Naamah's Blessing

we strolled them together, gazing at the blooming flowers and the birds in the aviary, familiar strangers trailed by a horde of attendants. The Emperor kept his silence and I kept mine, waiting for him to break it.
    It took some time.
    “Since we were together, I have been unable to stop thinking of you,” Achcuatli said at length, his tone formal.
    “I am honored,” I replied truthfully.
    He turned toward me and laid his hands on my shoulders. “I ask but one more night before you go. Your husband may have his pick of my wives this time since the last one did not please him. And I will give your Prince of Terre d’Ange what he desires. The prince came here seeking glory. What he salvaged from Tawantinsuyo is a pittance. He seeks trade rights on equal footing with those I have granted to the men of Aragonia, does he not?” He gave a sharp nod, gazing intently at me. “I will see to it that his ship rides low in the water beneath the weight of Nahuatl gold and
chocolatl
beans. Whatever you desire. I will take it on trust that the favor will be returned. Only say yes.”
    Ah, gods!
    If Thierry were to return from his ill-fated expedition with a full hold of trade goods from Terra Nova, he would win considerable glory.
    I wanted that for him. I did. I wanted it for all of us. A triumphant return would be validation beyond reproach. And it was not as though I found Achcuatli unappealing; in fact, it was quite the opposite.
    But I loved Bao, and I had made a promise to him. Given his pragmatic streak, he would forgive me sooner or later. I was not sure I would be able to forgive myself.
    I looked away. “You flatter me, my lord,” I murmured. “You flatter me, and you tempt me, too. But I must say no.”
    Achcuatli’s hands fell away. “You’re sure?”
    I nodded. “I am.”
    To my surprise, he smiled. “So it is not true, what the men of Aragonia say of your people. You are not willing to sell yourself at any price. That is good to know. I was uncertain.”
    I scowled at him. “You were
testing
me?”
    “Peace.” The Emperor held up one hand. “Either answer would have pleased me for different reasons. I have already decided that I wish to engage in trade with your nation. The balance of power has shifted since first your prince came to our shores. Now that our people are no longer falling by the thousands to the spotted sickness, we are able to stand stronger against the men of Aragonia.” He paused. “I note that the one who taught our
ticitls
is no longer among you.”
    “No,” I murmured. “He perished in Tawantinsuyo.”
    “It is a pity.” Achcuatli resumed his stroll, and I kept pace with him. “We owe him a great debt.”
    Since it was true, I said nothing to gainsay it. My heart ached a bit for the man Raphael de Mereliot could have been. “If you had already decided, why did you wish to test me, my lord?” I asked instead.
    “I wished to learn more of the nature of your people,” he said. “As your prince said, knowledge is more valuable than gold.”
    “There are those who would have taken the offer,” I said. “Would you have thought less of me if I had?”
    Achcuatli shook his head. “As I said, it would have pleased me for different reasons.”
    “Would you have told me that you intended to open trade with Terre d’Ange regardless of my answer?” I asked.
    He gave me a sidelong glance, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “Of course not. I would have let your people believe that your women are irresistible to the men of the Nahuatl Empire.”
    At that, I had to smile. “You are a clever man, my lord.”
    Emperor Achcuatli gazed into the distance. “Since the coming of the strangers from beyond the sea, I have had to learn to rule in a new and different way. The world has changed, and we must change withit. The old ways are not always the best ways.” He walked in silence for a time. “I have spoken with the priests regarding the words you spoke to me before. It is their belief that the goddess Xochiquetzal spoke through you. Do you suppose such a thing is possible?”
    “I suppose a great many things are possible,” I said. “It is hard to know the will of the gods.”
    He nodded in agreement. “This is true. But I believe that they need their people to remain strong. Strong in spirit and strong in numbers, no longer fighting amongst ourselves for glory and sacrifice, but standing strong together. To that end, I have made new allies amongst former enemies.”