After his father is murdered under peculiar circumstances, young Armando Valera is forced to flee from New Spain and seek refuge with his estranged uncle in Seville, Spain. The mystery: in his efforts to unravel the obscurity of his father's death, Armando unearths old feuds and motives that implicate his uncle as a suspect. The romance: a love relationship between Armando and the daughter of a staunch dogmatist of blood purity; this pits the loving couple against an enraged father, a rival suitor, and a malevolent priest who conspire to bring Armando to ruin. The adventure: responding against both conspicuous and shrouded enemies, Armando transitions from sailor to student, from student to soldier, and from soldier to the notorious swordsman known as Bluefire.