The Spaniards enter the Tenochtitlan peaceably, take the confused and cowardly Moctecuzoma prisoner and force him to do their will. In the meantime, an expedition fielded by Governor Velasquez lands on the coast to discipline the rebellious army and hang Cortés. Cortés splits his army—half to hold Tenochtitlan and half to attack the numerically superior Velasquez force.

Remarkably, not only is Cortés is victorious, but he succeeds in integrating the defeated Spaniards into his army. He then countermarches on Tenochtitlan. In the meantime, those conquistadores remaining in Tenochtitlan have stupidly attacked the Aztecs during a celebration, killing thousands. The Tenochca strike back. Cortés enters the seemingly deserted city to relieve his besieged garrison.

It is a mistake. Now the entire army is under siege. There are constant attacks and mounting losses. The army grows steadily weaker. The army flees during a stormy night known to history as the sad night of La Noche Triste. The retreat is detected and the Tenochca throw their entire force against the Spaniards. There is a terrific slaughter and hundreds of Spaniards die or, worse, are taken captive.

Rodrigo isn't one of them. Wounded and terrified, he watches the pagan spectacle as Spaniards are sacrificed on the summit of the Templo Mayor. Rodrigo escapes the city and ultimately rejoins the surviving Spaniards. The story goes on but I'll leave you, my potential reader, in some suspense. I'll promise you that there is much, much more.