Fire God: Fountains of Power, #3

By Marcus Williams

Will unchecked Power be unleashed upon the world?

When an Aztec god, cartel boss, and ancient Power collide on the volcanic slopes of Mexico, survival is the mission.

 

Robert's discovery of an old journal leads to a major breakthrough in Archie and Zaira's quest to understand his connection to the ancient Power. The answer, written in his family tree, lies high up in the Colorado mountains. There, a hidden valley has protected an ancient Aztec artifact for centuries. What should have been a simple task to return the artifact, and the tempestuous deity that inhabits it, to Mt. Popocatépetl near Mexico City turns life threatening when they find themselves caught in the crosshairs of the cruel cartels. Archie's connection to and control of the Power is challenged as those he loves face incredible danger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Williams & Co Publishing LLC
• Release date: Jan 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215023099

Marcus Williams

Marcus has written thousands of pages of law enforcement reports describing the details of cyber crimes, sexual assaults, drug trafficking, and murders during his career as a federal agent. He now uses all of that "practice" to tell stories that excite, entertain, and engage. While life doesn't always have a happy ending, there is always hope found in family, friendships, and kindness. He and his family have lived all over the world and love exploring and making friends wherever they find themselves: from California's high desert, to Sicily's historical marvels, to the beaches of the mid-Atlantic coast, to the rain soaked forests of Washington, to the base Mt Fuji, and to the majestic Rocky Mountains. The world is full of mystery and untold stories.

Book preview

Cover and title page art includes: Seated stone figure of Xiuhtecuhtli, Aztec god of fire. AD 1325-1521. British Museum, London. Photograph by Simon Burchell. Some rights reserved. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Background removed.

PART 1

We ended our last adventure with Robert finding the journal of Archie’s great-great-great-grandparents, Clancy and Brunelda Peters. It is this journal that sets the events of Fire God in motion. Learn more about their story in: Snow Falls Soft on the Hidden Valley —available now.

https://books2read.com/hiddenvalleybook

Chapter 1

Mt. Popocatépetl, Aztec Empire

1520

Fernando swept aside the curtain and fell into the tent in exhaustion. He slumped onto the thin straw mattress covering the wooden cot and tore at his helmet. Pulling it from his head, he dropped it to the ground with an echoing clang. Black hair, drenched in sweat, matted his forehead.

"Vino," he croaked, holding out his hand. The native girl poured a cup from an earthenware jug and averted her gaze as she handed it to him. He drank greedily, then thrust the cup into her face for a refill.

Emmanuel looked on, watching the mildly humorous show play out while picking at his fingernails with his knife. Once Fernando finished his second glass of wine, Emmanuel spoke. Well? he finally asked.

Fernando glanced at the servant.

Leave us! Emmanuel ordered.

Without a word, she bowed her head and exited the tent. Fernando watched her go and then turned to Emmanuel, but just as he opened his mouth to respond, a flash of sunlight and the raucous chatter of his fellow conquistadors interrupted him. Loud laughter filled the tent as the rest of the men returned from patrol. The men threw their swords, breastplates, helmets, and other pieces of armor to the ground in disarray, sighing in relief at being free from the heavy metal armor, which was hot as an horno in the glaring sun.

It took a moment for the men to register Fernando's return. One by one, they quieted down and sat on their respective cots, each eager to hear about the expedition.

Well? Emmanuel repeated.

Was it successful? Francisco asked.

Did you see it? Pablo chimed in.

What was it like? questioned Antonio.

Fernando held up his hand, and they all fell silent. Fernando breathed in deeply before he spoke, not sure where to begin.

"Ayer. We found the village yesterday. It was a day's walk up the face of the volcano, just like the old man from the market said."

The men in the room leaned forward in rapt attention.

When we arrived, Don Diego presented the village elder with a gift: the large golden cross he keeps in his tunic. Of course, he never intended for the elder to keep it.

The men chuckled. Don Diego had become famous for reuniting himself with his lavish gifts.

The elder accepted the gift and invited us to dismount and stay for dinner. I, of course, sat next to Don Diego to try and translate what little I could during dinner. It was only after dinner, when the women and children had returned to their huts, that Don Diego had me ask the elder about the treasure.

Fernando stopped there and picked up his empty wine glass. Francisco handed him the earthenware jar of wine, and he poured himself another cup, this time taking just a sip.

How did the elder react? Emmanuel prodded.

"Well, at first he was taken aback. He denied they had any treasure and tried to end the conversation. But Don Diego persisted in that way he has, saben. Finally, Don Diego pulled out the merchant's stone, which the elder recognized at once. His eyes grew the size of gold doubloons and he gasped audibly. Then he began whispering something over and over, quiet at first, then growing louder and louder."

What? they all asked in unison.

"At first, I couldn't understand. It sounded like gibberish. But then, I began to hear the pattern and it came to me. He was saying 'Xiuhtecuhtli,'" Fernando said.

What? Emmanuel asked.

"Xiuhtecuhtli," Fernando repeated.

Who or what in the name of the saints is that? Pedro asked.

It is the name of their god of fire, or lord of the volcanoes, Fernando explained.

And the elder got that from the rock Don Diego showed him? asked Pedro.

I guess so, Fernando replied. Just as the merchant promised. Because, after that, his attitude changed—like night and day. He called all of the men in the tribe together. He said something to them, and they all scattered.

Only a few minutes passed before they each returned holding a torch, the handles intricately carved. They each lit their torch in the fire after reciting some sort or prayer or incantation. They circled the fire with their lit torch, singing quietly, and then walked straight into the jungle, one after another.

What did you do? Antonio prodded.

Well, we all looked at each other in confusion and then to Don Diego for direction. He stood, shrugging, and followed the men right into the jungle. So, what else could we do? We followed as well.

"The men led us through a trail so faint, I don't know how they even knew it was there, especially in the dark. But after we walked for ten minutes, we emerged in front of a building, cut seemingly into the face of the cliff itself. The fine carvings around the door were just, just unbelievable.

At the entrance, the elder stopped and motioned for just Don Diego and I to follow him into the sanctuary. The others were to remain behind, including his men. Two of the natives handed Don Diego and I each a torch, and we stepped into the darkness.

All of the men were sitting on the edge of their beds, thoroughly engrossed in Fernando's tale. Their unit had been searching for months to find the fabled treasure of Mt. Popocatépetl. When they first arrived in Tenochtitlan, Hernán Cortes had ordered Don Diego Del Castillo to take his men to the ancient volcano and find the treasure of the fire god. Without any further explanation, description, or map of the treasure, they had set out into the wild forests surrounding the capital city.

Fernando had a gift for languages and was able to pick up pieces of the local dialect—enough at least to ask about the fire god. Piece by piece, they learned that a village on the slope of the mountain was dedicated to the worship of Xiuhtecuhtli. According to the legends, they maintained a temple to the god and fiercely protected it from any outsiders. If a treasure existed, it would be there.

While browsing at a town market near the base of the volcano, Fernando found a merchant selling jewelry made from carved volcanic stone. Fernando asked the merchant if he knew anything about the fire god temple and how to get there. The merchant smiled wryly and, leaning in conspiratorially, whispered something about his grandfather. He motioned for Fernando to follow him after barking orders to a young woman to mind the stall. With his trepidation eased only by the sword at his side, Fernando followed the merchant into a stone building at the back of an alley.

The merchant shooed his wife from the room before retrieving a clay pot sitting on a shelf next to the fireplace. He turned the pot over and shook it gingerly. Something inside rattled and fell to the opening. The merchant struggled to free the object from the pot, shaking it up and down repeatedly until a stone fell to the earthen floor.

Fernando reached to pick up the stone, but the merchant swatted his hand away. Shocked at the brazen assault, Fernando reached for the hilt of his sword. The merchant, realizing his error, smiled and spoke too rapidly for Fernando to understand. He held the stone out with one hand and held out the other in a way Fernando could not mistake.

Fernando untied the leather pouch from his belt and dropped three gold coins into the merchant's empty palm. The merchant smiled but shook his head. Fernando eyed him suspiciously before adding a fourth coin to the pile. The merchant tossed the stone into Fernando's lap and scooted away, clutching the coins against his chest.

In the dim firelight, Fernando could not make out the carvings on the stone. He asked the merchant to explain. In halting conversation and simple sign language, Fernando came to understand the stone was a map to the fire god village and could be used as a key to enter safely. The village elder would accept whoever held the stone as a representative of the god himself.

When Fernando asked how the merchant's grandfather had come into possession of such a stone, he just shook his head and pushed Fernando away. Fernando asked the merchant to help them use the stone to find the village, but despite being offered another ten gold coins, the man steadfastly refused.

That was three months ago. Day after day, the men had traversed the mountain trying to locate the vague landmarks referenced on the stone. They were dangerously low on provisions, so the men were beginning to grumble. Don Diego refused to return to Cortes empty-handed but was wise enough to know he had to avoid an outright mutiny. Yesterday was to be their last attempt to find the village before they turned back for rest and supplies. Don Diego, Fernando, and a team of men had left camp at dawn and followed a trail up through a mountain pass into a small, forested valley. Finally, after months of searching, they had found the small village. 

Chapter 2

Mt. Popocatépetl, Aztec Empire

1520

Fernando shook his head and wiped his brow as he recalled the previous night. The air in the tent was stifling hot and stunk of sweaty men long overdo for a bath. He took a deep breath and continued.

We walked down a passageway just tall enough for me to stand in which led into a small room, a temple maybe. I was fully expecting it to be lined with gold and jewels dedicated to the fire god. Instead, the room was almost empty, the walls completely smooth, shimmering turquoise in the torch light like a window into hell.

Fernando crossed himself. "In the middle of the room, on an altar carved from the same smooth turquoise stone, sat a simple gray stone statue of a little man. The elder pointed to the statue and cried out, '¡Xiuhtecuhtli!' before falling to his knees."

Fernando paused his tale and looked around the tent.

Antonio finally broke the silence. That's it? That’s the treasure?

We've been traipsing around this stupid mountain for three months for a statue? Pablo exclaimed.

"A little statue that is only one pie tall at that," Fernando added, holding his hand a foot off the ground.

The men sat speechless.

What happened next? Francisco asked.

Fernando tugged at his goatee, clearly agitated. I don't even know how to explain; it was awful, he began. "Don Diego was outraged. He demanded that the elder show him the real treasure, the oro del fuego that Cortes was so convinced would be there. The elder shook his head in confusion and just continued to point to the statue and repeat his name, Xiuhtecuhtli, over and over."

Don Diego grabbed the little man and shook him so hard I thought his neck would snap. When the elder still refused to tell him the location of the real treasure, Don Diego dragged him out of the temple by his hair. I grabbed the statue and followed them out, desperately trying to calm Don Diego down, but it was no use.

None of the men said a thing; they were all transfixed on Fernando’s description of their commander as out of control, which was so unlike his usual cold, calculating demeanor.

When Don Diego got outside, he pushed the elder to his knees and drew his sword. I stayed back in the shadows of the temple passageway. Shocked, the native men shouted in dismay and tried to rush forward to save their elder. Don Diego held his sword to the elder's neck and yelled for the natives to freeze. The language didn't matter; they knew what he meant. He demanded they tell him where the real treasure was located, but they all seemed confused and kept pointing at the temple. Finally, one of them stepped forward and demanded that Don Diego release the elder.

"Dios mio," Francisco whispered.

Fernando crossed himself again before continuing. "Don Diego, I have never seen him like that before. He was loco, a mad man. Everything stood still for a moment, frozen, waiting for him to move. And then, Fernando paused, choking back a sob. And then, he slit the man's throat and ordered us to kill them all—for no reason. The men, of course, immediately obeyed. It was a massacre."

In seconds, every one of them was dead, lying on the ground, blood everywhere. I stepped out of the temple door to, to, I don't know, stop them, but as soon as I crossed the threshold, the ground began to shake. Rocks fell from the hillside, pelting my armor.

The earthquake! Antonio exclaimed. That was you, or rather, that was the statue?

We felt it and thought the volcano was going to erupt, Emmanuel said.

"Dios mio" Francisco said again.

Fernando shrugged. Don Diego then ordered the men to return to the village and search every home. He ordered them to kill anyone who would not tell them the location of the treasure.

What did you do? Pablo asked, horrified.

I told Don Diego I was going to take the statue back to camp for safe keeping. I don't know if he really understood what I said, but he nodded and sent me away. I could see the blood lust in his eyes. First, I took back the golden cross Don Diego had given the elder. Then, I ran to the horses, loaded the statue and crucifix into the strong box, and raced back here. I never stopped, not once.

Where is the statue now? Juan chimed in, the first time he had spoken.

Still on the mule, Fernando replied. I dismounted and came straight here.

After a brief pause, Fernando placed his hands on his knees and stood. I can't stay here. I did not sign up for this. I don't mind a fight, but that, that was no fight. Fernando stood and frantically began gathering his belongings, stuffing them haphazardly into a saddle bag.

Wait, what are you doing? Emmanuel asked. You can't just leave. You will be deemed a deserter and be hunted down and hanged.

I don't care, Fernando said. Don Diego has lost his, his, I don't even know—his humanity. I'm leaving.

I will join you, Emmanuel declared, jumping up to begin packing his belongings as well.

Antonio and Pablo looked at each other and, after a brief pause, shrugged. We are in, they said in unison.

Francisco? Juan? Emmanuel asked.

My term of service is almost over, Juan protested.

The men all turned and stared at him.

He lowered his head for a moment. All right, he sighed, I will come.

"Qué diablos, Francisco cried, throwing his hands in the air. I came here for the adventure, didn't I?"

That's the spirit, Emmanuel said, slapping Francisco on the back.

The men hurriedly packed their belongings and formulated a plan. They knew Don Diego would not force his men to ride down the unfamiliar trail at night, so they at least had until tomorrow at midday before he would return and notice they were missing.

The second-in-command had a habit of getting drunk every evening after dinner and was smitten with indecision when he was sober, so he wasn’t a threat. But they would still have to get their horses past the guards without being seen. It would be a challenge, but it was doable. The camp was designed to keep people out, not in.

Finally all packed and ready to leave, the men noted the dinner bell sounding. They looked at each other, unsure what to do.

We will eat as normal, and then retire to our tents for the night. We will leave just after mid-watch, when it is dark and the camp is quiet, Fernando said. The men all agreed, forcing themselves to act normal as they mustered for dinner. 

Chapter 3

Buena Vista, Colorado, USA

1894

Brunelda set the pie on the sill and had just finished covering it with a clean red-and-white calico cloth when she heard the front door open. She smiled. He’s early; he remembered, she said to the raspberry pie.

Is that berry pie I smell? Clancy Peters called from the front door as he pulled off his boots. That smells mighty fine!

Clancy stepped into the kitchen and wrapped his wife in a bear hug. He kissed her and then reached over her shoulder to peek under the cloth.

Let it cool, she said, swatting at him playfully. How are things at the mine?

When Clancy had arrived in Buena Vista a few years after the war, one of the first things he did was buy a mining claim from a prospector eager to quit the life and get out of town. It was only after the purchase was complete that he learned the town bully, Dane Sampson, had harbored plans to seize the claim.

Sampson was angry as a bull moose when he heard that some out-of-towner had purchased the claim instead. He ordered his men to dry gulch Clancy in his sleep, but Clancy anticipated the move and set out a decoy. When the two men shot into his bedroll, Clancy knew he was in for a fight. Outnumbered, Clancy was driven out of town and found refuge in a hidden valley high in the mountains; there he planned his revenge.

It was there he met Beth and her son Jed, who had also been run out of Buena Vista by Sampson. Her husband, George, was missing, and Clancy set out to find him and get justice for those Sampson had abused. He still couldn't understand exactly how it happened or how he'd been so lucky, but amidst the battle with Sampson and his men, Clancy met Beth's sister, Brunelda, who informed him they were gettin’ hitched after she got sick of waiting for Clancy to take the initiative.

Sampson defeated, they moved back to Buena Vista and Clancy worked the claim until he struck one of the biggest veins of gold in the territory. Over twenty years later, Clancy owned a majority of all mining operations in Buena Vista and, with the help of his wife, had turned the town into a place any family would be proud to call home.

Happy anniversary, darlin’, Clancy said, smiling.

Happy anniversary to you, too, Brunelda replied. She pecked him on the lips and ran her hand through his hair. You need to wash up, she declared. Supper's on in five minutes.

Five minutes later, they sat down to dinner at the small table in the kitchen. They had no need to use the dining room when it was just the two of them. Their only daughter, Edith, was a young bride living with her new husband on his family's cattle ranch in the low country.

How are the horses? Clancy asked as he took a bite of roast.

The mare is a stubborn one, but she's coming along, Brunelda said. She had a gift for training and healing horses and ran a successful operation of her own. When she tamed her first stallion, the other womenfolk in town shunned her for doing a man's work. But her skill and reputation spread quickly, and it wasn't long before no one dared criticize her talents. At one point or another over the years, they had all come to her for help.

That's good, Clancy said. Mr. Roberts will be pleased. He took another bite of meat and then wiped his mouth with the linen napkin. He reached across the table and took Brunelda's hand.

Let's go somewhere, just the two of us, he said.

Go somewhere? But the mine, and the horses...

Never mind that. Jack is a talented foreman and can handle running the mine for a while. And the town horses will survive. Come on, what do you say?   

Well, Brunelda said, standing and gathering their plates. She took them to the sink and ran the water pump. It would be nice to get away for a bit. Where are you thinking? California to visit Beth and George? St. Louis? Denver? You know, Margaret Brown just bought a house there and said we have an open invitation.

Good ole Molly, Clancy chuckled. No, I was thinking someplace we can be alone together.

What is cooking in that mind of your’n, Clancy Peters? Just come out with it.

He grinned. The valley, he said.

Brunelda gasped. Really? The valley? Are you sure?

Why not? We haven't been up there in years, not since Beth and George moved to California. Jed said he would come back someday, but he's still busy working for the railroad. Someone needs to go up there and check on the cabin . . . and our little statue friend.

Brunelda took the pie from the sill and set it on the counter. She cut the pie in quarters and dished them each a piece. She brought a bowl of fresh cream over from the counter and set it between them on the table.

It’s a special occasion after all; no use scrimpin', she thought.

The valley, she said again. She sat down at the table, passing Clancy his piece of pie.

He spooned a healthy portion of cream on his pie and dug in, groaning in satisfaction.

You know, it doesn't happen very often, but every once in a while, you actually have a good idea, she teased. Let's do it. Let's go.

Clancy grinned and took another bite of pie.

Chapter 4

Mt. Popocatépetl, Aztec Empire

1520

Fernando cut a slit in the back of the tent, and the men quietly filed out, one by one, into the darkness. Every sound seemed amplified as they tiptoed to the corral. The pack mule snorted when he saw Fernando approach, angry the heavy box was still strapped to his back.

If only he knew what he was in for, Fernando thought, patting the stubborn animal on the head. 

They each found and saddled their horses in the dark as the animals snorted and pawed at the ground, eager to go. The corral was on the outskirts of the camp, but still within the guarded boundary.

"Listos?" Fernando whispered.

After they all responded in the affirmative, he began to walk his horse towards the edge of the encampment, away from the main gate. The mule followed gamely, and they all fell in line, each silently praying the horses would remain quiet.

Fernando almost ran right into a guard who was relieving himself into the wash that marked the boundary of the camp. The guard turned in surprise and tried to reach for his pike, which was leaning against the tree, but Fernando grabbed his arm and Emmanuel rushed forward to help subdue him. The guard struggled, trying to call out an alarm, but Emmanuel covered his mouth and held a knife to his throat. When the guard realized he had been beaten, he calmed down in surrender and looked closer at his captors. Emmanuel uncovered his