De Garcia/Sarceda: The Antagonist:
He is associated with evil; the devil
Otomie observes that he is a "man-devil with a sword"
He is deceitful; he disguises himself
He fears Thomas; has a vulnerable side
Charismatic--charm
He lands himself in positions of power:
Captain of the Five Wounds
He is a high ranking officer with Cortes

Thomas:
He heads out into the world strong, fearless
By the time he marries Otomie, he has compromised his own vows
Dynamic character, round character
He expresses fear; he also maintains his courage
Subject to outside influences
When in Rome. . .
He is a survivor; he is lucky or blessed

Haggard is creating an epic--action, lofty language, heroism: deal with war or the after effects of war

Characterization: "method/art/craft of presentation of fictional personages
protagonist: main character…could be hero (perfect) or antihero (ordinary, average). Antagonist: opponent of main character."
http://www.du.edu/~ckuhn/lit/poetryfictionterms.htm

In March 1520 he [Pedro Narvaez] left Cuba, commanding a fleet of ships and about 900 men with orders from Velásquez to capture and replace Hernán Cortés as ruler of Mexico. Cortés, who had been charged with treason and disloyalty, defeated the expedition. Narváez was taken prisoner with most of his men; he was released the next year on orders from Spain and returned to Cuba.

Spanish attack 600 Aztec Nobles who have gathered for a banquet and celebration.

Chapter 20
Otomie offers her counsel to Thomas to bear the pain and unknown in his sacrifice.
Thomas dreams of Lily and kisses Otomie by mistake.
He ruminates on the meaning of life

Chapter 21
Otomie follows Thomas to the stone of sacrifice; they exchange a kiss which signifies mutual affection

Chapter 22
the triumph of the cross refers to the Spanish invasion of the temple.
Otomie and Thomas's blood mingles on the stone of sacrifice--sensual, symbol of unity
 blood must be shed for the sacrifices and the heart which pumps it must be removed and placed on a
 golden plate
 blood allows the reader to identify the individual, where he/she or comes from
 Blood mixing with Aztecs signifies a new identity
 mixed blood: mixed lineage: Thomas is half English and half Spanish (Teule)--this becomes both an
 advantage and a liability
 Otomie: daughter of the Otomie people and the daughter of Montezuma, an Aztec
 Trascalan/Aztec warrior and a spy who will report the treasure to the Spanish
 Blood mixing with Guatemoc: signifying brotherhood and a vouching for Thomas's honor
 Blood sinking into the ground also signifies what would happen if Thomas were disloyal to the Aztecs
 Blood sinking into the ground signifies the erasure of Thomas's past
 Conquest: Blood is being spilt in volumes:  the Aztecs, the Spanish, Trascalans (Traxcalan, Tlascalan):
 Traitor tribe
 Otomie are currently aligned with the Trascalan; fighting a war of vengeance--their warriors are used in
 Aztec sacrifices

This chapter involves a moment of mutual discovery, for de Garcia has unwittingly saved his mortal enemy. (179)

Chapter 23
Although Otomie and Thomas are married according to Aztec rites, these earlier vows are more symbolic
of Tezcat's ascension than a earthly union.  But the true marriage takes place under Otomie's terms and
she asks for all or nothing from Thomas.
Otomie asks Thomas to renounce his past and to give her his future 188
The ceremony involves a baptism in which their Guatemoc pledges his blood for Thomas 191
Cuitlahua accepts Thomas's advice on war

Chapter 24
Marina and Cortes reappear in the narrative and by this time she has risen in rank serving as Cortes's translator
Montezuma dies from his wounds (having been shot by an arrow and stoned)
Otomie pledges another oath to avenge her father's death 196
Thomas trains the archers of the Aztecs 197
The Spanish number 1500 with 6-8000 Tlascalans
Thomas and de Garcia enter into combat, but the latter escapes, leaving Bernal Diaz in his place.  Diaz
wrote about the Conquest of Mexico

Chapter 25
Thomas accompanies Guatemoc and a noble of Aztec and Tlascalan blood to bury Montezuma's treasure.  This scene parallels the earlier entombing of Isabella.
Thomas is rewarded with an emerald necklace, a stone of which he presented to Queen Elizabeth.
He vows to be buried with it  205
Guatemoc curses gold and jewels, seeing that it corrupts the soul 206
Otomie prepares to visit the City of Pines, her mother's home and the site of a volcano, Xaca, or the Queen 209
Otomie presents her case to her mother's people, asking for their help in the fight against the Spanish 211-212

Chapter 26
The Spanish bring their disease and pestilence to Mexico City (Tenoctitlan)
The evils of the fathers are visited upon the children 214