The clouds covered the moon, leaving only the changing stars. In the starry night, a gust of breeze blew through, stirring up the bonfire in the fire pit, and the alternation of light and darkness flashed on everyone's faces and hearts. Desires undulated in it,
Sometimes it shows the brightness of ideals, and sometimes it reveals the dark light of temptation.
Avitt's eyes stopped and looked at Kepana, who was dressed in black. The firelight reflected her elegant and bright purity, and the black clothes outlined the graceful figure. Avitt was moved for a moment, and Kepana under the bonfire was actually like her.
The deceased wife is somewhat similar.
Two years ago, shortly after giving birth to Chimalpilli, his first wife sadly went to the Kingdom of God due to unstoppable bleeding. Alyssa burst into tears, and so did he late at night.
It was a gentle and graceful woman, also dressed in mature and elegant black clothes, as if she was sleeping quietly. He buried her with his own hands under the Avevit tree by Lake Texcoco, and painted his own on the trunk.
Symbol. He left the warm companionship in his heart on the symbol, gave up the place on his pillow to his memories, and then plunged into the cold and cruel long war. In the blink of an eye, two years have passed.
Gillim bowed his head silently and saluted, silently expressing his stance. Avitt thought in his heart.
He naturally understood the meaning of "acceptance" in Kechar's words. This was a complete surrender, offering a noble granddaughter without even asking to become a head wife. In this way, the line of chief priests and the line of kings were once again deeply integrated.
Regardless of each other, quickly complete the integration of the capital's political forces. At present, Uger should not be able to count on it, and Kechar's position is still stable. This seems to be a win-win choice.
Avitt's eyes flashed. He looked around at everyone, Kechar smiled like a spring breeze, Gillim saluted solemnly, Kepana trembled slightly, and Akapu whispered softly. Finally, there was Shulot in white. He looked worried.
, who seems to be remembered?
When Avitt's thoughts changed, he saw Shengxue's daughter in white clothes. His heart softened, and he sighed softly, with only light left on his face. He looked around again, and he understood clearly, so he made a decision.
"Dear Chief Priest, thank you for your love." Avit smiled. This was his first greeting to Kechar tonight.
Kechar's smile faltered, and he had a premonition that something was wrong.
"I was born as a warrior, and I don't have a deep understanding of the priest's knowledge. On the contrary, the Akap priest next to me comes from the holy city of Teotihuacan. He is knowledgeable and good-looking, and he is not yet married.
He is my favorite general, so I took the liberty to make a request on his behalf: I wonder if the egrets of Teotihuacan are lucky enough to meet the swifts of Tenochtitlan?"
Having said this, Avitt first pointed towards Akap, then nodded slightly and saluted, with a formal and solemn manner.
Kechar was slightly condensed, the priest of Teotihuacan? He shook his head in his mind, without hesitation, but could not refuse in person. As his thoughts kept turning, he smiled again and nodded in greeting.
"Your Highness's proposal is very good. But my granddaughter has always admired you. Let me ask her what she thinks." At this point, Kechar turned his head. He looked at Kepana, who was in a daze, with a serious look.
"Kpana, is grandpa right?" the chief priest said in a slow tone, with a slight emphasis on the second half of the sentence.
"Ah!" Kepana finally came back to her senses. She glanced boldly and quickly at Akap's handsome and refined face, her heart beating inexplicably and her face turning slightly red.
"Yes, I do!" Kepana nodded heavily and smiled brightly.
"You..." Kechar made a rare gaffe.
He opened his mouth and looked at his beloved granddaughter, but he didn't know what to say for a moment. He subconsciously raised the copper-plated staff in his hand.
"Okay! The cardinals met under the blessing of the goddess of spring, and they were surrounded by cheers. What a happy event!" Without waiting for Kechar's reply, Avitt came to a conclusion with a smile. He stood up and held Kechar down.
His hand also held down his magic staff.
"Thank you to the chief priest for your kindness! Akap, why don't you say hello?!"
Acap was at a loss for a while. Was he decided now? He subconsciously obeyed the order and saluted.
Then, Avitt looked at Gilliam again.
Gillim also nodded and saluted. The first was to express approval, and the second was to accept the order and make arrangements.
The combination of Akap and Kepana will be of great benefit to the king's career. This will not only ease the relationship with the chief priest, but also prevent the connection from being too close, which will facilitate certain processing in the future.
At the same time, since the king valued Acapu, he just happened to draw him to the center. It was also time to weaken the power of the Teotihuacan faction and prevent a certain faction from becoming too powerful. Finally, when the time comes in the future, it can be supported
Akap, by virtue of his identity as Kepana, takes Kechar's place.
Gillim quickly calculated and analyzed the interests in his mind, but did not show it on his face. He stood up from his seat, held up Acap who was in a daze with one hand, and held the smiling Kepana with the other hand.
Kepana felt a chill in her hands, feeling a cold and hard touch, like the metal of the Western Tarascans.
Immediately, her hand was handed over to a warm big hand. She looked at the owner of the big hand, his jade-like face and unruly temperament, smiled and held the big hand tightly with her backhand.
Gillim nodded in his mind. He saluted again and proposed to the hall: "Dear King, noble chief priest. We are discussing secular matters here, why not let the two young priests go to the side hall to meet and discuss the affairs of the gods.
Knowledge?"
Having said this, Gilliam pointed his finger to his chest covertly.
Seeing Gillim's gesture, Avitt hesitated slightly, then nodded with a smile: "This is great! What does the chief priest think?"
Kechar suppressed the emotion in his heart and smiled reluctantly: "Okay, let the two of them communicate for a while to see if it is suitable."
He had already decided in his heart that once he returned, he would scold Kepana. It seemed that he had been too soft-hearted towards his granddaughter before. She could not do anything wrong with such a big matter as a marriage!
Gillim asked the servants to take the two of them to the most secluded and beautiful side hall. It was located in the deepest part of the palace's sea of flowers, with endless tropical flowers blooming. It was also remote and quiet, with no one to disturb them.
Then, at the moment when his trusted servant saluted, Gillim quietly took out a tube of potion from his robe. Then he supported the servant and secretly passed the potion to the other person's hand. The two people's eyes met, and the servant nodded slightly, respectfully.
With a smile, he followed Kepana and Akapu.
"There are creeping grasses in the wild, and the dew is shining. There is a beautiful person, clear and graceful. It is my wish to meet each other by chance."
The Aztec society at this time was also in the late tribal era, just like the Spring and Autumn Period in ancient China, the era when the Book of Songs was brilliant. The unification had just sprouted, the etiquette and legal system had not yet been established, and the folk customs were simple and ancient. Women also had
The power to inherit property and status is also more bold and free for marriage between men and women.
By the time Gillim returned to the temple and bowed and sat down, Kechar had already restored his friendly and kind smile. He asked the ascetic priest behind him to unload the wooden basket and open the lid. Dozens of wooden boards full of patterns were displayed in front of everyone.
The priest took out a piece and carefully held it in front of Avitt.
Shulot also moved forward to watch carefully. On the top of the board was a pattern emblem, similar to the commander's board, representing different city-states. On the left side of the board was a simple warrior figure, representing the strength of the city-state. On the left side of the figure
There is a rectangular square with different vertical bars drawn inside, representing specific warrior squads.
On the right side of the wooden board is a simple grain pattern, representing the city-state's grain reserves. At the bottom, there are long flags of large nobles with different family crests, numerous feathers of small nobles, and simple village symbols.
"Could this be..." Avitt was finally really moved and had some guesses.
"Yes, just as His Highness expected! This is detailed information about the city-states in Mexico, as well as military information about the surrounding vassal city-states." Kechar smiled gently, with absolute confidence in his smile.
"This is the most accurate information obtained by the ascetic priests who went deep into various states. It includes the specific strength of the warriors and the different families they belong to. Among them are the big nobles who are close to the big temple, the small nobles who have gods in mind, and the villages affected by the priests.
!With the support of these maps and the Great Temple, you can truly control the alliance!"
This is a bargain that cannot be refused. In any era, priests, priests and monks are the best spies and suitable messengers.
They can move around freely, are trusted by ordinary people and warriors, and have enough status to contact nobles at all levels. At the same time, they are blessed and protected by faith, and they can be called the most perfect intelligence workers. For thousands of years, countless wars have
It is done in the name of religion. As preparation for war, the same goes for the infiltration of intelligence networks.
In Mexica society, ascetic priests with high status can represent the Great Temple, secretly win over nobles and warriors at all levels, and can dedicate themselves to their faith at any time. They are an important force for the Great Temple to control non-direct city-states, and are also maintained by alliances.
One of the keys.
Avitt thought for a moment, then smiled and took Kechar's hand cordially. Then he ordered the servants to bring the best tequila and raised their glasses to pay tribute to the chief priest. Kechar also smiled cordially.
, toasted in return. The two drank it all at the same time and reached a settlement!
The milky top-grade tequila flickers and flows under the bright firelight, exuding a dreamlike light. But the light cannot penetrate the barrier and truly illuminates the darkness inside, just like a heart that cannot see the changes.
Shulot watched the performance of the two men and felt enlightened. Is it necessary to be a real ruler? He watched the two chatting enthusiastically and mentioning the war that had just passed, as if Tissot
Gram's death was just a detail that had nothing to do with the overall situation. During this period, Gilliam also told a few jokes seriously, causing everyone to laugh heartily, and Xuellot couldn't help but laugh.
For a time, the guests and hosts in the hall were enjoying themselves. The king and the chief priest formally reconciled and joined forces for the future of the country. It seemed that everyone had forgotten the two young men and women who had left.
Kechar nodded with satisfaction. Although there were some minor accidents, the purpose of this trip went smoothly. Next, he will continue to promote the binding with the king's power, and then only needs to get rid of the Teotihuacan family.
Without interference, the chief priest line will still be firmly at the top of power! When the elders retire and return to power, even if Avitt wants to take action, he will hurt his own limbs.
"It seems that the king still misses his deceased wife. This seems to be something that can be used. Similar clothing, similar appearance and movements can be used to train Kpana... If this matter does not go well, Prince Bilil of Texcoco
Also not yet married, there are also the glorious nobles of the capital..."
Kechar was thinking in his mind, listening to Gillim's serious joke, and suddenly realized something was wrong: Is this delaying time? No, my granddaughter!
Kechar's expression changed drastically and he was about to stand up. Gillim held Kechar up and asked solemnly and doubtfully: "Noble chief priest, isn't the joke I told funny?"
Kechar's anger flashed away, and he gritted his teeth with a smile: "It's funny, it's funny, I'm so funny!"
He covered his left chest with his right hand, seemingly angry and sad, but he had already grasped the hidden dagger. Although he had not used it for a long time, the poison had been tempered this time when he went out.
Behind him, the ascetic priest also put his hand into his arms, and the situation was about to escalate.
"Now that we are a family, it is my duty to satisfy you. I heard that ascetic priests have a tradition of cutting themselves and sacrificing blood. I wonder if I can get your advice."
Gillim took out the obsidian dagger from his arms, and with his wrists as fast as lightning, he cut several wounds on his chest in an instant, showing his extraordinary martial arts. His technique was extremely precise. These wounds only looked scary, but they were not
There will be sequelae.
His expression remained unchanged, letting the blood flow, his wrist tilted slightly, and the dagger pointed at Kechar.
"Noble Chief Priest, are you satisfied? Are my sacrifices standard?" Gillim bowed his head slightly and saluted, his body like a lynx ready to go, his eyes pure and translucent.
Avitt took two steps back silently. Shulot held a short blade and guarded him. Then the guards arrived, carrying a topaz scepter.
Avitt then smiled and scolded: "Gillim, how can you discuss the knowledge of sacrifice in front of the chief priest? Why don't you apologize and leave!"
Hearing this, Gillim quickly took back the dagger. Then he solemnly bowed to the ground and saluted and apologized to Kechar.
Later, Avitt took Tisok's staff from the guard and said to Kechar with a smile.
"Chief Priest, this is the scepter of the Great Temple. I will return it to you here, and then wait for you to give it to me on behalf of the gods at the enthronement ceremony!"
Seeing the familiar magic staff, Kechar's eyes changed, and finally he suddenly smiled, blooming like the spring breeze.
He breathed hard: "Thank you, Your Highness. I am really old, and my chest hurts so much just now. Lord Gillim's sacrifices are very standard. You can come to the big temple when you are free. The old man will entertain you warmly and teach more advanced ones."
Sacrifice.”
A more advanced sacrifice? The next step is human sacrifice. Shulot can already understand everyone's conversations, but he is not sure why it has developed to this point.
A servant hurried over, and he nodded slightly. Gillim stood up from the ground, and Kechar paused again. Soon, the banquet returned to normal again. Everyone was talking and laughing, as if nothing happened.
After another two quarters of an hour, Kepana returned holding Akapu's arm. Her eyes were flowing, with a bright look, and a smile from the bottom of her heart. When she saw her grandfather, she shrank her head slightly and
Hidden in Akapu's arms.
Akapu looked at Kepana tenderly. Ever since he drank the holy water, he has been feeling an inexplicable joy and joy. But after the two of them drank wine not long ago, this joy and joy became even more uncontrollable, and everything fell into place. This beautiful and lively person
Will the girl be his wife from now on?
Seeing Kechar, he nodded respectfully, and then held Kepana tightly.
Seelot watched the changes between the two of them, and then he understood everything. Then he looked at Gillim and was speechless.
Kechar still had a spring breeze-like smile on his face. He looked at Akap and sincerely praised everyone.
"I was dazzled just now. Now I realize that the priest Akapu whom Your Highness values is really beautiful and handsome. He is indeed a good match for Kepana!"
"Let them hold the wedding in these two days before His Highness ascends the throne! From now on, the Great Temple will be His Highness's most loyal vassal. I will also send an envoy to the high priest of Teotihuacan to beg for help shamelessly.
, leaving talented people like Priest Akap in the great temple.”
Soon, Kechar saluted and said goodbye to Avitt. Gillim saluted solemnly to Kechar again, and Kechar returned the salute to him with a smile.
Then, he put on the topaz staff and took a deep look at Shulot. Finally, his eyes rested on Kepana and Akapu.
"Kpana, let's go." The chief priest greeted Akapu with a smile, and then waved his granddaughter over.
Kepana glanced at Acap reluctantly, and then followed Kechar obediently.
"My grandfather still loves me so much! As he gets older, when he gets married, he will still have to visit him often." Kepana thought happily.
Avitt smiled and patted Acap on the shoulder, as did Hulot. Gillim bowed deeply and apologized profusely. Acap smiled blankly.
Early the next morning, when the morning light appeared in the sky, Hulot stood up. He put on Teotihuacan's unique clothes, packed all the gifts, and waited quietly.
Today is the day to meet the elders.
This chapter has been completed!