Summary

Yet another banquet is held for the group so they can tell their stories. This time, it is hosted by the legendary Hernán Cortés. Dorantes admits to having financial troubles as he has started to gamble at the taverns. Cortés offers to buy Mustafa, but Dorantes refuses. Cabeza de Vaca ends up suddenly leaving after their report is done, but he promises to take letters for the rest of the expedition. He leaves on very good terms with everyone, and it’s clear that they will miss one another after everything they have been through.

Mustafa once again presses Dorantes about his papers, but Dorantes pushes the subject aside and remarks that Mustafa should be grateful for how well he has been treated given his position. Mustafa feels like he has fallen back into slavery. Even worse, he has brought his...