Chapter 8 Chapter VII

It has been almost a year since the funeral procession accompanied the mummy of King Vanya Capac from the northern capital of Quito on the long journey to Cuzco's Coricancha temple.In the first ten days of Antiremi, the team finally arrived at Dumen Bangba, another big northern city.Because of the mild climate, the only king in the past, Wanya Capak, liked to live here with his queen and concubines. Domenbamba is only the capital of a province, but officials in the north sometimes nickname it "another Cusco" because the street arrangement and architecture are similar to Cusco.

The square courtyards around the central square of the Temple of the Sun are lined with high walls, forming straight streets, and the streets often intersect vertically, and well-maintained irrigation canals extend in all directions.The palace of the princes occupies a large area of ​​holy land, not only has a vast open space, but also the buildings on it are much more beautiful than ordinary houses. The stone walls in the palace stand tall and the masonry is perfect. There are many buildings. For example, many side rooms are built around the carefully maintained inner courtyard, and there are royal gardens full of flowers and vegetable gardens for planting valuable fruits and vegetables.In the beautiful stone fountain, the spring water sent by the hidden canal continues all year round.

Servants worked in groups of ten to count and keep watch over the granaries and storerooms where the wool, colorful cotton, china, rugs, and cloth were toiled, each item painstakingly produced by artisans and farmers especially for the Incas. However, since the mummy of the only king, Wanya Capac, was moved here, the whole city was filled with tents, and even the palace could not hold all the royal relatives.From this day onwards, in order to celebrate the coming of age ceremony - Valaqi Valley, all the princes celebrated in the city, singing and dancing every day, holding ceremonies of all sizes, drinking libations for everyone, and feasting with dishes at any time.

After a lengthy and severe test, the boys are finally crowned adults.The most outstanding ones were even praised as warriors in the world by the people and the ancestors of the underworld.The last remaining test, the long-distance race, will select future warriors and high priests, and those who fail should be willingly reduced to servants of the Empire. In short, only those who persevere to the end and pass the test can accept the ceremony of ear piercing with gold needles and wear the first prince earrings.These are wooden earrings, but they can be replaced with more expensive gold earrings later...

In accordance with Vera Omar's orders, Anna Maya did not leave the golden statue of her twin brother for a moment, despite the changes around her. No one dared to make fun of her and her blue eyes ever since.The royal relatives of the northern tribes, like the nobles of Cuzco, responded carefully to her every move.Everyone expects that she will remember the last words of the one and only King, or that the King will appear through her to approve or reject Huascal's nomination. Over the past few months, under these conditions, Kamakenkoya's image has changed considerably.Anna Maya learned to be dignified and self-restraining, no longer avoiding the curious eyes of others and the groveling of court ladies.She gradually got used to the lengthy morning and evening worship, quarrels among priests, endless celebrations, etc...

Her physiology also changed.This morning, when she put on the muslin gown, she noticed that her legs had grown longer again, and her hips had become more rounded and high.Day after day, the figure that was still a little girl gradually disappeared, replaced by a woman's body; her psychology and thoughts have also matured a lot, she is no longer afraid of loneliness, and she does not often shed tears. The dwarf followed the funeral procession all the way from Quito, but they never had a chance to talk.Occasionally, when the two looked at each other in the crowd, she knew that he still existed, and she felt much more at ease...

She has long been used to Andi Panla's unpredictable personality. Sometimes she is as kind and pleasant as a sister, and sometimes she is as lethal as a catapult! Those nights spent with Prince Atahualpa transformed Princess Antipanla into a real woman, but on the contrary, her headstrong personality did not change.She was stunningly beautiful, flawless enough to be an Inca woman.She is plump, curvaceous, exquisite, with a round face, full forehead, high nose bridge, and lips like an eagle with wings spread.After arriving at Dumen Bangba, she became even more radiant under the adoring eyes of the young men.

There were times when Anna Maya wished she was her, as beautiful as her, as carefree, arrogant and half-hearted... Sometimes, she begged Andy to let her keep her original appearance! But today is a big day, the day of the Wallach Valley.For the first time, Anna Maya, like the other girls, will accept this trick set by Anti Panla.It was the latter who urged Atahualpa, assisted by the elders, to ask her to join the ranks of the virgins in cheering on one of the contestants.So she'll be rooting for the competitor and cheering him on during this intense day of racing. In fact, as of tonight, Ana Maya was still in high spirits.It's a pity that Antti Panla ruined this happiness.

A few mornings ago, when Anti Panla explained the rules of the next few ceremonies to her, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she stretched out her index finger to point to the several steep slopes and mountain passes on the city gate. "This race will be the toughest test, and only true warriors will be able to make it to the end! Those who reach the finish line first will be chosen as the best warriors! They will have to overcome the cold, rain, mountains and fear. They can only eat a few raw corn kernels, nothing else. They may be too tired to walk, but they must persevere anyway..."

"But they've been fasting since a week ago," said Annamaya, "they can't run that long!" "Yes, that's exactly it. They have to run through three mountain passes, forget their tiredness, and hand themselves over to Andi..." "But what if they can't?" A fierce light flashed in Antti Panla's eyes. "Then they will lose everything and shame their clansmen. So as long as there is still a breath left, they will throw themselves into the ditch and die, or run until they die!" Faced with Anti Panla's cruel laughter, Ana Maya was dumbfounded.But what Anti Panla said was right, and Anna Maya knew it well: this was the law and rules of the Four Square Empire.People will always face challenges and competitions, otherwise they will not be able to get happiness in the underworld.

Princess Antti Panla pondered for a while and continued: "This year, the boys from the Cusco Tribe won't be able to win, but this only deepens their desire to win. Alas, I can't help the boys from the tribe, because I'm no longer a virgin. But you, you can!" "You think I can?" "I'll beg him for you..." "No, it's impossible! Then what about the twin brothers? Vera Omar never allows me to leave him, even if it's just for a day!" "Yes, maybe!" insisted Antti Panla. "And you don't really leave him, because he can supervise the game from the altar of the temple. He will watch you, you just wait and see!" After accepting this statement, Anti Panla smiled generously and put his arms around Anna Maya and said: "Be confident. Atahualpa will take it! I know how to prescribe the right medicine..." She finally agreed. Late the night before, she had woken Anna Maya up and said to her: "Anamaya! Anamaya! Prince Atahualpa agrees! You can go with Guyapa!" "Who is he?" "My uncle's son is also the most heroic person in our clan... and he is very handsome, you will find out when you go!" Anamaya hugged her happily and rested her head on her forehead.But after the laughter, Anti Panla suddenly said seriously: "In order to repay the benefits I have obtained for you, you have to promise me one thing..." Anna Maya replied innocently, without thinking: "Everything you ask for." "Don't let Manco or his brother Paolo win the game." Anna Maya suddenly felt cold all over her body.She let go of Anti Panla, and instinctively stepped back. "Why?" she protested quietly. "I don't know more about them than Guapardo!" "Ah, Ana Maya! Don't be stupid! Sometimes you are so stupid. Guapa is from our family, but Manco and Paulo are subordinates of that madman Huascar from Cuzco!" "Anti Panra! You know that Prince Atahualpa himself refused—" "I know, I know very well! I know much more about those things than you do." "But if Manco and Paulo are better, how do you want me to stop them from winning?" Princess Antipanla's eyes revealed cruelty. "I need the help of my twin brothers! Here, everyone knows that you have magic power... Anna Maya, don't forget, this is the reason why everyone accepts you!" Anna Maya blushed, eager to refute: "No, that's a misinformation. I don't have magic power at all!" "Of course you have. Aren't you Kamakenkoya? You just have to declare that the twins don't want them to win!" "You are crazy, Antti Palla!" "No! . . . You could even say that the one and only King, Vanya Kapac, didn't let them win, if you like! Say what you want anyway, don't you?" Anna Maya stood up angrily: "Prince Atahualpa asked me to lie, or you?" "Is there any difference?" "I want to know, because if it is what he means, I want to hear it with my own ears." Andy Panla, who was blue with fright, wanted to slap her: "Oh, you're stupid! That's a present I wanted to give him. You too, and you should give him one too. You owe him too much, if I'm not mistaken..." Like two soldiers on the battlefield, they glared at each other for a long time.Afterwards, Antti Panla finally murmured: "Anamaya, don't make me regret treating you as a good friend, and don't forget that you are not an Incas at all..." At this moment, the time to welcome the Valaci Valley is approaching. The first morning light pierced through the mountain passes that the competitors were about to cross. The poison Antti Panla had injected into her brain was gradually taking effect.What should have been a joyous moment casts misfortune in the future. "Don't bark. Don't open your eyes." Anna Maya was awakened from the night, and her heart was full of fear.A big hand as hard as a bull's horn pressed down on her shoulder.Ignoring the order from the deep voice, she opened her eyes secretly: the back of the dwarf is like a ghost, which makes the hair stand on end. "It's getting hard to get close to you, princess." "I've always thought you were very imaginative! I'm almost disappointed in you." "Oh! Holy Kamaken Keya..." "It's not funny, Prince! And I hate being woken from sleep!" She stood up, her blue eyes darkened with anger.But the dwarf didn't know that she was in a bad mood, so he was still sitting next to her on the straw mat. "You have a reason for not being funny," he nodded in agreement. "The pace of war is approaching." "war?" "I have a hunch. I know tomorrow's bar mitzvah, the Valaci Valley match, will not be a contest of physical strength between young warriors, but a battle of ethnic groups: Atahualpa and the northern tribes against the Huascar and Cusco tribes ——Brothers fight, blood debts are paid!" "Your friend Anti Panla asked me to use a spell to prevent the Cuscos from winning. She seemed particularly afraid of Manco..." "She was following Atahualpa's orders." Anna Maya shook her head. "She said no, and I don't think so. Atahualpa is too noble to do something so indecent. And, I remind you, it was he himself who refused to accept the royal Borra." "There are people who want to kill him. How will you answer my dear friend?" "Say I don't have the magic power she said..." The dwarf sighed. "After careful observation, I know them well. Ha! Noble Inca worshipers who worship the sun, moon and thunder! Their thirst for blood and power is like a pack of strong and fierce wild dogs..." "Shut up and stop blasphemy." "I'm not blasphemous, princess, I just don't want to die." The dwarf shut his mouth.She heard the sound of him breathing beside her, and the hand that was always on her shoulder still made people feel warm.Kamakenkeya... If she had imagined being protected by others, then she would not be able to get through this predicament at all. She didn't know what to do, what to say, she could only let the tears come out of her eyes.She thought of that first night in the palace, alone and scared, curled up beside him. After that, she hugged him, and she could feel his whole body trembling with cold.She sang a lullaby softly, as if he were a little baby in need of warmth and companionship.

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