Marina's Homecoming

The expedition had traveled for a fortnight under Yaxche's direction. Cortez had seen the wisdom in allowing the former slave to guide them to a city where they could procure fresh supplies before continuing on toward their destination, the Spanish settlement of Triunfo de la Cruz.

Although Yaxche had not led them astray, he was kept as a virtual prisoner. He along with Cuahtemoc and his servants, were rarely allowed to be alone unsupervised. Each day, Yaxche was brought to Cortez, who always camped near the head of the army, where he would give instructions as to how they should proceed that day. Mendoza stayed as close to the prisoners as he could, trying to keep his promise to keep his old friend safe. He helped Yaxche with some directions, but his friend knew the country very well and rarely sought advice.

Finally one morning when he was brought before Cortez, Yaxche informed the conquistador, "We are now near the coast in a region known as Acalan. There are several villages nearby and it seems that the people of the area are unaware of our presence."

Cortex nodded, very pleased. "You will lead the cavalry to the village most suitable for our needs and we will gather supplies to continue our journey." Yaxche nodded gravely and moved away from Cortez and his lieutenants. After a moment, Mendoza turned and followed him.

They walked silently some distance to where Mendoza's horse, Belleza, was corralled with the other animals of the expedition. Belleza neighed in greeting and Mendoza patted the beast before moving to check her condition. He hated having to ask Cortez to use one of the other horses they had brought from Mexico City. It had been many weeks since the mare was injured and the navigator believed that she was finally healed.

Yaxche stood back a bit, admiring the horse while Mendoza worked, neither of them speaking. Eventually, Mendoza said casually, "So when will you be leaving us?"

Yaxche smiled slightly and replied, "I hope to soon, but what would you recommend?"

"Wait long enough for the army to become settled. When they are feasting on the spoils of the village, their guard will be down and then go quickly. I don't know how long Cortez's good humor will last after taking the town. Much depends on what he finds there." Mendoza stood, patted Belleza one more time before turning back toward the Mayan man and picking up a saddle that was nearby. Yaxche's face was pensive, his hands clutched. "What is it, Yaxche?"

"I hate being in this position again. Under the thumb of a Spaniard, forced to betray my people."

Mendoza frowned as he . "You weren't given a choice, my friend. If a decision must be made to either save family or strangers, I know what my preference would be."

Yaxche looked at the navigator, his gaze darkening in anger. "Is it so easy for you? Of course, I want to protect those I love, my family and my village, but I cannot ignore the effects my actions will have on others."

"I isn't easy, but it is logical," Mendoza snapped in reply. He jerked the straps of the saddle tighter and Belleza snorted, giving him a reproachful look.

"Maybe for you and your kind," Yaxche replied flatly, "but I see no reason or logic in any of this." He turned to walk away, but stopped short in surprise. Mendoza turned quickly and saw Marina walking toward them. How long have she been there?

Marina appeared completely serene and moved to stand beside Mendoza, although her gaze was fixed on Yaxche. "My lord Cortez wishes you to accompany him during the attack." The young Indian nodded and walked back toward the command tent. Mendoza watched him until he disappeared. When he looked back to Marina, he found that she was watching him intently. "Be careful, Señor Mendoza. There is much danger ahead." He had only a moment to wonder to what her words were referring when she stepped up to him and kissed him lightly on the lips.

To surprised to speak or even to move, Mendoza stood dumbly while the Aztec woman walked away. The young navigator found that he was grinning broadly as he swung up into the saddle. Try as he might, he found that he could not stop smiling even when he had guided Belleza over to where Cortez's forces were forming up for the attack. All thoughts of the upcoming battle and Yaxche's plight were forgotten in favor of the soft lips and beautiful face of Doña Marina.

*****

Taking the small city proved to be far less problematic than had been expected. The European horsemen had descended upon the village so quickly that the warriors had little time to prepare and were no match for the speed of the foreigners and their guns.

Cortez set up his new headquarters in the hut of the village chief. The soldier's quickly organized and systematically stripped the town of all things that would be useful to Cortez's army. Mendoza found himself often in the company of the conquistador whose good humor had been improved to the point of complete amiableness. Yaxche, on the other hand, usually was to be found among the other prisoners, spending his time willingly talking to the other captives.

A week after the their entry into the village Cortez ordered his men to clean themselves up as best they could and to arrange themselves in the village plaza. Mendoza, throughly uncomfortable in his heavy armor under the noonday sun, found himself standing next to Marina on a makeshift dias where Cortez appeared to be ready to hold court. "What is going on, Marina?" Mendoza asked the Aztec lady.

"Lord Cortez has summoned a council of chieftains from the surrounding villages," Marina informed him, "in order to procure more supplies for the journey."

Ah that explains the elaborate showmanship, Mendoza thought as he watched a procession of litters that were entering the dusty plaza. The air was unnaturally still and full of tense watchfulness. The first litter was stopped by Cortez's soldiers and its occupants were forced to walk to the dias and bow before the new lord of the region. Cortez spoke little and it was left to Marina to obtain little the goods desired by the usual bargaining, promises, and threats of such dealings.

After a deal was reached, much in Cortez's favor, the chief was taken to one side of the platform and the next carriage was emptied of its riders. Two individuals stepped hesitantly toward Cortez's throne, but instead of smooth words of greeting from Marina there was a sharp intake of breath from Mendoza's side. He turned to see her stagger a bit and quickly grasped her arm to keep her from falling.

"Marina what is it?" Cortez asked sharply, turning to look at his interpreter in disbelief.

"She is my mother!" Marina managed to declare, though her voice was shaking badly.

Everyone who had heard this statement turned to stare at the chieftainess in amazement. Now that he looked at her properly, Mendoza could see a remarkable resemblance between the two women. He watched as the chieftain's expression changed from controlled anxiety to abject horror as she looked at Marina standing beside the Spanish lords.

"How is it that your mother is a ruler in this region when you were given to me as a slave in Vera Cruz?"

"She sold me to slave traders when I was a child," Marina stated, her voice somehow becoming steadier as she spoke. "She told the village that I had died in order for my half-brother to take my place as the cacica of the province my father had once ruled."

A rumble of disgust and condemnation rippled through the crowd of Spanish soldiers. Cortez's face became hard and unreadable as he looked from Marina to her mother. With a wave of his hand, he said, "I will leave this matter to you, Marina. You must decide what is to be done with them."

As Marina stepped from the dias the woman and the large man beside her, who was apparently her son, sank to their knees. The chieftainess began to babble incoherently, perhaps begging for forgiveness, but Marina's face was resolute as she stopped before her mother. Yet to the surprise of everyone in the plaza, she stooped and pulled the sobbing woman to her feet.

"It is alright, mother. I forgive you," Marina said, tears falling down her cheeks. "All is as it was meant to be." She pulled her mother into an embrace, both of them sobbing. "Even if they made me cacica of all the provinces of New Spain, I would not be one, since I have more to do in serving Cortez than all that there is in the world." As they broke apart, Marina began to pull off the jade jewelry she was wearing and gave it to her mother and her half-brother.

Bernal Diaz, who was standing close to the navigator wiped his eyes, saying, "It reminds me of the story of Joseph who was sold into Egypt and became the agent of providence."

Only Cortez seemed unmoved by this scene, and stood by with the shadow of doubt on his face. Mendoza wondered how he could be displeased with this turn of events which would undoubtedly prove to his advantage. It would not be long before he learned the answer.

*****

After the drama of the day, the night air felt strangely quiet as Mendoza made his way to Cortez's quarters. After meetings in the plaza, the conquistador had ordered the young navigator to secure a map of the region. And so Mendoza had spent the afternoon secluded with several locals, attempting to create the required guide.

The work had been proceeding well when a messenger arrived stating that Cortez wanted a report. Mendoza was annoyed at the interruption, but knew better than to ignore the summons. Leaving one of Cortez's men behind to supervise the work, the navigator walked slowly to the house Cortez had commandeered for his personal use. When one of the guards, stationed at the entrance of the hut had announced him, Mendoza stepped into the dimly lit room. He found the conquistador standing next to a small window, the light revealing a oddly pleased expression on his face.

"Ah, come in Mendoza," he said graciously and motioned for the young Spaniard to sit down in a chair facing the captain-generals desk. Mendoza complied and watched uneasily as Cortez poured wine for them both and sat down himself. "How goes the map quest?" Cortez asked as he took up his cup.

Mendoza began to relate his efforts to create the desired object, but the conquistador hardly seemed to be listening to him. "You should have the finished product in hand in a few days," he finished.

"Fine, fine..." Cortez replied, seemingly detached from the conversation. Mendoza fidgeted slightly in the following silence, unsure whether he should leave or not. Just as he was about to ask if there was anything else that he wanted, Cortez suddenly spoke again.

"That was an interesting spectacle this morning, was it not? Who would have guessed that Marina's mother would appear so unexpectedly."

"Yes, it was a surpr..."

"She is there now, you know," Cortez interrupted. "I insisted that she spend some time with her family and learn something of what is happening in this region." As he spoke, his words became more clipped and business like. "After all, by rights she should take up her birthright and rule this country."

"You mean to be rid of her," Mendoza said softly, hardly believing what he was hearing.

Cortez eyes darted to regard the navigator coldly, but there was a trace of amusement in his voice as he replied, "I will not simply abandon her, Señor. However, it is time to pursue my own interests back in Spain. Once this expedition is completed, I must secure from the King the title that he has withheld from me. I will be governor of this land, but I will need a wife who can aide me in this endeavor." His laugh rang harshly through the chamber. "I cannot court the noble ladies of Spain with Marina at my heels. Something must be done to tie her here," he finished jauntily.

"What do you propose to do, sir?"

Cortez laughed again. "An interesting choice of words, Mendoza. I intend to have just that happen. I will marry Marina to one of my soldiers." The navigator could not have been more surprised and sat speechless, staring at the conquistador. "Do not look so horrified, Señor," Cortez said eyeing him quizzically. "I thought you would be pleased as I have even considered giving her to you." Mendoza was completely astonished at this pronouncement, but apparently considerable emotion was playing across his face as Cortez looked at him as if he had gone mad. "I will not make any decisions tonight so perhaps you should return to the business of that map." Mendoza continued to sit and stare until Cortez said harshly, "That will be all, Señor!"

The young Spaniard jumped up, completely bewildered by the conversation to the point that he considered shaking the commander by the hand or hugging him. He settled on a awkward salute and quickly left the hut. His world had been turned upside down in an instant by this new possibility. He could marry Marina! In that moment he realized he would give up all of his plans, forget the Cities of Gold and the mysterious medallion for her.

Yet Cortez had made the suggestion almost as if it were a joke. He felt a wave of anger, of panic that stopped him in his tracks. The young Spaniard could not bear the thought of Marina being passed off to a man who did not know her, did not care for her. Quickly, his mind made up, he made his way to the area of the city where the "visiting dignitaries" were being held. Mendoza found Marina in a house talking rapidly with her mother and her very large half-brother.

"I am sorry to interrupt you, Marina," Mendoza said insistently, "but I must speak with you at once." Marina looked at him, clearly puzzled, but she excused herself and followed him out into the dark night.

When they had gone some distance, Marina stopped and asked curiously, "What do you want of me, Señor Mendoza?"

"Marina," he replied, taking her hands in his, "I know this will seem strange to ask this know, but believe me when I say I only want what is best for you." He paused, suddenly nervous, but he took a deep breath and continued in a rush, "Will you marry me, my lady Marina?"

The future of the young navigator will change forever in Chapter Nine of Mendoza's Story - An Execution and a Wedding.