Read Online The Ugly One by Leanne Statland Ellis - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Leanne Statland Ellis
Ads: Link
Maidens, such a selection was the greatest of honors.
âLife in the convent was very, very good. The Maidens ate the finest of delicacies the land could provide, served upon plates of ornately carved gold. They slept on raised beds filled with the soft wool of baby alpacas. Their clothes were woven of richly dyed cloths and adorned with beautiful feathers and shells. Four mighty fountains flowed forth from the four corners of the empire, so that each Maiden might bathe herself in waters from her home province. It is said that such waters helped to maintain the beauty and softness of the skin.â Here Uncle Turu fluttered his eyes and delicately rubbed his cheek with his fingers, and the people laughed to see such a strong-faced man pretending to be beautiful.
âOf course the Sun Maidensâ hearts had to be pure. They couldnât attend to their duties properly if they didnât devote themselves entirely to the emperor and to Inti. So they were carefully guarded. Maidens were allowed to leave the convent only in pairs, and they were questioned and inspected upon their return for hidden mementos or charms, a sure sign that a Maiden had allowed herself to fall in love with a man. Such a Maiden would be buried alive for turning her heart elsewhere.
âSeveral years passed, and Chuguillanto became known as the most beautiful young woman in all the empire. One day she and another Sun Maiden wandered far from the convent and came across a handsome young herdsman napping under a tree, his llamas grazing on the
ichu
grass. As the Maidens approached, the scent of their perfume awoke the youth. When he saw them, he scrambled to his feet and bowed low, for he was certain he was gazing upon goddesses.
âChuguillantoâs companion laughed and assured the herdsman that they were mortal. Chuguillanto, however, was quiet, for already the llama herder had captivated her. The other Sun Maiden asked the herdsmanâs name, and he told her he was called Acoynapa, but it was to Chuguillanto that he truly spoke, for he was as captivated by her as she was by him.
âThe three passed the afternoon together, enjoying one anotherâs company. Acoynapa wore an unusual silver
campu
, a pendant, on a thin silver chain about his forehead. Chuguillanto asked to see it, and when Acoynapa leaned closer toward her so she could do so, they both were overcome by the closeness and pulled away quickly.
âAcoynapa offered the pendant to Chuguillanto as a gift, but she refused, for she knew if the guards discovered it, she would be slain. Acoynapa would be in danger as well. If he was found guilty of capturing a Sun Maidenâs heart, he would be hung from his feet until the blood rushing to his head made it burst from the pressure.â Here Uncle Turu placed his hands on the sides of his head and pulled the hair away from his face, grimacing horribly. He paused to let the image sink in, then went on with the story.
âBack in the Acllahuasi that night, Chuguillanto tossed about, unable to sleep, for she was in love with the llama herder. Although she was a wise and sensible girl, she resolved to find his home and see him again. Acoynapa also didnât sleep that night, for he, too, had fallen in love and knew the terrible consequences if he should be found out.
âThe week that followed was full of suffering for the pair. Chuguillanto wandered the hills with her companion, going from home to home looking for Acoynapa. Acoynapa lay in his
wasi
, unable to sleep or eat. Finally, his mother came to visit him. When she saw the state her son was in, she knew he would die from his lovesickness if she didnât help. Fortunately, she was a woman of much magic. She shrank her eager son and placed him inside a finely carved wooden staff.
âThe day arrived when Chuguillanto and her companion knocked on the door of Acoynapaâs home. The mother answered and told the Maidens that Acoynapa had died. She
âLife in the convent was very, very good. The Maidens ate the finest of delicacies the land could provide, served upon plates of ornately carved gold. They slept on raised beds filled with the soft wool of baby alpacas. Their clothes were woven of richly dyed cloths and adorned with beautiful feathers and shells. Four mighty fountains flowed forth from the four corners of the empire, so that each Maiden might bathe herself in waters from her home province. It is said that such waters helped to maintain the beauty and softness of the skin.â Here Uncle Turu fluttered his eyes and delicately rubbed his cheek with his fingers, and the people laughed to see such a strong-faced man pretending to be beautiful.
âOf course the Sun Maidensâ hearts had to be pure. They couldnât attend to their duties properly if they didnât devote themselves entirely to the emperor and to Inti. So they were carefully guarded. Maidens were allowed to leave the convent only in pairs, and they were questioned and inspected upon their return for hidden mementos or charms, a sure sign that a Maiden had allowed herself to fall in love with a man. Such a Maiden would be buried alive for turning her heart elsewhere.
âSeveral years passed, and Chuguillanto became known as the most beautiful young woman in all the empire. One day she and another Sun Maiden wandered far from the convent and came across a handsome young herdsman napping under a tree, his llamas grazing on the
ichu
grass. As the Maidens approached, the scent of their perfume awoke the youth. When he saw them, he scrambled to his feet and bowed low, for he was certain he was gazing upon goddesses.
âChuguillantoâs companion laughed and assured the herdsman that they were mortal. Chuguillanto, however, was quiet, for already the llama herder had captivated her. The other Sun Maiden asked the herdsmanâs name, and he told her he was called Acoynapa, but it was to Chuguillanto that he truly spoke, for he was as captivated by her as she was by him.
âThe three passed the afternoon together, enjoying one anotherâs company. Acoynapa wore an unusual silver
campu
, a pendant, on a thin silver chain about his forehead. Chuguillanto asked to see it, and when Acoynapa leaned closer toward her so she could do so, they both were overcome by the closeness and pulled away quickly.
âAcoynapa offered the pendant to Chuguillanto as a gift, but she refused, for she knew if the guards discovered it, she would be slain. Acoynapa would be in danger as well. If he was found guilty of capturing a Sun Maidenâs heart, he would be hung from his feet until the blood rushing to his head made it burst from the pressure.â Here Uncle Turu placed his hands on the sides of his head and pulled the hair away from his face, grimacing horribly. He paused to let the image sink in, then went on with the story.
âBack in the Acllahuasi that night, Chuguillanto tossed about, unable to sleep, for she was in love with the llama herder. Although she was a wise and sensible girl, she resolved to find his home and see him again. Acoynapa also didnât sleep that night, for he, too, had fallen in love and knew the terrible consequences if he should be found out.
âThe week that followed was full of suffering for the pair. Chuguillanto wandered the hills with her companion, going from home to home looking for Acoynapa. Acoynapa lay in his
wasi
, unable to sleep or eat. Finally, his mother came to visit him. When she saw the state her son was in, she knew he would die from his lovesickness if she didnât help. Fortunately, she was a woman of much magic. She shrank her eager son and placed him inside a finely carved wooden staff.
âThe day arrived when Chuguillanto and her companion knocked on the door of Acoynapaâs home. The mother answered and told the Maidens that Acoynapa had died. She
Similar Books
