In the ancient world of Mayan intrigue, Rorek, a towering Norseman with fiery red hair, finds himself an unwitting deity among the pygmy warriors of Yucatan. Landing on the shores of the twelfth-century Mayan Empire, Rorek's Viking origins and divine appearance spark awe among the black-haired Mayans. Princess Taycapin, though skeptical, nicknames him Quetzalcoatl-the Plumed Serpent-recognizing his wisdom. Rorek gains favor with Emperor Za Ramna, but Taycapin's ambition to rule drives her to scheme against her brother. As political machinations unfold, Rorek, bound by Viking principles, refuses to partake in Taycapin's treachery and falls for Za Ramna's daughter, Za Chel, the "Sun Virgin." Richard Barry's epic adventure, The Plumed Serpent, weaves a tale of forbidden love, political intrigue, and cultural clash against the rich backdrop of ancient Mayan civilization.