Aztec Eternals

Light clouds drifted away, the noon sun shone brightly, and the sky in the mountain city returned to tranquility. The frightened singing sparrows gathered again and sang in the world above their heads, like the distant sound from the Kingdom of God.

The king's flag of the black wolf was flying high among the birds, and it was erected in the tribal square in the center of the mountain city. The mountain city has a long history, and the buildings in the city still retain many features of the tribal era. In the center of the tribal square is a huge fire pit, the raging bonfire changes in the wind, burning red light, hot and blue smoke. To the east not far from the square is a thick earthen platform surrounded by bluestones. Various flying cloth flags are planted on the earth platform, while under the earth platform, the ashes and relics of more than ten generations of mountain city leaders are buried.

At this moment, hundreds of tribal leaders and noble warriors sat in a circle around the fire pit. Shulot took dozens of personal guards and sat in the east where the sun was rising. Behind him was the tomb of the ancestors of the Otomi people.

The sun brings new life, and the earth bears death. Rebirth and death are eternal images in Mesoamerican culture. In the past hundreds of years, the Otomi people discussed matters, gathered, ate, danced and danced, held religious ceremonies, and even had trysts with men and women in the square. All this is done under the gaze of the ancestors, just like today's leader election.

The tribal leaders formed a circle. With different gazes, they stared at the two legion commanders at the very center, in front of the fire pit.

Giova wore a cane hat with feathers on his head, and a very heavy cotton armor, over which he had a sheltering robe. At this moment, he was holding a sharp baton and an expensive copper ax on his waist, looking up at the opponent in front of him.

"Nelpa, give up, you don't have any chance! You are the warrior leader of the tribe, and your bravery should be used on the battlefield, not here!"

"Giova, although I don't understand the governance of the city-state, I have the heart of an Otomi!"

Nelpa also holds a baton and is fully armed. He was in his early thirties, young, strong, and an excellent warrior. On both sides of his cheeks, there were several pattern-like scars on each side, like butterflies spreading their wings. This gradually increasing tattoo is a symbol of the samurai's achievements, similar to the records of beheading ten people and beheading twenty people.

"Priest Saka is right. Under your Otomi appearance, you already have a Mexica heart!"

Nerpa looked at the king flag of the Eastern Black Wolf in the square, and at His Majesty Mexica sitting in front of the ancestor's tomb, with anger burning in his eyes.

"Giova, for the sake of the independent future of the Otomi people, I must stop you and Priest Ort from traveling on the wrong road!"

"Nelpa, your soul is lost in the mountains and forests, shrouded in mist, and you can no longer communicate. Then let the tribal leaders decide according to the tradition of the tribe!"

Giova frowned, looked at the warrior brainwashed by the priest of Saka, and shook his head helplessly. Then, he looked at the tribal leaders sitting around the field, and the final election was just around the corner.

"Praise the Lord God!"

Shulot stood up and walked towards the center of the square. Behind him are the warrior commander and Heilang closely following. Under the awe-inspiring eyes of everyone, the king walked up to Giova and held up the scepter in his hand.

"Before the tribal election, I want to tell the leaders that I am here with the legion and goodwill!"

The king's gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, sweeping across the crowd present. The leaders all bowed their heads to pay respects.

"My goodwill is only given to those who I trust! Giova is my young brother who has made an alliance with blood. He once risked his life to fight for me! I will give him shelter throughout his life. If he becomes the leader of the mountain city , I will represent a powerful alliance and protect the ancestral land of the Otomi people!"

There was a murmur of discussion in the square. Saka's face was solemn, and he immediately stood up from the ground and shouted to the leaders present.

"Otomi leaders! Please don't forget the wars and famines, and what the Mexica have done to us! They worship the god of war and are cruel and greedy beasts. They are constantly looking for sacrifices. The hunger will never be appeased! Now, they once again extend their claws to the ancestral land of the mountain city, to the necks of millions of Otomi people!"

Hearing Priest Saka's words, the discussion became slightly louder. Some leaders showed hesitation, but most of the tribal leaders flickered and remained unmoved. They can control the tribe in their hands and control the lives of thousands of people, so they will not be easily agitated by words of hatred like low-level warriors.

"My children! The dog descendants are going south, and the Otomi people are in crisis! Most of the northern Pams state has fallen, and the barbarians have settled in our homeland. The war continues, and today's spring plowing will be delayed a lot. New Famine is at hand!"

The old priest of Oort stood up with a solemn expression, and shouted loudly.

"The Otomi people need warriors who are good at fighting, and they also need food to overcome difficulties! At this moment of survival, the ancestor gods gave us the light of shelter! The kingdom in the lake in the south is our reliable friend. And His Royal Highness Shulot is Otomi sun!."

The words of the old priest spread far away, and the tribal leaders fell silent for a moment, and then let out a low cry. The title of the sun is not easy to use, because in the concepts of the various ministries of the world, the sun is supreme and is the master of the world. And calling a person the sun often means surrender!

The disorderly noise continued for a while before it gradually quieted down. A great chieftain of Palms was first to rise. He saluted the king respectfully, and then spoke urgently on behalf of the Otomi tribe in the north.

"Honorable Your Majesty Mexica, Mespa of Parmesbon salutes you! The beasts in the jungle obey the strong, and the Otomi people in the north need your protection! As long as you can send an army northward, we are willing to send you You surrender and follow your banner to fight!"

Xiuluo nodded and smiled lightly. He looked around the venue again, then lowered his staff and tapped the end of it with a "ding dong".

"The light of the Lord God also shines on the Otomi people! However, the blessing of the gods requires devout dedication, and the gift of fate has already marked the price! Otomi people, I come with the goodwill of the king, and I am waiting for you kindness!"

The tribal leaders looked at each other, and another middle-aged chief from Guamare stood up.

"Praise the God of War! Your Majesty, we are in awe of your courage to enter the city, obey your majesty, and believe in the choice of Priest Ort! Destiny is a raging river, and we approach him with our shadows. Keep your legs submerged. But."

Having said that, the middle-aged chieftain paused, and looked at the king cautiously.

"There are endless dogs in the wilderness. The northern part of the plateau is always barren, and the northernmost part is a desert. The Otomi people can only fight, build cities and farm land! We don't have the property of the southern tribes, and we don't have the richness of the rainforest. output. What can we give in exchange for your help we crave?"

Hearing this implying key question, Shulot's eyes became dark.

"I am the king of generosity. I will not touch the people you can support, nor covet the fields you can cultivate, nor will I seek control of the mountain city. Each tribe of the Otomi will elect its own leader and inherit the glory of the ancestors. However, you must bathe in the light of the Lord God and accept the divine guidance! You must gather under my banner and fight for the divine will! You must use your loyal and fearless battles in exchange for rewards of wealth and glory!"

He was full of deep meaning and continued with a smile.

"Of course, the basis of all this is our mutual trust, and the immediate leader election!"

Hearing this, the middle-aged chief nodded knowingly. He bowed his head solemnly.

"Your Highness, I greet you. I am Chalki from Guamare, please remember my name."

"Okay! The sun has risen to the highest point, and the ancestor god is watching the earth. Now, let's start the election!"

The bone horn was played, and an old female voice sounded, just like the tribal era thousands of years ago. The old priest took a step forward and raised the scepter in his hand. The Saka priest on the opposite side looked ashen, and also took a step forward at the same time. The wife of the former leader O'Quietley walked into the center of the venue, walked between the two heads, and continued to shout in a sharp voice.

"Leaders, the ancestor gods are watching us! According to the traditional practice, use your feet and follow the people you choose! Those who support Nerpa, stand behind Priest Saka. Those who support Giova, stand behind Priest Oort Behind you! The ancestors witnessed everything, and all ministries must abide by the resolutions of the tribal assembly. No matter what the result is, the Otomi must not be divided!"

The Otomi leaders looked at each other for a moment, stood up silently, and voted with their feet. Chief Mespa was the first to stand up and walked behind Priest Ort, followed by many leaders of Palmsbon. Afterwards, Chief Chalki nodded to the old priest, followed by the leaders of Guamare State. The chiefs of Ottopanban broke out in a dispute, and finally broke up unhappy. Thirty percent of them went to the priest of Saka, and seventy percent of them came behind Oort.

The final result is clear at a glance. The old priest straightened his back, and there was a large area of ​​darkness behind him; Saka looked gloomy, and there were only twenty or thirty people scattered behind him. Nearly 90% of the Otomi leaders finally chose to support Jiowa and became the military leader of the ancestral mountain city, the nominal speaker of the Otomi Alliance!

"The ancestors witnessed in the tomb that a new leader has been born! The tribal assembly decided that the leader of the ancestral land in the mountain city and the heir to the ancestral scepter, is"

The old female voice sounded again, but was suddenly interrupted by a loud shout.

"Witness of the ancestors and gods! Giova, you traitor who betrayed the tribe!"

Seeing that the situation in front of him was irreversible, Nelpa gritted his teeth, showing a will to die on his face. He suddenly raised his baton and roared loudly.

"I swear by the dignity of a warrior, and with an equal and honorable status, I initiate a sacred engagement with you! The tomb of our ancestors is also our grave. I will fight with you to the death!"

"Nelpa, are you crazy? How dare you risk your life to fight with me?"

Giova looked surprised, even a little incredulous. He looked at the middle-aged warrior with a firm expression in front of him, as if looking at a stubborn rock.

Even if he failed to participate in the tribal election, Nelpa is still a powerful tribal leader with a noble status, with thousands of warriors in his hands, and no fear of his life. However, the sacred fight is endless, and it is only carried out between two parties with equal status, and it will inevitably end with one party falling. Although this is an ancient tradition of resolving major conflicts in the tribe and a martial custom left over from the tribal era, it has not happened among the leaders for many years.

"Giova, if you are a coward who is afraid of fighting, please step down from the position of leader! Only a leader who is not afraid of life and death can lead the Otomi people to life!"

Hearing this, Giova looked at the leaders present and frowned deeply. Of all the tribes of the Highlands, which honored valor, coward was the most contemptible insult. Having said that, although he has the right to refuse Nerpa's challenge, it will leave a stain on his life. How will he convince the public in the future? What's more. Giova narrowed his long and narrow eyes, reached out and pressed the robe around his waist, and then frowned.

"Nelpa, since you want to die, then come!"