The Spanish governor stood smiling calmly surrounded by his soldiers whose weapons were fixed on the fugitives.

"Mendoza," Cortez inclined his head slightly. "I see the plan worked perfectly." The children gasped and Medoza clenched his fist. "What a splendid prize! The golden chamber, this golden bird! I owe you my thanks, señor."

Mendoza forced himself to relax and replied, bowing slightly, "I am pleased I could be of service, Excellency."

Cortez stepped forward, admiring the Condor. "Yes, I'm sure you are." The conquistador's smile turned unpleasant. "And because I am so grateful, I will give you a proper execution tomorrow at dawn instead of having my guards shoot you here as you deserve!"

Mendoza recoiled in shock. Pedro and Sancho took a quick step away from their employer.

"What?!" Tao gasped.

"No!" Esteban cried out.

The governor's face was hard and cruel. "Take them away!"

*****

The governor and his soldiers conducted the prisoners up the long corridor leading to the entrance of the Temple of the Sun.

Marinche stood waiting with the Doctor and Tetiola in the fading light of the setting sun. Seeing Mendoza tied, the beautiful Aztec woman smiled, grasping his chin in her hand. "I've always wanted your head on a platter, Medoza," she said with vicious glee, "and now, it seems I will have it!"

He jerked back from her touch and said frigidly, "How can a lovely face conceal such an ugly soul?"

Marinche turned away angrily and called, "Tetiola!"

Her large guardian stepped forward. "Yes, Madame?"

"Go with the soldiers and make certain the prisoners can't escape! Separate the children again so they cannot plot with each other. And I have a special cell in mind for Medoza."

Tetiola nodded and the prisoners were taken away surrounded by armor and rifles.

"Come my dear," Cortez said offering Marinche his arm, "let me show you our treasures!" The pair descended back to the chamber followed by a very jealous looking Doctor Laguerra.

*****

Tulazema silently watched her treacherous sister and that snake, Cortez, as they disappeared into the passage.

Her brother couldn't remain quiet, "How can she fawn over that pig!" Jubal-Cec hissed softly.

"Hush my brother," Zema replied. "There is nothing we can do about her. For now, we can only try and find a way to free the children."

"But how?" Jubal-Cec asked dubiously. "They would take us prisoner if we go back to the palace."

"We'll think of a way," Zema said, not quite sounding like she believed her own words. "We must ask the High Priest's and the council's advice." As silent as jungle cats, the brother and sister slipped away.

*****

Marinche and the Doctor stood in the golden ante room, looking greedily at the treasure surrounding them.

"What magnificence!" Laguerra said in awe.

"You have not seen the greatest prize, my friend," Cortez gloated as he led them through the still open doors leading to the next chamber.

At the sight of the great golden bird, Marinche exclaimed, "The Golden Condor!!"

"You have seen this statue before?" Cortez questioned.

"Yes," the Doctor confirmed as he ran his hand over one of the golden claws, "but it is more than a mere statue, my dear Cortez. It is a flying machine!"

Cortez looked at the Doctor incredulously. "This bird flies?"

Marinche stepped in. "Yes, my Lord. And the secret of this device is held by those brats in the dungeon."

The Spanish conquistador smiled evilly. "Then we will have to persuade them to reveal all they know."

*****

Night covered the city once known as Tenochtitlan. Zia and Tao, along with Pedro and Sancho, were separated from Mendoza and Esteban, and imprisoned in the dungeon beneath Cortez's palace. The two adults were manacled to the wall but no shackles could be found that didn't slip over the children's wrists. They were bound with thick ropes instead.

"Curses!" Tao bite out as a gate slid closed, adding another barrier between them and freedom. "How can we escape this time?!"

"And where have they taken Esteban?" Zia cried.

Tao shook his head dejectedly.

"Well, well," a voice said in the darkness of the cell. "This prison seems to attract the highest quality inmates. Wouldn't you agree, Commander?"

The two children and two sailors looked up, startled by the familiar voice. "It can't be..." Tao groaned as the group peered into the darkest corner of there prison.

"Captain Gaspar?!" Pedro exclaimed.

"And Gomez," Tao finished, clearly irritated. "Don't you two have anything better to do than follow us?"

Gomez smiled and answered, "Not as long as you are searching for the Cities of Gold." The pair were manacled on the wall opposite the heroes. "Come now Tao, we all seem to be in the same predicament, so lets try to be civil. We might even be able to help one another. But where are Esteban and Mendoza?"

Zia and Tao looked at each other. "Well, its sort of a long story..." the Hevan boy began. The two former soldier's listened intently as the two children recounted their tale. Carefully omitting the details about the silver sphere and the Solstice, Zia finished, "...so if we can't find a way to escape before dawn, Mendoza will be executed!"

"We have to do something!" Gaspar exclaimed, caught up in the moment.

"Patience Gaspar," Gomez said calmly, looking steadily at the children. "I somehow doubt you have told us everything you know and Mendoza's fate does not concern me in the least." The former Commander paused. "However, we will help you if...you take us with you."

Tao and Zia looked at one another questioningly. "I don't think we have a choice," Tao sighed. "All right, we agree. But how can you help us escape when you are imprisoned just as we are?"

Gomez smiled craftily and shifted one of his manacled arms. A small stiletto blade fell from one of his puffed sleeves. Tao looked from the dagger to the former soldier. "So that is how you freed yourself when we had you captive in the Village of the New Sun!"

"No time for talk, boy!" Gomez kicked the blade toward him. Tao bristled at the words but remained silent as he struggled to grab hold of the weapon. In moments, he had freed himself and Zia. "Good! Now help us Tao."

While Zia watched for their guard, Tao went to each of the other prisoners, examining their restraints. "I don't know," he murmured, looking concerned. "These manacles look to be fairly well constructed. I'm not sure if I can free you or not."

"You have to try, Tao!" Zia put in. "What other choice do we have?"

The boy nodded. He walked over to Gaspar, whose manacles seemed more rusted than the others and started to strike the lock with the handle of the danger.

"Careful!!" the former Captain shrieked when one of the blows slipped and the blade came uncomfortably close to his hand.

"I am," Tao snarled back, "but if I can't get you loose, you may end up losing your head instead of your hand!"

"Point taken," Gaspar conceded and tried not to flinch when the blows came too close.

It was going to be a very long night.

*****

Esteban was lead through the palace halls to Cortez's throne room. The conquistador was there, sitting strait in a high backed chair. Marinche stood beside him.

Though he was afraid, Esteban let his anger speak for him. "Where is Zia, Tao and Mendoza?! What have you done to them!?!"

Cortez smiled warmly at the boy. "Do not worry, young man. Your friends are safe...for now."

"Why are you doing this? We have done nothing wrong!"

"Perhaps not, but it is my duty to the Crown to pursue this matter," Cortez replied with mock concern. "And to this end, I have brought you here to make a proposition. Tell me all you know of the Cities of Gold and persuade your friend Tao to reveal the secrets of the silver sphere. You must also demonstrate how the Golden Condor flies. Do these things and I will free your friends and spare Mendoza's life." Marinche threw him a dark look at those words.

The smile faded from Cortez's lips and was replaced with a dangerous frown. His gaze was cold as ice. "If you do not cooperate, I will execute your friends one by one and you will witness each agonizing death!" He sat back, once again cool and calm. "I give you until tomorrow to decide. Guards!" He called. "Take our friend Esteban to his room. He has much to think about."

When Esteban was gone, Marinche turned on Cortez. "You are not seriously considering releasing Mendoza, are you!?"

He gave her a smile that sent shivers up her spine. "Of course not, my dear."

*****

To Esteban's surprise, he was not led to the dungeon, but rather to a richly appointed room. As the guard shut and locked the only door, the scent of something delicious drew the boy's attention. A banquet was laid out on a small table in the center of the room.

Drawn like a zombie by the mouth-watering aroma, Esteban lifted a chicken leg to his lips...and paused. Zia and Tao can't have any of this where ever they are, he thought, so neither shall I. He dropped the leg and walked away.

"What am I going to do?" he said aloud to himself. "I can't tell him about the Cities of Gold of the Condor. If I do, it will only hurt more people. But if I don't, Mendoza will...." he couldn't bare to finish the thought.

Esteban sat down cross legged on the floor and closed his eyes. He didn't move again for a very long time.

*****

Mendoza looked up at the night sky through the bars that were confining him.

Only Marinche would think of doing this to me, he thought darkly.

He was imprisoned in a small hole in the plaza of the palace. It was barely large enough for him. He could not stand up strait and there certainly wasn't enough room to sit down. He could not rest nor stay active. And whenever he reached up to test the strength of the grate above him, his damn guard, Tetiola, was quick to stomp his fingers down again.

The hours of the night were passing like years. It would almost be worth it when dawn finally came and he was taken to his execution. At least then he could stretch his cramped muscles. The navigator couldn't help but laugh slightly at his situation. In the middle of an open courtyard but absolutely unable to escape.

"I don't know how I'm going to get out of this one," he said softly.

*****

Tao paused a moment in his labors to shake the arm that had gone numb from his long exertions. Dawn was approaching and Gaspar still wasn't free. Despite the hours of patient attack, the lock still stubbornly refused to break.

"Tao!! We're running out of time!" Pedro insisted.

"Y-y-yes, h-hurry up Tao," Sancho chimed in.

Tao growled something nasty at them. Near the end of his rope, the boy gathered every last once of strength he had and brought the dagger handle down with startling force. A loud crack was heard and Gaspar carefully opened his eyes. To his amazement, his hand was still attached to his arm and yet the manacle on his right hand was gone.

"I'm free!!" he exclaimed joyfully.

"Hurry and free the rest of us, Gaspar! We don't have time to waste!" Gomez said angrily.

"Yes, sir!"

"Careful!" Zia whispered fearfully. "The guard is coming!"

"Hurry! Pretend your still captive!" Tao whispered as he dove back to his original position. Zia and Gaspar quickly followed his example. The former soldier grinned fiercely when he heard the gate creak open.

"What goes on here?!" the guard asked angrily as he entered. "What was that commotion?" The prisoners seemed to be asleep despite the noise of only a moment before. The guard scowled and turned to leave.

Quick as lightning, Gaspar was on his feet and had landed a solid blow against the back of the guard's neck.

"Well done!" Tao exclaimed happily. In half a moment, he had the guards keys and was freeing the others. Their former jailer was manacled and gagged to keep him from giving them away.

"N-n-now what?" Sancho asked uncertainly.

"We have to find Esteban," Zia insisted, "and Mendoza."

"Right," Tao agreed, "but we don't have much time left."

"And we must be very cautious," Gomez reminded them. "If we are caught again, it is all over."

Quiet as mice, they crept to the gate of the dungeon. As the first rays of the sun began to light the eastern sky, the fugitives stole away.

*****

Zema led a group of warriors through the passages beneath the palace. After hours of argument, she had managed to convince the High Priest and his council the captive children had to be rescued. It hadn't been easy. No one but herself and Jubal-Cec had seen the medallions and many would not believe them. They didn't want to risk an assault on Cortez's strong hold. But finally, they were on their way.

Their comrades, who were still inside the palace, had informed them the Spaniard called Mendoza was imprisoned in the courtyard but the children had been separated. Though she wanted to help the Spaniard, simply because Marinche seemed to hate him so much, her first priority had to be the children.

The Aztec rescuers finally reached the passage opening. Zema pushed the release mechanism and the wall slid open.

"What?!" Zema gasped in astonishment at the sight before her.

*****

Light spilled through a window as Marinche examined the silver sphere, holding it up so its surface became a mirror that reflected her perfect beauty and cold smile. Dawn. It was almost time to join Cortez in the plaza. How she would enjoy this morning! Mendoza would die and the secrets of the Cities of Gold would be revealed.

Behind her, Marinche heard the door softly open. "I will join you in a moment," she said, assuming it was Cortez or the Doctor come to fetch her. No one else would dare enter her room unannounced.

"I'm afraid we must hurry you along, my lady," a voice said calmly...a voice she had never heard before. Marinche whirled to face two Spaniards in tattered clothing, one of whom carried a small dagger.

"Who are you?! What is the meaning of this intrusion?!" Then, suddenly, she recognized them. "Your the ones who helped those miserable brats recover the Golden Condor from the Olmecs back in the Mayan lands!!"

Gomez bowed slightly. "I am honored you remember us!"

"I suppose by brats, she means us," Tao said joyfully as he appeared beside the two former soldiers. Spying the silver sphere still clutched in Marinche's hands, he laughed and grabbed it away from her.

"Not a sound, Lady!" Gomez warned coolly as Marinche seemed about to call out. "I would hate to damage that lovely neck!"

"Fools!!" Marinche hissed. "Cortez will have your heads for this!"

"Whatever," Gaspar said irritably. "Now why don't you be a good girl and lead us to Esteban and Mendoza. We're in a hurry!"

*****

Esteban tried to shrug off his weariness as he was led through the palace halls. He hadn't slept at all that night. His mind raced with the thought of the decision he was faced with. What am I going to do? He was taken outside to a platform in the middle of a courtyard. Cortez and the Doctor were already seated facing the raised arena.

"Where is Marinche?" Doctor Laguerra asked, puzzled.

"I'm sure she will be here shortly," Cortez replied, unconcerned. "She won't want to miss this."

"Where are the others?" Esteban asked shakily as he was brought to the governor.

"I thought I would spare them this display. At least, until it is their turn," Cortez said pleasantly. "Unless, of course, you decide to cooperate, my boy." He nodded to a group of soldiers sanding off to the side of the dais. They quickly disappeared only to return moments later...dragging Mendoza with them.

Esteban's heart fell. He had never seen the navigator so utterly exhausted. So defeated.

Mendoza smiled faintly as he neared the boy and forced himself to stand up strait. "Nice to see you, Esteban. We're in quite a predicament, wouldn't you say?"

Esteban shrugged and smiled back tightly. "You can say that again!"

Cortez stood and addressed the condemned prisoner. "Mendoza, you have been found guilty of treason, conspiracy and with holding His Majesty's Royal Fifth."

The Spanish Navigator rolled his eyes and said softly, "As if I can ever hold onto any gold long enough to pay the King's Fifth."

Cortez continued as if Mendoza hadn't spoken. "You are hereby condemned to death, the sentence to be carried out now!"

The governor looked to one of his soldier's, who moved to stand behind the navigator and drew his sword. He held it high above his head for what seemed an eternity, then brought it down in a large arch...

... and pulled back just in time to miss the young boy who stood between him and the condemned sailor.

Esteban stood with his arms outstretched, protecting the man who was usually his guardian.

"Esteban?" Mendoza whispered.

"How many times have you saved my life, Mendoza?" the boy said softly over his shoulder. "I can't even begin to remember them all." He sighed and smiled again. "Its my turn to save you. I won't let this happen!" The Child of the Sun turned to face the dais and called in a firm, clear voice, "Governor Cortez, I accept your terms! Release Mendoza and my other friends and I will tell you all of our secrets!"

Cortez smiled wickedly.