Prodigal Son: the Second Book in the Sword Trilogy

Hernando Diaz is the young commander of an expeditionary force sent to the new world by the duke of Aragon. His mission is to check on the loyalty of Cortez for the Spanish court. Wild rumors of treasure, gold and a rich land excite the court. Hernando looks forward to the job as he sees it as a way of escaping his past and the terrible memories that torture him. Hernando is impressed and falls in love with this strange land and its people. He battles his way to the golden city only to find Cortez in need of his help. Hernando helps secure the vast riches of the new world for Charles V and saves the newly emerging country of Spain from certain bankruptcy. Back in Spain, after dealing with roving pirates, he is presented with a chance to save the king from assassination. But Hernando's greater quest is given to him by a secret society of which his deceased father was a member. He must go back to the new world and retrieve a much greater treasure. A treasure so important that it may just save man-kind.