An uncomfortable moment of silence followed, filled only by Yax’s sandals clacking against the plaster floor as he paced around the room, contemplating the bad news. He stared at his long shadow beside him, dancing in the flickering light of the burning torches.
William took the period of silence to catch Betty up on the situation-about the lack of enough men to fight.
“How about the women?” Betty asked, drawing everyone’s attention. “If the ladies will be done making the weapons soon, then we might as well get ready to fight!”
The nobles and warriors stared at Betty with curiosity. They were glued to her words-even though they couldn’t understand her-entranced by her passionate delivery.
“I’ll take some of those Calakmul scumbags out myself, if I have to,” Betty said. “They’ll be sorry for the day they stopped by this ladies doorstep. That’s for damn sure. What do you say, Teshna? Are you with me on this, girlfriend?”
A long pause followed as the room’s attention landed on William, expecting him to translate. He considered how to best put it, wanting to be careful not to offend. “Bati is saying that beyond making the weapons, the women could also take part in the battle.”
Boisterous laughing from the royal guards echoed through the chamber, but stopped when they could see the King contemplating the notion.
“The women would be slaughtered-cut down as easily as the corn is harvested,” Etznab said.
“Not if we keep our distance,” Teshna said, “with the bow and the blowgun.”
Yax paced around the room, considering the idea. He looked each person in the eyes as he past them, making a full lap around the war planning circle. “Yes, I agree to this plan,” he said. “Yet that still does not match their numbers, of five thousand. For that we must determine our battle strategy.”
The muscular captain stood with a smug smile; his biceps flexed as he spoke, “I say we follow Balam’s plans. Clearly he has the respect of the gods… and of those the gods cherish most,” he said, and gave Teshna a bitter glance.
“Sit down, Captain Salmac,” Chief Etznab said, with a scolding look at his subordinate. He then considered what Salmac said and looked over to William. “I would welcome your insights, Balam.”
Yax regarded William and nodded for him to speak.
“Oh great,” William whispered to Betty. “They want my advice for a battle strategy! What should I say?”
Betty shrugged.
William looked to Priest Quisac, hoping he might say something to bail him out. However, the bald Serpent Priest only offered a pleasant smile in return. Everyone waited for William’s response. He had to say something meaningful; he couldn’t let Salmac embarrass him. But the only thing he knew about strategy was in playing board games! William’s face lit up when he thought about the game of chess, for it gave him an idea. “We can tempt the enemy to move to positions that we want them to take-positions that give us the advantage-set traps-attack from places they are not expecting.”
“Yes!” Yax said. “We will make these traps and draw the enemy into them.” He pointed at Chief Etznab. “Add this strategy to our usual tactics, and also plan to place the women archers at advantageous points.”
Teshna gave William a proud smile for offering up a good idea, and then lifted her nose Salmac’s way. The zigzag tattoos on Salmac’s face accentuated his look of defeat. It was clear that Salmac had tried to undermine William, but his tactic didn’t work.
Priest Quisac cleared his throat and stood, drawing everyone’s attention. “My Lord, I must depart to Bacalar tomorrow, to meet with my brothers of the Solar Cult, and to retrieve the sacred items. Balam needs to accompany me as well.”
William perked up at the idea, realizing it would be his chance to see if there was a way to return to his own time. A long pause followed. Only the sizzle from burning torches could be heard while the King considered Priest Quisac’s request.
“No, of course not,” Teshna said, breaking the silence. “It’s too dangerous.” She glared at her brother with a look to back her up.
Yax rubbed his chin. “The sacred items may indeed be useful to us in battle; we would not want them to fall into the wrong hands.” Yax caught Teshna’s worried face, and he pointed to the royal guards. “You would bring a team of warriors with you for protection, of course.”
The Serpent Priest shook his head. “It must only be the two of us. The stars have spoken of this… twin stars passing beneath Mars at dawn. We will travel a safe and hidden route, and return in four days.”
Yax sighed. “Well, if the stars say so, then I approve.” he said, drawing an icy stare from his sister. He shrugged in response. “We must obey the will of the Heavens.”
As the war planning continued late into the night, they discussed the placement of their forces, location of traps, and preparations for the training of the women. William didn’t like how the cocky captain, Salmac, jumped forward, volunteering to work with the women archers. William wondered if Salmac had a thing for Teshna, and if he was using the opportunity to get her attention while he was away. When they left the palace, William offered to teach Teshna some English, to help her communicate with Betty while he was gone, and he made sure that Salmac saw him escorting the Princess out.
Chapter Nine
Hiking east through the hilly terrain outside Dzibanche was an exhausting endeavor. They started off down trails, and then veered through the thick brush for the next several hours, bush whacking through the dense jungle. Priest Quisac said the rugged course was safer, and it would reduce the journey by half a day.
William attempted conversation along the way, but the Serpent Priest told him not to speak, for there were Calakmul scouts in the area. Priest Quisac insisted that he couldn’t be distracted while plotting their course-leaving William alone in his thoughts as they marched on.
He recalled his conversation with Teshna the night before. He had just finished teaching her some English phrases to use with Betty, when a worried look crept over her. “You go to Bacalar to seek your path home, do you not?” Teshna asked.
“I need to know if it’s possible to return-or if I’m to spend my life here.”
“Would that be so bad?” She gave him a warm embrace and a lasting kiss before they parted ways.
William recalled her sensual kiss-way more enticing than the infrequent cold pecks that his ex-girlfriend used to offer. Yes, Jennifer was definitely his ex-girlfriend, he decided. William had fallen for the Princess, and he liked the idea of staying with her. However, he worried about his mom, and he missed aspects of his old life, too. He hoped the journey to Bacalar would shed some light on his options, and help him to decide what to do.
Around midday, they stopped at a water hole that Priest Quisac called a chultune, where little mosquitoes buzzed over the surface. The Serpent Priest dropped his pack to the ground and refilled his jug from the greenish water.
William sat with a heavy thump. “Thank God we’re stopping,” he said, but then remembered that he wasn’t supposed to talk during the trip. He slapped his hands to his mouth with a guilty look.
Priest Quisac cocked his head, listening for a few seconds. “It is safe to speak here.”
“Oh good,” William said, getting excited. “Can you tell me more about the jade cavern? Do you really think it’s the same place where we were trapped? How do you get inside?”
“It is not the reason we are traveling to Bacalar,” Priest Quisac said, cutting him off.
William’s enthusiasm deflated like a balloon letting out its air. “I know you have other things to do there, but I thought you wanted me to come along so you could show me those caverns… to help me figure out if I can get home.”