104

All of the guards straightened as the saw Atl and the Tlatoani, those that were seating stood and saluted.

"We are here to see the prisoners." The Tlatoani gestured towards the open gate.

"Please follow me Tlatoani." A large guest said stepping forward from the table. The man was obviously the Cuextecatl in charge of the guards. He nodded quickly at Atl before his eyes turned back to the Tlatoani.

"No need, no need Cuextecatl, this man here Atl of the night watch is here to guide me." The Cuextecatl nodded and backed away. "There are cells below?"

"Yes." The Cuextecatl answered.

"And men with keys to those cells?"

"The keys are kept here Tlatoani."

"Good, good. No please give the keys to Atl here, and we will send the men up when we get down. Please allow no one down until we return."

"Yes Tlatoani."

"No one."

"Understood."

The Tlatoani walked forward and started walking down the stairwell that curved to the right and into the ground. Atl nodded at the men, some of whom he had fought with before before following after the Tlatoani.

"I thought that there would have been more guards." The Tlatoani said.

"Well there really isn't much need Tlatoani."

"Please Atl. I'm growing tired of hearing that honourific, let's just place them aside."

"Yes Tlatoani."

"Meztli." Meztli said flatly. "No tell me why there isn't much need."

"Well the people here were conquered. Since this castle was taken there really hasn't been any resistance to speak of. If there is to be any resistance it will come from outside the castle, so guards here are less important then those outside of the keep and castle itself."

"What of the castle's friends? Surely the nobles here will come to the aide of this castle?"

"I'm sure that the Tlacate would be better suited to answer these sorts..."

"Yes, yes Atl, but I'm asking you for a reason. A Tlacate knows things and a soldier knows things, much of what they know is the same, but much of what they know is also different. I've gotten my information from the Tlacate, and now I want the information from a soldier. Have no fear that any of this will reach the Tlacate's ears." Meztli stopped and looked at Atl. The stood in darkness with the flickering torches lining the walls to light the way. "I'm just trying to get the lay of the land Atl, that's all." With that Meztli continued walking down the steps.