Revolutions

106 - Walumaq

We stand rooted to the spot, our breath caught as the cold, unyielding stares of the Ulxa shaman and the Auilqa warriors pierce through us. The shaman points at us accusatorially, with the eyes of the turquoise serpent tattoo that wraps around his arm glinting malevolently. Though the shaman is Ulxa, his arrival flanked by Auilqa warriors sends a shiver of foreboding dread through me.

Tlexnín scowls. "You," she practically spits the words at him. "Are you aligned with them? Those who have betrayed us when we are at our most vulnerable? Are you responsible for the captivity of our people?"

"The Auilqa seizure of Ulxa territory is only until you are deposed," the shaman says cooly. "There have been whispers of your desire to cease Ulxa traditions and rituals. You have allowed a treacherous enemy to gain strength and nearly wipe out our people. It is evident that you have gone mad, and you must be stopped."

"You would go against the Itztecatl?" Tlexnín asks, incensed. "I have been chosen! Do you not believe, then, that it is the will of the gods to seek out rituals and traditions that honors the gods and values human life?"

"The Itztecatl," the shaman replies with a sigh. "Perhaps that is the tradition that needs to be changed."

Tlexnín tries to storm up to the shaman, but is stopped by both the imposing presence of the Auilqa warriors and Atoyaqtli and Pomacha holding her back. It doesn't, however, stop her from expressing her disdain for the person. "You dare to insult me by challenging my vision for a better, stronger Ulxa by questioning the rituals you claim to hold sacred?"

The shaman raises his voice slightly, growing impatient. "The rituals we have practiced for generations upon generations are what has curried favor from the gods, what has protected us from danger and kept the Ulxa strong and prosperous."

"The same favor and protection that has led to our captivity?" Tlexnín snaps back. As one could imagine, this does not please the Auilqa warriors standing nearby, waiting for any excuse to strike the Ulxa leader. They snarl, taking another step or two closer to Tlexnín, though she does not relent as she glares at the shaman.

I feel Paxilche's eyes boring into me. Saqatli's, too. I know they watch me, anticipating my interjection, but I'm uncertain how to de-escalate the situation. This seems like a matter to be settled among the Ulxa, debating traditions and ceremonies that honor their ancestors and the gods while showing that human life should be valued, too. It doesn't feel like it's my place to interfere, yet I know, deep down, that leaving a resolution to be made between these two parties could bring less than desirable results.

Before the shaman can signal the Auilqa warriors to recapture Tlexnín, I take a measured step forward. "If I may," I state. All parties involved—from Tlexnín to the shaman to the waiting Auilqa warriors—are not entirely receptive to a third party attempting to insert themselves into this conflict. But it is something I anticipated, and thus I am not deterred.

"I understand the grievances of both sides," I say, alternating my glances between the shaman and Tlexnín. "For you, respected shaman, Tlexnín's desire to change Ulxa traditions must feel like a betrayal of everything you and your people hold sacred. The rituals and ceremonies you uphold are the lifeblood of your culture, passed down through generations as a testament to your people's resilience and devotion. To see these traditions questioned or altered is to feel your ancestors' voices being silenced, which is a profound pain that I can only imagine."

"And you, Tlexnín," I continue, turning to the Ulxa leader, who is listening intently, "your desire to move away from practices you see as harmful is also rooted in a wish for a better future. You envision a path where the Ulxa can thrive without the necessity of rituals that may no longer serve the people. You seek progress and enlightenment, hoping to guide your people towards a future where they are no longer bound by what you see as outdated customs."