As the wind whistles between the adobe walls of the now-abandoned outpost, the gravity of the situation heavily weighs upon Mexqutli and me. Combined with the sheer might of the gray creatures summoned by the Eye in the Flame cultists, the realization that this “Sunfire” possesses the knowledge of magic is deeply concerning, and I fear what challenges are to come. Seeing the destruction brought upon Iantana from what I surmise is a fraction of the cult’s power, we are going to need more than just the two of us and the small portion of the Tuatiu army that remains if we hope to stop this evil from achieving their goals.
“We must track them and learn to where they are running,” Mexqutli says through gritted teeth, his speech more stilted than usual in his agitated state.
He paces about the vacant grounds with the restless energy of a caged predator. I know he’s eager to pursue this “Sunfire”, but it would be foolish to chase him and his disciples down when it’s apparent to me they wouldn’t run off into the wilds far from Ulxa without somewhere to go; there must be another outpost or larger facility for their operations somewhere in this region. And for just the two of us to hunt down what’s likely a tremendous army of beasts and magic wielders, we would have to be mad.
“You know as well as I that if we were to go after them, we are possibly running head-first into a wall of those gray beasts,” I remind him. “I want to rip apart every last one of those lunatics as much as you, but we need to be clear-headed about this and formulate a plan that’s more likely to succeed.”
Mexqutli sighs—surely he understands how much sense I’m making—and punches the closest building to him out of frustration. Though the Ulxa man and I differ in many ways, his unwavering pursuit of justice, regardless of the cost, resonates with me. He has hidden much from me in the short time we’ve known one another, and I still question how much I can trust him, yet we are united in our desire to defeat these enemies. It’s because of this I can, for the moment, set aside my suspicions while we seek to defeat the Eye in the Flame.
“Then what do you propose we do?” Mexqutli asks. I sense his irritation in having to halt our pursuit of these men, but I know it will subside once we start moving again and focus on a mission.
“It’s probably in our best interest to return to Iantana and discuss options with Haluiqa,” I say. I purposely leave out Sianchu’s name, knowing the bad blood between the two childish men. I'm hesitant to admit it since he, too, is untrustworthy, but Sianchu’s ties to Tapeu might just be the help we need.
“You are aware,” he says, growing more annoyed, “that Iantana is located in the opposite direction of where the Eye in the Flame members ran, correct? They went toward Aimue territory. We should seek their assistance with this threat.”
“Yes, I know my way around Tuatiu,” I say. However, the thought just occurred to me: Where exactly are we? I recall tracking down the footsteps and the Huet… Hu… the Ulxa drum, and found those men in a clearing within the Tuatiu jungles. Then my memory becomes blank after the strike to the head, finding myself here in this outpost. I’ll hope Mexqutli will know the way, since he discovered this place on his own.
“Aimue is filled with farmers,” I point out to him. “Unless the Eye in the Flame are hoping for a warm welcome with root vegetables and cacao, I doubt they will find much in that territory. Perhaps they hope to convert maize stalks to their cause.”
Mexqutli rolls his eyes and says, “Fine. We shall return to your village and construct a plan from there. I will hope nothing regretful shall come of our delayed pursuit of the Sunfire.”
Though he’s unable to hide his disappointment and frustration, we begin our return to Iantana. During our travel, I take the time to inspect the sword I took off one of the zealots, having not left it back at the outpost. Initially, I determined it would benefit me to possess the weapon in case Sachia’s bow and arrows are not sufficient. I look for any markings or mechanisms that could create the effect of the flaming sword, yet with my extensive search, I find nothing. These are ordinary swords, mundane and mediocrely crafted, with the only distinctions from any other sword being the symbol of the Eye in the Flame on its hilt and inlaid with bits of obsidian—an Ulxa hallmark. I’m exhausted from the amount of times I’ve had to see the crude markings etched every place imaginable.
“Do you believe the cultists would engrave or etch something to give it supernatural abilities?” I ask Mexqutli, attempting to figure out how they were capable of setting their swords alight. “Is that something you may have heard being done to ritual items or artifacts back in Ulxa?”
“This reasoning would make sense,” he offers. “Many of our relics contain markings of significance, though only our Tletlazotl would know for certain, as well as how they would be used.
Those so-called “Guardians of the Flame” he has once told me about, the monks from his land. I start to wonder how we will ever get confirmation on these matters, other than confronting the individuals responsible for bringing carnage to Pachil. The arrogance of the “Sunfire” and his eagerness to prove his genius would provide an opportunity, though I’m sure such a chance may not occur if we have to fight him again, since either I or Mexqutli will slay him when the moment arises.
Throughout our journey to Iantana, Mexqutli’s comments come in a relentless stream. It seems that with every few strides, he laments the time we're losing or suggests alternate plans. To drown out his blather, I focus on what we know about the Eye in the Flame, recalling the ramblings of the “Sunfire” and contemplating what their next steps might be. The cult leader spoke of his people being anointed by Eztletiqa—an Ulxa god, I’m to assume—and how his harbingers, those gray monstrosities, will aid them in reclaiming Ulxa. He talked of reshaping Pachil, so the cult’s aspirations must be greater than simply recapturing their home territory.
“I have a thought about the ‘Sunfire’,” I say to Mexqutli, to distract him—and to put an end to his tireless complaining. “If he’s not Xaqilpa, and he’s clearly the leader of this Eye in the Flame, do you believe Xaqilpa is still a part of it, that he wants to seek revenge on Tlexnín and the Ulxa?”
Mexqutli considers this for a moment before responding, “It is difficult to say. The items he took, such as the Huetloia, corresponds with what we have witnessed. The gray creatures were created out of massacred civilians by the Ulxa for the Timuaq, and I would assume the army they have begun to amass follow the same process.”
“Sachia was one of those gray creatures,” I say, and I find a lump forming in my throat. In fairness to him, Mexqutli nods somberly and offers a consoling touch on my shoulder. Reflexively, I begin to shutter and pull away, but realizing the Ulxa emote and empathize with physical touch, I do my best to fight my natural instinct and instead allow the friendly gesture.
“Could this ‘Sunfire’ be one of those…” I struggle to remember the Ulxa word, “those Guardians of the Flame monks… The… Tletlazotl!” Perhaps I’m too excited about pronouncing the word, but I’m too proud of myself to feel embarrassed. “The name is awfully, and unimaginatively, similar.”
“It may not be a coincidence,” he says. “Although I am proud of my people, the Ulxa are not very creative when it comes to naming conventions, I will confess. After all, the Ulxa capital, Analoixan, translated into Merchant’s Tongue is defined as ‘The Place of the Chosen People’.”
This elicits a chuckle from me, but the revelation is certainly one to consider. Perhaps this Eye in the Flame group is a splinter of the Tletlazotl monks, which means there may be similarities in their rituals, habits, and even stratagems. I say as much to Mexqutli, who considers this and nods.
“This would be a believable and sound theory,” he says. “We can take this knowledge into consideration when formulating our plan in Iantana. I believe you have made a great discovery, Inuxeq.”
"Given this new information, I wonder if the Arbiter, through Xaqilpa, is indeed responsible," I muse. “Perhaps he’s aware of the Eye in the Flame, though I wonder what he’s doing about them, if anything, or if he’s also a part of their cult. And if he is, why would he become involved with them when he already controls Pachil?”
“There is much left for us to uncover,” he says, a hint of dejection in his voice. “I was certain I would capture Xaqilpa when I encountered those who attacked your village. I am greatly disappointed to learn that he was not present for me to pursue justice for his wrongdoings.”
“How did you end up at the outpost?” I ask. “Not that I’m ungrateful for you rescuing me, but… When I remembered the drum beats before the battle, and realized how I should be tracking the zealots, I hadn’t seen you. Where did you go once the battle was over?”
“After we… parted ways,” he says, and I note the pause, how he isn’t mentioning his spat with Sianchu, “I sought vengeance for the destruction of your village. I ran into the jungle, in the direction I recall seeing the assailants enter the grounds. It was simple to locate them, with the vegetation splintered and broken apart by the creatures. I followed them to their camp and managed to capture a straggling member of the Eye in the Flame. I got him to tell me where they were headed and from where they came. He mentioned the outpost at the edge of Tuatiu territory, near the mountains. I slit his throat, then I maintained my distance and followed them to their outpost.” I grimace at the graphic detail and focus on the rest of Mexqutli’s recounting of the moments after the battle.
“I found them at the clearing,” I say, slightly skeptical of his story. “I don’t recall seeing you there. I believe the Sunfire was there. Where were you?”
“Ah, so that is where he was,” Mexqutli says. “The band of men I followed did not have the Sunfire traveling with him. I had assumed he was at the outpost, yet he was not present when I arrived, and I surveyed the grounds, searching for him. When he suddenly appeared in the outpost, I knew the time to strike was right that instant.”
Something doesn’t rest well with me about his retelling, which is always the case when Mexqutli speaks. How did we not come across each other during our separate pursuits of the cult? I was only about half a day behind him, so I don’t believe he could have gotten much further ahead than I did. Similarly, why did he not launch his assault on the outpost until after I was captured? Did he do so because he recognized one of the captives was me? I trusted him too much before, but I’m determined not to accept what he says as truthful right away. He’s purposely leaving details out, though I can’t deduce what they are and how they play a part in this scenario. I decide to leave the matter at that, for now, and resolve to keep a watchful eye on him while we look to defeat the Eye in the Flame.
I remember the "Sunfire" mentioning how far we were from Tuatiu, but we swiftly plunge into the jungle, where the terrain flattens and is bathed in lush, verdant greens. I never thought I'd yearn for the humidity, but now, the rich, sweet air fills my lungs in a way I find surprisingly comforting. I then realize the cult’s actual proximity to Iantana and that he lied about where we were. I don’t like how close their presence is to my people, and I hope Haluiqa can craft a genius plan that will wipe them off the face of Pachil once and for all.
Although much progress is still needed, Iantana appears to have made great strides in its reconstruction. There’s a reassuring buzz about the scene as we approach my village, with workers diligently moving about with their determination to complete their assigned tasks. More walls have been erected, now decorated with a vast array of green hues that nearly camouflages the entire village—I can barely tell where the village ends and the jungle begins!
Haluiqa stands off to the side and inspects one of the much-acclaimed towers that reaches the tops of the trees. The people have crafted a lever and pulley system that brings the building materials up to the highest points for construction.
“That’s some impressive ingenuity!” I shout to our leader, and I see Haluiqa swell with pride.
“One of Chiqani’s creations,” he says, walking over to Mexqutli and me. “At first, I thought he had lost his mind, but it works exceedingly well. Perhaps that’s because he isn’t operating the system himself and has left it to… more proficient people, of course.”
We share a light laugh, yet even so, I’m quite surprised to hear about Chiqani’s inventive ways, and I have to respect the man’s creative solution. Although the Tuatiu are proud warriors first and foremost, and Chiqani never quite fit into such a role, he appears to have found where he belongs and how to contribute meaningfully to our people. I can say for certain it will be the last time I underestimate his capabilities.
Haluiqa gasps, “Sun and sky!” His face shifts rapidly from satisfaction to sheer horror as he arrives to where I am. “What on Pachil happened to you?” I hadn’t considered my appearance, as the aches in my body have gradually subsided since departing the zealots’ outpost, but supposedly I look worse for wear. I had gotten involved in a scrape, sure, but do I look that bad?
“I tracked down the people responsible for assaulting Iantana,” I confess, apprehensive and guarded. “I had found the tracks and impressions of the mechanism they used to–“
“You went after them by yourself?” Haluiqa says, more as a statement than a question, like a scolding father. “Do you realize how senseless that is? We likely saw only a fraction of what those men are capable of, and you went alone? How could you endanger your life like that, Inuxeq?”
“She was not alone,” Mexqutli says. “We had met after I returned from a scouting mission. We did not want to risk the lives of any more Tuatiu warriors, so we went together. We located an outpost belonging to them, and were able to rid the site of most of its inhabitants. However, I must ask for your forgiveness for not discussing a matter that involved one of your people with you. I sincerely apologize.” He bows deeply and breaks eye contact, gazing solely at the ground before Haluiqa’s feet.
The Tuatiu leader looks unamused, prepared to speak more about our admittedly reckless actions. Adding to the number of surprises today, I’m taken aback by Mexqutli’s fabrication of what took place, yet I’m grateful. He could have allowed me to suffer possible punishment at the hands of my leader, but taking the fall for what occurred at the outpost protects my reputation with Haluiqa. Knowing that we’ll need to be on his good side, we can’t have him angered with us when we determine what to do about the Eye in the Flame. If he loses belief in us, he will not consider any possibilities for how we can defeat those zealots, I’m certain.
After a moment, the stiffness in Haluiqa’s posture gradually melts away, replaced by a more contemplative and understanding stance. His eyes, once filled with frustration and fury, slowly begin to reflect a hint of curiosity and perhaps a touch of empathy. He shakes his head like a predator shaking off the rain, as though trying to dispel the haze of disruptive thoughts.
“You say you discovered their outpost,” he says, somewhat quietly, as if he’s hesitant to allow the thought to leave his lips. “Where were the cowards hiding? Was it far?”
“At the edge of Tuatiu territory,” I say. “Just into the mountains. However, when their leader escaped, they were heading north toward the Aimue lands.”
“How many got away?” he asks.
“Their leader, who they call the ‘Sunfire’, and likely a half-dozen others,” I say. “I managed to take out a number of them, and Mexqutli defeated the rest. They used more magic—they set their swords aflame like a torch and hurled balls of fire from their hands. It’s concerning, and Mexqutli and I were discussing what we should do about them, this so called ‘Eye in the Flame’.”
Mexqutli says with severity, “they are a threat to the land—not just Tuatiu, but all of Pachil. They cannot be allowed to remain, and must be extinguished. We need to act now!”
“Your urgency is noted,” Haluiqa says, “but we mustn’t rush into a rash decision, such as the one formed by you and Inuxeq. We need to determine–“
“Sun and sky, what are you doing back in Iantana?”
The three of us glance over to see an incensed Sianchu storming our way, his face twisted into a scowl and the veins protruding in his neck. He walks directly to Mexqutli and gets so close that they nearly become infused, his chest purposefully bumping into the Iqsuwa warrior and knocking him off balance.
“I figured you ran away for good and would no longer be a bother, but it appears the Eleven have decided to play a joke on me,” he says. “What curse have you brought to vex these people this time? Haven’t you done enough to the poor villagers of–“
“I beg your pardon,” I say as I interrupt Sianchu’s tirade,” but the Tuatiu are not ‘poor villagers’. We are a proud nation, and if you would see for yourself, we have repaired and rebuilt our home stronger and better than ever. We don’t need your Tapeu pity.”
“Hey!” Sianchu exclaims. “I was trying to defend your people from this scum, or have you forgotten the creatures his people summoned to wreak havoc upon your village?”
“My people?” Mexqutli says, offended.
“We don’t need your defense, either,” I respond, most likely cutting off Mexqutli’s remarks. “If anything, you were the one who brought a curse upon my people, taking away some of our best warriors and leading them to their demise!”
“You know full well that I had–“
“Children!” Haluiqa raises his voice over all of ours, and we fall silent, though not without being left to fume in anger. “This infighting will get us nowhere! We need to have level heads and work together! We cannot afford to squabble and argue when there is a terrifying threat practically outside our gates.”
I, along with Mexqutli and Sianchu, continue to pout. However, speaking for myself, I take in Haluiqa’s words and replay them in my mind, in an effort to calm myself and regain my focus on the real matter at hand: the Eye in the Flame.
Long, slow breath in. Long, slow breath out.
“Our wise leader is correct,” I concede, struggling to infuse my voice with serenity. “We have seen what the enemy is capable of, and Mexqutli and I have seen powers even more frightening. And that is only what we know. We need to set aside our differences…”
I walk to Sianchu and awkwardly extend my hand, having seen Mexqutli make this gesture when we first met, as a sign of offering a truce. Sianchu stares at it for a long moment before grabbing my hand with his, then shaking them both up and down. He does this with Mexqutli, as well, and I presume the measure of goodwill is a success, as the two men make eye contact and nod with a subtle grunt in acknowledgement.
“Now,” I say, strengthening my voice, “this enemy is somehow able to perform supernatural feats that I thought were only possible by the Eleven and the Timuaq. My concern is that this group, the Eye in the Flame, and their leader, known as ‘Sunfire’, are regrouping and collecting their forces to cause further destruction. We can’t determine how long this will take them, but we must assume it won’t be long. We’re going to need a force of our own to stop whatever their plans are.”
“And what are their plans?” Sianchu asks. “Do you happen to know what they’re thinking?”
“When I was captured by–“
“Inuxeq!” Haluiqa exclaims in yet more of that tone of a disappointed parent, but I ignore this and continue on with my statement.
“… The Eye in the Flame, I was confronted by their leader. He gave some speech that mentioned ‘reshaping Pachil’. So I assume his aspirations are to strike Qapauma and assert himself onto the throne. It’s likely that Tuatiu was just a proving grounds of their might, to test their powers and make sure they’re strong enough to pursue their desires. To see how much force is necessary in order to succeed. But also, possibly, to use the dead to create more of the gray creatures and amass an army. I would think it likely that, with our resistance, they will bring an even larger force in their next assault.”
“Where do you believe they will attack next?” Sianchu asks.
“It’s difficult to determine,” I say, “but my guess would be Iantana again, or an Aimue village—perhaps their capital, Xaqelatun. That’s the direction the ‘Sunfire’ and his minions headed when they escaped their outpost. They’ll likely attempt another attack to see if they’ve got the correct assertion of strength, or if they’ll need to create more of those gray creatures.”
“Therefore, we should be going to Aimue,” Mexqutli says, placing his hand on his hilt as if he’s ready to draw it and charge into a battle formed in his mind.
“This is where I disagree,” I say. “We need an army, a force equal to—if not, greater than—their own. They only launched a dozen or so of those gray creatures, and Iantana was nearly destroyed. If they amass any more, our small number will be insufficient. And I don’t believe the Aimue army is strong enough, if they have formed one at all after the resolution of the war. If anything, they’re protected by a very minuscule number of Tapeu warriors.”
“She speaks the truth,” Sianchu agrees. “We send more workers than we do warriors, to retrieve the yields from Aimue crops, to be distributed throughout Pachil. Even the men stationed there are greener than a new spring growth.”
“Then we go to Qapauma,” Mexqutli decides. “We tell your Arbiter what we’ve discovered, and we march this army to defeat the evil residing in the north.”
“It’s possible he may be aligned with Eye in the Flame leadership,” I say, then immediately putting my hand out at Sianchu to signal him to stop from making defensive remarks. “It is only a theory; he could very well be innocent, and I am not going to make any assumptions of guilt.” Mexqutli scoffs, and now I motion to him to be silent.
“Assuming he’s not working for or with the Eye in the Flame,” I continue, “it is more likely there are people within the nobility and other positions of leadership who might be. We can’t take any chances within Tapeu. Not yet, anyway.”
“So, then,” Sianchu says, and I can tell he’s becoming agitated, “what are you proposing we do? Since we can’t stand around here, but we seemingly can’t go to any of the Tuatiu neighbors.”
“There is one neighbor you are forgetting,” Haluiqa says, “to our west.”
“Qantua?” Sianchu says, sounding a bit bewildered. “But they’re mostly just scholars. If you think the farmers of Aimue are not useful combatants, at least they have tools from the field they could craft into makeshift weapons. What are the Qantua going to use? Quipus?”
“Ah, you forget that significant battles were fought in their lands,” Haluiqa reminds us. “There are military outposts throughout their territory, and warriors from both Qantua and Atima are still located there since the war ended. There are great numbers to be found there—possibly more than Tuatiu, now that we’ve faced the gray creatures.”
Sianchu frowns as he considers this. Then, after a long pause, says, “That is a possible solution. And if I recall correctly, the Arbiter had dispatched a Qantua military leader from the Maqanuiache academy to return to his home in Hilaqta.”
Mexqutli laughs in disbelief. “Hilaqta? That is even further away from Aimue, and certainly further away from the Aimue capital! You must be telling a joke to me!”
“His clunky Merchant’s Tongue aside,” I say, “Mexqutli does have a point. Qantua is no closer to us than the Aimue territory. Maybe traveling to Tapeu and seeking an army there would be wiser.”
“Ah, but not if you travel by raft,” Haluiqa says. “Traveling on the Maiu Qasapaq that separates our territories could have you arrive in Hilaqta much more quickly. If you go toward Aimue, there are the mountains you’ll need to traverse, not to mention the long road without access to water. And you’re certainly not traveling south, then east to get to Qapauma, then all that way north to Aimue. That’s even less practical!”
“But how are we to convince the Qantua to aid us in our cause?” Mexqutli says, almost more as a statement.
“Sianchu has diplomatic ties there,” I say as I come to the realization myself. “If you know the Qantua military leader, perhaps you can have him grant us an audience with whomever governs their people.”
“Yes,” Sianchu mutters as he begins to come to the same conclusion as I did. “Yes, this could work. But we will have to act quickly; as our Ulxa acquaintance likes to remind us, the cultists pose an imminent threat that cannot persist on our lands. We will need to act with haste.”
“I will have my men prepare the raft,” Haluiqa says. “Gather provisions for the journey; it will likely take you the span of eight or nine days to arrive in Hilaqta, maybe longer. So collect enough for almost double, to be safe. Once you arrive at the Qantua-Achope trading post, you should be able to acquire assistance to travel from there to Hilaqta on foot.”
With a silent nod, Mexqutli and Sianchu stride towards the river. I can't help but chuckle as I notice them walking in harmonious tandem, side by side. Though I’m certain this moment is fleeting, I am grateful the two can be cordial with one another after all. I feel a hand placed on my shoulder, and I see Haluiqa admiring the scene, as well.
“When you can set your emotion aside,” Haluiqa says, “you can actually show true, impressive leadership.”
I scoff at the notion and say, “I didn’t display any leadership. We were simply formulating a plan—you all were formulating the plan.”
“Ah, that is not so,” he says with a slight grin. “Perhaps it is modesty, but the plan was almost entirely created by your wisdom and astute observations. Although you are a fiery warrior on the battlefield, where it is most certainly needed, you show great promise in becoming a steadfast leader, as well.”
He gestures towards the gently flowing river. “See that water? It doesn’t roar like the torrents of a waterfall, nor does it burn like fire, but it carves its path steadily, shaping the land with persistence and grace. Being a leader doesn’t always mean being the loudest or the fiercest. Sometimes, it means being the calm amidst the storm.”
He tilts my chin up, as if he’s ensuring I absorb his words. “Your strength lies in your tranquility, in your ability to see clearly when others are blinded by their passions. A leader doesn't always lead by force, but by example. Cool-headedness, rationality, decisiveness—these are gifts, Inuxeq. They are beacons that will guide our people when the path gets murky.”
As I nod to his advice, he adds, “The fire of passion is vital, but so is the clarity of water. And in you, I see a river that knows its course. Trust in that flow, and you will lead us to brighter days.”
Haluiqa pats me on the shoulder and walks toward a section of wall being constructed, giving me time to reflect on his words. There's a strange comfort in the weight of his expectations, an affirmation I didn't know I craved. His belief doesn't quench the flame of my uncertainties, but it does shape them, refines them, and in this moment, I begin to understand the dual nature of leadership he spoke of. I breathe deeply, letting the jungle air fill my lungs. Fire and water, passion and clarity. If I am to take on the challenges that lie before me and succeed, I must become both.
As the wind whistles between the adobe walls of the now-abandoned outpost, the gravity of the situation heavily weighs upon Mexqutli and me. Combined with the sheer might of the gray creatures summoned by the Eye in the Flame cultists, the realization that this “Sunfire” possesses the knowledge of magic is deeply concerning, and I fear what challenges are to come. Seeing the destruction brought upon Iantana from what I surmise is a fraction of the cult’s power, we are going to need more than just the two of us and the small portion of the Tuatiu army that remains if we hope to stop this evil from achieving their goals.
“We must track them and learn to where they are running,” Mexqutli says through gritted teeth, his speech more stilted than usual in his agitated state.
He paces about the vacant grounds with the restless energy of a caged predator. I know he’s eager to pursue this “Sunfire”, but it would be foolish to chase him and his disciples down when it’s apparent to me they wouldn’t run off into the wilds far from Ulxa without somewhere to go; there must be another outpost or larger facility for their operations somewhere in this region. And for just the two of us to hunt down what’s likely a tremendous army of beasts and magic wielders, we would have to be mad.
“You know as well as I that if we were to go after them, we are possibly running head-first into a wall of those gray beasts,” I remind him. “I want to rip apart every last one of those lunatics as much as you, but we need to be clear-headed about this and formulate a plan that’s more likely to succeed.”
Mexqutli sighs—surely he understands how much sense I’m making—and punches the closest building to him out of frustration. Though the Ulxa man and I differ in many ways, his unwavering pursuit of justice, regardless of the cost, resonates with me. He has hidden much from me in the short time we’ve known one another, and I still question how much I can trust him, yet we are united in our desire to defeat these enemies. It’s because of this I can, for the moment, set aside my suspicions while we seek to defeat the Eye in the Flame.
“Then what do you propose we do?” Mexqutli asks. I sense his irritation in having to halt our pursuit of these men, but I know it will subside once we start moving again and focus on a mission.
“It’s probably in our best interest to return to Iantana and discuss options with Haluiqa,” I say. I purposely leave out Sianchu’s name, knowing the bad blood between the two childish men. I'm hesitant to admit it since he, too, is untrustworthy, but Sianchu’s ties to Tapeu might just be the help we need.
“You are aware,” he says, growing more annoyed, “that Iantana is located in the opposite direction of where the Eye in the Flame members ran, correct? They went toward Aimue territory. We should seek their assistance with this threat.”
“Yes, I know my way around Tuatiu,” I say. However, the thought just occurred to me: Where exactly are we? I recall tracking down the footsteps and the Huet… Hu… the Ulxa drum, and found those men in a clearing within the Tuatiu jungles. Then my memory becomes blank after the strike to the head, finding myself here in this outpost. I’ll hope Mexqutli will know the way, since he discovered this place on his own.
“Aimue is filled with farmers,” I point out to him. “Unless the Eye in the Flame are hoping for a warm welcome with root vegetables and cacao, I doubt they will find much in that territory. Perhaps they hope to convert maize stalks to their cause.”
Mexqutli rolls his eyes and says, “Fine. We shall return to your village and construct a plan from there. I will hope nothing regretful shall come of our delayed pursuit of the Sunfire.”
Though he’s unable to hide his disappointment and frustration, we begin our return to Iantana. During our travel, I take the time to inspect the sword I took off one of the zealots, having not left it back at the outpost. Initially, I determined it would benefit me to possess the weapon in case Sachia’s bow and arrows are not sufficient. I look for any markings or mechanisms that could create the effect of the flaming sword, yet with my extensive search, I find nothing. These are ordinary swords, mundane and mediocrely crafted, with the only distinctions from any other sword being the symbol of the Eye in the Flame on its hilt and inlaid with bits of obsidian—an Ulxa hallmark. I’m exhausted from the amount of times I’ve had to see the crude markings etched every place imaginable.
“Do you believe the cultists would engrave or etch something to give it supernatural abilities?” I ask Mexqutli, attempting to figure out how they were capable of setting their swords alight. “Is that something you may have heard being done to ritual items or artifacts back in Ulxa?”
“This reasoning would make sense,” he offers. “Many of our relics contain markings of significance, though only our Tletlazotl would know for certain, as well as how they would be used.
Those so-called “Guardians of the Flame” he has once told me about, the monks from his land. I start to wonder how we will ever get confirmation on these matters, other than confronting the individuals responsible for bringing carnage to Pachil. The arrogance of the “Sunfire” and his eagerness to prove his genius would provide an opportunity, though I’m sure such a chance may not occur if we have to fight him again, since either I or Mexqutli will slay him when the moment arises.
Throughout our journey to Iantana, Mexqutli’s comments come in a relentless stream. It seems that with every few strides, he laments the time we're losing or suggests alternate plans. To drown out his blather, I focus on what we know about the Eye in the Flame, recalling the ramblings of the “Sunfire” and contemplating what their next steps might be. The cult leader spoke of his people being anointed by Eztletiqa—an Ulxa god, I’m to assume—and how his harbingers, those gray monstrosities, will aid them in reclaiming Ulxa. He talked of reshaping Pachil, so the cult’s aspirations must be greater than simply recapturing their home territory.
“I have a thought about the ‘Sunfire’,” I say to Mexqutli, to distract him—and to put an end to his tireless complaining. “If he’s not Xaqilpa, and he’s clearly the leader of this Eye in the Flame, do you believe Xaqilpa is still a part of it, that he wants to seek revenge on Tlexnín and the Ulxa?”
Mexqutli considers this for a moment before responding, “It is difficult to say. The items he took, such as the Huetloia, corresponds with what we have witnessed. The gray creatures were created out of massacred civilians by the Ulxa for the Timuaq, and I would assume the army they have begun to amass follow the same process.”
“Sachia was one of those gray creatures,” I say, and I find a lump forming in my throat. In fairness to him, Mexqutli nods somberly and offers a consoling touch on my shoulder. Reflexively, I begin to shutter and pull away, but realizing the Ulxa emote and empathize with physical touch, I do my best to fight my natural instinct and instead allow the friendly gesture.
“Could this ‘Sunfire’ be one of those…” I struggle to remember the Ulxa word, “those Guardians of the Flame monks… The… Tletlazotl!” Perhaps I’m too excited about pronouncing the word, but I’m too proud of myself to feel embarrassed. “The name is awfully, and unimaginatively, similar.”
“It may not be a coincidence,” he says. “Although I am proud of my people, the Ulxa are not very creative when it comes to naming conventions, I will confess. After all, the Ulxa capital, Analoixan, translated into Merchant’s Tongue is defined as ‘The Place of the Chosen People’.”
This elicits a chuckle from me, but the revelation is certainly one to consider. Perhaps this Eye in the Flame group is a splinter of the Tletlazotl monks, which means there may be similarities in their rituals, habits, and even stratagems. I say as much to Mexqutli, who considers this and nods.
“This would be a believable and sound theory,” he says. “We can take this knowledge into consideration when formulating our plan in Iantana. I believe you have made a great discovery, Inuxeq.”
"Given this new information, I wonder if the Arbiter, through Xaqilpa, is indeed responsible," I muse. “Perhaps he’s aware of the Eye in the Flame, though I wonder what he’s doing about them, if anything, or if he’s also a part of their cult. And if he is, why would he become involved with them when he already controls Pachil?”
“There is much left for us to uncover,” he says, a hint of dejection in his voice. “I was certain I would capture Xaqilpa when I encountered those who attacked your village. I am greatly disappointed to learn that he was not present for me to pursue justice for his wrongdoings.”
“How did you end up at the outpost?” I ask. “Not that I’m ungrateful for you rescuing me, but… When I remembered the drum beats before the battle, and realized how I should be tracking the zealots, I hadn’t seen you. Where did you go once the battle was over?”
“After we… parted ways,” he says, and I note the pause, how he isn’t mentioning his spat with Sianchu, “I sought vengeance for the destruction of your village. I ran into the jungle, in the direction I recall seeing the assailants enter the grounds. It was simple to locate them, with the vegetation splintered and broken apart by the creatures. I followed them to their camp and managed to capture a straggling member of the Eye in the Flame. I got him to tell me where they were headed and from where they came. He mentioned the outpost at the edge of Tuatiu territory, near the mountains. I slit his throat, then I maintained my distance and followed them to their outpost.” I grimace at the graphic detail and focus on the rest of Mexqutli’s recounting of the moments after the battle.
“I found them at the clearing,” I say, slightly skeptical of his story. “I don’t recall seeing you there. I believe the Sunfire was there. Where were you?”
“Ah, so that is where he was,” Mexqutli says. “The band of men I followed did not have the Sunfire traveling with him. I had assumed he was at the outpost, yet he was not present when I arrived, and I surveyed the grounds, searching for him. When he suddenly appeared in the outpost, I knew the time to strike was right that instant.”
Something doesn’t rest well with me about his retelling, which is always the case when Mexqutli speaks. How did we not come across each other during our separate pursuits of the cult? I was only about half a day behind him, so I don’t believe he could have gotten much further ahead than I did. Similarly, why did he not launch his assault on the outpost until after I was captured? Did he do so because he recognized one of the captives was me? I trusted him too much before, but I’m determined not to accept what he says as truthful right away. He’s purposely leaving details out, though I can’t deduce what they are and how they play a part in this scenario. I decide to leave the matter at that, for now, and resolve to keep a watchful eye on him while we look to defeat the Eye in the Flame.
I remember the "Sunfire" mentioning how far we were from Tuatiu, but we swiftly plunge into the jungle, where the terrain flattens and is bathed in lush, verdant greens. I never thought I'd yearn for the humidity, but now, the rich, sweet air fills my lungs in a way I find surprisingly comforting. I then realize the cult’s actual proximity to Iantana and that he lied about where we were. I don’t like how close their presence is to my people, and I hope Haluiqa can craft a genius plan that will wipe them off the face of Pachil once and for all.
Although much progress is still needed, Iantana appears to have made great strides in its reconstruction. There’s a reassuring buzz about the scene as we approach my village, with workers diligently moving about with their determination to complete their assigned tasks. More walls have been erected, now decorated with a vast array of green hues that nearly camouflages the entire village—I can barely tell where the village ends and the jungle begins!
Haluiqa stands off to the side and inspects one of the much-acclaimed towers that reaches the tops of the trees. The people have crafted a lever and pulley system that brings the building materials up to the highest points for construction.
“That’s some impressive ingenuity!” I shout to our leader, and I see Haluiqa swell with pride.
“One of Chiqani’s creations,” he says, walking over to Mexqutli and me. “At first, I thought he had lost his mind, but it works exceedingly well. Perhaps that’s because he isn’t operating the system himself and has left it to… more proficient people, of course.”
We share a light laugh, yet even so, I’m quite surprised to hear about Chiqani’s inventive ways, and I have to respect the man’s creative solution. Although the Tuatiu are proud warriors first and foremost, and Chiqani never quite fit into such a role, he appears to have found where he belongs and how to contribute meaningfully to our people. I can say for certain it will be the last time I underestimate his capabilities.
Haluiqa gasps, “Sun and sky!” His face shifts rapidly from satisfaction to sheer horror as he arrives to where I am. “What on Pachil happened to you?” I hadn’t considered my appearance, as the aches in my body have gradually subsided since departing the zealots’ outpost, but supposedly I look worse for wear. I had gotten involved in a scrape, sure, but do I look that bad?
“I tracked down the people responsible for assaulting Iantana,” I confess, apprehensive and guarded. “I had found the tracks and impressions of the mechanism they used to–“
“You went after them by yourself?” Haluiqa says, more as a statement than a question, like a scolding father. “Do you realize how senseless that is? We likely saw only a fraction of what those men are capable of, and you went alone? How could you endanger your life like that, Inuxeq?”
“She was not alone,” Mexqutli says. “We had met after I returned from a scouting mission. We did not want to risk the lives of any more Tuatiu warriors, so we went together. We located an outpost belonging to them, and were able to rid the site of most of its inhabitants. However, I must ask for your forgiveness for not discussing a matter that involved one of your people with you. I sincerely apologize.” He bows deeply and breaks eye contact, gazing solely at the ground before Haluiqa’s feet.
The Tuatiu leader looks unamused, prepared to speak more about our admittedly reckless actions. Adding to the number of surprises today, I’m taken aback by Mexqutli’s fabrication of what took place, yet I’m grateful. He could have allowed me to suffer possible punishment at the hands of my leader, but taking the fall for what occurred at the outpost protects my reputation with Haluiqa. Knowing that we’ll need to be on his good side, we can’t have him angered with us when we determine what to do about the Eye in the Flame. If he loses belief in us, he will not consider any possibilities for how we can defeat those zealots, I’m certain.
After a moment, the stiffness in Haluiqa’s posture gradually melts away, replaced by a more contemplative and understanding stance. His eyes, once filled with frustration and fury, slowly begin to reflect a hint of curiosity and perhaps a touch of empathy. He shakes his head like a predator shaking off the rain, as though trying to dispel the haze of disruptive thoughts.
“You say you discovered their outpost,” he says, somewhat quietly, as if he’s hesitant to allow the thought to leave his lips. “Where were the cowards hiding? Was it far?”
“At the edge of Tuatiu territory,” I say. “Just into the mountains. However, when their leader escaped, they were heading north toward the Aimue lands.”
“How many got away?” he asks.
“Their leader, who they call the ‘Sunfire’, and likely a half-dozen others,” I say. “I managed to take out a number of them, and Mexqutli defeated the rest. They used more magic—they set their swords aflame like a torch and hurled balls of fire from their hands. It’s concerning, and Mexqutli and I were discussing what we should do about them, this so called ‘Eye in the Flame’.”
Mexqutli says with severity, “they are a threat to the land—not just Tuatiu, but all of Pachil. They cannot be allowed to remain, and must be extinguished. We need to act now!”
“Your urgency is noted,” Haluiqa says, “but we mustn’t rush into a rash decision, such as the one formed by you and Inuxeq. We need to determine–“
“Sun and sky, what are you doing back in Iantana?”
The three of us glance over to see an incensed Sianchu storming our way, his face twisted into a scowl and the veins protruding in his neck. He walks directly to Mexqutli and gets so close that they nearly become infused, his chest purposefully bumping into the Iqsuwa warrior and knocking him off balance.
“I figured you ran away for good and would no longer be a bother, but it appears the Eleven have decided to play a joke on me,” he says. “What curse have you brought to vex these people this time? Haven’t you done enough to the poor villagers of–“
“I beg your pardon,” I say as I interrupt Sianchu’s tirade,” but the Tuatiu are not ‘poor villagers’. We are a proud nation, and if you would see for yourself, we have repaired and rebuilt our home stronger and better than ever. We don’t need your Tapeu pity.”
“Hey!” Sianchu exclaims. “I was trying to defend your people from this scum, or have you forgotten the creatures his people summoned to wreak havoc upon your village?”
“My people?” Mexqutli says, offended.
“We don’t need your defense, either,” I respond, most likely cutting off Mexqutli’s remarks. “If anything, you were the one who brought a curse upon my people, taking away some of our best warriors and leading them to their demise!”
“You know full well that I had–“
“Children!” Haluiqa raises his voice over all of ours, and we fall silent, though not without being left to fume in anger. “This infighting will get us nowhere! We need to have level heads and work together! We cannot afford to squabble and argue when there is a terrifying threat practically outside our gates.”
I, along with Mexqutli and Sianchu, continue to pout. However, speaking for myself, I take in Haluiqa’s words and replay them in my mind, in an effort to calm myself and regain my focus on the real matter at hand: the Eye in the Flame.
Long, slow breath in. Long, slow breath out.
“Our wise leader is correct,” I concede, struggling to infuse my voice with serenity. “We have seen what the enemy is capable of, and Mexqutli and I have seen powers even more frightening. And that is only what we know. We need to set aside our differences…”
I walk to Sianchu and awkwardly extend my hand, having seen Mexqutli make this gesture when we first met, as a sign of offering a truce. Sianchu stares at it for a long moment before grabbing my hand with his, then shaking them both up and down. He does this with Mexqutli, as well, and I presume the measure of goodwill is a success, as the two men make eye contact and nod with a subtle grunt in acknowledgement.
“Now,” I say, strengthening my voice, “this enemy is somehow able to perform supernatural feats that I thought were only possible by the Eleven and the Timuaq. My concern is that this group, the Eye in the Flame, and their leader, known as ‘Sunfire’, are regrouping and collecting their forces to cause further destruction. We can’t determine how long this will take them, but we must assume it won’t be long. We’re going to need a force of our own to stop whatever their plans are.”
“And what are their plans?” Sianchu asks. “Do you happen to know what they’re thinking?”
“When I was captured by–“
“Inuxeq!” Haluiqa exclaims in yet more of that tone of a disappointed parent, but I ignore this and continue on with my statement.
“… The Eye in the Flame, I was confronted by their leader. He gave some speech that mentioned ‘reshaping Pachil’. So I assume his aspirations are to strike Qapauma and assert himself onto the throne. It’s likely that Tuatiu was just a proving grounds of their might, to test their powers and make sure they’re strong enough to pursue their desires. To see how much force is necessary in order to succeed. But also, possibly, to use the dead to create more of the gray creatures and amass an army. I would think it likely that, with our resistance, they will bring an even larger force in their next assault.”
“Where do you believe they will attack next?” Sianchu asks.
“It’s difficult to determine,” I say, “but my guess would be Iantana again, or an Aimue village—perhaps their capital, Xaqelatun. That’s the direction the ‘Sunfire’ and his minions headed when they escaped their outpost. They’ll likely attempt another attack to see if they’ve got the correct assertion of strength, or if they’ll need to create more of those gray creatures.”
“Therefore, we should be going to Aimue,” Mexqutli says, placing his hand on his hilt as if he’s ready to draw it and charge into a battle formed in his mind.
“This is where I disagree,” I say. “We need an army, a force equal to—if not, greater than—their own. They only launched a dozen or so of those gray creatures, and Iantana was nearly destroyed. If they amass any more, our small number will be insufficient. And I don’t believe the Aimue army is strong enough, if they have formed one at all after the resolution of the war. If anything, they’re protected by a very minuscule number of Tapeu warriors.”
“She speaks the truth,” Sianchu agrees. “We send more workers than we do warriors, to retrieve the yields from Aimue crops, to be distributed throughout Pachil. Even the men stationed there are greener than a new spring growth.”
“Then we go to Qapauma,” Mexqutli decides. “We tell your Arbiter what we’ve discovered, and we march this army to defeat the evil residing in the north.”
“It’s possible he may be aligned with Eye in the Flame leadership,” I say, then immediately putting my hand out at Sianchu to signal him to stop from making defensive remarks. “It is only a theory; he could very well be innocent, and I am not going to make any assumptions of guilt.” Mexqutli scoffs, and now I motion to him to be silent.
“Assuming he’s not working for or with the Eye in the Flame,” I continue, “it is more likely there are people within the nobility and other positions of leadership who might be. We can’t take any chances within Tapeu. Not yet, anyway.”
“So, then,” Sianchu says, and I can tell he’s becoming agitated, “what are you proposing we do? Since we can’t stand around here, but we seemingly can’t go to any of the Tuatiu neighbors.”
“There is one neighbor you are forgetting,” Haluiqa says, “to our west.”
“Qantua?” Sianchu says, sounding a bit bewildered. “But they’re mostly just scholars. If you think the farmers of Aimue are not useful combatants, at least they have tools from the field they could craft into makeshift weapons. What are the Qantua going to use? Quipus?”
“Ah, you forget that significant battles were fought in their lands,” Haluiqa reminds us. “There are military outposts throughout their territory, and warriors from both Qantua and Atima are still located there since the war ended. There are great numbers to be found there—possibly more than Tuatiu, now that we’ve faced the gray creatures.”
Sianchu frowns as he considers this. Then, after a long pause, says, “That is a possible solution. And if I recall correctly, the Arbiter had dispatched a Qantua military leader from the Maqanuiache academy to return to his home in Hilaqta.”
Mexqutli laughs in disbelief. “Hilaqta? That is even further away from Aimue, and certainly further away from the Aimue capital! You must be telling a joke to me!”
“His clunky Merchant’s Tongue aside,” I say, “Mexqutli does have a point. Qantua is no closer to us than the Aimue territory. Maybe traveling to Tapeu and seeking an army there would be wiser.”
“Ah, but not if you travel by raft,” Haluiqa says. “Traveling on the Maiu Qasapaq that separates our territories could have you arrive in Hilaqta much more quickly. If you go toward Aimue, there are the mountains you’ll need to traverse, not to mention the long road without access to water. And you’re certainly not traveling south, then east to get to Qapauma, then all that way north to Aimue. That’s even less practical!”
“But how are we to convince the Qantua to aid us in our cause?” Mexqutli says, almost more as a statement.
“Sianchu has diplomatic ties there,” I say as I come to the realization myself. “If you know the Qantua military leader, perhaps you can have him grant us an audience with whomever governs their people.”
“Yes,” Sianchu mutters as he begins to come to the same conclusion as I did. “Yes, this could work. But we will have to act quickly; as our Ulxa acquaintance likes to remind us, the cultists pose an imminent threat that cannot persist on our lands. We will need to act with haste.”
“I will have my men prepare the raft,” Haluiqa says. “Gather provisions for the journey; it will likely take you the span of eight or nine days to arrive in Hilaqta, maybe longer. So collect enough for almost double, to be safe. Once you arrive at the Qantua-Achope trading post, you should be able to acquire assistance to travel from there to Hilaqta on foot.”
With a silent nod, Mexqutli and Sianchu stride towards the river. I can't help but chuckle as I notice them walking in harmonious tandem, side by side. Though I’m certain this moment is fleeting, I am grateful the two can be cordial with one another after all. I feel a hand placed on my shoulder, and I see Haluiqa admiring the scene, as well.
“When you can set your emotion aside,” Haluiqa says, “you can actually show true, impressive leadership.”
I scoff at the notion and say, “I didn’t display any leadership. We were simply formulating a plan—you all were formulating the plan.”
“Ah, that is not so,” he says with a slight grin. “Perhaps it is modesty, but the plan was almost entirely created by your wisdom and astute observations. Although you are a fiery warrior on the battlefield, where it is most certainly needed, you show great promise in becoming a steadfast leader, as well.”
He gestures towards the gently flowing river. “See that water? It doesn’t roar like the torrents of a waterfall, nor does it burn like fire, but it carves its path steadily, shaping the land with persistence and grace. Being a leader doesn’t always mean being the loudest or the fiercest. Sometimes, it means being the calm amidst the storm.”
He tilts my chin up, as if he’s ensuring I absorb his words. “Your strength lies in your tranquility, in your ability to see clearly when others are blinded by their passions. A leader doesn't always lead by force, but by example. Cool-headedness, rationality, decisiveness—these are gifts, Inuxeq. They are beacons that will guide our people when the path gets murky.”
As I nod to his advice, he adds, “The fire of passion is vital, but so is the clarity of water. And in you, I see a river that knows its course. Trust in that flow, and you will lead us to brighter days.”
Haluiqa pats me on the shoulder and walks toward a section of wall being constructed, giving me time to reflect on his words. There's a strange comfort in the weight of his expectations, an affirmation I didn't know I craved. His belief doesn't quench the flame of my uncertainties, but it does shape them, refines them, and in this moment, I begin to understand the dual nature of leadership he spoke of. I breathe deeply, letting the jungle air fill my lungs. Fire and water, passion and clarity. If I am to take on the challenges that lie before me and succeed, I must become both.
