The Visionary Mayan Queen: Yohl Ik'Nal of Palenque by Leonide Martin Read Free Book Online Page A

beside a jaguar pelt. A few weeks later he was seized by a ferocious fever, sweating and shaking with bone-rattling chills, struggling with a fierce opponent who brought him to the edge of death. Priestly ministrations and rich offerings by his father ameliorated the Death Lords and the boy survived, but was severely weakened. His body was never again strong although his mind recovered its sharpness. Now in middle age, he was weakening steadily as the minion of the swamp was hard at work again
    Kan Bahlam had long believed that this sickness, this life-sucking swamp fever that robbed his brother of so much strength was at the root of his childlessness. Though married to a robust woman, Ahkal Mo’ Nab had failed to produce offspring in their 20 years together. Given his declining health, it was doubtful an heir would be brought forth. Thus the lineage succession would fall to Kan Bahlam and his family—to be precise, his only living child, his daughter Yohl Ik’nal. This troubled him; male succession was preferred although Maya custom did not dictate patrilineal descent.
    The messenger’s resounding voice pulled Kan Bahlam back to the present.
    “There is discontent among the ahauob of Usihwitz and Yokib. It is said, they speak of it, that the May Council decided unjustly. Why should it be, they ask, that Lakam Ha becomes the May Ku again? Is it not enough, is it not just that Lakam Ha now luxuriates in the honors, the tributes, the construction of many new buildings? This is what is just, they say: it is enough for Lakam Ha to prosper for 260 tuns enjoying the katun celebrations and the dispensation of katun privileges. Some other city should be the next May Ku. Let us share this bounty, why keep it there? So they speak, so they argue, in Usihwitz and Yokib.”
    Indignant murmuring filled the Popol Nah. Various nobles gestured and signed each other their surprise and concern. All waited for Ahkal Mo’ Nab to speak.
    “So they spoke ill.” The ruler emphasized each word. “The May Council was fairly constructed and represented all the cities in the B’aakal polity. On the Council sat priests and ahauob of every city, Usihwitz and Yokib included. Why do they complain?”
    “So say they, that the men of their city were weak,” answered the messenger. “They who now complain were not at the Council and are angry they did not have a say. It is a long time, beyond their generation, until the next may seating and they covet the prize now.”
    The ruler gestured for others in the Council House to speak, turning from long habit toward his brother.
    “More is to be seen here, the roots go deep,” Kan Bahlam said. “Sahal, speak of what you learned in other places you visited.” He nodded at the messenger.
    “My travels also took me to Popo’. This city in our polity, far from the river, we think about as a slow-moving place isolated by the vast jungle. But in fact there is much foment in Popo’, much movement, much involvement that is surprising. When I was there, several ahauob had recently returned from Kan, in the Polity of Ka’an, the Snake.”
    Murmurs of surprise rippled through the Council House. Kan was the name of the ruling dynasty of a distant polity called Ka’an. Their primary city was Dzibanche, but frequently the dynastic name was used instead. Many days of travel were needed to cover the terrain from Popo’ to Kan.
    “They spoke little to me of their business with Kan,” the messenger continued. “Of their purpose, they described trade but I saw few foreign goods in Popo’ markets. One evening I sat late with an old merchant, praising his fine flint and obsidian, even buying a knife to loosen his tongue. Then he spoke of strange things, things he heard from the ahauob who visited Kan. Things so strange, I hesitate to speak of them.”
    Kan Bahlam exchanged a quick glance with Ahkal Mo’ Nab. It was not lost on the other nobles present. The tension in the Popol Nah rose palpably.
    “It is of