The Mayan Priest by Sue Guillou

result of their fight with the pursuing Zapotecs intent on recapturing Yok Chac.
    I learnt a lot about Yok Chac through those successive days. He had been raised with all of the privileges of the elite, but his father had been cruel and manipulative, imposing firm rules that he expected his family to follow without question. Any misdemeanour was punished by whipping or forced solitude and Yok Chac had a network of interconnecting scars across his back, buttocks and manhood. The pain he had endured at the hand of his father provided a survival instinct that allowed him to remain calm and determined during the chaos, and whilst his family had their hearts torn from their chests, he had escaped through the hole he had fashioned during the times of solitude. I was amazed at his resilience and told him this, receiving a smile of thanks in return.
    When I reflect on it, this was the one defining moment of our friendship, the beginning of it all. I had shown Yok Chac respect and he had acknowledged my kindness.
    Three days later, Tikal was host to a magnificent celebration honouring its illustrious guests. They were entertained by skilled musicians, choreographed dances by people in jaguar, deer and monkey costumes, a number of richly clothed dwarfs telling humorous tales and a complete re-enactment of a distant victorious war. Three criminals were sacrificed to the gods and the almighty Bahlum Paw Skull ordered a feast to the likes that I had never seen before. There were platters of deer, rabbits, wasp larvae, manioc, pumpkin filled tortillas, maize bread, plump avocado, breadnuts, honey flavoured atole, more fruit than I had ever seen in one place and luxuriously shaped chocolate pieces. It was a ceremony to remember.
    The following four years flew by very quickly with little changing in our illustrious city. A previously agreed trade arrangement between Tikal and the ‘City of Gods’ that involved swapping salt for obsidian had been a success, but the needs of our neighbour had outstripped supply. There were stories of increasing famine and displeasure at their leader’s ability to provide food for his people, which led to a growth in sacrifice. In a bid to beg for assistance from the gods, a greater number of people gave up their lives for the good of their community, but little had been forthcoming.
    In our own city, the continuing infertility of Lady Hand was a subject of much displeasure for the King. The child I had helped bring into this world had died two years previously from a spider bite, leaving Bahlum Paw Skull without any trace of his blood to leave on our earthly planet. It was with a heavy heart that the King had decided to find a new principal wife. I knew that this decision did not come easily to him as he loved his wife and unlike his forefathers, he did not hold a steady group of minor wives for his pleasure. In my time with him there had only been two lesser wives, both of whom had died.
    As part of our continuing agreement to assist the ‘City of Gods’, Bahlum Paw Skull had reluctantly agreed to marry one of their two royal princesses. Whilst this did not improve trade it would improve the ’City of Gods’ standing and help promote their good name. I felt it was a good decision although I admit to being shocked when the king chose me to collect her as a representative of Tikal. What an honour although I did admit to suffering from a small amount of trepidation at being separated from Yok Chac for the first time in seven years.
    When Yok Chac had first arrived in Tikal, Kin Kawil had housed him in a room next door to my own. At the time I was both glad and irritated. I had become so used to my solitude that I did not know how to cope with the constant intrusion of another person my age. I underwent moments of anger at being followed continuously from the study room to the kitchen and out into my favourite garden, but I quickly adapted and gradually learnt to enjoy the company of another who could