"Very good, Little Montezuma! The Alliance will grant you five years of food support and exempt you from five years of tribute… In the coming campaign against the Zapotecs, you need not send troops… Govern well the prosperous Cloud Coast! With Gold and gemstone, raise upon the coast a great ancestral temple and statues for your father, my elder brother Acatl!"
"Yes! I obey you! Great Divine King!… Uncle!…"
Montezuma II once more kowtowed in return, his expression one of heartfelt reverence. Then he retreated backward a few steps before carefully turning around, walking toward the base of the Temple of Heaven pyramid. As his gaze swept the crowd, it paused faintly in a few places, then quickly moved away; no one knew whom he was looking at. On these four sides of thirteen tiers of steps, each side split into two ranks, stood packed with Nnobility, Samurai, and Sacrifices!
