"Young Malinali lives a contented life in a quiet Mayan village. Her father is a tribal chief, but after he dies, her stepfather sells her into slavery. Intelligent and quick, Malinali learns a new language each time she's sold to another master. Eventually she's given to Hernán Cortés, who, impressed with her linguistic abilities, promises her freedom if she 'serves him well' as translator ..."--Cover.