The Obsidian Butterfly by Lani Forbes

Author:Lani Forbes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Published: 2021-12-08T17:16:10+00:00

Chapter

31

The Chicome army finally began its march to the sea. Ahkin took his seat upon the golden throne suspended between two poles. It would be carried on the shoulders of four warriors for the two days it would take to reach the coast. Ahead of him, Tlana priests led the way with effigies to the gods, and at his back, the might of the Chicome Empire marched with thundering footfalls. The wolves and jungle cats of the naguals of Ocelotl padded between the warriors, anxious to taste the flesh of their enemies. Not only were there close to ten thousand warriors, there were also half as many young recruits and apprentices, tasked with carrying the army’s supplies upon their backs.

The citizens of Tollan lined the edges of the volcanic plateau, throwing flowers and feathers at them as they made their way down the sloping path toward the jungle below. Ahkin glanced back to where the lords of the other city-states rode upon their wooden thrones, each leading the contingent of warriors from their home cities. The lord of Millacatl watched him with an eye as keen as his daughter’s.

“At least you don’t have to walk the whole way,” Ochix grumbled from somewhere below him. The council hadn’t wanted to elevate him to the same status as the other lords, instead insisting he prove his loyalty during the coming battle. At least they’d agreed to provide him with his own spear.

Yaotl was assigned to watch over him, the council figuring that the most elite warriors in the empire would be able to contain him should he decide to go rogue. That worked perfectly in Ahkin’s favor, as he planned for Ochix to secretly depart for Omitl with a small band of Jaguar warriors the moment an opportunity presented itself. Yaotl still didn’t like the idea of sending some of his men with a death prince into the heart of the Miquitz Empire, but he had agreed. Rescuing Metzi from the clutches of the death priest before the eclipse began could save everyone.

They covered a considerable distance the first day of marching, and when they stopped that evening to make a temporary camp, the nobles gathered around Ahkin’s fire to solidify the tactical plan for the following day.

Ahkin used the end of a spear to draw diagrams in the dirt, outlining the location of Ehecatl’s forces. Spies had sent their findings through message runners stationed along the road, an effective means of communicating across long distances. The latest message assured Ahkin that the vast majority of Ehecatl’s forces had gathered at the front gates to the city, the wall at their back to prevent being surrounded.

“We will send a small force of common warriors to engage their largest force here.” He indicated the location with the tip of his spear. “While they are distracted, we will disperse the divine lords to the agreed-upon locations, here, here, and here.” He pointed to different corners of the city. “When the smoke signal is sent into the sky, the common warriors will feign retreat.

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