Thus far, their realliance as lovers and business partners was in secret.

The sudden entirely unexpected realliance with Tim had changed her course.

Mr. Kirkland insists that if he were alive today, Mr. Meany would have approved of the realliance.

But, more importantly, Tepeyacac had been allied with Tlaxcallan until they were conquered by the Aztecs as recently as 1467, and various titles, including kinship, that might have favored a realliance with Tlaxcallan may have persisted, so the battle may have been more for show than for effect.