Chapter 1


In the year AD 250, all was well in the powerful and wealthy Mayan empire.  Crops were plentiful, many children were born, the people were contented and not at war among each other.

Queen Citali, beloved by her people, lived in a towering pyramid palace.  Unmarried, she lived alone among her exquisite treasures and possessions.  Her only companions in the pyramid, deep in the heart of the rainforest.  were her loyal servants, Itzel and Izel, husband and wife. 

Every day people would come from far and wide to see her and listen to one of her original poems.  Sometimes they were sad, others inspirational, others amusing - depending on her mood.

At exactly 3 PM she would step out on her balcony with Itzel and Izel who worshipped their beautiful and kind queen.

She would wear one of her own magnficent woven gown creations (she loved to weave fine and rare fabrics) with matching hat. 

tzel would hold up the heavily embroidered cloth used to cover Queen Citali's face as the people were not permitted to look directly at her.  She would sit in a huge, carved throne seat and read her latest poems aloud. 

The people waited to hear her words with anxious anticipation and cheered, laughed or cried when she was done, which ever was appropriate. 

Then she would throw them gold coins and the children would dive around the base of the pyramid to retrieve one of the rare treasures.  "No pushing or shoving" Itzel would gently scold the excited children. 

Exactly every day at 3:30 the visit would end and Queen Citali and Itzel and Izel would stand and walk back inside the palace, the golden door of the pyramid closing  soundly behind them.

Then one day something terrible happened -