Chapter 5
Itzel and Izel scurried as fast as their elderly legs could carry them from the Queen's bathing suite down the steep pyramid stairs to the kitchen in the basement. They collapsed in laughter recalling her bitter howl when she settled into the icy cold bathwater! They liked to play little tricks on her and, as they were both mutes, it was impossible to interrogate them. Plus they were so loyal and they both adored her so much, she couldn't be annoyed with them too long for their playful practical jokes - as long as they didn't go too far. In their 70's, with stooped posture and both being deaf mutes, they really were more like fraternal twins than husband and wife.
Izel wiggled her finger at her husband as the cold water trick had been his idea. Clever and mischievious, she loved his devilish sense of humor. In fact it caused her to fall in love with him back in their home village, Yaxha, many, many years ago.
Itzel was the son of the wiley old village shaman and he had observed his father prepare many potions, concoctions and curses for the villagers. One time when Izel's cruel older sister, Nelli, was beating her up over breaking her favorite urn, Itzel had peered through the window and gave Nelli the evil eye which caused her to freeze in place and stay that way for 24 hours - enough time for Izel to gather up her belongings and run off with Itzel to Piedras Negras, the magnificent royal city and home of the Queen.
Shortly after arriving there, the young couple went to the Queens' palace to hear one of her afternoon poems and, maybe, cadge one of those golden coins. The beauteous and ageless Citali had ventured out onto her gilded balcony, overlooking the city (she never left her palace) but a careless manservant accidentally dropped the royal veil which hid Cital's face from public view. The subjects were never allowed to see the royal visage as it would lessen her powerful psychic energies.
Quick as a lemur, Itzell ripped Izels' shawl away from her head, painfully pulling out several strands of her hair as he did so, and then raced up the steep pyramid steps, three at a time. Panting for breath, when he arrived at the top step he scaled the balcony wall and ran to Citali's side, brandishing the old shawl in front of the Queens' face, before she barely realized the old one lay on the ground.
So delighted was she with his gallant actions, the Queen, through the bedraggled, hairy shawl, told Itzel he could have anything he wanted. Eagerly signaling down to Izel to join him up on the balcony, he threw himself on the ground and mimicked industrious sweeping, primping, scrubbing activities. "Aha, you are a clever fellow! Citali exclaimed when she realized the fellow was unable to speak. "You want to come and live in the palace and work for Citali," referring to herself in the third person. Itzel vigorously grabbed the Queens' hand and kissed it. She held onto it and reached for Izel's hand and pulled them both on inside to the palace. Itzel winked at his wife and they both grinned as they strolled into the cool and luxurious Palace of Citali.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Chapter 4
Queen Citali felt nauseated. She reached for one of the many balms and rubbed the precious ointment on her wrists, hungrily inhaling the healing fumes. She lay back on the panther skins which, she noticed, had begun to irritate her soft skin. Perhaps she would pass them on to Itzel who had that tough hide of a water buffalo.
She thought she would take a soothing bath so she called on Itzel and Izel to prepare the jewel encrusted giant basin.
While waiting she disrobed and admired her body. Long, slender legs, large feet with prominent toes, figure like Aphrodite, hair the color of burnished ebony - her only complaint with her person was her voice. It had a tendency to be high and squeaky when she got excited. She reminded herself to keep calm, always presenting a serene royal presence to her adoring subjects.
She left her quarters, stepped carefully into the lapis lazuli tub and quickly sat down - the water was too cold! She let out a howl but Itzel and Izel were no where to be located.
Was this a hoax or a trick on their part? Sometimes she wondered about those two....could she absolutely trust them especially since she suspected they had found one of Tlilpotonqui's long black feathers on the floor of her bedroom.
Everyone knew that her special friend and counselor, Tlilpotonqui, ("black feathers") also known as "Tonqui," and she could never become lovers or get married as he was not of noble birth so to find the rare feather in such an "off limits" area as the Queen's boudoir could really light the fires of gossip in the kingdom. That could make her seem weak and vulnerable and a rival might try to harm her and steal her throne and subjects, the wealthiest and most admired in all of the Mayan empire.
It would be wise for her to, perhaps, construct a poem, containing a warning about what could happen to servants who carry tales about their mistress....
In the meantime, she leaned back and enjoyed the sheer pleasure of bathing in the healing emerald water from the sacred Fountain of Patli. While she relaxed she thought over poem for tomorrow....
Queen Citali felt nauseated. She reached for one of the many balms and rubbed the precious ointment on her wrists, hungrily inhaling the healing fumes. She lay back on the panther skins which, she noticed, had begun to irritate her soft skin. Perhaps she would pass them on to Itzel who had that tough hide of a water buffalo.
She thought she would take a soothing bath so she called on Itzel and Izel to prepare the jewel encrusted giant basin.
While waiting she disrobed and admired her body. Long, slender legs, large feet with prominent toes, figure like Aphrodite, hair the color of burnished ebony - her only complaint with her person was her voice. It had a tendency to be high and squeaky when she got excited. She reminded herself to keep calm, always presenting a serene royal presence to her adoring subjects.
She left her quarters, stepped carefully into the lapis lazuli tub and quickly sat down - the water was too cold! She let out a howl but Itzel and Izel were no where to be located.
Was this a hoax or a trick on their part? Sometimes she wondered about those two....could she absolutely trust them especially since she suspected they had found one of Tlilpotonqui's long black feathers on the floor of her bedroom.
Everyone knew that her special friend and counselor, Tlilpotonqui, ("black feathers") also known as "Tonqui," and she could never become lovers or get married as he was not of noble birth so to find the rare feather in such an "off limits" area as the Queen's boudoir could really light the fires of gossip in the kingdom. That could make her seem weak and vulnerable and a rival might try to harm her and steal her throne and subjects, the wealthiest and most admired in all of the Mayan empire.
It would be wise for her to, perhaps, construct a poem, containing a warning about what could happen to servants who carry tales about their mistress....
In the meantime, she leaned back and enjoyed the sheer pleasure of bathing in the healing emerald water from the sacred Fountain of Patli. While she relaxed she thought over poem for tomorrow....
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Chapter 3
Queen Citali went into her chambers decorated with fine silks that she herself weaved in
her spare time. She didn't color the weave as she loved the whitish color which seem to
bring peace to her spirit. Her bed was covered in black panther skin, which was very
difficult to hunt it had taken more than a year for her official hunters to accumulate
enough pelts to form her bed covering.
She had a small table made of gold with different precious stones forming flowers. On
her table were the most precious of jewels which she herself had designed. There were
also bottles of flower perfumes. Her favorite was tuba rose or nard. It was a little
similar to Gardenia but Queen Citali had passed a law that she was the only one
allowed to use this perfume.
This last event with this traveling critic had really upset her. She was not used to being
confronted or criticized. How dare him, she though. She sat down upon her soft bed.
She started to feel sick to her stomach and her head felt as if it was to explode.
Not again she thought... that excruciating pain again that made her stop in her
tracks and cause her temporary blindnes
Queen Citali went into her chambers decorated with fine silks that she herself weaved in
her spare time. She didn't color the weave as she loved the whitish color which seem to
bring peace to her spirit. Her bed was covered in black panther skin, which was very
difficult to hunt it had taken more than a year for her official hunters to accumulate
enough pelts to form her bed covering.
She had a small table made of gold with different precious stones forming flowers. On
her table were the most precious of jewels which she herself had designed. There were
also bottles of flower perfumes. Her favorite was tuba rose or nard. It was a little
similar to Gardenia but Queen Citali had passed a law that she was the only one
allowed to use this perfume.
This last event with this traveling critic had really upset her. She was not used to being
confronted or criticized. How dare him, she though. She sat down upon her soft bed.
She started to feel sick to her stomach and her head felt as if it was to explode.
Not again she thought... that excruciating pain again that made her stop in her
tracks and cause her temporary blindnes
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Chapter 2
On the day in question, Citali's daily performance was attended by a critic who had come from the capital just to hear the poetry of this wonderful queen. The critic happened to question one of the lines in that day's poem.
The line described the symbols sculpted in relief upon a particular warrior's shield. One symbol was that of three jaguars coiled under the throne of a princess. The critic wanted to know what they signified.
"It means the shield had three coiled jaguars carved beneath a throne," she said.
"Yes," the critic responded, "but it leaves the listener wondering if there is a special…"
"You have no idea what you are talking about," the Queen retorted sharply. "Just shut up and listen for a change."
The critic persisted in interrupting the queen's recitation. After a while, she stopped the reading and retreated behind the golden door of her pyramid in a state of some distraction. Several of her guards, acting upon their own initiative, seized the critic and threw him into a dungeon below the walls of the pyramid.
When she had collected herself, Citali closely questioned her loyal servants.
"It's not easy coming up with new poetical ideas every day before 3PM," she noted. "I only do it to sustain my people. You understand, of course."
"Lady," Itzel replied, "we are only servants. It is not our business to question the words of our betters."
Izel seconded the opinion of his companion, much to the dipleasure of the queen who retired to her chambers much shaken by the events of the day.
On the day in question, Citali's daily performance was attended by a critic who had come from the capital just to hear the poetry of this wonderful queen. The critic happened to question one of the lines in that day's poem.
The line described the symbols sculpted in relief upon a particular warrior's shield. One symbol was that of three jaguars coiled under the throne of a princess. The critic wanted to know what they signified.
"It means the shield had three coiled jaguars carved beneath a throne," she said.
"Yes," the critic responded, "but it leaves the listener wondering if there is a special…"
"You have no idea what you are talking about," the Queen retorted sharply. "Just shut up and listen for a change."
The critic persisted in interrupting the queen's recitation. After a while, she stopped the reading and retreated behind the golden door of her pyramid in a state of some distraction. Several of her guards, acting upon their own initiative, seized the critic and threw him into a dungeon below the walls of the pyramid.
When she had collected herself, Citali closely questioned her loyal servants.
"It's not easy coming up with new poetical ideas every day before 3PM," she noted. "I only do it to sustain my people. You understand, of course."
"Lady," Itzel replied, "we are only servants. It is not our business to question the words of our betters."
Izel seconded the opinion of his companion, much to the dipleasure of the queen who retired to her chambers much shaken by the events of the day.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Chapter 1
In the year AD 250, all was well in the powerful and wealthy Mayan empire. Crops were plentiful, many children were born, the people were contented and not at war among each other.
Queen Citali, beloved by her people, lived in a towering pyramid palace. Unmarried, she lived alone among her exquisite treasures and possessions. Her only companions in the pyramid, deep in the heart of the rainforest. were her loyal servants, Itzel and Izel, husband and wife.
Every day people would come from far and wide to see her and listen to one of her original poems. Sometimes they were sad, others inspirational, others amusing - depending on her mood.
At exactly 3 PM she would step out on her balcony with Itzel and Izel who worshipped their beautiful and kind queen.
She would wear one of her own magnficent woven gown creations (she loved to weave fine and rare fabrics) with matching hat.
tzel would hold up the heavily embroidered cloth used to cover Queen Citali's face as the people were not permitted to look directly at her. She would sit in a huge, carved throne seat and read her latest poems aloud.
The people waited to hear her words with anxious anticipation and cheered, laughed or cried when she was done, which ever was appropriate.
Then she would throw them gold coins and the children would dive around the base of the pyramid to retrieve one of the rare treasures. "No pushing or shoving" Itzel would gently scold the excited children.
Exactly every day at 3:30 the visit would end and Queen Citali and Itzel and Izel would stand and walk back inside the palace, the golden door of the pyramid closing soundly behind them.
Then one day something terrible happened -
In the year AD 250, all was well in the powerful and wealthy Mayan empire. Crops were plentiful, many children were born, the people were contented and not at war among each other.
Queen Citali, beloved by her people, lived in a towering pyramid palace. Unmarried, she lived alone among her exquisite treasures and possessions. Her only companions in the pyramid, deep in the heart of the rainforest. were her loyal servants, Itzel and Izel, husband and wife.
Every day people would come from far and wide to see her and listen to one of her original poems. Sometimes they were sad, others inspirational, others amusing - depending on her mood.
At exactly 3 PM she would step out on her balcony with Itzel and Izel who worshipped their beautiful and kind queen.
She would wear one of her own magnficent woven gown creations (she loved to weave fine and rare fabrics) with matching hat.
tzel would hold up the heavily embroidered cloth used to cover Queen Citali's face as the people were not permitted to look directly at her. She would sit in a huge, carved throne seat and read her latest poems aloud.
The people waited to hear her words with anxious anticipation and cheered, laughed or cried when she was done, which ever was appropriate.
Then she would throw them gold coins and the children would dive around the base of the pyramid to retrieve one of the rare treasures. "No pushing or shoving" Itzel would gently scold the excited children.
Exactly every day at 3:30 the visit would end and Queen Citali and Itzel and Izel would stand and walk back inside the palace, the golden door of the pyramid closing soundly behind them.
Then one day something terrible happened -
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