A Perilous Journey
The following day, the emperor would lead the children up the volcano. The journey was often too difficult for the youngest children, so they were given cacao leaves to help with their breathing and also acted as an inhibitor so they wouldn't be too afraid. But what happened at the summit is the most terrifying part...
A Temporal Death
The emperor would then strangle, bludgeon, or leave the children to die from exposure in the volcano's summit. However, Inca people didn't believe human sacrifices truly "died," but rather watched over the land from beyond. Johan Reinhard had no idea what he was about to uncover on this particular expedition...