Converging Paths

Mexico City was hardly any quieter at twilight than during the day, or so it seemed to Esteban as he and Zia followed Hisoka through the streets. The group had left their hiding place shortly after the sun had set, carefully moving through the outlying districts of the city.

"Where are we going?" Esteban asked.

Their strange guide didn't answer for a few moments as if he was lost in thought. "We need to get to the waterfront," he said eventually. "I suspect the bridges will be carefully guarded and so we need to find another way to leave the island." He was quiet again and Esteban expected the silence to continue, but Hisoka soon asked, "Can you both swim?"

Zia looked at Esteban who replied, "We both can, but Zia would have a hard time making such a long crossing to the shore."

Hisoka nodded, murmuring, "That is just as well."

"What do you mean?" Zia queried.

"I mean that I would prefer to keep swimming to the shore as a last resort."

"What about your friend?"

Hisoka glanced at them quickly, saying, "If Anda was able to return, she would have done so by now." There was a hint of worry on his face, but he continued, "She will find a way to join us, I have no doubt of that."

"You there, stop!"

Esteban wheeled about to see Spanish guards rapidly making their way through the crowded alley. "We need to move," he yelled, grabbing Zia's hand and pulling her along after him.

"This way," Hisoka barked.

The trio ran recklessly through the streets and the people of the city watched in astonishment that gave way to amusement or anger as the fugitives pushed through their midst, knocking over piles of foodstuffs and pottery.

Suddenly, a horseman appeared in front of them. Esteban and Zia stopped in their tracks as the guard galloped toward them. Hisoka, however, pushed forward and the children tensed with horror, expecting the stranger to be trampled by the beast. At the last moment, however, Hisoka grabbed the reigns and swung up into the saddle, flipping the guardsman into a pile of very ripe red vegetables.

"Sorry about that," Hisoka called to the street seller as he spurred the horse forward toward the children. He pulled Zia up in front of him while Esteban swung up behind. "Hold on," Hisoka yelled as he spurred the horse toward the remaining guards. They scrambled to get out of the way as Hisoka expertly guided the beast through their ranks.

One guard who managed to keep his wits about him and raised his rifle to fire at the runaways, but Hisoka was too fast for him. With a quick shout of, "Stay down!" the stranger threw himself to one side of the beast. Esteban and Zia pressed themselves close to the horse as the bullet cut through the air above their heads. Esteban marveled at Hisoka's skill on horseback as the man hung off one side of the creature, only holding on with one hand while he scooped up a dark green vegetable with the other. He straightened back into the saddle with a quick motion and threw the green projectile at their assailant.

The guard had just grabbed the rifle away from one of his fellows and raised it to fire when the vegetable made contact squarely on his forehead. He fell back with green slime oozing down his face, and the children couldn't help but laugh at the sight as the horse dashed past. They had escaped once again.

Hisoka guided the horse on for sometime before stopping and helping the children down.

"Why don't we keep him?" Zia asked, patting the creature's side affectionately. "We would be able to make the journey to the ruined city far quicker if we were riding instead of walking."

Hisoka shook his head. "We would attract too much attention," he told them. "Only city leaders and wealthy conquistadors possess horses here. We need to go unnoticed if we are to escape."

The children watched as he slapped the horse's rump, sending the beast galloping away. Esteban looked around at their surroundings, a bit disorientated. "So where are we now," he asked.

Hisoka glanced around them and said, "Near the lake shore I would think."

Zia stepped closer to him and spoke. "If that is so then there must be boats nearby."

"We could use one to travel across the lake without being detected," Esteban put in smiling.

Hisoka nodded appreciatively. "Then let us see what we can find."

Near the city center, Mendoza gazed at the moon and tried to think of a plan of escape. It wasn't going to be easy as Cortés wasn't taking any chances. At least he has been delayed, Mendoza thought with satisfaction. The preparations to leave the city were taking longer than the conquistador had thought and it had been several hours since Mendoza had been imprisoned.

Heavy steel manacles bound Mendoza's hands and he was being guarded by two of the conquistador's personal watchmen. He was being held in a room for smoking various meats, which was near the stables adjoining the house. The area just outside was filled with people preparing Cortés's entourage. They would soon be leaving for the ruined city.

Mendoza sighed and tested the manacles again. It wasn't even a question of escaping at this moment. The quickest way for him to reach the ruins was to ride with Cortés and his men, but he needed to be able to get free at just the right moment. It was also possible that the Marquis would reach the city before the children. Esteban and Zia were very clever, which their escape had proved once again, but they had no Condor, no horses, and no one to help them. They had almost a full day's head start, but would it be enough?

Just outside the small room there was a sudden commotion. He looked up as the door opened and saw the young woman from earlier struggling with his guards. She had been taken away to be questioned just after they had been led from Cortés's study. It seemed that the guards had been unable to learn anything from her and they now led the woman to the smoke house to be held until their departure.

"...have no right to hold me. I will see the Marquis before the audencia for this!"

The guardsmen threw her roughly to the ground beside Mendoza. "Just keep quiet woman!" One of them threatened. "You can voice your complaints to the Marquis himself before long. You'll both be accompanying him and I would suggest that you be on your best behavior," he sneered. The woman looked at them with obvious contempt as she struggled to sit up with her hands bound behind her back. They both laughed and closed the door.

Mendoza helped her to get to her knees. "Are you alright?" he asked with concern, seeing a red welt on her cheek.

She smiled slightly. "Don't worry. Cortés's guards are gentlemen compared to some. And it was that woman, Marinche, who gave me this mark," she said darkly, seeing his eyes linger on the wound on her face. "She is very...persistent," the woman said coolly.

Mendoza sighed and closed his eyes. "You have no idea," he said tiredly.

The young woman looked at him carefully before continuing, "She was very eager to learn who I was and how I knew you, Mendoza."

He looked at her quickly. "How do you know my name?" he queried seriously. "I thought you seemed recognized me in the house, but do I know you?"

"Well enough, I would say," she replied lightly. "It is no wonder that you don't recognize me as the last time I saw you, you were walking away down the pier at Lisbon."

"Lisbon?" Mendoza repeated, confusion in his voice. Then with a start, it came to him. "Anda? You're Andeanna Camões?"

Her smile widened into a grin as she nodded. "I knew you would remember. It has been a long time, Señor Mendoza."

"But what are you doing here? Why are you involved in this, unless..." he trailed off for a moment then said, "Esteban?"

Anda nodded. "This has been a day of renewing old friendships."

Mendoza glanced at the door and then leaned closer, asking quietly, "Do you know where he is?"

"Not precisely." Anda shrugged. "By now they have moved on, but I do know where they are going to be."

"They are going to the ruined city?" She nodded. "But can they can reach the city before Cortés fills it with his personal army."

The young woman didn't seem worried by his concerns. "Hisoka will find a way," she assured him. "He always does."

Mendoza looked at her again with incredulity plain on his face, but that quickly faded to a half smile. "Hisoka? He is here as well?" She just smiled again. "So Hisoka is with Esteban and Zia. That changes things," he said, thinking quickly. "He will get them there somehow, but that still leaves us here in Cortés's tender care."

"Perhaps, perhaps not," Anda said. "Yet the only way to reach the city in time may be to stay with his entourage."

"And they have the medallion centers," Mendoza murmured thinking.

Anda looked at him with curiosity. "Medallion centers?" The navigator ignored this and she said carefully. "But even if we were free, we can't defeat Cortés and all of his men."

"We may not have too," Mendoza replied thoughtfully.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the only person in Mexico City who is more powerful then the Marquis is the Viceroy. If we could reach him, we might gain his aid. I've heard that he is an honorable man who cares more for the welfare of those under his authority than for gold." Mendoza looked back at her quickly and said earnestly, "Tell me the truth, Anda, can you free us?"

In response, Anda rolled onto her back and slipped her bound hands under her feet so that they were now in front of her. She then reached into her boot and pulled out a small knife. "I can get free, but I don't know about you," she said as she carefully cut through the ropes that bound her hands. "Those manacles look solidly made."

He shook his head. "Never mind me," he said seriously. "Go and tell the Viceroy what Cortés is about to do. I can only hope that he will believe you."

"And that I can catch him," Anda replied in a dry tone. "He said that he was leaving for the ruined city immediately and that was hours ago."

"I know," Mendoza said gravely, "but it is our only hope. He has no real cause to hurry so they may take the journey more slowly." He sighed and shook his head. "If only you had a horse."

"Oh, I'll find a way," Anda replied with a shrewd grin. She stood up regarding him with interest. "I think you may have more need of this than I will," she said soberly, slipping the blade into his boot. "Try not to die, Mendoza. I want to know the whole story about you and Esteban when we meet again."

"I could say the same thing to you," he replied wryly.

The young woman made a lithe jump and caught hold of the rafters. She swung up easily and made her way to the smoke hole and slipped out of the building. Hisoka has taught her a few things, Mendoza thought with a smile as he watched her go.

Cortés arrived shortly thereafter and was furious at the disappearance of Anda. "We will look for the woman, señor!" they assured the conquistador.

But Cortés replied, "Never mind her. We must leave the city as quickly as possible." He turned his angry eyes on Mendoza and snapped, "Bring him."

The guards were none too gentle as they unshackled the navigator from the wall and pulled him from the room. The yard in front of Cortés's house was filled with people, all of them loyal to the former governor.

Mendoza was dragged to one of the horses in the yard and told to get on. He complied without protest, even when his hands were bound again behind his back. He almost smiled when he saw that they used rope this time rather than steel. He didn't see how he was going to control the beast, but the reigns were handed to another horseman. He turned and saw that Gomez had taken up a place to his right while Gaspar was to his left. He gave each an ironic glance and said, "Good evening, gentlemen." Gomez ignored him and Gaspar let out a growl. "You are as marvelous conversationalists as ever I see," he noted drolly.

He then turned his attention to the front of the company and watched as Cortés mounted his horse at the head of the column of some twenty guards, Marina beside him. As they moved out, Mendoza could not help, but smile to himself at the situation. Things are working out better than I thought would have believed they could, he thought.

Esteban scanned the water ahead as the boat he, Zia, and Hisoka were in glided across the surface of the lake. At the back of the craft sat an Aztec merchant, who had agreed to ferry them across the lake in return for a jade amulet from Hisoka.

"The wind is with you, my friends," the merchant, Ehecatl, said as he paddled. "We should reach the bank well before the dawn."

Hisoka nodded, watching the small sail and then he spoke to the children. "You should both rest while you can. We will have to travel as quickly as possible when we reach the other side of the lake."

Esteban nodded and settled into the front of the boat.

Zia moved carefully to join him. "I hope Tao is safe," she whispered as she settled her head on his shoulder. Esteban could only nod in agreement, not trusting his voice as he was sure he was blushing very brightly at the moment.

Cortés's personal guard arrived at the docks long after midnight and it took sometime for the provisions and horses he would need to be loaded. He pushed his company mercilessly, anxious to set sail.

Mendoza stood between Gaspar and Gomez, who were again acting as his guards and preventing him from escaping. This suited the navigator's purposes for at some point he hoped to have a words with his captors.

He moved a bit closer to Gomez and in a low voice that only he would hear, Mendoza said smoothly, "It seems Marinche has switched allegiance." Gomez's eyes glanced at the navigator although he didn't move his head and said nothing.

Mendoza continued calmly, "You know Cortés, Gomez. There will be little to nothing left of the prize for his underlings. And for all that she says otherwise, do not look to Marinche for a reward. She learned the concept of greed from him and learned it well."

"And what of your treachery, Mendoza!" Gomez hissed venomously. "Every time I have trusted you, I have been met with betrayal. Why would this time be any different?"

"I am not asking for trust, only for you to do what is in your best interest. Swear to give the centers of the medallions back to Esteban and Zia, and I promise that you will be well rewarded for them."

Gomez made a scornful sound, but his face was impassive when Marinche glanced back at him curiously. When she turned away, the former Commander continued, "You hardly seem to be in a position to be making bargains or offering rewards, Mendoza. You may have taken gold from the city before its destruction, but I doubt you will be allowed to keep it when they find it." He inclined his head to Marinche and Cortés.

The navigator gave an almost imperceptible shrug, "As you wish, but my offer stands until I leave the company."

"I will believe that when I see it," Gomez retorted and he moved to climb on board the brigantine, leaving Gaspar to haul his old adversary on board.

Andeanna Camões rode quickly, following an old native road that ran toward the ruined city. She was an excellent rider having learned the skill from Hisoka yet even so, if the moon had not shone so brightly overhead, the going would have been dangerous for the beast. Anda still marveled at her luck as she guided the animal along.

Anda had watched gloomily from the rooftop of the house as Cortés and his men departed, wondering how in the world she would be able to catch up with the Viceroy. Her first impulse was to merely steal a horse as her words to Mendoza had suggested, but it would not be as easy as she had made it sound. Horses were one of the most valuable possessions one could have in the New World and they were carefully guarded. And, she had thought darkly, the punishment for horse theft is death

After the Marquis's entourage disappeared from sight, Anda was about to climb down from the house and make her attempt in spite of the dangers, when she noticed a young girl standing just outside the door of the house.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask," Anda said to herself with a humorless laugh. She climbed down quickly and then hurried to the entrance of the house. "Maria!" she called as she came into the light.

Maria jumped and then sighed with relief when she saw who it was. "Oh Señorita Anda, I am glad to see you."

"Maria, where are you?" a voice called from inside the house. Doña Juana appeared at the door and looked at Anda in surprise. "Why aren't you with Hernán, Señorita? I thought he said you were to travel with him along with that woman." Anger crept into her voice as she finished these words.

"No, my lady," Anda replied quickly, seizing this new opportunity. "But please, I must ask for your help to follow them. The woman, Marinche, will ruin your husband if she has the chance. She has told him lies that can only lead to some treachery against the Viceroy. There is no limit to her ambition!"

Doña Juana stared at the woman before her in stunned disbelief, but Maria came to Anda's defense. "Please, Doña Juana. I think she is telling the truth."

Cortés's wife stared at them hesitantly, but she obviously believed Marinche capable of anything. "How can you help him?" she asked with a heavy sigh.

"I need to warn him quickly, my lady," Anda continued, but she was cut off by Doña Juana exclamation of "But you're a woman! How will you do this?"

Andeanna suppressed a sigh and said, "I can ride very well, Señora. I will be able to catch up with them."

Doña Juana seemed resigned, replying, "Very well. Come with me." She had led Anda to the stables and showed her a magnificent horse. Maria disappeared as the two women prepared the creature for its journey. "Hermosa is her name and she belongs to me," Doña Juana replied proudly to a question from Anda, as she helped her saddle the animal. "Please make sure that you return her to me in good condition, Señorita."

Anda smiled reassuringly as she swung into the saddle. "Of course, my lady. I will take good care of her." She was about to urge the horse forward when the voice of Maria called, "Please wait!" Anda glanced toward the house and saw the girl running toward them with something clutched in her hands.

Maria stopped beside them and held out a sheathed sword to Anda. "This belongs to that man father took with him. He is a friend of Esteban's and Zia's?" Anda nodded. "Then take it and be careful."

Doña Juana looked at Maria curiously then shifted her gaze back to Andeanna. "Meet me at the front of the house," she told her. "I also have something to give you."

Although she had wanted nothing more than to hurry on as quickly as possible, Anda had done as Lady Cortés had asked and was now very grateful for it. For the Señora had given her a message to give to any guards who might attempt to stop her, thinking she had stolen the horse. The paper had gotten Anda past the guards on the bridges and out onto the road she now traveled. And as the night wore on, she could only hope that she was not too far behind the Viceroy's company.

Tao stood on top of the largest temple of the ruins, scanning the distance in the direction of Mexico City. The sun was rising in the east, slowly warming the earth and stone under the boy's feet.

He glanced to where he had landed the Condor in the wide central avenue of the city the day before and could just make out the two dots that were Pedro and Sancho. The pair had stubbornly refused to come and help him keep watch even when Tao had reminded them that there could be Spanish soldiers lurking in the ruined buildings.

Tao sighed tiredly. He hadn't slept very much the previous night, worrying about all the things that could go wrong with Mendoza's plan. Still, all he could do was wait and watch for a sign.

His vigil stretched into the late morning, but he did not cease watching for his friends. Suddenly, from below he heard frantic shouting. His heart leapt into his throat. No! he thought frantically. Don't let it be soldiers.

Tao turned his head immediately to gaze at the Condor. He could see the shapes of Sancho and Pedro, but what had caused their excitement? He squinted and gasped. Could it possibly be?

He had turned to run down the temple stairs, but his attention was brought back to the open plain by a flash of light. He looked back and stared. "This day just keeps getting better," he said aloud, not sure whether he should laugh or groan. Tao ran down the stairs of the temple, nearly falling several times. He met Kokapedl halfway down, but he ignored the bird in his haste to reach the bottom.

The Hevan boy let out a joyous whoop as two familiar figures came into view. "Esteban! Zia!" he called and he could hear their excited voices shouting to him as they ran to join him. They reached him just as he cleared the last steps of the temple with a leap.

"How? When? What happened!" Tao could not contain his questions as the three friends caught each other in a tight embrace.

Esteban laughed as he took a step back and replied, "We could ask you the same questions. How did you get out of the temple?"

"Yes," Zia said, finally pulling away and wiping tears from her eyes. "I was so afraid I had trapped you in the temple. I'm so sorry!"

Tao smiled and shook his head. "Don't worry, Zia. The temples are connected by a system of underground tunnels and I found my way out. I saw Spanish soldiers in the city and assumed you had been captured."

"We were," Esteban confirmed, "but Anda and Hisoka helped us escape."

"Who?" Tao asked confused. He looked to where Esteban gestured and saw a man he had never laid eyes on before leaning back to gaze up in amazement at the Condor. Sancho and Pedro stood nearby, frowning at him as if daring the newcomer to touch it.

"He's a friend of Mendoza's."

"He didn't mention having any friends in Mexico City," Tao said in a suspicious, low voice.

"That is because he doesn't know that we are here," Hisoka said, turning away from the great bird to smile at the children. "Where is Mendoza?" he asked Tao.

"I...I think he is coming now," Tao replied carefully. "But we thought he would have to rescue Zia and Esteban. I don't know if the plan we worked out is still feasible."

"What plan?" Esteban asked, looking concerned.

"I will tell you on the way," Tao said anxiously, pulling the other boy toward the Condor. "I'm glad you will be the one flying and not me."

Esteban looked confused and then pleased as Tao gave him the key to the Condor.

"Zia," Tao called as Esteban settled into the pilot's seat. "Take everyone to the Temple of the Winged Serpent. We will meet you there as soon as we can."

Zia also looked perplexed, but nodded as Esteban placed the golden disk into its place and the Condor's head rose, preparing for take off.

"Let's go," Tao said and Esteban pulled back on the controls. The Golden Condor lifted off and Tao directed his friend to fly towards the lake. "I just hope that Mendoza has managed to make the rest of the plan come off, even with you and Zia gone." Esteban looked at him, thoroughly bewildered. "I will explain while you fly," the Hevan boy assured him.

Mendoza sat on the back of a horse riding at full speed toward the ruined city Marinche had called Teotihuacan. Cortés had ordered them to ride as soon as his ship reached the lake shore closest to the city. The navigator had had to ride with his hands tied behind his back with his horse being controlled by Gomez. He was not quite sure whether this was a good thing or not as the former Commander had given no sign that he would side with Mendoza when the moment came. Yet the navigator had no choice but to plan that he would in the end. It was about an hour after sunrise when the first cry of amazement and terror came from Cortés's guards. Mendoza looked up in the sky and couldn't help but smile delightedly at the sight that met his eyes.

"It's a demon, a monster!" panicked voices were saying around him as the bright object dived towards the entourage.

The navigator watched as the Condor soared over the heads of the men and heard his own horse give a whiny of panic. Just as Gomez seemed about to lost his grip on Mendoza's horse, the navigator slid to the ground. Mendoza's horse bolted and many of its fellows did likewise. Several of the company had been thrown by their mounts, including Gaspar and Marinche.

The Marquis and Gomez struggled to keep their beasts under control. But even they were unable to prevent their terrified animals from fleeing as the Condor dived again, coming in practically on top of them.

Mendoza managed to pull the dagger Anda had given him from his belt and cut through the ropes with a silent thanks to the young woman. As the Condor came around for a third time Mendoza thought with amusement, Either Tao has became a much better pilot over night of that is not him behind the controls. He watched as the machine made a precise touchdown and he was on his feet in a heartbeat, sprinting towards the Condor's head.

"Stop him," came a strangled cry. Marinche was still on the ground, but shouted furiously at Cortés's guards.

He laughed and then called, "The time has come, Commander!" Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that Gomez had managed to pull his horse around and was thundering toward the great bird.

Gaspar looked up dazedly as the navigator passed him. "Mendoza!" he yelled angrily. "Come back here!" And he too began to run towards the Condor.

Mendoza looked up to the command chair and saw to his joy that it was indeed Esteban at the controls.

Cortés had also managed to regain control of his horse by this time and screamed, "Draw your weapons men!" Mendoza heard him call. "Open fire!"

"Get down," the navigator call to Tao and Esteban as he reached the beak of the golden bird. He, himself, just managed to duck behind it when the crack of several rifles cut the air.

Mendoza looked back around and saw Cortés's men futilely trying to reload their weapons. The Marquis's own weapon was drawn although none of the bullets from him or his men seemed to have found their target. Gaspar was once again picking himself up off the ground, apparently having followed Mendoza's order as well or perhaps he had merely tripped. Gomez was a little farther back, still riding hard for the Condor. The navigator whipped around the beak and climbed into the flying machine with Gaspar close on his heels.

Esteban looked non to pleased about Gaspar climbing into his precious Condor, but made no comment. The navigator took the seat to Esteban's left as Tao was on his right and jerked a thumb toward the bench behind him, saying to Gaspar shortly, "Back there."

As he looked back, he saw that Gomez had also now reached the Condor and dismounted from his horse. Yet he turned back as a voice called his name. The former Commander looked back to Marinche who had yelled to him, but he saw that she had not moved from where she had fallen.

"Leave now," she spat, her face twisted in anger, "and I will see to it that you have nothing."

Gomez looked pale as he gazed at her, but then favored her with an ironic bow. "My lady," he said wryly, before turning to climb carefully into the Condor. Tao glanced at him critically as he took his seat next to Gaspar, but also said nothing.

Esteban pulled back on the controls and the Condor lifted into the sky.

Marinche watched bitterly as the bird flew back toward the ruined city. A horse stopped by her side and she heard Cortés swear vehemently.

"I thought you might have taken leave of your senses, my dear Marina," he said, his voice filled with wonder, "when you told about that flying bird. Who could have imagined that such things could exist?"

"Now is not the time to consider this mystery," Marinche replied, rising shakily to her feet. "We must hurry on to the city." She looked toward the sky and smiled vengefully. "They will not leave before discovering the secret of the Serpent temple. We must capture them there, Hernán," Marinche insisted, taking hold of the conquistador's arm. "With the power of the Golden Condor and the wealth of the cities of gold, your authority would be unquestioned in all of New Spain." He looked at her with interest. His desire for more power was evident and she leaned close to him whispering, "With such strength you would not need the approval of anyone to command this land. Not the Viceroy, not even the king."

Cortés looked at her sharply. "Do you know what you are suggesting, Marina?" he asked, his voice tight, his face inscrutable.

"Yes," she breathed, ignoring the pain her body felt. "And I will always stand beside you, my lord."

"You speak treason, my dear Marina." The conquistador turned away yet he quickly called for his men. "Hurry, you dolts!" he shrieked. "Gather the horses so we can continue!"

Marinche smiled darkly at his words. She knew him too well.