Synopsis
Mexico. Late sixteenth century. After the bloody Mixtón War by the indigenous people against Spanish rule, Francisco Tenamaztle, is caught and awaits trail. Fearing a big uprising, the Spaniards decide to send Tenamaztle to Spain to be tried by the Council of the Indies, which could order his execution.
Meanwhile, a group of Dominican friars headed by Friar Valerio De Medina entrusts Painalli, a brave and respected Indian Tameme, the risky task of transporting Doña Elisa from Mexico City to the port of Veracruz, by foot.
From Veracruz, Elisa is supposed to travel back to Spain on the same ship as Tenamaztle so she can denounce her father, Don Miguel of Ibarra, responsible for the injustices that provoked the Mixtón War. Elisa also wants to avenge her husband’s death, which she believes was ordered by her father.
In an effort to prevent his daughter from achieving her objective, Don Miguel sends a group of mercenaries led by the violent Lieutenant Diaz to capture Elisa and Painalli. Diaz has the cunning collaboration of Itzmin, a Tameme Indian, brother and eternal rival of Painalli; Itzmin seeks his personal revenge against Painalli.
Friar Valerio travels with Painalli and Elisa the first part of the way until he can no longer keep up with the fast pace and decides to confront Diaz and try to convince him to let Elisa finish her mission. Diaz flatly refuses and kills Friar Valerio on the spot.
Elisa and Painalli witness Diaz´s fury and flee the scene. The intense escape soon becomes a frantic hunt through the forests and ravines of the inhospitable New World. Elisa and Painalli grow in affection for one another. Itzmin kidnaps Painalli´s child to use him as bait. Diaz and his men eventually catch up to Elisa and Painalli at the banks of a rushing river. Elisa, in an effort to protect Painalli´s son, trades herself in for the child’s freedom. Once Diaz has Elisa in his possession, Itzmin, seeing an opportunity for the ultimate revenge against his rival, throws Painalli´S child into the river. Painalli instinctively jumps to save his son, but only manages to rescue his lifeless body.
Painalli hunts down Itzmin and when he is about to kill him, Painalli discovers that Itzmin has contracted the deadly Spanish disease. Painalli leaves Itzmin to die a slow and painful death. After his son’s burial, Painalli decides to finish his mission of safely delivering Elisa, but not before taking revenge on each of those responsible for the death of his son.
Meanwhile Elisa, who is taken by her father, Don Miguel on a journey through a desert and rescues Elisa.
Painalli and Elisa finally arrive to Veracruz and say an emotional goodbye, knowing that their love is impossible. Elisa embarks on a ship for Spain to testify in favor of Tenamaztle.