Three days had passed since Rodrigo’s group had encountered the god Xólotl. The gods had been sent to a city called Chicomóztoc, which seemed to be a sacred city for the Zacateco people.
Although Rodrigo and his companions were prisoners, they were treated as deities, carried in carriages borne by people all the way to that city, which lay west of Tlacuitlapán.
The gigantic city of Chicomóztoc had been built on the slopes of a great mountain, with an enormous pyramid standing at its summit. It was a vibrant city, full of energy. According to what little Anpiel and Tul could understand, it was a city sacred to all the Chichimeca kingdoms living in that region. It was prophesied that a great king would emerge from this land, which was why all the Chichimeca kingdoms fought to possess the city.
As one might expect from a mystical city, most of the people in this area were priests and healers. The smell of blood was also very strong, so Tania guessed that many human sacrifices must be performed there.
The entire passage was lined with temples and white pyramids that shone like pearls in the sunset.
However, the reason the gods had been brought there was because of a tradition common throughout the entire region, from the Chichimeca kingdoms to Mayapán: the Ball Game. Or, as Tul called it: Pitz.
Tul explained that the Ball Game was a very popular sport throughout the region, and that it served as a spectacle for the masses. The objective was to keep a rubber ball from touching the ground while bouncing it against the walls of the court.
Ana remembered that similar games were played in Ireland, though using sticks and staffs, and not on a court, but on grass.
“Don’t worry,” Tul said. “I’m an expert at this game, and I’ll teach you how to play it.”
Before the eyes of the gigantic pyramid on the mountain, an esplanade rose at its base. The shape of this esplanade was like a capital “I”: a long, narrow central passage flanked by wider ends, enclosed by walls so high that the whole place looked less like an open court and more like a stone pit.
At the center of the esplanade, there were two very high stone rings. At the upper part of the field were stands where people sat to watch the game. It should be noted that today, in particular, the place was packed with people eager to see gods play against the best players of the Zacatecos.
The gods arrived at the entrance of the stadium, where there was a gigantic structure with great red columns. There, the carriages that carried them stopped, and they were finally able to get down. Each of the gods wore two bracelets on their wrists that sealed a large part of their divine power. They were emerald-colored, with red stones embedded in them.
“Who will be participating?” asked one of the Zacateco gods, who appeared to be Xólotl’s steward. The man wore a headdress with red feathers, a jaguar cape, a loincloth, and sandals.
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Tul stood up very excitedly and raised her hand.
“I’ll play, of course!” the rabbit goddess said. Though there was some uncertainty in the case of the other gods.
“How many participants are required?” Anpiel asked, puzzled. “Or can we learn the rules before participating?”
“The rules are very simple,” the god said, showing them a rubber ball.
“The objective is to prevent this ball from falling to the ground, or you will lose points,” he said.
“That does not sound very difficult,” Loki said confidently.
“The matter is that you may only use your hips, elbows, and knees. Using your hands or head will be considered an infraction, and you will receive severe penalties,” Xólotl’s steward replied.
The man then pointed toward the two ends of the court.
“You will stand in the chamber on the left, while your opponents will be on the right,” he said.
“You must carry this ball by bouncing it with your bodies until you reach the opposite corner, then make it strike the wall your rivals are protecting in order to score points. If the ball falls or you use improper parts of your body, you will lose points,” he explained.
“Now it no longer sounds so easy,” Menrva said worriedly.
“The rules will be explained better by the referee once the game begins,” the man said, then turned to look at the gods again.
“Now tell me: besides her, who will be the other three players?” he asked.
Tania was about to volunteer, but Menrva stopped her.
“I believe it is time for those of us who have not been able to break the barrier to participate,” she said.
The Punic goddess wanted to object, but seeing the determination in her companion’s eyes, she decided to accept.
Menrva had gone on this adventure as their superior, but each day, it seemed she could only obey orders. Tania understood that the Etruscan goddess was currently frustrated with her position.
“What will happen if we lose?” Anpiel asked, puzzled.
“You will be sacrificed to the great king and god Xólotl,” the steward replied calmly. “And your heads will be used to create new rubber balls.”
The gods swallowed hard and turned to look at Menrva.
“Are you certain you wish to participate?” Tania asked with concern in her eyes.
“You said we must be honest, Tania,” Menrva said. “And the truth is, I do not wish to fall behind all of you.”
“I understand how you feel, Menrva,” Ana interrupted. “But are you sure about this?”
“I am. I will no longer be a burden to you or anyone else,” Menrva replied, then smiled.
“I’ll participate too,” Freyja answered.
“Besides, if we lose, we’ll just end the lives of all these folks,” she said calmly.
“No, Freyja, that is not the point,” Menrva replied, disappointment in her gaze at the smiling Freyja’s words.
“But I do thank you for wanting to participate,” she added.
“I’m only jokin’, but it’s mighty clear I won’t be satisfied till I kill that dog-faced bastard,” the Norse goddess replied.
Susanoo was about to present himself as a participant, but Loki stopped him.
“This game will surely need my brain,” the Norse god said.
“Very well. I hope you do not disappoint us this time,” Tania said cynically.
“If you beautiful goddesses support me from the stands, there will be no divine power capable of defeating me,” Loki said cockily.
“Clown,” Tania said with contempt.
However, she was surprised when she saw Ana smiling and saying:
“I’ll cheer for you from the stands.”
“Very well,” the steward interrupted. “If you are the participants, please come with me.”
The man gestured for them to follow him, and Menrva, Freyja, Loki, and Tul accompanied him.
“As for the rest of you, please follow the guards so they may assign you a place,” the man said to the remaining gods before leaving.
Immediately, he gave instructions to the soldiers, and they obeyed.