be restored to its rightful place on the sacred mat."

Acamapichtli coughed. When he spoke, his voice was so low I had to strain to hear it. "We have come... for the body of our Revered Speaker... that it might..." He stumbled there, closed his eyes and went on, a grimace of pain stretched across his features. "... that it might wear the Turquoise-and-Gold Crown... and lead us all to glory..."

He fell silent. I heard nothing but our own breaths, smelled our fear. By coming into a god's land, we had placed ourselves at His whim. Nothing prevented Him from killing us with a thought.

The air grew warmer, and tighter. Already in a weakened state, it was all I could do to breathe. "I took your Revered Speaker's life,"faintest hint of smoke, causing my eyes to itch.

"I am given to understand that we owe you a debt," Tizoctzin said. His eyes were sunken deep, his skin a pale brown, almost waxy, and he stumbled a little on his words. I wasn't sure if it was because something was wrong with his speech, if my delay in the ritual had cost him something, or if it was simply because he disliked uttering them. By the scowl on his face, there was at least some of the latter.

Nezahual-tzin shrugged. "I'm glad to see proper diplomatic relations restored between Tenochtitlan and Texcoco. I shall look forward to your coronation, my lord."

"I see." Tizoc-tzin bent to look at Nezahual-tzin, as if not quite sure what to make of him. "Perhaps