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Lund tapped on the number and called. He held the phone to his ear.
Suki could hear Brillante’s voice. “Uh. Hello?”
“This is Uncle Steve,” Lund said. “I’m with your mom and Suki. We just landed. Are you safe?”
“Is it really him?” whispered another voice. Lucas’s.
“It says it’s him on caller ID,” Brillante said. “Um, we’re hiding at the Lincoln Memorial. We didn’t know what to do.”
“They took our dad,” Lucas added, sniffling.
“I know,” Lund said firmly. He shifted his gaze to Suki. “And we’re going to do everything we can to get him back.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
JAGUAR TEMPLE
CALAKMUL BIOSPHERE RESERVE
January 10
Uacmitun’s betrayal at such a pivotal moment cast a shadow on Jacob’s mood. If someone so loyal had been tempted to turn against him, what did that mean for the rest of the warrior clan? Had the man simply seized on an opportunistic moment? Or were there more seeds of discontent spreading roots beneath the surface?
He could not let such insidious thoughts distract him tonight. He stood before the obsidian mirror, watching as Angélica helped arrange his ceremonial attire. A large crowd had already gathered at the arena, waiting for him to arrive.
Angélica took a leather bracer with several poison darts and added it to his belt. The darts were to paralyze the sacrificial victims for the ceremony. At such close range, he wouldn’t need a blowgun to shoot them. Just a little prick. Then Angélica brought out the sacrificial blade, a dagger made of sharpened obsidian. The serrations would make it easy to cut through flesh and bone. She sheathed the weapon and wrapped its belt around his waist before cinching it tight.
“Are you ready for the ceremony?” she asked. Her own face and arms were decorated in Maya ink. “You don’t want to delay it?”
“This moment has been underway for centuries,” he said. “Why would I hesitate now?”
“The Americans,” she said. “I’ve heard their jets passing overhead.”
Jacob reached out and stroked her cheek. “There is nothing to fear. The protections surrounding the Jaguar Temple will not fail. Their drones have dropped like cicadas from the trees. The jungle will continue to protect us. And if they somehow come close enough to the stelae guarding the grounds, the kem äm will repel them. Even if they know about the underground rivers, I have put shields there as well. Soon the war will be at their gates. Not ours.”
She smiled, but he saw the worry in her eyes.
The bead strands rattled, and a servant came rushing in, falling to his knees and pressing his forehead against the ground.
“Great One!” he gasped.
Jacob lowered his hand and looked at the servant who’d intruded. Another problem? Another distraction?
“Yes?” Jacob asked tonelessly.
“Mataré is coming! He carries a man. Your foe!”
“Who?”
“The father of the family who won the death game last year!”
“Jonathon Roth?” Jacob said incredulously. He turned to Angélica in surprise. Her face showed the same reaction.
“They come to the throne room now!” the servant said urgently.
Jacob gripped Angélica’s hand, and they marched out of the private room. The throne room of the palace was very close, and when they got there, they found Mataré standing proudly, arms folded. Jonathon Roth was on his hands and knees. Other servants had gathered, and they whispered among themselves, commenting on the sudden arrival.
Jacob was impressed. No, he was delighted. It was Mr. Roth at last.