36th time

II

--Did you have sex with that boy??," --Altulay suddenly asked Xixata, as they stood on the main terrace of the moon temple, separated by two cups of cayenne tea.

Xixata looked at her mother and kept silent, as she took a sip of the soothing brew. Then she continued to gaze into the distance.

--Xixata, you crazy head,"-- said the queen with a sigh--, "You can only marry this young man and if not you will have to remain a prisoner here for the rest of your life.

--To complicate matters, your lord and grandfather has developed a sudden interest in you and wants you in Cuzco.

--I will not go,"-- said the young woman calmly, without changing her attitude.

--You will go. Of course you will. You cannot disobey a design of my father's and our father's father. He is quite capable of razing the kingdom to the ground if he is not pleased. More so now that he is older, more obstinate and stubborn than ever.

--He wants to marry me off to a third-rate prince," --the girl exclaimed reproachfully, deciding to look at her mother's face. To her surprise, she did not look reproachful, but rather pitiful for her daughter, more a victim than any other of the tragedy of being a princess.

--Not anymore. He only wants you to be in the palace, I had to tell your father Saba Tamac and he accepted. Your sacred grandfather is waiting for you. You will leave after the farewells. Then I will arrange things to start the wedding preparations between you and Son of the Condor. That I promise you.

--If my sacred grandfather our our tercia in the question?-- the young woman asked frightened.

--That's why you had to take care of yourself,"-- said Altulay for the first time.

--The gods know perfectly well that we did not look for it. It happened, we lost our heads and did not respect the limits..... We had already been in love for a long time.

---Tanda. Does he know about this?

--He knows we are in love. The rest is assumed," ---Xixata said tiredly.

Altulay looked at his eldest daughter. She wished she had the strength to slap her and drag her away. But she didn't. Something inside her told her that the young girl was living a hell, complicated by her grandfather's whims.

--Xixata. Our laws are strange. The most desirable thing is that you have children after marriage and that a kingdom vouch for you. But if a man takes from You all before the auspicious day, then none of that we desire; for all that matters is the honor of the princess, and that is paid for by death.

--He has tried to tell my father,--" explained the moist eyes of the princess.

--He prays to all the gods to intervene and he can't do it.

There is always something that prevents it. The war, the escape of the Caribs, all the things,"-- finished the young woman with serene desperation,--- "help me mother and our mother; we love each other very much and we want to get married.

--Here marriages are matters of state, not of love; but I'll see how I turn your father and... your great lord and grandfather to arrange it. If not, it's fate in its strings and you can't fight it....

The woman prepared to leave and Xixata silently waved goodbye. Destiny. The paths of life. The designs of the stars that forced everything. A tear rolled down the girl's cheeks...