El Corazón del Océano

Alonso must flee Galicia after killing one of Count Raña's children. On the recommendation of his mother, the boy decides to take refuge in the monastery with Father Xoán, since Raña will soon be doing justice for the death of the noblest of his offspring.

Shortly before leaving Seville, Sanabria dies. His widow, Doña Mencía Calderón, manages to continue the expedition with herself in charge. Next to him will travel an experienced conqueror of the New World, Captain Salazar, who will not see favorably that a woman will be in charge of the expedition.

The first nights on board the Nao San Miguel are not as the maidens expected. The swings of the ship wreak havoc among the young women, but Ana represses her discomfort to help her traveling companions. The expedition arrives in Gran Canaria, where a detachment of soldiers and the rest of the expedition members await them.

At the end of May 1550, the expeditionaries reached the coast of the Gulf of Guinea after more than a month of drifting. Once there, things will get even more complicated: the indigenous people attack them and find themselves attacked by pirates.

For several months, they remain on the African coast repairing the ship. While the sailors carry out the reconstruction tasks, the maidens entertain themselves as they can. During one of their visits to the river, Ana and Guadalupe discover Pelayo and Alonso bathing naked, which encourages relationships between the boys and the maids.

Alonso and Pelayo meet some aborigines who are not very pleased with their presence and even less that they try to steal their food. Salazar asks Alonso not to say anything about the attack so as not to endanger the expedition.

Five months have passed and they continue in San Francisco. The confrontation between Mencía and the Captain has turned into a fraternal collaboration and from there to the passionate love that no one can avoid. However, the weight of Mencia's conventions and convictions prevent him from ending his relationship.

Salazar only brings good news in part, the Governor of Brazil will not provide any boat to go to Asunción, just to get to Santos. They are in a dilemma since they cannot continue too long in San Francisco without soldiers or weapons to protect them.

Alonso and Pelayo have realized that the maidens only wanted them for entertainment and they decide to separate from the expedition by working for Bras on their plantation. Pola and Lupe will also go their own way, as they have both conquered two wealthy Portuguese men.

Mencía reproaches Salazar for handing Ana over to the governor because the girl was in love with him. Now, the only way out for Salazar is to cross the jungle to reach Asunción. Isabel and some maids decide to leave with him, but Mencía, Sancha, Elvira, Rosita, Ana, María, Trejo and Hernandito must remain in the barracks.