Cuathli was passing by the gate. He had no tasks, so he went to check on Tlacotzin and the girls who were working in the garden. He heard a noise coming from the gate.
"Are you deaf, or do you just not understand?! I demand to see the high priest."
"I think it's you who doesn't understand something. The high priest is a busy person. It doesn't matter that you're a noble. You can't disturb the high priest on a whim. If you've come with an important matter, then I'll lead you to a priest."
"I'm telling you, I need a high priest! This is a serious matter."
Cuathli sighed heavily. He would take care of it. As he approached the gate, he noticed that the arguing person was a young man. A beginner warrior's pigtail… a young warrior, that explained his short temper. However, his outfit… A cloak and a maxtlatl made of the finest cotton. Gold jewellery with obsidian and jade. A young nobleman who certainly does not lack cocoa beans. People of his kind can be difficult to deal with.
"I'm the high priest. I hope it's something important. Otherwise, you will be responsible for disturbing the peace."
"High Priest Cuathli?!"
The guard was surprised to see him.
"The high priest?! That's great. I apologise, the great servant of Xochipilli who brings joy to the mortal realm, but a serious abuse of power in the temple happened."
Cuathli trembled when he heard this. It was indeed a serious accusation.
"Come in, we won't talk in the passageway."
They walked a little further, and Cuathli turned to the young man.
"Let's start… with your name."
"I am Itzcoatl."
"Itzcoatl, tell me exactly what happened."
The young man looked deeply into his eyes.
"I had to leave the city for a few days. When I got back, I heard a strange rumour. I heard the temple of Xochipilli arrested my friend, Tlacotzin, because he stole an amulet. That's an obvious lie."
Cuathli was surprised. That couldn't be the Tlacotzin he knew.
"Is your friend the flautist... about this tall?"
"So you know about him."
Something was wrong.
"Tlacotzin is here, in the temple. However, he is not accused of anything, nor did he steal anything."
"If he's in the temple, then can I talk to him?"
He looked at him like a snake preparing to attack.
"Tlacotzin's working in the garden right now, but he might need a little break."
Cuathli wondered what was going on. Was there a rumour going around the city? If so, who started it?
They finally reached the garden. Just as he thought. Tlacotzin worked in the company of acolytes. Flowers required constant care and had always been needed for rituals. There was always a lot of work in the garden.
As soon as they got closer, the high priest saw that the youth were flirting at work again. Cuathli smiled. Their work was filled with joy and love. However, he had to control himself not to burst out laughing at the sight of Itzcoatl's face.
"When did you become so popular?"
"Itzcoatl, what are you doing here?"
Suddenly, Itzcoatl slapped his own cheeks.
"That's my question. What are you doing here?"
"I'm working."
"You're working? What do you mean?"
"The high priest hired me as a temple assistant. I have a roof over my head, they give me food, and I earn ten beans a day."
"How did you get this job?"
Tlacotzin flushed when he heard that.
"You remember that party you organised for me. After I left, I… I went towards the temple and fell asleep on the pavement close to it. The high priest found me there and gave me a job."
Cuathli listened to him, interested. Tlacotzin hid some information. Itzcoatl, on the other hand, slightly, almost unnoticeably, frowned. He realised his friend hadn't told him the whole truth. Itzcoatl couldn't stop himself any more:
"There's a rumour in the city that you've been arrested for stealing an amulet."
Now Meya and Nenetzi spoke up, completely shocked.
"That's impossible."
"Who would tell such nonsense?"
Izel had a dark expression, and Xilonen was angry.
"I'd like to get those gossipers in my hands. I despise people like…"
Despise? Despise… Cuathli had an idea.
"Texoc…"
"You mean the owner?"
"He stole my mother's amulet and sold it."
Itzcoatl began to shake with anger.
"Where... is... that... coyote?"
This time it was Izel who answered. She wasn't acting like herself. Her voice was so cold and spiteful that priests of Tezcatlipoca would praise her.
"He and Yohualli are in Tlayohulla."
Itzcoatl's anger suddenly evaporated and was replaced by fear.
"In Tlayohulla?"
"Yeah. I know the methods of the servants of the Lord of the Smoking Mirror who sees every sin. They will be begging for death. Walking through Mictlan would be a salvation for them."
"Probably, before I arrested him, Texoc bribed a few people to discredit Tlacotzin if he reported that his amulet was stolen. I already told him that lies have no legs. I must write a letter to Tlahcoatl, the servant of Tezcatlipoca. Looks like the list of their sins will get even longer."
***
Some time after sending a letter to Tlayohulla, in the great servant of Xochipilli's chamber.
"The great servant of Xochipilli, you can't deceive me."
"I don't understand what you mean, Itzcoatl."
The young nobleman looked at him accusatorily and pointed a finger at him.
"You're going to sacrifice Tlacotzin."
Cuathli opened his eyes wide. He didn't expect that.
"Looks like I was right. The great servant of the gods, I understand that blood sacrifices are necessary, but Tlacotzin is not ready to be a sacrifice."
"How do you know he's not ready?"
Cuathli was a gods' servant for decades. Countless trials, observations, and accumulated wisdom told him clearly: Tlacotzin is very compatible with Xochipilli. The high priest swallowed as another thought came to him. The heart of a young musician could be the greatest gift that could ever be given to the Flower Prince. As he pondered, Itzcoatl turned his head and waved with his pigtail.
"This is not a symbol of lack of readiness, but of innocence and potential."
Innocence and potential, yes. Many gods valued warriors' hearts that were filled with courage and honour, but not all of them. The gentler ones wanted hearts filled with care, innocence, and connection to the field they were patrons of. Xochipilli was one of the more peaceful gods. He was a patron of music, in which Tlacotzin showed great talent. The high priest would not allow himself to think of such a thing, but that young man's heart would be a wonderful gift to Xochipilli.
No, he had to stop. There were no omens indicating such a sacrifice — that, or he couldn't bear such a thought…
"Even if…"
Itzcoatl suddenly fell silent. Cuathli did what he hadn't done in decades. He awakened his warrior soul that had been dormant for a long time, the soul of a person who had fought many battles, who had brought many captives, and who was so close to dying or becoming a captive.
"Itzcoatl, you are a rich nobleman, and Tlacotzin is a poor plebeian. How did you become so close?"
Itzcoatl bowed his head.
"Do you know what happened to his mother?"
"She died of illness."
It must have been a very painful experience for Tlacotzin.
"Before that, I had an accident. I fell into the river and almost drowned. Tlacotzin rescued me. When I asked him what he would like for a reward, he begged me to save his mother."
He touched his forehead and lowered his head even more.
"We immediately went to the market and bought medicines, but by the time we arrived at his home, his mother had already died."
Both of his hands fell along his body.
"What's worse, after he lost his home, he didn't accept my invitation to live in my mansion. He said he couldn't use me. I didn't pay off my debt, nor could I improve his living conditions. There is no greater shame."
Cuathli looked at the young nobleman with respect; he was a man of honour.
"Now he's hiding something from me. He didn't tell me the truth about where and how you found him. I don't believe he just fell asleep on a pavement leading to the temple."
Cuathli looked at him sharply.
"Itzcoatl, keep what I'm about to say between us. You're not allowed to tell anyone about this. To the most trusted person, the closest family, Tlacotzin, no one! Do you understand?"
Itzcoatl looked into his eyes with determination.
"Yes, Cuathli, the great servant of the gods, chosen by Xochipilli the Flower Prince, who brings joy and beauty to the mortal realm. I understand and promise to keep everything to myself and not share this knowledge with anyone."
For a short while Cuathli looked in his eyes, and then he said:
"The place where I found Tlacotzin was not part of the temple courtyard. It was the temple steps."
At these words, Itzcoatl opened his eyes wider but said nothing. Cuathli heard the young man swallow his saliva.
"I came there guided by a vision I had received in a dream. In it, Xochipilli showed me that what he desires for Xochi Huetzi lies on the steps of his temple. And it is connected with the flute and pulque. On the stairs I found Tlacotzin, his flute was by his side, and I smelt pulque in his breath."
At this point, Itzcoatl began to tremble.
"Don't be afraid, young man. It's all omens. None of them suggest that Tlacotzin should offer his heart."
Cuathli went to the window that was in the direction of the temple garden. Tlacotzin and the girls were still working there. From this distance, he couldn't hear what they were talking about, but he could see what they were doing. Xilonen leaned in front of Tlacotzin. Cuathli was sure she was pretending to be looking for something among the hibiscuses, but she had a different goal. Izel seemed to reprimand her friend, and the other three were laughing.
"Look at them. You can see that they are close to each other and find joy in everything."
Itzcoatl nodded his head.
"Think of a ceremony where Tlacotzin plays his flute with devotion, the girls who like him dance to his music, and others recite poems about beauty and love. Wouldn't this be a great Xochi Huetzi ceremony?"
Itzcoatl smiled sincerely. The high priest could see that he agreed with him and completely calmed down.
But a seed of anxiety was sown in Cuathli's heart. The young nobleman drew his attention to something he had missed – or what he didn't want to consider. Tlacotzin's heart was very valuable for Xochipilli. It could be compared to a large golden treasure or a precious gem.
***
Itzcoatl went outside. He had been given permission to visit his friend as long as he doesn't interfere with his duties. He looked again at Tlacotzin and the girls. Then, he approached them and asked the girls to spare him a moment.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know your names."
The girls introduced themselves to him. Meya. Nenetz. Xilonen. Izel.
"Girls, thank you. You helped Tlacotzin get back on his feet. You did something I wasn't able to."
He smiled at them.
"I bless your relationship and... don't let him rest. And one more thing…"
Each of the girls smiled in their own way, but they were all as sweet as honey, which symbolises the pure sweetness and joy of life.