Centeotl's Daughter

I had a dream last night.

I was beside my mother grinding the dried corn into flour. We stood in the courtyard of the Temple of Centeotl the Corn Goddess with the other ladies our pestles flashing rhythmically in the Sun. Some of the ladies gossiped others worked to the beat of a song. Birds called in the forest and muffled the faint busy sounds of the village beyond the complex’s walls.

Mother was watching me with that crooked grin on her perfect face. Her long thick hair glimmered golden in the light as she told me the proper ways of our people. She was telling me about being traditional “this is how it has been as long as the sun has shined upon us, the rain has fallen and the corn has grown. You can work with our traditions but do not break them for it will displease both the Gods and the people…”

It seemed such a pleasant memory.

Mother was so wise.

I do not know how I will lead our people. So much has happened in the last three years.

Three years ago the crops were bad. We had a harvest but it was not as much as we needed or hoped for. The people who were frightened my Mother called for Rituals to be enacted, Sacrifices to be made. This calmed most of the people but not the Warrior Brotherhood of the Condor.

They plotted and spied on the people and on the other Warrior Brotherhoods. They spread careful rumors in the outlying villages designed to discredit my mother. Two years ago my mother took ill. She hid it well from the Priestesses and the people but I could see how it drained her, robbed her of her vitality and eventually her life.

The Brotherhood of the Condor claimed it was a sign from the Goddess that it was time for a new Order to arise- one based on their patron god Huitzilopochtli the War God and ruled by Warrior Priests.

When Mother died I was devastated. I didn’t know what to do! The Condors saw their chance and took it, rising up from the villages and fighting against the loyal Brotherhoods of the Dragon and Jaguar. Many good people were killed needlessly and several villages raized to the ground the statues destroyed, the temples looted.

If my Mother had lived She would have wept to see the darkness that engulfed our beautiful nation. But she was in Mictlan serving Centeotl as a handmaiden, little remembering her life on this world.

It was in this year that our crops grew tall and strong- until just weeks before the harvest the skies opened upon us. It did not stop raining for almost a week. The rivers spilled over their banks, lakes enlarged themselves overnight. People and animals were swept away buy the onslaught and the crop was destroyed by flooding and we were left with even less then the year before. Wells were fouled and several plagues spread.

The people cried out to the Goddess “Why have you forsaken us?” and no answer was given- to me or any other. The Condors- those few left spoke out saying the Gods were angry and I agreed. What would Cause Taloc and Chalchiuhtlicue to become so angry? Thus Dragons and Jaguars insisted that the Condors be used in the Harvest Rituals and they were. The rain stopped and our people tried to carry on. Several groups of Condors outcast live in the forests raiding villages. Even now the other Brotherhoods have not been able to capture or kill them.

This year started well but quickly turned bad. Last year we had an overabundance of water. This year we had none.

The ground cracked into cakes, the newly sprouted plants only ankle high shriveled into dry crackling stems. I have never seen the like and my Wise ones can find no record of such trouble in our histories. Peasants have let their herds go -there being nothing to feed them. Herds of llama and peccaries live wild in the forest scrounging for whatever they can. Others have slaughtered theirs and spread as much of the meat around trying to dry it before it gores bad. The storehouses were emptied long ago and I have no more food to give. The Brother hoods are hunting in the forest but even they skilled as they are have returned with little.

The only reason we have all not died is because of the Good Sea People offshore. Though it pains them to do so they harvested the fish of the Sea and have given them to us. But even with that it is not enough.

I have seen a hungry jaguar drop out of a tree onto a child and drag him off to feast on alive.

There have been reports of fires in the forest caused by the drought. With the help of the wild tribes, the villagers and the Brotherhoods the fires were contained and extinguished with little damage to the forest. I have ordered rituals to take place everyday when the Sun Tezcatlipoca is high to ask the Gods and appease them.

I fear greatly for my country.

It is because of this that I have sent spies and scouts across the mountains to see what there is. I hoped to find a green land full of wells and arable land. What my scouts reported to me was somewhat different. The land was indeed green and arable but it was already settled. They were strange people- a mixture of races just as we were! But some of them were so strange with black skin and burning red eyes my scouts worried they might be servants of Xolotl the God of Death.

They ride on great hairless llamas and wear shining metal over their faces perhaps to hide their identities. From the reports I understand there is one vast city who is ruled by a dark King, even as I am Queen. My scouts told me they use much magic and live in houses made of wood and stone. Other then that they are normal with weavers and healers and warriors. So many people crowded into one small area when their land is so wide and green? It boggles the mind! I do not understand how they can live so!

My scouts also discovered water high in the stone mountains that divide our lands! The water is white and cold and hard but will return to its true state as it is warmed! I have ordered the Brotherhoods to take those willing and gather much of the white water as possible and to return with it!

I have also decided against the wishes of my Elders and Wise ones to visit the strange land across the mountains and parley with their King.

It is a dangerous course but I feel I have no other choice. My people are dying and I cannot help them. The Wise ones say, as I am the sign of the Corn Goddess Alive I must never leave our borders. I have told them that the Goddess is a Goddess and so exists everywhere. And I as the Child of the Goddess and Leader of Her people I must leave.

Some called that heresy but I no longer care.

It was a small entourage I took with me. And only ten of my loyal jaguars lived to see the other side of the mountains. I had brought with me a litter even though I walked. I thought to enter the strange city as a Queen. I had brought my ceremonial robes as well; light cotton dyed the faintest green trimmed with gold and jade. I also brought several large casks of treasure. Plates, vases, masks and fans. Carved stone ornaments and delicate shell jewelry.

Again the Elders protested about me taking them. I need a show of good faith before this strange king and the history books have shown me that gold and fine treasures should be enough. I hope so.

I look forward to meeting this King and seeing a new land. I have never been outside the Borders of the Five Flowers before!

This will be exciting!