protested.
    The Emperor’s mouth hardened. “And did Lord Cuixtli misunderstand their shock and horror?”
    Denis glanced at me.
    I answered for myself, forcing myself to meet Achcuatli’s black gaze. “No, my lord. He did not.”
    The Emperor nodded. “They take our women without a thought, and yet the thought of me taking one of theirs