knowledge of the Aztec tongue was. He leaned back against his cot while the two conversed for a few minutes.
Aquilar turned to his leader. He said, "She says that she has a good grasp of the language, having learned to speak it as a child. She is well educated for one from these lands. Her parents were wealthy merchants, but she was stolen by slavers some years ago and eventually ended up in the hands of the Tabascans. Her own village, Oluta, is not far from those of the Aztecs, and they have much in common in the way of speech and customs. She has also been converted to the true faith by the good fathers and has been given the name of Marina to replace that given to her at birth."
Cortes was pleased by the information. He told Aquilar to tell her that if she served him faithfully, she would be well rewarded. She would not have to do any more of the woman's work or bed any of his soldiers unless she wanted to.
Once Cortes was certain of the girl's capabilities, he gave orders for the Aztec nobles to be seated in a semicircle. He was seated in the center with Tuedilli on his right. Food was prepared and served by the Cubans as Cortes, through Aquilar and then Marina, told the chieftain of his mission: "Lords and guests, I am the emissary of the greatest king on earth, Don Carlos of Austria, king of Spain, emperor of the Christians, and lord of lands more vast than the Aztecs could dream of."
He leaned closer to Tuedilli, trying to read any expression behind the dark eyes, watching the body for signs that might give him a clue as to the effect his words were having. Tuedilli kept a bland expression on his face. His hands were steady, but his heart began to pound a bit. Cortes noticed the pulse at the temple of the chief's head becoming more pronounced.
His words were having an effect.
After clearing his throat with a small taste of wine, he continued: "My lord Tuedilli, my master is a king who is served by kings and princes who rejoice in obeying his commands, for he is good and wise above all others. He has heard of your land and its great lord and has commanded me to come here as his ambassador to bring words that are for his ears only. Great secrets shall I give to your king." Cortes touched Tuedilli's arm, pleased to feel a light sheen of nervous sweat in the fine, dark hairs of the Aztec's forearm. "I have given you my master's message; now, when can I expect to be received by your master, the noble Moctezuma?"
Tuedilli listened to the words of Cortes through the mouth of Marina. But they were not the exact words that Cortes had spoken, for Marina had translated them in the manner she thought would serve the Spaniard best. She knew what was in the minds of the Aztecs from her earlier conversations with them. She knew the legend of the Quetza as well as they did. In her translation she left the impression that Cortes might be the god who was returning to his land. In her words, Don Carlos, the king, became the great god and Cortes one of his aspects.
Tuedilli was deeply concerned. He didn't want to make any moves that could mean his head. As a politician, he knew that the best thing he could do was to stall Cortes and wait for more orders. He said only that he was very glad to hear of the greatness and kindness of the lord emperor but that Cortes should know that his master was a great lord also, with kings who served him and warriors by the tens of thousands at his command. He would, as befitted a good servant, send the request to meet with Moctezuma to Moctezuma himself, as it was not his place to say that which his master should say.
After this exchange, Cortes gave the order for his troops to parade in mock battle. The savages needed to have a little Christian fear put into their souls. Horses charged, the steel blades of the Spaniards slicing through the air as they used their native shields for targets, cutting them to ribbons. A barricade of logs was erected at the far end of the field and used as a target
Aquilar turned to his leader. He said, "She says that she has a good grasp of the language, having learned to speak it as a child. She is well educated for one from these lands. Her parents were wealthy merchants, but she was stolen by slavers some years ago and eventually ended up in the hands of the Tabascans. Her own village, Oluta, is not far from those of the Aztecs, and they have much in common in the way of speech and customs. She has also been converted to the true faith by the good fathers and has been given the name of Marina to replace that given to her at birth."
Cortes was pleased by the information. He told Aquilar to tell her that if she served him faithfully, she would be well rewarded. She would not have to do any more of the woman's work or bed any of his soldiers unless she wanted to.
Once Cortes was certain of the girl's capabilities, he gave orders for the Aztec nobles to be seated in a semicircle. He was seated in the center with Tuedilli on his right. Food was prepared and served by the Cubans as Cortes, through Aquilar and then Marina, told the chieftain of his mission: "Lords and guests, I am the emissary of the greatest king on earth, Don Carlos of Austria, king of Spain, emperor of the Christians, and lord of lands more vast than the Aztecs could dream of."
He leaned closer to Tuedilli, trying to read any expression behind the dark eyes, watching the body for signs that might give him a clue as to the effect his words were having. Tuedilli kept a bland expression on his face. His hands were steady, but his heart began to pound a bit. Cortes noticed the pulse at the temple of the chief's head becoming more pronounced.
His words were having an effect.
After clearing his throat with a small taste of wine, he continued: "My lord Tuedilli, my master is a king who is served by kings and princes who rejoice in obeying his commands, for he is good and wise above all others. He has heard of your land and its great lord and has commanded me to come here as his ambassador to bring words that are for his ears only. Great secrets shall I give to your king." Cortes touched Tuedilli's arm, pleased to feel a light sheen of nervous sweat in the fine, dark hairs of the Aztec's forearm. "I have given you my master's message; now, when can I expect to be received by your master, the noble Moctezuma?"
Tuedilli listened to the words of Cortes through the mouth of Marina. But they were not the exact words that Cortes had spoken, for Marina had translated them in the manner she thought would serve the Spaniard best. She knew what was in the minds of the Aztecs from her earlier conversations with them. She knew the legend of the Quetza as well as they did. In her translation she left the impression that Cortes might be the god who was returning to his land. In her words, Don Carlos, the king, became the great god and Cortes one of his aspects.
Tuedilli was deeply concerned. He didn't want to make any moves that could mean his head. As a politician, he knew that the best thing he could do was to stall Cortes and wait for more orders. He said only that he was very glad to hear of the greatness and kindness of the lord emperor but that Cortes should know that his master was a great lord also, with kings who served him and warriors by the tens of thousands at his command. He would, as befitted a good servant, send the request to meet with Moctezuma to Moctezuma himself, as it was not his place to say that which his master should say.
After this exchange, Cortes gave the order for his troops to parade in mock battle. The savages needed to have a little Christian fear put into their souls. Horses charged, the steel blades of the Spaniards slicing through the air as they used their native shields for targets, cutting them to ribbons. A barricade of logs was erected at the far end of the field and used as a target
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