Serpent and Storm Read Online Free Page B

He pointed to a second warrior. “And you. Carry the king back to his palace. Amaranth—escort this woman home.” Sky Knife gestured toward the sobbing woman, who had turned red-rimmed eyes up to meet his.
    The warriors glanced toward Lily-on-the-Water. She stood slowly. She did not look happy, but she nodded. The warriors leaped to obey, as did Amaranth.
    Sky Knife turned to the crowd. “Go home,” he shouted to them. “The king is dead. You can do nothing for him but pray for his safe journey through the underworlds. Now go.”
    A low mumbling came from the crowd, but people began trickling out of the arena. The warriors carrying the king’s body were able to leave without incident.
    â€œVery impressive.”
    Sky Knife looked over to Lily-on-the-Water in her bloodstained white dress. He did not want to make an enemy of the goddess’ High Priestess. “I did what I could to help,” he said. “If there is any other service I can render, you have only to ask.”
    â€œBe sure I will ask if I require your help in the future,” said Lily-on-the-Water. Her voice was low, and she had a lilting tone to her speech that reminded Sky Knife of the bubbling song of the stream. Her tone told him she would rather die than ask for his help, but she was too polite to say so in public.
    Sky Knife bowed to her. “I am at your service, High Priestess.”
    Lily-on-the-Water turned and swept out of the arena.
    â€œIf there’s any good to come out of this, it was the look on her face when you handled the mob,” said a nasally male voice.
    Sky Knife turned to face yet another tall Teotihuacano. The man resembled the dead king a bit, but his features were rounded, more smoothed-out than Tattooed Serpent’s own chiseled features. One eyelid drooped slightly, and the man’s nose was crooked. The man bowed. “I am Grasping Fire,” he said. “Brother to the king. I am the Chief Minister of Construction in the city. And you?”
    â€œSky Knife, Chief Priest of Itzamna at Tikal. I was sent here by your brother Storm Cloud, ah, that is, Cloudy Sky, to … well, to talk with your king. He wanted to establish a stronger link between our cities. But I suppose I must wait to tell the full story at a later time. Your family has other concerns now.”
    Grasping Fire nodded sadly. His long hair wafted around his face and he brushed it away absently. “You have arrived on an unlucky day, Sky Knife. Your errand will have to wait until the new king is installed.”
    â€œWho will be your new king?”
    â€œYou will meet him later. Come. I’ll take you to the palace where you can pay your respects to the rest of the king’s family.”
    Grasping Fire didn’t wait for Sky Knife’s assent; he simply walked away. Sky Knife followed, skirting around a lone beaded sandal left by some panicked game patron.
    The main street of the city was wider than the Great Plaza back home in Tikal. Sky Knife tried to keep one eye on Grasping Fire and take in the sights with the other.
    New construction was taking place on each side of the street. Sky Knife had listened to Storm Cloud’s description of the building styles of his homeland, but he had not pictured anything quite like this. The temples along the street did not slope steeply or ascend in step fashion like those at home in Tikal. Instead, the slope of the outer wall was interrupted by large sections of vertical wall, on which were carved fantastic creatures and scenes. Butterflies, serpents, and jaguars were common figures, as were seashells. An odd often-repeated motif looked like a disembodied eye floating in water.
    In front of each building hung masks. Some were life-sized, but most were only a few inches wide. They were jade and ceramic, stone, and wood. Many of them had eyes and teeth of inlaid shell. The masks hung by strings run through holes in the ears or at the top. They