Captain from Castile

In spring 1518 near Jaén, Pedro de Vargas secretly aids Coatl, an Aztec slave fleeing his cruel master Diego de Silva, who leads the Santa Hermandad. This act puts Pedro on a collision course with de Silva, who also pursues Luisa's affections. The escape sets off a chain of risk and loyalty as Pedro's world begins to unravel.

Pedro helps rescue Catana Pérez from de Silva's men at an inn where she works. There, Pedro meets Juan García, an adventurer newly returned from the New World who will become a key ally. The encounter deepens Pedro's entanglement with Catana and the peril surrounding them.

De Silva uses his Santa Hermandad powers to imprison Pedro and his family on charges of heresy. Pedro's young sister dies under torture, while Juan García becomes a prison guard and ultimately kills his own mother to spare her further torment. The stakes escalate as Pedro's resistance draws the wrath of the Inquisition.

In a tense cell confrontation, Pedro disarms de Silva and forces him to renounce God before stabbing him. Pedro's victory clears the way for a daring escape. He, his family, Catana, and Manuel flee the prison.

The trio (with Catana's brother Manuel aiding from the shadows) breaks apart from Spain's danger and chooses to seek fortune in Cuba rather than Italy. They sign on with Hernán Cortés for the voyage to the New World. The plan shifts Pedro's path from local rivalries to imperial conquest.

On the voyage to New Spain, Pedro recounts his Spain ordeal to Father Bartolomé, Cortés's spiritual adviser. The priest tears up an arrest order but does not realize de Silva survives. Bartolomé gives Pedro a penance and a vow to carry forward his faith.

The expedition lands at Villa Rica in Mexico, where Aztec emissaries attempt to buy Cortés off with gems. Cortés refuses and persuades his men to press ahead with conquest and riches. Pedro begins his first real test in the New World.

Catana seeks the aid of Botello, who gives her a ring said to compel love. Pedro resists being under its spell, and they marry the same night, sealing their alliance amid Cortés's looming campaign.

Cortés travels inland to Cempoala, receiving a gem bribe from Aztec emissaries and placing Pedro in charge of guarding the sacred gems in a teocalli. Pedro leaves his post to calm drunken soldiers, the gems are stolen, and Cortés accuses him of theft.

Pedro tracks the thieves through a hidden door into the teocalli and, with Corio's help, pursues them back to Villa Rica. He recovers the gems but is gravely wounded by a crossbow bolt during their escape.

Cortés promotes Pedro to captain and burns their ships to prevent retreat. The army moves toward Cholula where a new delegation, led by Montezuma's nephew, warns of danger unless they withdraw. Cortés discovers Velázquez's secret support for a rival force.

Cortés splits his forces; Pedro remains in command of the remnant while Cortés pursues reinforcements. Diego de Silva returns as the Santa Hermandad emissary to impose control; Juan attacks him but is checked by Cortés's men, and Father Bartolomé reminds Pedro of his vow.

That night de Silva is strangled, and Pedro is condemned to death, though Coatl confesses to Father Bartolomé that he killed de Silva. Catana stabs Coatl to spare him the humiliation of hanging, and Pedro recovers. Cortés and his followers press on toward the Aztec capital.