The cloth hardcover has minimal wear to the corners, edges, and cover. The binding is tight and pages are clean, no underlining, highlighting or writing. 📚 Check out my shop for more We Were There & Landmark books! Synopsis | Alala! Alala! – Santiago! Battle cries split the air as Indians and Spaniards pitted arrow against sword on the narrow Yucatan beach. The year was 1518 and Hernando Cortes, Captain General to the King of Spain, had begun his conquest of Mexico. To a man, the army followed their tall, bearded leader into the first of many bloody battles. And among them marched a proud triumvirate – young Richardo Ayelon, foot soldier; the black-eyed Orteguilla, page to Cortex; and the veteran fighter Diego. Together these three would eagerly follow Cortes into the land of the powerful and elusive Aztec ruler, Montezuma. Tlaxcala… Cholula. Ricardo and Orteguilla quickly proved their courage, as Cortex’ army conquered one Indian nation after another. This Spanish god, as they thought him, struck fear in the hearts of the caciques, the Indian chief. Yet the Spaniards shuddered equally before the Indians’ savage cries of “We will sacrifice your hearts to our gods!” After each defeat, ambassadors of the great chief Montezuma appeared, bearing gifts of gold, pearls, and jade, in an attempt to turn back Cortes. But the conquest was almost complete. Before it was finished, Ricardo and Orteguilla would look upon the great god Huitzilopochtli and enter the white-walled city of the Aztecs. —From dust jacket ABOUT THE SERIES | Are easy to read and provide exciting, entertaining stories, based upon true historic events. Each book tells the exciting story of two young persons’ adventures during some of history’s most dramatic events written by top authors and illustrated by top artists. Each story is checked for factual accuracy by an outstanding authority on this particular phase of our history. Though written simply enough for young readers, they make interesting reading for boys and girls well into their teens. b-129