As his thin boots sloshed through the cocoon of tropic and his mud-slick face burned in the heat, Juán's chest twisted in realization. He was a conquistador. Just like the man whose blood churned within him. ... When an unforeseen betrayal lands Juan Gascón serving under Hernán Cortés during the conquest of México, the realization of what cause he is truly aiding begins to dawn on him. But even though chaos and bloodshed rage around him, the inner turmoil quaking his psyche is even greater--that he is just like his father. And that there is nothing he can do about it.