Huitzitzilin is an elderly Mexica noblewoman living in the aftermath of the Spanish conquest. Using the translated name "Hummingbird" to accommodate Spanish speakers, she insists on retaining her cultural identity despite the pressures of colonial society. She speaks with a powerful, unflinching voice as she recounts her life experiences to a young priest, challenging the dominant narratives imposed by the Spanish conquerors.

Father Benito is a 27-year-old Spanish priest freshly assigned to his position in Mexico. Driven by youthful zeal and a desire to document historical details, he initially approaches his duties with strict adherence to Catholic morality. His rigid religious education leaves him unprepared for the complex realities and cultural traditions he encounters while listening to his new confessant.

Zintle is Huitzitzilin's cousin and a member of the royal court in the capital. He shares a profound connection with Huitzitzilin during their youth, representing a time of relative freedom before her arranged marriage and the eventual Spanish arrival.

Tetla is an older, influential nobleman within the Mexica society. As a councilman with immense social standing, his position grants him significant authority over his young betrothed. He represents the rigid patriarchal structure of pre-colonial Mexica life and enforces strict traditional expectations on his household.

Baltazar Ovando is a Spanish captain with golden hair and a persistent gaze. Operating under Cortés, he is deeply involved in the military occupation of the Mexica capital. He embodies the complex presence of the colonizers, holding immense power over the subjugated residents while establishing personal ties with locals.

Father Anselmo is a senior priest who oversees religious operations in the area. He maintains strict adherence to the Church's doctrines and the official Spanish version of historical events. He serves as a voice of established colonial authority, actively working to suppress any narratives that contradict his institution's teachings.

King Moctezuma is the legendary ruler of the Mexica people during the initial arrival of the Spanish. Facing an unprecedented crisis, his leadership decisions deeply impact the entire empire. His attempts to interpret the arrival of the foreigners shape the early interactions between the two cultures.

Hernán Cortés is the Spanish conquistador commanding the forces that arrive in the Mexica capital. He is a strategic and often brutal military leader focused on securing control of the empire for Spain. His actions and orders dictate the rapid destruction and transformation of the Mexica society.

Paloma is Huitzitzilin's daughter, born in the tumultuous aftermath of the Spanish arrival. Raised separately from her mother's cultural heritage, she represents the new generation growing up entirely under the influence of Spanish colonial customs and education.