“Yes.”
“I don’t want to die, Patrón.”
“You played with death, and it has sprung upon you.”
The eyes of the three men were blindfolded with black cloths, their blouses and pantaloons were taken away. Cipriano took a bright, thin dagger.
“The Lords of Life are Masters of Death,” he said in a loud, clear voice.
And swift as lightning he stabbed the blindfolded men to the heart, with three swift, heavy stabs. Then he lifted the red dagger and threw it down.
“The Lords of Life are Masters of Death,” he repeated.
The guards lifted the bleeding bodies one by one, and carried them into the church. There remained only the one prisoner, with the green leaf.
“Put the green leaf of Malintzi between his brows; for Malintzi pardons once, and no more,” said Cipriano.
“Yes, my Lord!” replied the guard.