Cortes defeats the Texcalans and makes them his key native ally. Cortes sends a message that he is going to march to Tenochtitlan. The Spaniards again land and fight battles. Mixtli goes to see the Spanish soldiers but is interrupted by an outbreak of deadly smallpox. There he meets the ruler Motecuzoma, who tells him of white men arriving. Mixtli finds the city of Aztlan and then goes to an old decaying pyramid of the Tolteca. Mixtli goes off wandering again, looking for the original home and route of the Mexica people. The unhappy settlers have a religious festival, and Mixtli's daughter, Nochipa is raped and ritually murdered. He returns home and Beu Ribe joins his household, but then they go to start a colony. Mixtli again decides to go off on his travels. Mixtli returns home and finds out that his wife has drowned. Ahúitzotl decides to build another aqueduct, which causes a flood. Shortly after, Zyanya is pregnant and gives birth to Mixtli's daughter. Mixtli and Zyanya go on a mission to the Purempecha. Mixtli has Cozcatl cut out Chimali's eyes and tongue. At the wedding, Mixtli's arch-enemy, Chimáli shows up and Mixtli fights a duel with him. Ahúitzotl agrees to sponsor Mixtli's wedding to Zyanya. Mixtli goes with one of the women, Zyanya, to get the purple dye of the Zyu people. He is robbed and left for dead, but saved by the two daughters of the woman of the Cloud People. He then becomes upset, when he learns that his wealth comes from his sister, Tzitzi, who survived Pactli's beating as a human freak.

Mixtli goes back to celebrate his success in Tenochtitlan. He meets a family of women of the Cloud People and has a relationship with the mother.

Mixtli receives a huge amount of wealth and leads a trading expedition. Mixtli captures a knight and is declared a hero. Mixtli is exiled and he and his slave, Cozcatl go to war. Mixtli makes an enemy of Chimali, who seeks revenge for his dead male lover. Mixtli finally tricks her in an elaborate plot, which also catches Pactli, son of the Governor of Xaltocan. She pretends to be a virgin, but soon sends Mixtli to fetch her men. Mixtli is assigned by the ruler Nezahualpili, to his new wife Jadestone Doll. There he learns much about writing and the history of the Mexica. He is able to go to the city of Texcoco and get a formal education. Mixtli gets into an incestuous relationship with his sister Tzitzi, which has drastic consequences. At age 7, his father brings him to the capital city of Tenochtitlan where he attracts the attention of the Cacao-colored man. Mixtli is born in the island city of Xaltocan. There is an ongoing commentary by the Bishop while Mixtli's narrative is written down. Mixtli is brought in by the Catholic Bishop to talk about his life.

Aztec by gary jennings