The story opens in Panama, where Pizarro and his small band of loyal followers prepare for a perilous expedition to the fabled Kingdom of Gold in the South. Despite the hostility of the colonial governor, Pizarro draws a line in the sand on the desolate Island of Gallo, inspiring a dozen faithful men to follow him into the unknown. Among the cavaliers is Alonso de Molina, who becomes deeply entangled in the politics of the Inca Empire and falls under the spell of Yma, a beautiful Virgin of the Sun.
Pizarro sails to Tumbez and later journeys to Spain to secure a royal charter from Emperor Charles V, returning with increased authority and his brother Hernando. Meanwhile, Molina is sent as an ambassador to the Inca court in Quito, where he witnesses the splendor of Atahualpa's civilization and experiences the complex loyalties of the native people during a brutal civil war between Atahualpa and his brother Huascar.
Following the Spanish invasion and the shocking massacre at Caxamalca, Pizarro captures Atahualpa by stratagem. The Inca offers a colossal ransom of gold and silver to secure his freedom, leading to a massive accumulation of treasure and internal strife among the conquerors regarding its division. Almagro arrives with fresh troops, adding to the friction among the Spanish leadership.
Throughout these turbulent events, Teresa, disguised as a knight, desperately searches for Molina across the perilous mountain trails and tropical jungles of Peru. The narrative moves towards a tragic climax as the conquerors tighten their grip on the fallen empire, culminating in the execution of the Inca and the transformation of a rich civilization into a Spanish province.
