"The Virgin of the Sun"
This is set in 14th century Peru, when a former fisherman, who became a wealthy London goldsmith, but who fled after being framed for murder, became the legendary white god of the Incas, marries a princess (who was the Virgin of the Sun similar to a vestal virgin), and eventually dies in battle defending his kingdom (which he inherited from his father-in-law) against the Inca emperor. Apart from one or two battles, not particularly blood-thirsty, and not much of interest.
The story starts with the (unnamed) editor of the book - an amateur antiquarian - visiting a fellow collector to purchase a clock on which he has set his heart. Mr Potts, the collector, is an elderly eccentric, who lives alone in provincial English town with a house full of crumbling antiques. The editor notices a late sixteenth century chest, in which he expresses an interest. Mr Potts tells him it is not for sale, until, after a short period of abstraction, he tells the editor that he has been told to let him have it - for £50. He explains to the initially skeptical editor that the shadow or ghost of a foreign-looking woman has told him to let the editor have the chest, and its contents.
A deal is struck, and the chest is taken away. It proves to contain assorted rubbish, a strange-looking ceremonial dress - apparently of South American work, and very ancient; a rusted sword-hilt, ring, and a manuscript in ancient blackletter writing. The editor has the latter transcribed, and it proves to be the autobiography of Hubert of Hastings, the owner of the sword, who lived in the time of King Richard II. The story begins.
Hubert is a fisherman, the owner of his own boat, and an only son, his two brothers and father having been drowned. One early morning, returning homewards in a fog with a good catch of fish, he finds himself in the midst of a French fleet, on its way to sack Hastings. Hubert and his two men escape pursuit in their faster vessel, and give warning to the town.
Hubert's mother is elderly and weak, and unable to leave their home. In any events she prophecies that Hubert will live to fulfil a family legacy embodied in the Rune inscription on the blade of an ancient sword she gives Hubert. This sword, Wave Flame, belonged to Hubert's mother's ancestor Thorgrimmer the Viking. It's insciption, according to the legend as recounted hastily as she girdles it on Hubert, is that "conquering, conquered shall he be, and far away shall sleep with me". His mother counsels Hubert to go to his uncle in Cheap, London. He is John Grimmer the goldsmith.
With his two servants, William Bull (who had once been a soldier) and Jack Grieves, Hubert takes an active part in the defence of the town. Unfortunately lack of decisive leadership and the more experienced French troops told, and the defenders gradually withdrew from the town, which is soon in flames. Hubert's mother perishes in the fire, signing wildly. Hubert and a few men take refuge in a ruined fort, which is full of women and children, including the youthful daughter of Sir Robert Aleys, the Lady Blanche, who clings to Hubert for safety. They manage to keep the French at bay, although Grieves is killed, and Hubert acquits himself well, killing a French knight. Lady Blanche is grateful, and kisses Hubert before her father, and Lord Deleroy (her cousin), arrive to take her away.
Hubert goes to London, where he is welcomed by his uncle, who is in truth a wealthy banker and merchant as well as goldsmith. After a year or so Hubert is in charge of John Grimmer's financial empire, and when his uncle dies Hubert is the sole heir.
While overseeing the unloading of one of his ships at the London docks, Hubert rescues a dark-skinned man from some youths. He is Kari, a native of the Inca empire of Peru, though his story is not unravelled for some time due to language difficulties. Kari is the eldest son of the Inca Upanqui, but was poisoned and made mad by his jealous younger brother, and fled Peru, ending up in England (and with his wits recovered). In gratitude at Hurbert's protection, Kari becomes his servant, and also is a skilled goldsmith in his own right.
Lady Blanche comes into Hubert's goldsmith's shop, which he is overseeing. He had no idea that she was in London, and she had no knowledge of his new-found wealth and substance. She is accompanied by her cousin, Lord Deleroy. Deleroy lets Hubert know that he is in need of a substantial loan, such as Hubert is accustomed to offer. This he agrees to make, secured on certain lands belonging to Sir Robert Aleys.
The interest on the loan is in default, and Hubert discovers that the security is bad. Sir Robert is also furious with Deleroy, who has defrauded him of his estates. Hubert offers to forgo the whole debt, now owed by Sir Robert, if he marries Lady Blanche. He proposes, and after some show of reluctance, is accepted.
They are married in St Margaret's, Westminster, during a furious storm. Hubert is called away from the marriage feast to rescue one of his ships, which is in danger of foundering in the Thames. Lady Blanche begs him to stay, but he has no choice but see to the ship himself. On his return Hubert is met by Kari, who tells him that Lord Deleroy is with Lady Blanche. He enters the solar, and finds them in argument. Deleroy, a favourite of the King, produces a warrant for Hubert's arrest for treason, and tells Hubert that he and Blanche are in fact married. They fight, and Hubert kills Deleroy with Wave Flame. Blanche tells Hubert that she was deceived into a mock marriage with Deleroy. She dies of a self-inflicted stab wound, begging Hubert to forgive her. Hubert and Kari flee, carring the sword and bow, and the armour of the French knight Hubert killed at Hastings.
They take ship on the vessel which Hubert has just saved. The crew are suspicious at the haste in such bad weather, and abandon ship. They are blown out to sea, and travel for some days in a face of a fierce storm. Hubert looses consciousness, only coming to with the ruin of the ship lying in a quiet backwater - in Central America (though Hubert doesn't know it by this name). Kari is ecstatic that he is near his homeland, though he recalls that it lies many miles to the south.
Kari shows Hubert to the natives, clad in his armour and waving his sword. He is taken for a God, the White God arisen out of the sea. They decide to try to find Kari's homeland, since return to Europe seems impossible. Fortunately the natives are friendly, and provide numerous porters. They travel across the isthmus to the west coast of America, and so south. After some nine months they reach the margins of a desert, and take to a balsa boat (though the locals never attempt to go south in that season, on account of the storms). They are struck by a storm, and are washed onto a desolute island, on which they live for 4 months.
Hubert wakes to see Quilla, daughter of Huaraca, King of Chancas, and of a now-dead Inca princess. Quilla, who is also known as the Child of the Moon, is visiting her mother's kinsman, Quismancau. She is affianced to Urco, who is the Inca's heir, and brother of Kari. Hubert (now called Lord Hurachi), and Kari (now called Zapana, as he wishes to disguise his true identity) travel to Chancas city with Quilla. They visit the Temple of the Sun and hear the oracle Rimac prophecy doom and gloom on behalf of the great god, Pachacamac. Quilla and Hubert fall in love, despite Kari's warnings.
Huaraca, King of Chancas, becomes aware of Quilla's attachment to Hubert, but as he explains to the two of them, there is no choice but proceed with the plan which Quilla had originally proposed to delay the coming war with the Inca. Otherwise the forces of Urco would fall upon Chanca before they were strong enough to resist. Quilla will have to go to Cuzco with the Inca, but whether she marries Urco is up to her. Hubert must however remain in Chancas city.
The elderly Inca comes in person to receive Quilla. Quilla accompanies him back to Cuzco, capital of the Incas of Quichuas. Hubert stays in Chancas to help prepare for the inevitable war. Meanwhile Kari/Zapana has disappeared, travelling to Cuzco in the Inca's entourage disguised as a porter.
Once in Cuzco Quilla meets the prince Urco, as is disgusted by his brutal appearance and manner. She is more than ever determined to not marry him. She works on the elderly and feeble Inca, and with his support enters the House of the Virgins of the Sun, as a Virgin of the Sun, a servant of Pachacamac. As such she has fulfilled the oracle's prophecy - and her oath - that she would marry the Sun (Urco expected this meant him). Unfortunately, she was now beyond the reach of all men, including Hubert, and the Inca himself. Urco is furious with his father for allowing this to happen, and threatens the Inca at a public ceremony at which the Inca had intended handing over the reign of power to Urco. The Inca changes his mind, but suffers a stroke in the excitement. Urco tries to poison Quilla as he did Kari years before, but the poison is dashed out of her hands as she is about to drink. A few drops blind her, however.
Kari returns to Chancas to tell Hubert what has happened. He warns Hubert that Quilla is now out of his reach, and that he would kill Hubert with his own hands if he tried to take her from the sanctuary of the Temple of the Sun. Kari reveals his true identity to Huaracha. Togather they gather 40,000 Chancas and 25,00 Yucans, and march on Cuzco. They fight a pitched battle at Xaqui - later known as Yahuar-pampa, or the Field of Blood. The Inca's army, led by Urco, is 150-200,000 strong, but the battle is a draw. Urco and Hubert come to blows, but neither prevails. Kari unveals his royal banner, and some of Urco's troops desert to him, but it is insufficient to ensure more than a draw. However, Hubert is captured, and Urco withdraws with his personal following to the hills.
Larico, the chief priest or Villaorna, fearing loss of office should Urco lose to Kari, promises Hubert that he will find a means for him to marry Quilla. Following peace negotiations with the Inca Upanqui (once more in charge, with Urco fled), Kari is declared heir. This is publicly proclaimed at the Temple of the Sun, in the presence of the princes of the empire and a huge concourse of people. However, Urco emerges from the crowd, vaults the barriers, and stabs the Inca. In the surprise and horror Urco is able to escape. As Upanqui remarks as he dies, Kari has become Inca somewhat earlier than anyone expected.
Urco flees to Huarina, on the edges of Lake Titicaca. After a three month campaign his forces are destroyed, but he escapes capture.
Hubert reminds Larico of his promise, and the latter arranges for Hubert to meet Quilla at the palace where the late Inca sits embalmed amid vast piles of gold and offerings. They are to flee. But Larico has arranged an ambush, and Urco and a band of followers emerge, seize Quilla, and make off into the distance. Hubert kills Larico, and with his eight Chancas bodyguards (who had followed to the ante-chamber disguised as bearers), pursue the ravishers. At some distance from Cuzco Hubert and his men overtake the litter bearing Quilla. Hubert kills Urco with his bare hands (thus convincing the soldiers that he is, indeed, a God, since Urco was reputedly the strongest man in the empire, as well as cloaked with the strength of the Sun, as heir to the Inca throne).
Quilla begins to recover her sight. They meet the 3,000 Chancas soldiers Hubert has bid await him on the Field of Blood, and return to Chancas city (since to return to Cuzco would be to court death).
Hubert meets an embassy from Cuzco, led by Kari himself. He reminds Kari that he, Hubert, has killed a traitor, Larico (who had been plotting with Urco), and made his throne safe by killing Urco himself. But because Hubert has taken Quilla from the House of the Virgins of the Sun, he, Kari, is now his mortal enemy. But because he doesn't wish to cause unnecessary death to proposes that they fight to the death. If Hubert wins he can become Inca, if he wishes. If Kari wins Quilla will be burnt, as a renegade priestess. But he will spare the people of Chancas - if Hubert agrees to fight.
Hubert doesn't wish to fight his friend, but like Quilla earlier, he decides his personal feelings must be second to the good of the people.
Hubert wins, by cutting Kari's sword (which was Lord Deleroy's) in two. But Hubert won't kill Kari. Hubert and Kari return to Chancas.
Huaracha dies, leaving Quilla his heiress, and making her promise to marry Hubert (this isn't difficult). Hubert becomes joint ruler of Chancas. However, an embassy from Kari reminds them of the doom of the Inca wrath hanging over their people - after all, the Chancas are outnumbered ten to one by the other peoples of the empire. It is proposed that the whole people migrate west, to the City of Gold, in the forest, from whence they came some thousand years ago.
The account finishes at this point. From the prologue it is clear that they reach the City of Gold, Quilla and Hubert rule for some years, they have several children, but eventually Hubert falls in a battle against the Inca's army - presumably successfully, dying at the moment of victory like the heroes of eld.
This is a later version of the more successful (literary and commercial) "Montezuma's Daughter". The most fantastic element of the story, for me, was not ancient Peru, but rather the earlier years in England. The transition of Hubert of Hastings from fisherman, to goldsmith and money-lender is a little too convenient and contrived. Indeed, it is scarsely necessary for the story, which really only commences when Hubert finds himself washed up on the coast of South America, with Kari. As with most other characters in faction placed in situations like this he soon raises to be king - though not without cost and difficulty.
As is common in Haggard's writings it is the women who have the best parts. The Queen Quilla is a strong-willed woman, more than able to rule Hubert as well as the Inca empire. She remains jealous of the dead Lady Blanche, as indeed she might be, given that Hubert remained at heart a stranger in a strange land. The colour of the detail (much of it red) overcomes any quibbles about similarity with "Montezuma's Daughter".