Dorantes is jealous when Narváez chooses Cabeza de Vaca to lead the mission to Apalache. When Dorantes wonders why he was not chosen, Castillo suggests it must be because Cabeza de Vaca agrees with Narváez about continuing the march inland.

When they reach Apalache, the city is quickly secured. After an extensive search, no gold is found at the settlement. The men realize that there may not be a city of gold. When Dorantes testily asks Narváez if he misunderstood the natives or if they lied to him, Cabeza de Vaca restores the peace.

In the middle of the night, some of the soldiers rape the native women. The violence triggers Mustafa’s memories of his friend Ramatullai being raped by their master Rodriguez.

When the natives appear to reclaim their women, a skirmish ensues. Mustafa kills a native man with his hatchet after being struck by his arrow. The Castilians take the native chief prisoner, but the natives continue to attack them. In the end, 12 explorers are killed.

Narváez calls a council to inform the men that the native chief has told him of a town near the ocean with plenty of food.