Journey to the Forgotten Island

Chapter 31 - Men in the Room

The warmth of welcome and greetings only lasted so long. They were back in Xipilli's home – the familiar clean tiles, the reassuring curvature of the round walls, reminiscent of an embrace. Toma looked over Xipilli's shoulder at the strange little stone sculptures with the crystal eyes.

'Ginger tea – for you,' Xipilli said, nodding. He had evidently been practicing his Vetustan with Idi.

'And we have brought ale for you!' Toma smiled. He had not learnt any Naxual.

They laughed at their exchange – the Naxual providing the Duro drink and the Duro providing the Naxual drink.

Xipilli seemed content with the new order of Ntsiag. As Toma had entered the village in his carriage, many villagers had waved, while others chased the horse and carriage as if it were a game. Toma had heard reports that some villagers were angry about Chee's disappearance, but it seemed Xipilli's leadership of the village was generous enough that most of the villagers were welcoming of the changes.

'Very well,' Esteban said, tensely. 'Shall we commence?'

'Perhaps you should drink some native ale, Esteban. Your shoulders are so tense that your neck has disappeared,' Dini chuckled.

Esteban narrowed his eyes and sat down on the ground cushions. Ami and Dini sat on either side of Toma while Idi, his defiance all but gone since his night in the prison, sat beside Xipilli.

Xipilli softly spoke in broken Vetustan, 'My friends – welcome. Problem in village. Must speak.' Xipilli switched to Naxual, continuing in his soft, measured tones before Idi translated for him.

'He is asking about the soldiers blocking the villagers from leaving the village through the burnt forest,' Idi said. 'The villagers wish to look for work in Adelmoville – to see the might of the Duro Empire. But these past months since the villagers were given money, they have been forbidden to leave and only Duro merchants come to them. Without a means to make money, they are running out.'

Dini lent forward and spoke directly to Xipilli in a reassuring voice. 'The villagers can earn money through the sale of gold. If, as agreed, the village sends traders to other villages to take gold, then they can sell the gold to the Duro for money. It is a simple system.'

Xipilli listened to the translation and then spoke.

'Xipilli has sent traders north but there are only two other villages south of the Dragon Lake. Reaching other villages takes much time – and the drought has affected much of the kingdom north of the lake.'

'Dragon Lake?' Toma said.

'It is an ancient name,' Idi said. 'Xipilli says there were dragons there until Yaotiacua came.'

'How are we to explain commerce to such naïve and lowly people?' Dini sighed.

'Perhaps – rather than beginning with the needs of the village – we should discuss the matter of the mine,' Esteban said.

'Well that is a simple matter,' Toma said at once. 'The villagers will not be moved from their village. I forbid it. We will not destroy this village under any circumstances.'

All the men sighed, except for Xipilli, who presumably did not understand, and Idi, who looked pleasantly surprised for once. Toma felt embarrassment rise to his cheeks, realising that he had hoped for Idi's approval.

'Perhaps the translator can ask the native if there are any secret mining tunnels beneath the village?' Esteban said, drily.

'The Naxual, Xipilli says, used sorcery for mining. They are unaware of any tunnels. The land beneath a village is sacred and only used for houses, gardens and farms,' Idi translated.