Tizoc was impressed; the deep, assured inflections of his opponent’s voice signified a practiced familiarity to issuing commands that could only have been borne out of frequent usage.
“I, Tizoc, accorded you this pledge so we might speak about the conditions exacted on you.”
“Speak, Lord Tizoc!”
“You have opposed our dominion over you by your failure to meet our assigned tributes quotas, and you have done this openly and defiantly in view of all our subject states. You were told by your ambassador of the terms imposed by our council, and have apparently ignored these. In this opposition you have set Toluca apart as an example to be emulated which constitutes a threat to our power and demands retaliation. This we must do; however, in conformance with the accords existing between our realms, we are obliged to once again offer you these terms—the lives of your supporters and yourself in exchange for your city’s salvation. You have until noon to reconsider. If no answer is received by then, we will commence our attack.”
“The issue is decided,” Zozoltin replied. “If you want Toluca, you will have to take it.”
“Surely you must know,” Tizoc said worriedly, “that your people will fare badly for it.”
“We have chosen to accept our fate”
“I see,” Tizoc said, greatly disturbed by a response that reinforced the awe in which he held his adversary. “Can it be so miserable to live under our dominion? Are we such inhuman beasts that death is preferable to living in our servitude?”
“You rob us of our dignity, our autonomy, and our bounty. Your voracious gods take from us our most promising young men and women. You sneer at us and hold us in contempt, and flagrantly flaunt your imagined superiority over us. We are men as good as you, and not deserving of your shameful treatment and endless degration. Yes, Lord Tizoc, it is indeed that miserable to live under your yoke, and for these reasons we have, to a man, decided to challenge you and take our chances in battle.”
“And your women and children? Don’t you care what happens to them?”
“Of course we care. But if we are to continue our existence oppressed by the policies and dictates of the Mexica, which strangle us, then no acceptable future exists for them. It’s better to control our own affairs than to have those whom we despise determine this for us. As this is not possible while we remain under your domination, death is favored by us and by them.”
“What you say makes no sense, Zozoltin!” Tizoc burst out indignantly. “We have not been unduly harsh on Toluca. The tributes we demand from our subjected states are not excessive and place no undue hardships on them.”
“It’s not that they can’t be met, Lord Tizoc,” Zozoltin said, sensing Tizoc’s legitimate concern on this matter, “but by submitting to them we are constantly reminded that we are not masters of our own house. It represents an incessant humiliation for us—as it would for you!—which we, as worthy and honorable men, will not permit ourselves to endure any longer.”
“Do you think by your action you can change all this? That is the way of our world. There will always be masters and those who must serve them. Gods created this—it is according to their fashion this has been made so.”
“No, Lord Tizoc, that is the work of men! We have lived for a long time within the confines of this valley. Our gods have been good to us. They have blessed us with rich lands and have brought us good harvests and fresh waters, and all this they gave us with no demands for us to make war on our neighbors beyond our valley. They were pleased—our sacrifices were sufficient for them and insured us life and prosperity. Then you came to us, a vile intruder, and you told us it takes a hundred times—no, even more!—our sacrifices to satiate your gods into doing for you—not us!—what ours have done for so long. I see this and am to listen to you say it is their work that things should be so. You are wrong, and I do not accept that.”
Tizoc gazed at Zozoltin, astounded that the Tolucan monarch so accurately voiced his own sentiments. “Accept what you will, Zozoltin,” he said after a lengthy pause, “but understand this: in our eyes a divine calling brings us here and my warriors will fight with the zeal invoked by such a belief. Once we are embattled, it will be difficult to restrain them. If you fail to surrender by noon, certain destruction awaits you. Now go and think on this.”
“I have given my answer.”
“I know, but you have until noon to ponder its wisdom. Discuss it again with your lords and subjects. Should your position remain the same, then bring forth your army.”
“I thank you for permitting me this opportunity to speak,” Zozoltin said. “May the gods grant victory to whom they favor this day.”
“So be it,” Tizoc nodded his assent, and added, “It’s a pity you have chosen to direct your talents against us, Zozoltin. I would rather have men of your ability as allies.”
Zozoltin gave Tizoc a comprehensive glance and knew him to be sincere. He then slowly turned about and proceeded back to his city with his ministers trailing behind.
“So this is Zozoltin,” Ahuitzotl said to Nezahualpilli standing beside him. “He has a noble bearing, if nothing else.”
“Why shouldn’t he?” Tizoc injected, having overheard his commander. “He is a king.”
“An enemy king, Lord,” declared Ahuitzotl, “and so shall he be treated.”
Nezahualpilli, noting the Revered Speaker’s vexation, grabbed Ahuitzotl by the arm in an attempt to prevent him from further inflaming the situation, but his efforts came too late.
“What does it take,” fumed Tizoc, “to get you to understand that a great man can be respected and yes, even admired, in spite of being an enemy? A lord of such worth deserves honors, no matter what cause he espouses.”
“What you say is alien to me,” answered Ahuitzotl. “I have not said I did not respect him.”
“You have a poor way of showing it. Now, remember, I want Zozoltin taken alive! Make sure our warriors know this.”
“So do I,” Ahuitzotl affirmed. “It shall be as you say.”
“Good. You may proceed assembling our forces.”
Thundering drums and blaring conch shells marshaled the warriors into their prearranged battle configuration, a long line arched slightly inward in the middle and extending for nearly three leagues. The Army of Tenochtitlan constituted the right wing with its Tlatelolco section closest to the center while the Army of Acolhuacan stretched from there to the left with the Army of Tepaneca at the extremity. In addition, selected squadrons from each of the armies comprised a reserve element that was positioned along a second line about a hundred paces behind the first. A heavy squadron of four hundred Order of the Eagle knights was posted around Tizoc to function as his bodyguard.
Ahuitzotl presented himself on the right halfway between the his army and directly ahead of his Order of the Eagles division, and with him was Tlohtzin, whose Jaguar knights extended further right. Nezahualpilli and Chimalpopoca remained with Tizoc, centered amid the armies a short distance behind the forward wall of bodyguard Eagle knights, and allowed their own commanders to lead their armies. Also with Tizoc stood the advisors he brought with him, as well as most of the priests. Motecuhzoma was in front of his mazatl squadron which made up the left flank of the Tlatelolco section and was thus nearest to the Revered Speaker, with the young officer standing but a hundred-some paces from him.
Like silent sentinels they stood, eagerly waiting for the sun to arrive at its daily apex and watching what appeared to them a deserted city with no signs of life detectable from within its confines. Then, with startling suddenness, they heard the rapid pounding of drumbeats, followed by repeated deep drones of trumpets. All eyes were riveted on Toluca which abruptly sprang into vitality, bursting forth with armed warriors brilliantly clad in battle array. Within minutes, the opposition took up a similar line, covering nearly an equal length as the Mexica’s, only that their ranks