At dawn on Winter Solstice, Juan and Sophia again see into the past through the square hole in the mysterious silver medallion. This time they witness a small band of travelers coming upon the body of a child in the desert. The twin's 100-year-old great grandfather explains that Adzul's grandson Cuto, the next heir of the medallion, was leading a group of Aztec adventurers north to seek a new life in Santa Fe. After establishing friendly relations with the local Pueblo Indians, Cuto's life is turned upside down when he encounters the sadistic Lt. Marquez. Forced to turn away from peaceful endeavors, the Aztecs must now engage in a desperate struggle to survive.