Garcilaco is the illegitimate son of an Indian woman and a Spanish soldier. He lives in Vera Cruz and after his mother's death, he becomes the slave of a muleteer at the age of eight. He is eventually sold to a friar, Frey Marcos, who treats him well. Marcos and Garcilaco are sent on an expedition to find the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola, when he was separated from Marcos. He meets Marcos again when he is thirty three years of age. He marries Maria Victoria and receives Marcos's gold after he dies. They eventually adopt the surname of Garza.