It is the year 1519 and it is summer time. The weather is hot and drops of dew hangs from the tropical trees near my village of Chalco. Chalco is a relatively large and fertile farming city in the southeast corner of the Aztec Empire.
Since the treaty in 1486, before I was born, our village and the capital of Tenochtitlan allied with each other and created our great empire. It was in this same year, mother tells me, that our speech was changed. We had to switch from our old tongue of Chalca to the official language of Nahuatl. I however, did not worry much about this switch, as I was born in 1500.
My name is Malinalli which is Nahuatl for grass and I keep my families farm while my father is away in the war.
The village of Chalco is southeast of our great capital of Tenochtitlan.
My mother's name is Miahuaxiuitl, or blue flower.
My father died somewhere in Tenochtitlan, his name was Ehecatl or wind.
I was once told by my mother that Ehecatl was fighting against a great force of men with steel weapons and great iron armor.
Father went to the capital of Tenochtitlan to join in the fighting there which has erupted over the past several months.
I will embark on a journey to the capital of our great empire and find out what happened to my father. There is an opportunity for me to understand what the conflict is with the invaders and understand what may have happened to my father.
I must find supplies and prepare for this long journey, which will take me to the heart of the empire.
You will hear from me soon enough.
-Malinalli