A.N: Sorry for going AWAL, I hurt my back at work and had to rest up for a while. This includes not sitting on my bed while typing up stories ahaha. I will have to take a hiatus after this update all the way till the end of May for other reasons, BUT here is an update for your patience and understanding.
Chapter 9: Wayal
The Maruvian's settlement was not what Esteban expected. Maybe some homes here and there on a hillside. But he didn't expect a thriving town in a small valley between two mountains.
"It's a lot grander in daylight, am I right?" Mazateikautl said with a wink. "Come on, we'll give you a tour."
"A Tour? Wait!" Esteban called out as the Maruvians began making their way down the slope towards the valley. "But I'm supposed to meet with the Itz'at."
"We got to cross through the city to get to him so on our way we'll show you around."
Esteban looked at the sun guessing it was well past noon. He didn't want to be out here too long considering Ash would have figured out by now that he had left Las Garras. But then again, when would he get another chance to see this place? Esteban followed the men down, leaving the steep mountain range behind them.
Once on flat ground, they had to pass through a grove of trema and other trees before it gave way to an aqueduct. Esteban looked down at the long, narrow, two-meter deep canal below as they crossed over it on a small stone bridge. That's when Ikikunari spread his arms out wide and almost yelled, "Welcome to Wayal, Place of the Nagual."
They were first greeted by a neighborhood made up of ten homes on either side of a wide dirt path they walked on. The limestone dwellings with thatched roofs were no bigger than the average room and built on an organized grid to face the path. Each home was surrounded by waist-high walls to give residents room to decorate the front of their house and have an outdoor clay oven under the protection of a thatched roof or woven tarp.
Esteban would have asked what the extra small room with a cylindrical structure attached to each home was all about, but Mazateikault was already beginning to speak. "The Common Homes house a majority of us, mostly families who've come to seek shelter after living outside."
"Living outside where?" Esteban asked.
"Outside of Wayel is what we mean."
"You see," Jun Ja' began, "There was a time that Naguals thought it was safer to hide from Malvagos by not practicing our traditions and blending into your society. But after many decades, we realized we had lost so much of our culture by doing so. So about 150 years ago, this sanctuary was created to give us freedom to be Maruvian." And indeed, as the four men passed by each dwelling, Esteban saw Maruvians occupied with daily tasks in a way he hadn't seen before.
Some homes had women laughing together as they created colorful textiles from looms attached from a strap on their waist to a wooden pole. Teenagers carried around goods like food and supplies in bundles of cloth that hung down their back and were tied in a knot around their forehead. A man with a handmade broom was sweeping the dirt away from the steps to his house as a woman kneeled in front of her clay oven to get a fire started.
Then Ikikunari added, "Well it's not completely traditional. The treadle looms your people invented are quite popular here." He nudged Esteban by the elbow then pointed to a house where said wooden contraption was being used by a man to weave a carpet. "And funny enough, bits of our culture did blend into yours."
As if on cue, fewer homes farther down the path made it easy for Esteban to look to the right and catch a glimpse of a familiar ball court in the distance. "Like Ollaball, yes?" Esteban asked with a smile as he pointed to the stadium.
"Oh, yes, that's a good example of one of our inventions," Mazateikautl answered, "But its real name is Ollamalitzli. Are you a fan?"
Esteban responded excitedly, "Are you kidding? It's the most anticipated event at our Peace Festival every year." As soon as he said it, Esteban's excitement was washed away by the thought that he probably wouldn't have the chance to see the game this coming year.
But then Ikikunari yelled, "Huey! You're more than welcome to come to see our next game." It was enough to bring a smile back to Esteban's face. "It gets crazy at the court."
As the group made their way to a line of trees that marked the end of the neighborhood, Mazateikautl smirked and pointed ahead, "Oh, but does it get as crazy as the Marketplace?" Esteban looked up past the trees.
Though the Villa Mercado back in Avalor City was bigger with its indoor shops, this small open air Marketplace was just as busy as any city center. Three vendors were organized to one of six different rows so that each had room to display merchandise on wide straw mats and under overhanging colorful woven tarps. There was so much to buy from different styles of pottery and textiles to a vast array of food and spices.
It gave a chance for Esteban to see that even the crowds that came to buy were just as diverse. Many wore layers of colorful clothing, and others wore simple-colored garments. Some were young, walking between rows with their friends and chatting up a storm or laughing at each other's jokes. Some were older, sometimes stopping by vendors to negotiate what they had in hand or to exchange simple greetings.
"Yeah, almost everyone comes down here on a daily basis," Jun Ja' explained.
"Which makes for some great crowds," Ikikunari said sarcastically as they had to push their way past people. But as the four men walked through the crowd, it was obvious that more than just light conversation was going on now. Maruvians stopped what they were doing to glare at Esteban, often exchanging harsh whispers with their friends. Esteban kept his head high but his eyes shifted around expecting someone to take a step forward and stop him. But Mazateikautl had stayed close by so that he could leaned over and say. "Some still think you're Malvago, but ignore them. It's all Milpa talk anyway."
"Milpa talk?" Esteban repeated, "Is that what gossip means around here?"
"Sort of. Gossip comes from anywhere. But it mostly happens while working out at the crop field over there which we call the Millpa." Mazateikautl pointed to the far right and past the Marketplace. "But don't worry. They'll be talking about something else in an hour anyway." Esteban gave a half hearted smile, but he knew Mazateikautl wasn't blind. The glares were not only directed at the human man but also the three naguals with him. And yet these men, the Xi'paals as they called themselves, didn't seem bothered by the association.
Once at the other end of the busy forum, Esteban realized that they had made it to the other end of the valley and thus at the foot of the other mountain. Unlike the steep and rocky one they left behind, this mountain range had low slope for a luscious forest to grow. But that wasn't what left Esteban gaping. The lowest part of the mountain range right in front of them had been modified with layered stone terraces and steps leading up to each one. "Incredible."
The group walked by a few more vendors on the first terrace before they got to the second one where more homes were built. Ikikunari explained, "These are the Noble Homes. Families up here have been around since Wayal was founded." Esteban nodded as he noticed that unlike the Common Homes down in the valley, the Noble Homes had either stone red corbeled roofs, a thatched awning outside the door, or an extra room.
On the third terrace, laughter made Esteban look to the far left. There was a large rectangular building set on two platforms and the top half painted blue with red motifs. He spotted children running out of the five different entrances towards adults waiting outside or to play around a nearby ceiba tree. Jun Ja explained, "Every kid in this city comes here to learn the Maruvian way of life at the Telpochcalli."
The group had to stop when two children suddenly ran by them. A little boy in a loincloth stopped for a moment to stare at Esteban wide-eyed before an older girl in a mustard yellow dress pulled him away out of fear. "Don't worry, it's not you," Ikikunari assured Esteban as they continued onwards up the steps to the next terrace. "Some in the Council think it's not necessary for the school to teach about humans and what life is like outside Wayal. A dumb idea if you ask me-"
"Shh- Not in front of the Council Homes," Mazateikautl hissed as he looked at the few houses that made up the fourth terrace. Like the Noble Homes, they had more features to them, though these were much bigger and there was even another crop field to the far right of the terrace. But the three men turned left, Esteban following behind them to another staircase.
When they got to the fifth terrace, Esteban realized he was at the foot of the platform of a familiar building. "This is where I met the Itz'at," he said. In daylight, Esteban could now see the details he didn't catch before such as the top painted green with yellow glyphs. The building even had a second floor with two separate rooms. Esteban asked, "Is this where I'm to meet with him?"
"Nah, the House of Council is for meetings and boring stuff like that," Ikikunari answered. "You're taking lessons, so most likely he wants you at his place." The group made a right, past another Council Home, before they got to the other end of the fifth terrace. That's when Ikikunari and Jun Ja' suddenly stopped.
Esteban looked back at them confused, but Mazateikautl turned around to face them with arms crossed. "Come on, you two, how many times do I have to remind you Biso doesn't mind if you follow me up?"
Jun Ja' and Ikikunari looked at each other before looking at Mazateikautl sympathetically. Ikikunari said, "Look, ikniutli, we love you but… not that much." Then the two began to snicker.
This made Mazateikautl snort and put his hands to his hips. "You're such a…." his last words were inaudible but then he raised his voice again to say, "All right, I'll see you in a bit."
"Counting on it," Ikikunari yelled before waving to Esteban, "See you around, Xirafatl." Jun Ja' waved goodbye as well before the two walked away.
"Why do they not want to follow us up?" Esteban asked.
"Eh, tradition," Mazateikautl sighed with a roll of his eyes. "No one goes to a house of the highest ranking member in society unless on business, on invitation, or on emergency." The two men began to hike up a small grassy slope to the last couple of terraces. The house there were bigger than any other dwelling in this hidden town with two structures on the far right of each terrace completely painted red with green motifs. Their corbelled roofs matched the stone awning attached to give shade to their clay oven. "Yep," Mazateikautl continued, "Not even the Council is brave enough to come here to the Itz'at Family Homes unannounced."
Hearing this made Esteban stop at the last terrace and look back. Not only did he have an amazing view of Wayal, but now he saw it as more than just a simple town. It wasn't as big as Avalor City, but the Maruvian settlement was just like the city with its people running errands at the market, going to school, and talking with neighbors. They even had a Council. So if the Royal family were the highest-ranking members in Avalor… that would mean… "Is the Itz'at your King?"
Mazateikautl blinked once before he began to laugh. Holding his stomach as if it hurt, he said between laughs, "I knew it! The guys should have stayed to hear this?" After he was done laughing, the deer man gave a long sigh and said, "No. He's not. The Royal Family disappeared with Maru long ago. The best to describe the Itz'at's role would be like that of your Royal Wizard with some additional authority. With no royal bloodline to lead us, the Itz'at was our only hope."
Esteban looked down at the ground, puzzled. He couldn't imagine a wizard like Mateo de Alva leading Avalor. "But a wizard? And why the Itz'at? Aren't you all Naguals? It means shapeshifting wizards, right?"
Mazateikautl nodded. "But in Maru, Royal Wizards were almost as powerful as Kings, with Naguals as their assistants. It was the Itz'at's Family who held on to much of the ancient practices, from the oldest forms of magic to the roots of our culture. So by default, we look to them for guidance. It's the closest way we can practice our traditions. Especially in places like Wayal."
"Why Wayal?"
"Well for starters, Wayal isn't its original name." Mazateikautl had Esteban follow him to the left of the terrace. There, a rectangular building stood alone. Big enough for three rooms and completely painted red with green motifs like the other nearby homes. Except the entire front wall exhibited a masterpiece carved out of its stone surface. Five corn stocks painted aqua green with all sorts of animals depicted flying, swimming, or walking around them. Esteban and Mazateikautl stopped at a relief that had been separated by a door from the rest of the main piece. A red serpent with aqua green feathers rising out of sea blue flames and smoke.
Mazateikautl continued, "This building, the Telpochalli, the ball court, and even the terraces we stand on are all that's left of an Old Maruvian City." Wait, they were standing on ancient ground? Esteban then looked down at the flooring of the terrace. Parts of the smooth surface were cracked, with blocks of volcanic stone visible and even grass growing between crevices. Almost like any archeological Maruvian site. "We keep this ancient place together with what we have. We honor our history and this place through tradition. We keep them close the only way we know how to. By practicing them." Mazateikautl finished with a longing in his tone.
A sudden, hearty chuckle made both men look up. Mazateikautl smiled, but Esteban stepped back when he saw an old jaguar. Its shoulder and hip bones were almost visible below its matted fur as it sat comfortably on the rooftop. The grey fur of its muzzle made the long hairs on its chin almost look like it had a small beard. "My boy, you're starting to sound like an elder," he said in a familiar voice.
"Oh, no!" Mazateikautl said with a wave of his hands. "That's the last thing I want to hear. Besides, I was just finishing up giving the newest member of the Xi'paals a heads up of what's to come by." He patted Esteban in the back which made the older man look at him with a raised eyebrow. When did Esteban get initiated to the deer man's friend group?
The old Jaguar continued, "Well, I can take it from here. You have work to do."
Mazateikautl put a fisted hand over his chest and one foot forward before he bowed. Then he left Esteban with a smile and wave. Esteban watched the man go back down the steps towards the valley, so it was easy for the jaguar to make him jump as the old animal landed next to him. "It's good to see you return, Esteban."
That was enough for Esteban to finally figure out who this was. "Itz'at?"
"I am he. Now come, let's begin your lessons."
A.N: YEP! That was a lot. Which is another reason this chapter took a bit long. I'm glad I can at least introduce you to the Nagual's hidden city before the story goes to hiatus. And give you some...
Fun Facts!
Wayal: Many Maya city names end in 'al' often meaning "place of". So I put it together with the other word for Nagual "way". The city planning and terracing technique takes inspiration from the site of Teotenango in the Valley of Toluca which was first developed by the Otomi people.
Structures: The Common Homes are like any commoner's house in Mesoamerica. Noble, Council, and some of the Itz'at Family Homes take inspiration from apartment complexes of high-ranking members in the Maya city of Calakmul. The School takes inspiration from the architecture of the Maya city of Uxmal. The House of Council takes inspiration from the Codex Florentines depiction of a Ruler's Palace where the Council gathered.
Different Loom: The waist strap loom was commonly used in Mesoamerica before the Spanish arrived and introduced the treadle loom
Ollamalitzli: The Nahuatl word for the famous Mesoamerican ball game but commonly known as Ulama. Said to have been invented by the gods, this game was played on religious holidays or to settle disputes. Today, the game is gaining popularity again as a sport.
Telpochcalli: Translates to "The Youth House" in Nahuatl and was attended only by children of Commoners. The Mexica (Aztecs) divided commoner and noble children's education, with children of nobles attending the Calcamac.
Political structure and law: In much of Mesoamerica, Royalty came first since their lineage was believed to have some divinity like the gods. They still had to share some duties with a Council who were the ones who invoked the law. Priests (Wizards) were just as important since they determined important festival dates and were said to communicate with the gods.
See you all at the end of the May. I'm KikaKatTIOI, peace out!