Before the Conquest

Maya carried his son in his arms, though the child had already mastered the art of walking of the own. He selfishly did not want to let his precious baby grow up. Before long he knew that Mexica would be running and playing with other boys, then Aztec would put a spear in his hand and teach him how to use it. All those things would be glorious in their own rights, but he wanted to enjoy his son still being this small.

Mexica was holding onto him with both hands and Maya couldn't think of anything more comforting than the heat of the little body against him. They walked into the gardens and Mexica said, "Papa, are you gonna tell me about the sky people?"

Maya chuckled at his son's childish understanding of the divine. He corrected gently, "My dear son, they are more than people, they are the gods." Mexica nodded and cuddled more closely to his father. Maya wasn't certain how much Mexica understood, but he was young and he could always learn more as he grew up. It was enough that he loved the stories and listened attentively. The grandness of death and life that were dictated by the gods were not a part of his everyday, and there was no reason that it should concern him.

Once they reached the perfect spot, where they could see the sky. Then he sat, holding his son protectively. Then, he very slowly leaned back, making sure not to move so suddenly that it would be uncomfortable for little Mexica. Once he reclined, he looked down at his son, who was on his chest.

Once he was certain that they were both comfortable, Maya pointed to the sky and found the first recognizable constellation. It took him very little time since the night sky was very familiar to him, it dictated fates and he needed to know it. He pointed to a grouping of three stars in the sky and said, "Do you see that? That is the Heart of the Sky. You can see that there is a great snake there that circles continually."

He felt Mexica nod against his chest and he heard him say, "I see it."
Maya continued, "That dictates the cycles of the world. When the planets pass through those space through the coils of the snake, then the world starts anew."

As he spoke, he patted his son gently on the back. He wanted to express his love with the touches and the care with which he was trying to explain the heavens. He hoped that Mexica understood.

He moved his gaze further away from the center of the sky to a pair of constellations that carried a very interesting story. He thought it would be very entertaining for his young boy. He said, "Do you remember when I told you about the god who created the world and gave us maize? And how he was murdered?"
Mexica responded, his inquisitive golden eyes looking up at Maya, "Yes, Dada."

He was an attentive student for his age, and Maya suspected that he understood more than he said. When he got old enough, Maya already planned to teach him all the necessary skills to be an empire, and he hoped that the inquisitive nature would not fade.

He continued to speak, "Those are his sons, they are twins. They journeyed to the underworld and brought back their father."
Mexica said, his eyes fixed on his father, "I would do that for you, Dada," He said it with an absolute conviction that brought a smile to Maya's face.

Maya replied, "Would you?" Mexica's eyes were very serious when he said, "I would, because I love you, Dada."

The words brought happy tears to Maya's eyes, and he couldn't find the words to express how he felt except to pull his son into a hug and said, "I love you more than the world."