The Story So Far…
Santa Helena, California. 1818.
A small town that's ripe with corruption, crime & despair, ruled by the tyrannical governor, Colonel Luis Montoya of the Spanish Army, and his right-hand man, Captain Marcus Grisham, a deserter of the War of 1812. Santa Helena is a land without hope, until Senorita Tessa Alvarado returns to her home, disguising herself as the Queen of Swords to fight for justice. With the aid of her loyal servant Marta, and her friend Doctor Robert Helm, the Queen fights the corrupt Colonel and his army, thwarting them time and again to bring hope and happiness to the people.
Despite all her efforts over the year-and-a-half crusade, the Queen is unable to determine the identity of her father's murderers or successfully oust Montoya from power. Nor is she able to fully reveal her romantic feelings towards Doctor Helm, regardless of life improving for most in Santa Helena. But the status quo changes drastically with new arrivals to California.
Enter Sergeant Lionel Williams, his wife Maria & their daughter Theresa. The lives of Lionel & Maria have been plagued by tragedy and turmoil, with Lionel originally born as Andrew Conrad; an orphan who (as a child) lost his parents to masked bandits right in front of him back in America. Enlisting in the army with his unbalanced brother Malcolm, Andrew soon falls in love with Elizabeth; the adventurous, defiant daughter of rich industrialist Lord Nigel Parker, who is over-protective and strict in his upbringing of her.
Jealous of their romance, Malcolm plots Andrew's murder so he can marry Elizabeth for himself. Andrew survives his own brother's scheme, rescues Elizabeth and manages to uncover enough evidence to expose his corruption. Malcolm is subsequently imprisoned but unbeknownst to his enemies, escapes his execution by using a dead-ringer to take his place. Andrew and Elizabeth marry, but their happiness is short-lived. Using his men, Malcolm burns down Elizabeth's home, killing her father and destroying her fortune. With his enemies ever-growing, Andrew and his wife have no choice but to flee America for Spain, changing their names to Lionel & Maria Williams.
For a time, the Williams live peacefully with Lionel's old relatives in Madrid, but it isn't long until Lionel has to take up arms again to protect his new home and family from the scourge of Napoleon. Determined to ensure his wife will not be another victim, Lionel agrees with Maria's request to be fully trained in swordplay. The birth of their first child Theresa comforts them both in the dark times. But Maria's hands become stained with blood as she and her baby daughter are attacked by Lionel's enemies. She kills all her attackers to protect her offspring; an action that haunts her deeply.
As Spain falls under Bonaparte's rule, Lionel is forced to watch his beloved aunt & uncle's execution and serve the enemy in order to secure the safety of his own family. A vengeful Lionel bides his time to bring Napoleon down.
His chance finally comes when Sir Arthur Wellesley – The Duke of Wellington - renews his Anglo-Portuguese advance into Spain in 1812. Lionel contacts the Duke with detailed, inside reconnaissance of the enemy movement. His efforts prove successful, providing the Iron Duke & the Allied Forces with enough of a significant advantage to make their move. Siding with the Allied Forces, Lionel plays a pivotal role in making Wellesley's stratagem a critical success. Spain is finally free from French rule and Lionel is at last able to secure the freedom & honour for himself and his family. Promoted by the Duke himself to the rank of Sergeant, Lionel becomes a hero of Spain, in favour with the people and the Royal Court.
The Williams family settles down for a while, helping to rebuild Spain. But it isn't long before Lionel & Maria yearn to start over again, so Sergeant Williams requests a transfer to Santa Helena, California to aid the forces situated there. Ambassador Alberto Enriquez – leading the effort to rebuild Spain and cleanse the corruption in California – approves the request, and Williams – with his family and his squad of loyal soldiers – embark for Santa Helena.
The whole arrangement is convenient for Colonel Montoya who is desperate to bolster his ranks and improve his public face. Having requested reinforcements from Spain, Montoya is pleased to have received Williams and his platoon, seeing him as ideal to eliminate the Queen of Swords and reinforce his standing. However, Williams' political connections and investigation into the corruption of the Santa Helena garrison make him a grave threat that the Governor cannot do without.
The Williams family settle into life in Santa Helena immediately, with Maria instantly befriending Tessa & Marta, along with Senora Vera Hidalgo (Don Gaspar's wife who is having an affair with Captain Grisham). Lionel is amicable towards the Senorita & her Gypsy servant, whilst sharing a strong dislike with Doctor Helm. Neither Lionel nor Maria fall for Tessa's pretence as a 'ditzy, rich girl' – Lionel due to all his military/undercover experiences & Maria due to her time as an on-stage actress – yet neither of them know she is the Queen of Swords, who is idolized by little Theresa.
The Queen and the Golden Sergeant's paths soon cross, with their beliefs and opposing sides placing them at odds with each other. As Montoya seeks to claim the Garcia Farmland for the state, Williams soon realises the true extent of the corruption in Santa Helena. The execution of Esperanza Garcia leaves the family business in great jeopardy, with both Maria & Lionel bearing witness to Montoya & Grisham's evil. Lionel's mission, success and prowess soon make him a target to the corrupt soldiers, but the Golden Boy is able to turn the tables on Grisham and his men, making Williams an inspiration to the people and a man to be feared by their oppressors.
Immediately after their first encounter, the Queen realises that she and Sergeant Williams are on the same side and talks him round into what is an uneasy alliance. Through opposing views and struggles, the two ultimately manage to work together to save the Garcia farmland as well as thwart Montoya's other schemes. Lionel even begins to open up to the vigilante about his past, and the Queen later saves Theresa from the psychotic Sergeant Pablo.
A friendship is forged and Lionel is not only able to make his first moves against the army's corruption, but start to conquer his past demons. Maria likewise learns to open up to Marta about her past, as well as settling down into housework and helping Lucia Garcia run her farm business. Theresa is enjoying going to school and is thrilled to have met her heroine, and the Williams family continue to grow even closer with Tessa Alvarado and Marta.
Tessa's life likewise changes dramatically because of her new friendship with the Williams clan. Inspired by Maria's marriage to Lionel, Tessa decides to reveal her secret to Doctor Helm and profess her love for him. When the Queen is badly injured by Captain Grisham, Tessa unmasks herself to Robert, who tends to her injuries and safeguards her from Grisham. Fearing for Tessa's safety, Marta decides to let both Lionel & Maria in on the Queen's secret. Maria disguises herself as the Queen to thwart Montoya and throw-off the pursuing forces, while Lionel moves to help protect Marta and Tessa. Senorita Alvarado & Doctor Helm now officially enter their relationship, with the surgeon and the Williams being taken into Tessa & Marta's complete confidence. A pact is formed and the one-woman-crusade now becomes five against Montoya's rule.
Further success follows with more & more corruption being exorcised from the Spanish forces, shifting the balance of power towards the Queen & the Golden Sergeant. Malcolm returns to ruin Lionel & Maria's lives, entering an alliance with Montoya. Thanks to the Queen's intervention, Malcolm's scheme ends in failure and his execution at Lionel's own hands. Impressed with his efforts and the positive results his work in Santa Helena has brought, Ambassador Enriquez arranges Lionel's promotion to Lieutenant.
With his dream of exorcising Santa Helena's corruption almost in sight, Williams seeks to aid Tessa with the unresolved mystery of her father's murder. Seeking out Juan – a deserter of Montoya's ranks who was present at the murder of Don Raphael Alvarado – Williams is able to secure a letter of confession and recorded evidence exposing all of Montoya & Grisham's crimes. Tessa finally learns that Grisham killed her father on Montoya's orders.
Unfortunately, things go badly awry with this news. Enraged by all that Grisham has taken away from her, the Queen savagely attacks the Captain, nearly killing him and Vera. Lionel vows to apprehend the Queen of Swords for her reckless actions, but ultimately relents when she brings up the situation with his own parents. A great wedge of mistrust is now driven between them.
Lieutenant Williams is given the Spanish Court's permission to act, and he successfully arrests both Montoya & Grisham for their crimes. But Montoya turns the tables by finally deducing the Queen's secret identity and obtaining the private journal of the Golden Lieutenant. With both sides now holding incriminating secrets over the other, Williams has no choice but to drop the charges against his corrupt superiors. Juan escapes with the evidence, making Lionel a laughing stock and disgrace of both the community and Spanish army. Enraged that her secret and the safety of her whole family is now in enemy hands because of Williams, Tessa threatens to kill him, but chooses to let him live as repayment of her 'debt'.
The fragile 'stalemate' between Tessa & Montoya doesn't last long. Marta is shot by Grisham, who challenges the Queen to a final confrontation. Vera intrudes on Tessa's hacienda looking for the evidence that can convict Montoya, so that the odds are back in his favour. Instead, Vera finds the Queen's mask in one of Tessa's drawers! An angry Maria lays into Vera over her treachery, which shames the Senora into putting herself in-between the duelling vigilante and captain.
During an attempt to kill the Queen, Vera sacrifices herself to save Tessa. Grisham screams in despair as his sword impales the only person he has ever truly loved.
Three weeks have passed since Vera's funeral. Montoya plots his next move, Grisham remains silent, alone and brooding, and bridges are essentially burnt between Tessa & the Williams family.
The darkest cloud looms over all Santa Helena.
And it is about to get even darker…