Ixchel and the other gods slowly followed the procession behind Itzpapálotl until they reached the sumptuous palace where Tezcatlipoca had received the goddess Anat months earlier.
The men climbed the small stairs with difficulty, trying to keep the goddess from falling, though one of them could not help but stumble, causing the litter to lose its balance.
Once they reached the top of the great pyramid, the men knelt again so the goddess could descend. But Itzpapálotl then leapt from the chair and landed on one of the men—the one who had stumbled earlier—and crushed his head beneath her foot. The palace was stained with the blood and brains of the decapitated man, while the goddess demanded that her servants clean up the “accident.”
The men withdrew without showing fear or nervousness, while the Chichimeca queen sat upon the same Chacmol throne where the previous Tezcatlipoca had once sat.
The Chichimeca goddess sat defiantly with her legs crossed, then snapped her fingers and ordered her servants to bring food to the guest table.
The six gods looked at the exquisite murals of the great temple, which were completely different from the ones the previous Tezcatlipoca had kept.
The main mural, the one behind the goddess’s throne, showed a monstrous woman with claws and the face of a skull, bearing two butterfly wings. Around her were countless bodies and corpses. The grotesque being stood at the center of the mural inside what appeared to be a walled city. The kings of the six kingdoms surrounding that city bowed before her.
The mural was painted mainly in red and blue, which made it look like an allusion to blood. The gods felt uncomfortable at the sight of such a depiction.
The other murals likewise showed war, death, and violence. Monstrous deformed creatures and demonic beings attacked soldiers, leaving around them a sea full of blood and fire.
“What do y’all think of the changes we made compared to the old regime?” Itzpapálotl asked when she noticed the uncertain looks on the six gods’ faces.
“They are in terrible taste, without a doubt,” Ixchel replied irritably.
“Y’all know, the Toltecs used to be Chichimecas too before settlin’ in this valley, but them bastard gods from the city of Puh took ’em over,” Itzpapálotl said, moving her right hand.
“Basically, us Chichimeca gods are only takin’ back what belonged to us by right,” she added.
“Those details matter little to us, if at all,” Ixchel said. “We came here for other matters.”
“But Ixchel, how can ya say such things when ya know we got the father of this city’s late Tezcatlipoca right here?” the Chichimeca goddess said as she stared directly at Mixcóatl.
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“Whatever happened between my late son and his half-brother is not a matter that concerns me,” Mixcóatl added.
“My father was among the pioneer gods who civilized these territories, and I have inherited his will toward my Xicallanca people. That is my only duty and responsibility: my own.”
“Oh, sure. How could I forget that mighty old civilization yer father forged more than a thousand years ago, with them giant heads?” Itzpapálotl said.
“I was proud that the Great Serpent had chosen my son to become the next Feathered Serpent. But beyond that, the life he took was his own decision,” Mixcóatl concluded, sitting down once again.
“So, if I’m hearin’ ya right, you ain’t interested in revenge?” the Chichimeca queen asked.
“My only interest is the same as that of everyone present here,” Mixcóatl replied.
“We want an answer for the attack and murder of our people, or we will be forced to declare war on Tula,” he warned.
The other gods nodded, while all they could see was the mocking gaze of the goddess Itzpapálotl.
“Besides, isn’t it hypocritical of you to say you are merely taking back what belonged to the Chichimecas, when now you serve only that man from the north?” Tajín asked sarcastically.
The new tlacatecutli of Tollan remained silent for a moment. Then servants arrived with plates of food and placed them on the table where the gods were seated. It was venison accompanied by prickly pears and yucca. In addition, each of them received a small cup of pulque.
“Please, enjoy our cuisine first of all,” the queen said, gesturing with her hand toward the sumptuous plate of food.
“I believe we would first like an answer regarding our people,” Ixchel replied angrily, rising from the table and staring defiantly at the goddess.
“Unfortunately, I ain’t got the authority to discuss such matters. But tomorrow, in this very palace, the new Tezcatlipoca will appear, and y’all may discuss that matter with him,” the Chichimeca goddess replied. “For now, please, be my guests.”
“ARE YOU AVOIDING THE SUBJECT ON PURPOSE?!” Tlatlauhaqui shouted furiously.
“I ain’t avoidin’ it. It’s just that, since this matter involves the safety of my people and y’all’s, the true king of this country needs to be present,” Itzpapálotl said.
“Is he not supposed to be here, seated on that throne where you are sitting?” Cuerauáperi asked.
“He only enjoys war and battles. Political matters like ruling don’t concern him none. That’s why I’m the one in charge of the bureaucratic side,” the Chichimeca queen replied.
“And do you really think we are going to believe you, after seeing those stupid murals of yours showing our peoples bowing before you?” the goddess Cuerauáperi continued asking.
“Y’all oughta take it as a suggestion,” Itzpapálotl replied maliciously.
“Do you think you can bring us here, ignore our demands, and expect us to bow before you?” Ixchel joined the argument furiously.
However, at that moment, Otontecutli stepped between both goddesses, arguing that violence would solve nothing.
“Let us wait until tomorrow to see the new Tezcatlipoca. Perhaps he will be more flexible,” the Otomí king said.
“There are six of us against one,” Cuerauáperi said, challenging the Otomí god as she stood.
The other four gods did the same, preparing their techniques against the Chichimeca goddess, who continued watching them with a mocking smirk.
Without warning, the goddess Cuerauáperi’s head separated from her shoulders, and her lifeless body fell to the floor. Everything happened so quickly that no one could see what had occurred.
“I also wanted to warn y’all that our new Tezcatlipoca can bring beasts and monsters from the underworld—ones that had already been killed before,” the Chichimeca goddess said as the room went completely dark, as if night had fallen.
White eyes appeared in the gloom as a great mouth with enormous fangs emerged.
“Is that… a Camazotz?” Ixchel asked.