136

Malina pulled on her royal training, despite the weeks in the ships holds, the years of previous training were enough. She steadied the trembling in her hands and slowly brought them to her sides. As an almost after thought she straightened her stained red gown. Her face she kept looking at the deck of the ship, not out of deference but out of a desire to not give witness to what Teiuc had wrought.

"Look on your Empress! She represents our past!" Teiuc had let go of Malina's shoulder and was now addressing the soldiers once again. "She is with us, the load stone of our ancestors, the fulfillment of our prophecies. No longer does she rule us, now she serves us. She is our history, through generations of Toltecs, we are bound to our ancient homeland that we have left, and through her blood we will be bound to our new home land, ancient and new the circle will be complete!"

A roar erupted from the soldiers and sailors as Teiuc ended his speech with a scream. Malina felt the waves of excitement emanating from the soldiers as Teiuc had spoken. She could feel it in her own body as well. The prophecies of her people twisted and and wrapped in lies and interpretation. When she had first heard the explanations through dribbles of conversations she was shocked, and then it began to make sense. Teiuc did not seek to block the prophecy, he rose to ensure it's completion. A twisted interpretation serving his ends, and also answering the soldiers wish for glory. She could not argue with the interpretation it balanced itself on a few key points that had bothered historians and priests for generations. And with those few changes Malina was no longer the one to guide the Toltec to victory she was the agents of their destruction. A powerful force that could not be allowed to destroy the Toltecs, but one that was needed to ensure their success. No longer the blood to lead the Toltecs to the alter of the ancients, now her's was the blood to be spilled on the alter of the ancients, the seat of the gods.