subjects as well?”
“There is a consensus among our lords that he is pursuing the correct policy.”
His statement provoked an outburst of derision and anger from the floor, and Tizoc had to motion Cihuacoalt into restoring order with his staff.
“Hear me, Tecolotl,” continued Tizoc after attaining silence. “These are the words you will carry to Zozoltin. I direct that he and all the lords and ministers favoring his action denounce their cause and surrender themselves to us by declaring their intention to do so on the first day of the month Ochpaniztli. We give him forty days. You may inform him that we will grant many of them the fate of war captives—an honorable sacrificial death. Our advance parties will move out in a week or so, not to engage in hostilities but to keep watch on Toluca so that Zozoltin does not secure allies for himself. We shall move against him in force if we fail to hear from him. Should it come to this, his city will suffer accordingly, with its women and children enslaved, and its warriors slain. You are dismissed to begin your journey so that you may inform your master of our conditions.”
After rendering a respectful bow, a shaken Tecolotl walked out of the hall amidst shouts of anger, abusive remarks, and gestures of scorn. While a harrowing experience for him, the greater obstacle lay ahead. He had to bring unpleasant news to his master, and no minister could predict the reactions of an angry lord.
“If war is offered,” Tizoc said after Tecolotl had gone, “we must determine the contingents for it. Ahuitzotl, how large an army can the Tolucans field?”
“We estimate their strength at seven, perhaps as high as eight thousand, but no more.”
“Eight thousand! That’s more than I would have thought.”
“This assumes they will arm everyone of military age. We think these estimates are accurate and take into account the latest population figures we have on them.”
“How many shall we sent against them?”
“Our doctrines prescribe an invading force should be twice the strength of a defender’s. I see no reason to deviate from this.”
“Tecolotl spoke of a consensus behind Zozoltin. We may encounter stiff resistance.”
“Yes, but as Nezahualpilli pointed out, our alternative will create divisiveness among them—many will lack the resolve necessary for victory. Also we do not consider them as well trained or disciplined as our own warriors. Sixteen thousand will be enough.”
Tizoc remained skeptical and glanced at Nezahualpilli to see if the Texcocan agreed with the assessment. “That will require five thousand of your Acolhuas, Nezahualpilli,” he said. “Is that sufficient?”
“I believe so,” replied Nezahualpilli, “if our information is correct, although I contest the assertion about their being less trained or disciplined. They are surely expecting our attack, having set upon their foolish course, and must be passing their days in constant preparation for it.”
Ahuitzotl gave Nezahualpilli a scornful look. He did not appreciate being contradicted on military matters in which he regarded himself the expert. “Are you suggesting our surveillance is faulty?” he scowled.
“Not so,” Nezahualpilli answered, recognizing he had annoyed the commander and needed to cool his hot head. “I merely emphasize caution. The situation merits our best evaluation.”
“And you have it! You forget we also have strong motivations to impose our will on them. With this determination, not even an equal number of them can stand against us.”
“I assumed from the start that our forces will prevail.” Nezahualipilli replied.
“And Tlacopan?” Tizoc asked Chimalpopoca. “Do you agree with that allotment?”
“I do, Lord Tizoc,” declared Chimalpopoca with great confidence.
“Very well then. Five thousand from each of you. The remaining cities will be given their designated numbers by Lord Ahuitzotl as soon as he can determine an equitable allocation. As for the advance party, a force of one hundred from each alliance city will be adequate.”
With the general application of policy on Toluca decided, Tizoc next addressed his chief priests in order to acquire assurances that their proposed action met its most crucial test. “What say you priests?” he said. “Does our enterprise engage a consent from the gods?”
“They will be pleased enough, Lord,” affirmed the head priest, “if our oblations invoke their auspices. To make certain, we will offer appropriate sacrifices and conduct ourselves in submissive obedience to them, with the fastings and self-denials, as they command us to do. Our prayers to them will stress the importance of our intentions.”
“Yes, do what you must. While we speak of it, have any omens been received in connection with this undertaking?”
“Not by me, Lord Tizoc, but perhaps by my associate who specializes in such matters. He is skilled in concocting the divine potions which induce these visions.”
A second priest stepped forward, and as he chanced to look into the monarch’s eyes, a sudden shocked expression came over his face that abruptly halted him. Tizoc was startled.
“Is something amiss?” he fretted.
“No! It is nothing, Lord!”
“But I saw…”
“An uncontrolled reflex, Lord!—from the potions we consume. It strikes us momentarily at certain intervals without warning to numb our senses in the manner you have just observed.”
“I would not have deemed it a numbing of senses. It struck me more like a—a revelation.”
“So you may have interpreted it, Lord, but I assure you it was an involuntary reaction.”
The priest’s assertion did little to soothe Tizoc’s troubled composition. What he had just witnessed was not a bodily response to drugs, of which he was familiar enough, but a reaction initiated by the priest looking at him. The priest saw something, and whatever it was, it impacted as a profound shock. Despite his alarm, Tizoc strove to maintain a dignified countenance and avoided further allusion to the incident.
“You are a seer?” he asked the priest.
“I am regarded as such, Lord.”
“Have you had any premonitions involving our plans?”
‘Only one, Lord. A dream came to me in which I perceived the recognizable features of a city I knew to be Toluca. Above it, I saw an eagle in flight at early dawn and it was approaching its prey, a quail hiding in some bushes. As the eagle was about to strike the quail, it suddenly reversed itself and was instead pursued by the quail, which, in doing so, left the safety of the bushes. While the quail was chasing the eagle, a second, more bolder, eagle swooped down upon it, seized it, and flew away carrying it in its talons. But it was now dusk.”
“What does it portent?”
“I believe the quail is Zozoltin, for that is the meaning of his name, and that the eagle represents the Mexica.”
“It’s a sign denoting the tactics we should use to defeat Zozoltin,”
