Summary

Mustafa finds a piece of glass that he recognizes as belonging to the Castilians. The group finds tracks that lead them to a Castilian camp, where they are informed eight years have passed since their initial expedition. They tell their story and are welcomed back, but the Castilians are interested in the Indians that follow the group. This worries Mustafa and the others, who recognize that the Indians are seen as little more than slaves. They try to get warnings out, but the soldiers make it difficult for them to get private moments with the Indians.

The Indians they are able to tell disagree and faithfully continue to follow the Children of the Light. They go to the camp and meet the mayor, Melchor Díaz. Señor Cabeza de Vaca tries to use his old position to argue for letting the Indians go...