A political marriage is arranged between the thirty-three-year-old king of Xukpip and Princess Green Jay, the thirteen-year-old daughter of the king of Lakamha. The two are paired because of similar horoscopes -- and Green Jay possesses skills that will be valuable to her husband-to-be: She can read and write. Author Anna Kirwan relates fascinating aspects of ancient Mayan culture as she shares the young princess's physical and emotional state from the betrothal, with its distressing rituals, through her arduous journey to a foreign land and people, and a husband who is a complete stranger.

		July 16, 749 A.D. Cormorant's House, Poblik'uk Today, I am writing in an airy hillside house of cool stuccoed stone, with thatched pavilions all about that are already halfway repaired after the storm. There is a fruit grove, and down the hill, before on comes to the water-fields, a row of artists' workshops. Lady Cloud Macaw is a lover of fine painted dishes, elegant modeled figures molded and carved bone. She also has a great number of cotton weavers who work for her. The finest wood carver in the realm is just down the hill from where I sit writing. He is working on a sapote wood doorway panel showing a likeness of Sun-eyed Yik'in - I saw and admired his design. However, he has not finished Lord Yok'in's head yet, so I could not really see how He of Mutual looks. The Carver's name is Ah Che Nen Chak. We have been here since 11 Chuen. I have gone into the women's stream room everyday. It is true, what Ixnak'ik remembered. The long brown pods of vanilla orchid summer in the water pot next to the coals, and the steam in the air is like being in a ravine of ferns and flowers - but cleaner. Much cleaner.