While Montoya and his garrison are in Monterey to meet the new viceroy, Krane, one of Grisham's old associates, returns to exact revenge for testifying against him at his court martial. Krane forces the captain of the guard to help him take over the town by locking up the remaining soldiers and holding the dons hostage. The Queen of Swords organizes the dons's wives to rescue their husbands and rout the Krane's outlaws.
—David Bassler