Chapter Summaries

Xolotl resisted Nashu’s advances at first, but she later helped relieve his desire while he wrestled with his feelings about her role. The next morning, his grandfather explained that Nashu had been raised to serve and protect him, and urged Xolotl to prioritize power and the Alliance’s future.

• Nashu tried to seduce Xolotl, but he stopped her and said he wanted to reserve his first experience for Alisa.
• After Xolotl struggled to sleep, Nashu used another way to ease his desire, and he left for his grandfather’s residence the next morning.
• Xolotl asked the high priest about Nashu’s origins, and his grandfather explained that she had been raised and trained as his Shadow Slave.
• The high priest said Nashu was suited to handle Xolotl’s intelligence and protection, and explained that Shadow Slaves also helped nobles treat sexual pleasure as unimportant.
• The high priest urged Xolotl to pursue supreme power, immortal achievements, and the Alliance’s future above fleeting pleasure.

Xolotl visited the High Priest Council's prison to confront Guramo, the Purple Grass Clan Leader responsible for the assassination attempt against him. The chapter ended with Guramo laughing wildly and begging for Holy Water instead of answering Xolotl.

• Xolotl set out for the High Priest Council's prison to judge the rebels' fate.
• Chief Priest Yaoke explained that Guramo had been transferred from the Alliance Secret Guard after taking too much Holy Water and losing his sanity.
• Xolotl asked to question Guramo alone and entered his stone cage with Bertad while Nashu guarded the door.
• Xolotl recognized Guramo's resemblance to Medina and asked whether he regretted his actions.
• Guramo laughed and screamed for Holy Water.

Xolotl questioned Guramo after finding him ruined by potent Holy Water, then used Psychedelic Mushroom powder to briefly restore his reason. Guramo implicated Shatini and Gilim in a plot before dying at Xolotl’s hand, leaving Xolotl wondering whether King Avet was involved.

• Bertad knocked Guramo unconscious when he lunged at Xolotl, and Nashu broke his arms and knees after determining that Holy Water had destroyed his mind.
• Xolotl ordered Nashu to give Guramo Psychedelic Mushroom powder, which briefly restored Guramo’s ability to recognize him.
• Xolotl told Guramo that his sons and Medina were dead, and Guramo named Shatini and Gilim while speaking about a plot to kill.
• Guramo lost his reason again, and Xolotl killed him with an Obsidian dagger after confirming with High Priest Yaoke that his death would not affect the ceremony.
• Xolotl reflected on Guramo’s words and wondered whether King Avet had also been involved.

After a sleepless night, Xolotl visited the Alliance’s mountain pasture to investigate its bison herd and learn why the animals had been difficult to raise. He heard Mohe’s account of their breeding and temperament, then asked whether pasture-raised bison could carry riders into battle.

• Xolotl recited a poem about a great king, then fell asleep while Nashu massaged his head.
• After lunch, Xolotl traveled with two hundred guards to the mountain pasture southwest of Lake Texcoco.
• Military noble Mohe explained that his family had northern tribal roots and that he had managed the bison pasture for five years.
• Mohe reported that the herd numbered only two or three hundred and described how escapes, fights, and miscarriages made bison difficult to raise.
• After Mohe warned that the Imperial Guard might alarm pregnant bison, Xolotl ordered the warriors to camp outside the pasture.
• Xolotl asked Mohe whether the bison could be ridden into battle.

Xolotl questioned Mohe about whether bison could be used for war or transport, and learned that their wildness made both purposes impractical. Mohe listed their value as meat, fertilizer, hides, hair, sinew, and horn, and Xolotl stayed at the pasture to enjoy grilled bison ribeye.

• Xolotl asked Mohe whether bison could be ridden into battle, but Mohe explained that they could not be reliably controlled and would panic amid combat.
• Xolotl asked whether bison could carry supplies, and Mohe said only a few might haul goods between fixed locations after long training.
• Mohe argued that bison could help warriors overcome their fear of charging beasts, and Xolotl agreed that they could prepare soldiers to face warhorses.
• Mohe described bison as a source of fine meat, manure, hides, hair, sinew, and horn, and Xolotl considered their potential uses for food, farming, armor, and bows.
• Xolotl accepted Mohe's offer of grilled ribeye, and Nashu confirmed that they had brought spices for dinner.

Xolotl enjoyed a quiet stay at Mountain Pasture, reprimanded Mohe for lying about slaughtering a bison, and instructed him to breed docile bison for domestication. After the rebellion’s leaders were punished at the autumn harvest ceremony, Xolotl returned to his father’s residence and encountered a solemn visitor.

• Xolotl questioned Mohe about the bison’s slaughter and warned him not to deceive the Alliance again.
• Xolotl instructed Mohe to selectively breed docile bison over generations so the Alliance could eventually domesticate them.
• Xolotl rested at Mountain Pasture, then returned to Lake Capital after the Imperial Guard warriors experienced a bison charge.
• The authorities exiled captured rebels and sacrificed the leading nobles at the autumn harvest ceremony.
• Xolotl went to his father’s residence, where Xoloc sat with an unfamiliar man who formally greeted him.

Gilim brought four urgent matters from King Avet to Xolotl: the Tlacopan rebellion had been quelled, Xolotl’s wedding to Alisa was set for ten days later, and the Alliance sought help preparing for its eastern campaign. Xolotl agreed to transfer cannon-casting and shipbuilding expertise and give Alisa the gemstone trade, but demanded an eastern city in exchange, leaving Gilim and Xoloc astonished.

• Gilim reported that the Tlacopan rebellion had been pacified and that Xolotl and Princess Alisa would marry in ten days.
• Gilim asked Xolotl to send Lake Kingdom bronze craftsmen to teach the Alliance cannon-casting for its campaign against the Tlaxcalan.
• Gilim requested Purepecha shipbuilders to teach the Alliance how to build Crocodile God Galleys.
• Gilim said the king would grant Alisa land, people, and warriors, and asked Xolotl to give her control of the kingdom’s gemstone trade; Xolotl agreed.
• Xolotl offered the Alliance cannon and shipbuilding technology in exchange for a city outside the Alliance, then pointed to the eastern part of his map.

Xolotl explained to Gilim why he wanted to seize Otter City, arguing that it would secure the northern frontier, open a long water route, and prepare the Alliance for foreign invaders. He left Gilim with a prophecy that bearded, pale-skinned demons would soon arrive by sea, bringing disease and destruction.

• Xolotl declared that he wanted Cuxicapan, or Otter City, and Gilim warned that attacking loyal Huastec vassals without cause could damage the Alliance.
• Xolotl said the Alliance would demand military grain and tribute from the Huastec, and Gilim assured him the demand would stay within their limit of acceptance.
• Xolotl argued that Otter City could support Pamus City and strengthen the Alliance's northern frontier against the Dog-kin.
• Xolotl described a 1,500-li water route connecting the Lake Kingdom to Otter City, and Gilim acknowledged the strategic value while noting the dangerous river passage.
• Xolotl gave his third reason, warning that the Main God had shown him foreign, pale-skinned, bearded invaders would arrive by sail and bring disease and destruction.

Xolotl warned Gilim and Xoloc that white-skinned foreigners would cross the Eastern Sea, bring disease and conquest, and threaten the peoples of the Alliance. Gilim agreed to help Xolotl seek control of Otter City after the eastern campaign, while proposing a scheme to make the Alliance occupy it under the pretext of protecting the Huastec.

• Xolotl revealed his prophecy of foreign invaders to Gilim and Xoloc, describing their ships, weapons, diseases, and eventual conquest.
• Xolotl said the foreigners would first reach the Taino island groups within the next fifty-two-year cycle and explained that he wanted Otter City as a base for fleets exploring the Eastern Sea.
• Gilim realized that Xolotl's plans would draw the kingdom's forces eastward and reduce their threat to the royal center.
• Xolotl explained that Otter City could help the Alliance dominate the Huastec and launch campaigns against the Totonac and Maya.
• Gilim proposed using Dog-kin attacks on Otter City and the Huastec royal house as a pretext for the Alliance to occupy the city and protect its vassals.
• Xolotl agreed to wait until after the eastern campaign, and Gilim promised to persuade the king to grant him Otter City.

Xolotl told King Avet about his prophecy of a rich continent beyond the Eastern Sea, and the two agreed on an exchange of military knowledge, people, and support for exploration. Ten days later, Xolotl and Princess Alisa’s wedding began with citywide celebrations and gifts from the Alliance’s states, as the ceremony reached its sacrificial rite.

• Xolotl privately told Avet about the Eastern Sea prophecy, and they agreed that the kingdom would share cannon and galley-making techniques in exchange for Mexica people, permission to campaign against Otter City, and support for eastern exploration.
• Xolotl’s grandfather warned him not to speak further about the prophecy while The Elder lived and advised him to wait for an opportunity to gain divine authority.
• On the auspicious day at the end of August, the capital’s eighty Calpulli communities celebrated Xolotl and Alisa’s wedding, while envoys from the states brought gifts to the palace.
• Bertad presented the Lake Kingdom’s gifts first, and envoys from the Huastec, Otomi, Mixtec, Zapotec, Totonac, Tecos, and Maya followed.
• Xolotl noticed that neither Tlaxcala nor the Holy City of Cholula had sent an envoy, while the other envoys reacted to Cholula’s absence.
• Cacamatzin announced that the gift presentation was complete and began the royal sacrificial rite, declaring that Xolotl and Alisa would be joined in marriage.

The Mexica royal wedding began with formal marriage rites, a favorable divine divination, and a ceremonial dance by the Eagle and Jaguar regiments. The ceremony reached its climax when a huge flying, heart-shaped object rose above the Great Temple, and the capital’s people hailed it as a miracle blessing the marriage.

• Cacamatzin’s wife asked King Avet to approve Alisa’s marriage to Xolotl, and Avet gave consent for both the bride and groom.
• The high priest and five priestly elders burned the couple’s name boards and bones in a divination, then announced that the marriage had received a great-fortune blessing.
• Cacamatzin proclaimed the divine blessing, and one thousand Eagle Warriors and one thousand Jaguar Warriors danced in celebration.
• Thirty-six Wooden Cannons fired, and Cacamatzin announced that the Main God’s flying Divine Force would appear.
• A huge sphere painted with red hearts rose from the Great Temple, and the capital’s people and visiting envoys reacted with awe as priests led cries praising the Main God.

The Lake Kingdom’s hot-air balloon amazed the capital during Xolotl and Alisa’s wedding, and the high priest declared it a divine omen blessing their marriage. As the first evening banquet began in the king’s palace, Alisa was escorted away to prepare while hungry Xolotl remained in the side hall.

• The high priest displayed the Heart of the Gods above the Great Temple, and hundreds of thousands of people prayed as Chimer and the artisan priests managed the balloon.
• The Elder awoke, heard about the balloon, and watched the wedding proceed under Cacamatzin’s officiation before quietly blessing Xutl.
• The high priest called the balloon a sign from Huitzilopochtli blessing Xolotl and Alisa’s marriage, while Avet watched with astonishment.
• Cacamatzin announced the first evening banquet, and his wife led Alisa away, offering her food and advice about married life while Alisa worried that Xolotl had not eaten.
• Avet received the nobles’ wedding blessings as the banquet was prepared, then ordered Cacamatzin invited and decided Xolotl should remain hungry in the side hall.

Xolotl and Alisa’s wedding feast led into the traditional torchlit procession and sacred joining ceremony at the High Priest's Mansion. Cacamatzin formally declared them husband and wife, while Avet and their families watched with pride and sadness.

• Avet announced that he would pass the Ruby Scepter to his eldest daughter, Alisa, then opened the evening feast.
• Cacamatzin called for the wedding procession to escort Xolotl and Alisa from the royal palace to the High Priest's Mansion.
• Avet stopped Xolotl from reaching for Alisa, who had to be carried by an honored old woman according to custom.
• Cacamatzin lit the bonfire and guided Xolotl and Alisa to sit together on the hemp mat before covering them with a black cloak.
• Cacamatzin tied the cloak and formally declared Xolotl and Alisa husband and wife, bound to continue the royal bloodline.

Xolotl and Alisa completed their wedding rites with a Blood Pact and celebrated with fireworks and a banquet. They entered the bridal chamber together, where Alisa guided Xolotl through their first night as husband and wife.

• Xolotl and Alisa cut their palms and joined their bleeding hands in the Blood Pact Ceremony, swearing eternal devotion.
• Cacamatzin ordered fireworks to be released, and the nobles celebrated the royal wedding at the second evening banquet.
• Xolotl and Alisa drank cacao, then left the banquet under Nashu's protection and headed to the bridal chamber.
• Alisa asked Xolotl about his experience with Nashu, and he swore that he was still a first-timer.
• Alisa led Xolotl into the inner room and taught him about intimacy as they spent the night together.

After their wedding, Xolotl and Alisa visited the High Priest and Avet, who entrusted them with preserving the alliance between their royal houses. Xolotl planned to put Alisa in charge of a new Medical Institute and its medical research, and the chapter ended with Avet asking him to treat his daughter well.

• Xolotl woke beside Alisa, then the newlyweds visited the High Priest, who gave Alisa the family Obsidian necklace and urged them to support each other and uphold the alliance.
• Xolotl and Alisa met Avet, who arranged for Alisa's attendants and family warriors to accompany her to Tzintzuntzan City.
• Alisa told Avet she wanted to support Xolotl, manage their household, and continue studying pharmacology.
• Xolotl proposed that Alisa manage the kingdom's gemstone trade and the Palace of Wind, and lead a new Medical Institute, Medical Priests, and medical courses at Shenwei University.
• Alisa agreed to lead the medical work, and Avet approved the plan before asking Xolotl to treat his daughter well.

Xolotl and Alisa spent their honeymoon boating on Lake Texcoco, speaking of their future together in the Lake Kingdom and teasing each other. As they reached the botanical garden, Alisa accused Xolotl of admiring other dancers, and he carried her into the garden to dance with her.

• Xolotl and Alisa shared a romantic boat ride past the fertile lakeshore and talked about making the Lake Kingdom their home.
• Xolotl described their future together in the Lake Kingdom, and Alisa promised to follow him wherever he went.
• Xolotl and Alisa teased each other about becoming butterflies, flowers, and birds as they planned their honeymoon visits.
• Xolotl told Alisa they would visit the botanical garden, bird zoo, aquarium, and Pyramid before his eastern campaign began.
• Alisa said she would dance for Xolotl and became jealous when he admitted he liked watching dances.
• Xolotl carried Alisa from the boat into the botanical garden and declared that they would dance the Butterfly Dance together.

During an outing toward Mount Estella, Xolotl observed the alliance’s harvest fields and discussed corn and cotton farming, labor, and trade with Alisa and Bertad. He then considered an eastern sea route through Tutul-Xiu toward Cuba before continuing with Alisa toward the sacred mountain and its hot springs.

• Xolotl reflected that a ruler should understand farming and the people’s hardships while he and Alisa traveled through the autumn fields.
• Alisa asked why villagers guarded ripe corn instead of harvesting it, and Xolotl explained that waiting for it to mature on the stalk increased the yield.
• Bertad described the cotton harvest and its labor, and Xolotl learned that the alliance’s cotton fields yielded about twenty jin per mu.
• Bertad noted that the Mixtec, Zapotec, and Maya produced much cotton, prompting Xolotl to consider a sea route from Tutul-Xiu toward Cuba.
• Xolotl teased and kissed Alisa as the royal party continued west toward the sacred mountain and its hot springs.

On the way to Mount Estella, Alisa told Xolotl the legends of Cuicuilco and Teotihuacan, then revealed rumors accusing the Alliance’s gunpowder weapons of drawing on evil powers. Xolotl grew wary of the rumors’ political origins, but he and Alisa continued toward the mountain temple, planning to pray there and visit the hot springs the next day.

• Alisa described how Teotihuacan’s people supposedly destroyed Cuicuilco with volcanic power and later built an empire that conquered distant lands.
• Alisa explained that Teotihuacan fell after losing the gods’ favor, and Xolotl promised that the Mexica would not meet the same fate while he was alive.
• Alisa told Xolotl that rumors linked the Alliance’s gunpowder weapons to underground demons and, since the latest festival, to Teotihuacan’s disastrous history.
• Xolotl suspected the rumors were politically motivated, then concealed his concern and joked with Alisa about their plans.
• Xolotl sent most of the Imperial Guard to camp below Mount Estella and climbed toward its temple with Alisa and a smaller escort.

Xolotl and Alisa visited the Temple of the Sun God on Mount Estella, where they prayed for blessings on their marriage and Xolotl assessed the capital’s priestly factions. After morning prayer, Tonaya offered them a secluded hot spring and sought to strengthen his ties with Xolotl, who agreed to stay close and discuss theology.

• Xolotl and Alisa climbed Mount Estella and exchanged greetings with Presiding Priest Tonaya, who welcomed them after receiving gifts from Tonatiuh.
• Xolotl considered the five main priestly lineages, the weakened Feathered Serpent lineage, and the challenge of consolidating divine authority in the capital.
• Xolotl and Alisa prayed before the Sacred Fire for protection and a blessed marriage, and Tonaya read their offering as an auspicious sign.
• Xolotl led the temple’s morning prayer before an ancient statue of the Sun God, which Tonaya said came from Cuicuilco.
• Tonaya recommended a secluded hot spring for Xolotl and Alisa and hinted at other pleasures, but Xolotl declined his offer.
• Tonaya asked Xolotl to maintain close ties with him, and Xolotl agreed to discuss theology and scripture together.

At a secluded hot spring, Xolotl explained microorganisms and disease to Alisa as he prepared to teach her anatomy through animal dissection. The chapter left him beginning to cut open a wild deer while Alisa watched.

• Xolotl and Alisa enjoyed the hot spring, and Xolotl recited poems that embarrassed her.
• Alisa asked Xolotl about microorganisms, and he explained how bacteria and viruses could cause illness.
• Xolotl called Nashu to bring a wild deer, turkeys, obsidian daggers, and a crystal magnifying glass for a lesson in anatomy.
• Alisa said she was not afraid of blood and agreed to learn about the body's systems through dissection.
• Xolotl warned Alisa to step back, then cut into the wild deer with an obsidian dagger.