The king and the lord Cuitlahua exchanged glances of satisfaction.
“At last the labors of the teotuctli were rewarded. I saw him tear a heart from a victim’s breast, and study the signs; then, with a loud cry, he ran and flung the heart into the fire before the altar of Huitzil’; and all there joined in the cry, which was of rejoicing, and washed their hands in the blood. The holy man then came to me, and said, ‘Say to Montezuma, the wise king, that Huitzil’, the Supreme God, has answered, and bids him begin the war. Say to him, also, to be of cheer; for the land shall be delivered from the strangers, and the strangers shall be delivered to him, in trust for the god.’ Then he stood in the door of the sanctuary, and made proclamation of the divine will. And that was all, O king.”
“To Huitzil’ be the praise!” exclaimed the king, piously.
“And to Montezuma the glory!” said Cuitlahua.
And the queens and Tula kissed the monarch’s hand, and at his feet Io’ knelt, and laid his shield, saying,—
“A favor, O king, a favor!”
“Well.”
“Let not my years be counted, but give me a warrior’s part in the sacred war.”
And Cuitlahua went to the suppliant, and laid a hand upon his head, and said, his massive features glowing with honest pride, “It was well spoken, O my brother, well spoken. The blood and spirit of our race will survive us. I, the oldest, rejoice, and, with the youngest, pray; give us each to do a warrior’s part.”
Brighter grew the monarch’s eyes.