Dominic Sandbrook

They say it's honourable to keep him alive.

They gave him their word because of the ransom.

The ransom's been paid.

We should keep our side of the bargain.

They say he's a really useful hostage.

Why would you give up a hostage like this?

They point out not a single Spaniard has been attacked or injured since they took him prisoner.

Clearly, this is working, so let's keep him.

And some of them actually clearly are fond of him.

We know from the Chronicles and whatnot that there were people who spent their evenings talking to him through the interpreter's

and actually said, he's not such a bad guy.

I don't think we should kill him.

But the people who've come with Alvarado take a very different view.

They've got no investment in him.

They say he'll be a focus for resistance.

The longer this goes on, the more likely it is that his people will turn on us.

And crucially, we want to go to Cusco to get our share of the gold.

Can we please stop hanging around?

Can we get rid?

The Spaniards can't agree, and Pizarro sends out a scouting party under Hernando de Soto to see if this northern army really is coming.