But the priests answered that this was no time for him to claim exception for his blood, now when the gods were wroth.

Was the first lady in the land to be withheld from the god?
they asked.

Then my father sighed and said that it should be as I willed.

And I said with the priests, that now in our sore distress the proud must humble themselves to the dust, even to the marrying of a captive slave who is named a god and doomed to sacrifice.

So I, princess of the Otomie, have consented to become your wife, O Tezcat, though perchance had I known all that I read in your eyes this hour, I should not have consented.