"What are you up to, Xilonen?"
The girl looked at her friend's smile with suspicion. It felt like Xilonen was planning something.
"Nothing, Izel. I'm just doing what the high priest told me to do. I'm bringing Meya and our guest breakfast."
"Then why are you also carrying your own?"
The girl was carrying three trays with food and drinks. Tamales with beans, cups of atole, and a decoction of agave on one of them.
"You're doing exactly the same thing."
"We have to keep an eye on you. Only the gods know what you could do. Do you remember how you tried to prank that new priest?"
"I do. Too bad I failed."
"Too bad? I think you wanted to say 'thankfully', Xilonen."
"Xilonen, Izel. Stop it. You're so loud that everyone in the residence can hear you."
"Nenetzi's right, Izel."
Nenetzi walked with the two girls. She didn't stand out in terms of appearance; however, her handiwork was special. She was nimble-fingered and loved to create. You could often see her walking around with jewellery she had made herself.
"Don't say you're not interested. Cuathli found a handsome guy on the temple grounds. I wonder where he came from. Maybe the gods sent him to keep us from getting bored?"
"Very funny, Xilonen," Izel replied with a sharp tone.
Nenetzi blushed. They both knew their friend well. For Izel, it was a marvel that Xilonen hadn't already lost her virginity.
After a short while, they reached the prison and entered the cell where their guest and Meya were. The young man was still asleep.
"You were right, Xilonen. He's handsome," Izel said as she and the other girls put the trays on the table.
They were a little cramped, because the table was not designed for so many people, but somehow they managed to sit together and begin to eat their breakfast.
"He's still asleep. I hope he's okay."
Meya seemed worried, but Xilonen calmed her down.
"Looks like he partied as if there were no tomorrow. I wonder what he celebrated. I wish we were there."
Izel looked at her, annoyed. Xilonen smiled, approached the sleeping boy on all fours, and threw his blanket aside.
"What are you doing, Xilonen?"
In response, the girl grabbed the tip of his maxtlatl and smiled mischievously.
"Shall we see how big he is?"
Meya and Nenetzi blushed, unable to say a word. Izel was shocked, but before she could say anything, the girls heard a loud moan.
"He's waking up."
A little upset, Xilonen went back to the other girls. She was so close. The young man sat on the mat. He didn't seem fully conscious, still under the influence of yesterday's pulque.
"My head.…"
His voice was soft, almost feminine, but full of pain.
"You're hungover."
"Hungover? Where am I?"
He rubbed his eyes, and then he looked like he couldn't believe them.
"Am I in the Xochipilli's heavenly garden?"
Maya and Nenetzi blushed slightly. Xilonen giggled and answered the young man:
"No, but we'll take that as a compliment."
The young man's words pleased Izel a bit, and she gave him the decoction.
"You're in the residence of Xochipilli's priests. The high priest found you passed out on the temple grounds. Drink this decoction; you'll feel better. And tell us what you were doing there."
"Izel, food first, questions later," Xilonen said as she handed the guest his breakfast.
The young man took the food and, looking confused, glanced at the girls.
"But I… I don't have any money."
The girls looked at each other. Izel was the first to respond.
"Don't worry. The High Priest told us to feed you."
There was an awkward silence for a moment. You could see that the young man still hesitated. The silence was interrupted by Meya.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Tlacotzin."
"Tlacotzin, don't worry. You don't have to pay. If you don't want to eat for free, you can play something for us."
The young man smiled and began to eat.
Cuathli walked along the residence's corridors. He had finished his duties for now and had some time. He decided it was time to check on the young man he had found on the temple steps. As he walked towards the ritual prison, he heard flute tones. At first, he thought the musicians had started practicing, even though it was too early. Soon after, he realized that the music was coming from where he was heading – where sacrifices for the gods were kept. It intrigued him. He had never heard such beautiful music.
When he arrived, butterflies were flying around the prison square and wonderful music filled the air. All of these made the man relax, but soon after something caught his attention. The guard stood straight as he should, but his eyes were fixed on the cell where the music was coming from. He didn't even notice the high priest. It was only when the man walked past him and said something that the guard remembered his duty. The high priest didn't blame him. It was easy to get lost in this music. He glanced behind the embroidered curtain and saw that the young man he had found on the temple steps was the one playing that beautiful song. Meya wasn't the only one who sat before him. There were also Izel, Xilonen and Nenetzi. They all looked at the young man in amazement, and their smiles were full of gentle feminine grace. Even the always-energetic Xilonen sat still and listened. If only she listened to sermons as attentively. If only she had listened to sermons as attentively. He quietly walked in and stood next to the group. Everyone was so focused on the music that they didn't even notice him. He smiled as he watched their youthful carefreeness. He wondered when they would notice him.
After some time, the young musician finished his melody and put the flute down. The blushing girls began to praise his music.
"Play something else."
"I don't mind, Xilonen, but we all have responsibilities."
Everyone turned their heads in his direction at the same time.
"The high priest?"
The girls were surprised, but not as much as the young flautist.
"The high priest?!"
"Yes, young man. My name is Cuathli and I am the high priest of Xochipilli. I'd like to talk a bit with you. Girls, leave us alone, please."
The girls reluctantly left and disappeared behind the curtain, taking the dishes with them. Cuathli sat across the musician. He saw that the young man was shaking.
"What's your name, young man?"
"I am Tlacotzin, Xochipilli's high priest. The girls told me that the you found me on the temple grounds and brought me here. Thank you."
"Tell me, young man, where you came from. I smelled pulque from you. Were you drunk?"
At that moment, Tlacotzin trembled and deeply bowed before the high priest.
"I swear I've never drunk before."
Soon after, however, he seemed to completely break down.
"It doesn't make sense anyway. Please, just don't make my death a show."
The high priest put his hands on his shoulders and said gently:
"Calm down, young man. It could happen to everyone. It is more important to learn from this not repeat it in the future. It's not a reason to punish you so harshly."
"My life has no meaning. It serves no purpose to anyone."
It was completely unexpected. The boy, who literally moments ago played an extremely joyful melody, was now heartbroken. It was as if he had lost all desire to live.
"Tlacotzin. Look at me."
The boy lifted his head and looked at the high priest. His eyes, full of tears, resembled the bottomless abyss of Mictlan.
"I don't know what you're going through, but I'd like to talk to your parents."
"My parents are dead."
"Both? What happened?"
Tlacotzin lowered his head again.
"My father was a warrior; a few years ago he didn't return from the War of Flowers. My mother died of illness a year ago. I have no family left."
Cuathli was deeply saddened. He knew the pain of losing a loved one.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Let's change the topic. Tell me how you got drunk."
A few tears went down Tlacotzin's cheeks. It was obvious that talking about this hurt him.
"There was a girl I liked. She rejected me. My friend organized a party for me."
"What is the last thing you remember?"
"I remember leaving the party and going home. Nothing more."
The high priest paused for a moment. A loss of memory? Pulque must have played a significant role in this. He had to accept that he would not be given any more precise hints.
"Tell me, Tlacotzin. You're wearing a cuathlic. Are you a warrior?"
The young man shook his head.
"Are you studying at telpochcalli?"
"No. I've already finished my training, but I couldn't find work in the army. I earn money by playing music at the market. My life has no meaning."
He felt sorry for the young man. Life was not kind to him. He was crying so much, and no doubt he was broken.
"Tlacotzin, fate was not kind to you, but believe me, your life has meaning."
The young flautist lifted his head and looked at the high priest. He didn't say anything, not even a single word. But his eyes said everything. He appreciated the high priest's words, but he didn't believe him.
"I didn't find you by chance. You were lying on the temple steps, and a vision guided me to you."
Tlacotzin straightened his back and looked at the high priest with a surprised expression.
"The vision told me that what Xochipilli desires for Xochi Huetzi is lying on his temple steps. And it is connected with a flute and pulque. I went to the temple after receiving the vision, and I found you there. Lying on the steps with a flute by your side and a smell of pulque in your breath. I don't know what Xochipilli wants from you, but you have a role to play."
After his words, the young man smiled, almost unnoticeably.
"I would like you to stay with us at least until the festival; become a temple worker. You'll get free meals, a room to sleep, and ten cocoa seeds a day. And after the festival, who knows, maybe you'll get a higher position. It depends on what Xochipilli decides."
For the first time during their conversation, a spark of life appeared in Tlacotzin's eyes.
"It will be an honour to accept this offer, although I am not worthy of such grace."
Cuathli smiled.
"You'll start tomorrow. For now, let's go to your home so you can get your belongings."
Suddenly, the young man looked completely awkward.
"High priest, I'll go alone…"
Cuathli stopped him with a gesture.
"I insist, Tlacotzin. You can think about this as my order, if that's easier for you."
"If… that's your wish."
Cuathli helped him to get up, and they left the chamber together. They were surprised. The four acolytes who had been sent away by Cuathli were hiding on both sides of the wall and weeping. They looked at Tlacotzin with expressions full of compassion.
"Okay, girls, that's enough. Go back to your duties."
Four girls went away and disappeared from their sight when they left the prison. The priest went to the warrior. Here, another surprise was awaiting him. The warrior stood as still as a statue, but a river of tears flowed from his eyes.
"Go to the captain. Get an escort ready for me right away."