Sharpe is sent on a mission to exchange rifles for deserters with a group of Spanish guerillas. Richard is also responsible for helping 2 women searching for their husbands that have gone missing.

6/10.

There is a sub plot here that involves a very POSH English woman and her "Irish" daughter, who allegedly are related to the Duke of Wellington-the hater of women! They show up at his camp, thinking its a holiday camp and subsequently demand he help them find her husband....Given the Dukes dislike of womenkind this is most unlikely and something of a spoiler for the rest of it when folk are getting cut into pieces or shot or worse. the Irish apparently refer to their Father as "Dada"...which continually crops up....Leave alone unless you have nothing better to do - these women think they rule the roost and theres a war on!!!

Sean Bean reprises his role as Napoleonic hero Major Richard Sharpe and in this adventure he is ordered by the Duke of Wellington to deliver a consignment of guns to El Casco, a local guerrilla leader, known for his brutality and inhumanity, in exchange for a handful of British deserters.

Also in tow on this mission are Bess Nugent and her daughter Ellie, relatives of the Iron Duke who have come to Spain to find their missing husband/father. They have practically stowed away after Wellington refuses official aid to their mission, and Sharpe in order to ensure their protection has no choice but to take them along.

It is inevitable therefore that a romance starts to blossom between the lonely and windowed Sharpe and the beautiful and vivacious Ellie.

However El Casco proves himself every bit the madman he is reputed to be by capturing, and torturing to death a contingent of French troops, killing poor Bess and kidnapping Ellie and holding her captive in a cave full of golden Aztec treasure.

However El Casco's plans for Ellie are far from romantic as he plans to sacrifice her to the ancient Aztec Gods from which he believes himself to be directly descended. Can Sharpe, Harper and the rest of the Chosen Men find Ellie before it's too late and just what will become of all that Aztec gold.

Daragh O' Malley and Hugh Fraser reprise their roles as Harper and Wellington respectively and Jayne Ashbourne makes a more than appealing appearance as Ellie in the sixth Sharpe adventure, which although lacks the heat, smoke and blood of a major battle scene is still as exciting and as thrilling as it's predecessors.