Uprise of the Rebellious Princess

Blue skies with colorful birds, towering white volcanoes, golden hills, and a vast sparkling lake surrounded his journey –this was a typical day. He was on high ground, where he was able to wonder at the landscape of the Grand Lake Valley. His companions Ocotoch and Coacuech suddenly appeared behind him trying to accelerate their pace up the hill. “You can hardly catch up with me,” said Yacanex, waiting for them calmly. “I was afraid you would be leaving me go on my own to that party, with those unpleasant persons.” Immersed in his thoughts, he was gazing at the constellations of towns and cities shining white and red. The wind flowed his long black hair. His hair was not long enough except when compared to those of the Toltec peoples. A fur cape knotted by his chest covered his shoulders and back. His bared torso shone golden with the brightness of the day. An animal hide covered from the waist down, with a long rectangular dangling piece to cover his front and back. Such was the usual apparel of the Free Chichimec men living in the forests and the mountains, at least it was for those who still gripped onto their traditions –like he proudly did. He wanted to show his rustic background to all guests at the gathering he was going to, at the Palace of Colhuacan. Ocotoch approached Yacanex just a little exhausted and said in an as-a-matter-of-fact way, “You must attend these parties upon request of the High Capital. You’ve been avoiding them too much. Remember that you never know who you might meet at these reunions.” “You both know I dislike these people –potentates, dull governors, petty rulers, military leaders with no merits, and adulators. All of them boastful of their pretentious lives,” Yacanex replied. They resumed their way as their sandals clapped on the pebbled road. “You need to be there if you wish to see our community thrive. Something you want tirelessly,” replied Ocotoch. “You, my friend, have assiduously attended whenever we are convoked to these events,” said Yacanex, “but nothing ever happens to our pleasing. And worst, I’ve started to feel the Huey Tlatoani now regards his vast lands as a family heirloom rather than what it actually is –just land for people to live in.” As the mighty eagle in the sky began its descent, the city of Colhuacan appeared to their eyes. A large and exquisitely constructed city that was a delight to look upon. All buildings were painted white and red. A towering pyramidal temple soared amongst big buildings of different heights and sizes. The city sprawled downward on the slopes of a hill till it touched the lake. Long thin gray fumes elevated to the sky, especially from the heart of the city. As they approached the city, the sound of drums was heard. Huge drums boomed magnificently over the many marshlands that surrounded the city, with a slow but consistent tempo. The bigger drums were accompanied by what appeared to be smaller drums with faster festive beats. Yacanex, leading the group, made way through the crowded streets of Colhuacan. A spontaneous market was stubbornly installed in the streets to approach the many prominent guests that were to arrive from all parts of the Chichimec Domain. The city was crowded with vendors, dignitaries, city soldiers and groups of curious bystanders. Just when the crowds were tighter and harder to go through, the street suddenly opened into a wider avenue with an enormous open space better lit by the sun. The avenue had beautiful old dark-green ahuehuetl trees planted to each side. No more dwellings were seen, but plazas, monuments, and numerous tall building structures, sunbathed with solar arrows shot by the mighty sun. He disliked the sight of pretentious opulence Colhuacan displayed when contrasted with the modest settlements of his people in the forests below the Eastern Mountains. Ocotoch and Coacuech gazed high to the towering Grand Temple. Yacanex noted they slowed their pace to sightsee, so hastened his pace and said, “We must go directly to the palace, over there.” He crossed Colhuacan’s downtown district without letting his own eyes yield to such lavishness. “Hurry! Let’s finish with this already,” added Yacanex, as he distanced from his two traveling companions. The idealist young man felt uncomfortable walking in the embodiment of what he detested. Yacanex was greeted at the top of the main entrance stairs of the Colhuacan palace. “Welcome to the house of Achitometzin! You and your companions shall be escorted to your quarters. Rest! Dinner is at sunset,” said the courteous greeter who was dressed in his finest colorful garments of feathered attire. The greeter waved his hand to two palace servants. Both servants approached just as Ocotoch and Coacuech arrived as well. The servants took their closed fist to their heart and made a small bow to Yacanex and his party. They were taken through the large palatial hall where servants and caterers were busy finishing the final touches to flower arrangements. “Why is there so much squandering for this evening?” asked Yacanex quite disgusted. “For you, for all our guests,” answered the servant in amiably, “Such were the orders from our Tlatoani, most respected Achitometl.” “Your Tlatoani had the consent from the High Tlatoani?” asked Yacanex again, minimizing the local ruler. “Sorry, sir. We don’t meddle into such troubles,” replied the servant quickly and as concise as he could in order not to commit any fault, “Least to know the intentions of the High Ruler.” “Do not worry about my political remarks towards your ruler. Like him, there are those without actual power that sadly fulfill their dreams with menial fleeting tasks –and for these ephemeral opportunities surely they arrogantly brag.” The other servant interjected and said, “But sir, many ideas came from both of them, our Tlatoani and the Lady of Colhuacan!” “Hush, you fool! Don’t talk anymore about them, least of all from the Cihuatecutli Atototzin!” interrupted the first servant severely. “Calm, I promise I won’t say any more about your beloved Tlatoani or that little brat of his,” said Yacanex. Both servants bluntly stopped upon hearing the remarks against the Lady. “Please sir, understand this,” whispered the chief servant, turning around to make sure no one else would hear his comment, “We couldn’t care less about our Tlatoani. After all, he’s ordered around by the High Ruler Xolotl –” “–A a foreign overlord of us ancient Toltecs,” added the other servant. “That is why we do not hold much esteem for Achitometl, who permits to be belittled. But our beloved Lady… oh sir, she is so graceful, kind, and beautiful as a spirit from the high heavens,” explained the servant. The servants resumed their escorting through the labyrinth of halls and rooms, and they followed. “A heavenly spirit, huh?” Uttered Yacanex to himself, more surprised by the passion brought forth by the humble servant when describing his Cihuatecutli. The night was near, but the sun has all but refused to die that day. Tonatiuh still brightened the western sky with the desperate last solar arrows shot from the underworld. Thus, the sunset signaled the beginning of the dinner reunion summoned by the high command of Tenayuca for each local leader, general, Tecutli, Cihuatecutli, and Tlatoani to attend. All leading figures from all over the vast Domain, the Chichimec Tlacatetlalli, had the duty to attend. Yacanex and his two friends represented one of the most humble provinces, and still an invitation was extended to them. The Great Hall began to see the influx of the distinguished guests from distant lands. The eastern door of the Great Hall was opened for guests to explore the exquisite gardens that surrounded the Palace. Servants began their work; soldiers made their watch. Yacanex strolled through many known and familiar faces, as well as some new ones, but he just continued doing his best to ignore the customary courteous salutations he abhorred. The hall was well lit with ocotl pieces of pine wood, arranged in various places. No corner was left dark, as well as no belly left starving. Splendid banquets were served with food specialties from beyond the farthest corners of the Domain. Yacanex passed alongside the banquet, gazing how people noshed fish, octopus, and oysters brought from strange lands far to the Southeast. A few were intrigued by the desert food imported from the desolate wide lands to the north. He just sighed at such senseless excesses. Yacanex remembered the stories told by his grandparents of the time when Chichimecs came to the valley seeking land to hunt and live. Yacanex’s grandparents, uncles, and aunts, used to gather around the campfire in the wild, dining only game that were caught in snares or masterfully shot. At the mitote, family and community came together. But he was convinced that the habits of the Toltecs, previous inhabitants of the land, have influenced the Chichimecs. Eager to mimic, they were ceding to the extravagant ways which the Toltecs were more accustomed for a long time. “No wonder the Toltecs ended up backstabbing each other!” murmured Yacanex. Though he feared he might have jeered out loud his thoughts. “Yacanex? Yes –yes, it is you! I thought I imagined your voice, but it is really you. Ughm! Come –come, you must salute these people! Come!” an old grey-haired man said, grabbing the confused Yacanex towards a group of people in the middle of the Great Hall. “My good Yacanex! How delightful to see you mingling at these occasions!” said the old man with tangled hair, yet lively and playful as a youngster. Yacanex considered Itzcuintecua an energetic old fellow and had respect for him and his endless chattering. He was the last one from the great six leaders who populated the Tepetlaoztoc area after the Great Fall of the Toltecs. Itzcuintecua was talking excitedly fast, just interrupted when a brief breath was needed. Yacanex felt a little trapped, so he desperately looked everywhere for his companions. “Where are they? They very well might have fled like scared mice!” he thought. He stood on his toes searching for his friends, trying to overlook a number of tall feather headdresses proudly worn by invitees. Yacanex turned to his right and something caught his attention, like when we catch something in the corner of our eyes, and we are urged to direct our view to that object. But behold! It wasn’t an object, but a female. Everything ceased, the noise and frivolous chatter was no more heard, only the timeless silence of eternity that invokes love to exist. Amidst the calmness of forever, Yacanex saw in utter awe the radiant beauty of a lady. His eyes were seeing her, but his mind was baffled for the exquisiteness of her physical presence. He was indeed certain that the lovely young woman was no ethereal mirage. The shocked young man was profoundly dazzled by her mere existence. “How can such joyous beauty exist in a world that it is stained down to its core with impurity?” thought Yacanex, deeply mesmerized by her delicate fine face and flawless bountiful body. Her figure was as if she was meticulously sculpted to the most miniscule detail by an unearthly artistic hand. She was shining bright with her austere white dress that gave form to the sublime curvaceous thickness of her body. The radiance her dress exhibited to his eyes was magnificently contrasted by the shadows and drape lines drawn whenever she slowly twisted her torso. What a pleasant spectacle it was for him to witness the game of lines and shades which slowly morphed over the roundness of her hills and the valleys of her leanness. The contrast played by her white dress accentuated the perfection of her bodily proportions. No fault was present! Perfection was finally witnessed! No earthly female bears such presence of striking elegance with ampleness of her forms. “Perfection indeed,” his mind shouted. Everything kept still around Yacanex except for the statuesque young woman standing proud high at the upper stairway. She appeared to move in a very slow motion. Her pitch-black long hair slowly flowed as she walked down the stairs. Her head slowly turned as she amiably waved to the guests. Yacanex had to break his idleness and forced himself to move towards the lovely lady. Yet to take only one step was a significantly difficult ordeal inside that frozen ambiance of the placid timeless world. But he tried nevertheless, urged by his basest manly instinct towards her sexually arousing features and his highest spiritual aspiration to encounter her true being. He stepped forward. His peripheral vision was now blurred and distorted, except the alluring creature that kept walking down the stairs with a regal cadence. “What apparition is this?” asked Yacanex to himself, while making an impressive effort to take a second step towards her. The air, as water does, seemed thick for any swift movement. “What mortal entity –attired only with perfect beauty –can the heavens condone to live in this earthly realm?” thought Yacanex, concerned whether his mind was building up mirages in front of him. “Can such beauty exist? It may be -my eyes can see her and my heart sense her. But can it be touched and caressed?” Just as he took the second step, his view of the pretty young lady was instantly interrupted. He snapped out of that pleasant trance. The magic of the fantastic mood dissipated into thin air as somebody stood up-close, interposing between Yacanex’s delighted eyes and the beautiful female. The world came back to focus as Itzcuintecua kept babbling, excited about the numerous attendees of the gathering. He talked about each of them, whom they were married to, their family and public work. For Yacanex, it was incommensurable the insolence of all those make-believe lives when compared to the natural beauty of the one he just witnessed. Supreme ideas of worth like beauty and goodness should are the ones that should be cherished. So, he shook his head at such blatant falsehood in front of him. Itzcuintecua asked what was wrong. “Why can’t people be free as nature originally saw fit? Why do we have to constrain ourselves within mock mountains we call temples, false caves we call buildings, and pretentious trivial lives that yearn for man-made riches?” said Yacanex. “Hum! Now –well, what you refer to is civilization thrived by a society. Ughm! What would it be without it then?” replied Itzcuintecua. “Nature,” asserted Yacanex. “Society seems like children playing in a make-believe fantasy world with their economy, politics, and laws. It is not only unreal, but feebly imaginary.” Good old Itzcuintecua chuckled, embracing him by the shoulder. Yacanex added, “I’m sorry, but you know –” “Yes, oh yes, my dear little friend!” interrupted Itzcuintecua, “Heh! You wouldn’t be Yacanex without those outlandish ideals. Such things have always been in your mind. But now… mhm… you must restrain yourself.” “And stay idle, perhaps?” “No, no! Hgem! But… well, you can be more… tasteful.” “And disguise my disgust for these arrogant persons?” asked Yacanex, as his frowned eyes swept the Great Hall. “If you must, yes!” said Itzcuintecua. “These people have the power to aid your community needs. Go forth amiably to obtain what you wish. If they won’t help, then who?” “We, the many,” replied Yacanex, “They surely hold power, but we have the will. The will for amiability, sure –but also the will to take a stand.” Yacanex shook his head a bit frustrated at good old Itzcuintecua. His blood boiled easily at such matters. To avoid a quarrel with his friend, he turned away in haste and carried his frustrations with him. Abruptly, he slammed against a young man about his age. Yacanex immediately apologized and excused himself. But the young Tecutli insisted it was his fault and wanted to make sure Yacanex was all right. “No, it was my fault, I beg your forgiveness. Now excuse me,” said Yacanex swiftly, continuing his way. “Oh, my friend, I must reassure you it was my imprudence, please accept my apologies,” insisted the young man. “No, as I said, it was my –” Yacanex attempted to explain when he was interrupted by the young man. “Oh no, it is entirely my fault!” “If you want the fault, take it! You people just raise a finger and anything should be given to you! Even the blame! Even our hearts! Only to submit to your game?” Yacanes saw something from behind the young man’s astonished semblance that distracted his attention. And there she was again! Yacanex stood there hypnotized by her radiant image. It was no dream; she was earthly in origin. While the people he much disliked was in front of him, at the very back of the hall this divine beautiful woman stood gracefully. Was it possible that he saw things? How can she be within such detestable people? “Yacanex! Please! Come, come! This young man here is Lord Huetzin. Yacanex?” said Itzcuintecua in the back. But Yacanex ignored him, making his way through the cluttered gathering. He pursuit her, but she was fast. It seemed to Yacanex as if he was chasing a white-dressed ghost of provocative forms through the Great Hall of Colhuacan. He pushed and was pushed trying to keep up with her pace. His eyes fixed on the pitch-black shadows her white dress produced between her thighs by her hypnotic cadence of her hips. A spectacle for Yacanex’s eyes, but a brief one, for the mystery lady, fastened her pace. “Yacanex, I’ve been looking for you even in the children area outside.” “Not now Ocotoch!” replied Yacanex. But she slipped out of his sight. He was filled with an irritating helpless feeling. Ocotoch approached wondering if there was any problem. Suddenly he saw something from the stretch dark corridor below the main stairs. Yacanex gestured Ocotoch to stop talking. So, very slowly he approached, To the unknown in the darkness, Solely she awaited being searched, Or gaze to that who approaches, In her place, she did not flee dazed He was about to go ahead, To the looming figure within, But his once decisive step waned, While his heart weakened so thin, Still, fate won’t delay to try again that day.