Montezuma’s Daughter by H. Rider Haggard

‘Beware how you speak, Teule,’ answered the prince haughtily. ‘Your words may be true, and yet did I not love you, you should rue them even though you hold the spirit of Tezcat. Alas!’ he added, stamping on the ground, ‘alas! that my uncle’s madness should make it possible that such words can be spoken. Oh! were I emperor of Anahuac, in a single week the head of every Teule in Cholula should deck a pinnacle of yonder temple.’

‘Beware how you speak, prince,’ I answered mocking him, ‘for there are those who did they hear, might cause YOU to rue YOUR words. Still one day you may be emperor, and then we shall see how you will deal with the Teules, at least others will see though I shall not. But what is it now? Does Montezuma choose new wives?’

‘He chooses wives, but not for himself. You know, Teule, that your time grows short. Montezuma and the priests name those who must be given to you to wife.’

‘Given me to wife!’ I said starting to my feet; ‘to me whose bride is death! What have I to do with love or marriage? I who in some few short weeks must grace an altar? Ah! Guatemoc, you say you love me, and once I saved you. Did you love me, surely you would save me now as you swore to do.’

‘I swore that I would give my life for yours, Teule, if it lay in my power, and that oath I would keep, for all do not set so high a store on life as you, my friend. But I cannot help you; you are dedicated to the gods, and did I die a hundred times, it would not save you from your fate. Nothing can save you except the hand of heaven if it wills. Therefore, Teule, make merry while you may, and die bravely when you must. Your case is no worse than mine and that of many others, for death awaits us all. Farewell.’

When he had gone I rose, and leaving the gardens I passed into the chamber where it was my custom to give audience to those who wished to look upon the god Tezcat as they called me. Here I sat upon my golden couch, inhaling the fumes of tobacco, and as it chanced I was alone, for none dared to enter that room unless I gave them leave. Presently the chief of my pages announced that one would speak with me, and I bent my head, signifying that the person should enter, for I was weary of my thoughts. The page withdrew, and presently a veiled woman stood before me. I looked at her wondering, and bade her draw her veil and speak. She obeyed, and I saw that my visitor was the princess Otomie. Now I rose amazed, for it was not usual that she should visit me thus alone. I guessed therefore that she had tidings, or was following some custom of which I was ignorant.

‘I pray you be seated,’ she said confusedly; ‘it is not fitting that you should stand before me.’

‘Why not, princess?’ I answered. ‘If I had no respect for rank, surely beauty must claim it.’

‘A truce to words,’ she replied with a wave of her slim hand. ‘I come here, O Tezcat, according to the ancient custom, because I am charged with a message to you. Those whom you shall wed are chosen. I am the bearer of their names.’

‘Speak on, princess of the Otomie.’

‘They are’–and she named three ladies whom I knew to be among the loveliest in the land.

‘I thought that there were four,’ I said with a bitter laugh. ‘Am I to be defrauded of the fourth?’

‘There is a fourth,’ she answered, and was silent.

‘Give me her name,’ I cried. ‘What other slut has been found to marry a felon doomed to sacrifice?’

‘One has been found, O Tezcat, who has borne other titles than this you give her.’

Now I looked at her questioningly, and she spoke again in a low voice.

‘I, Otomie, princess of the Otomie, Montezuma’s daughter, am the fourth and the first.’

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192

Leave a Reply 0

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *