The party found themselves caught between Halfdan the Red and Mustafah in a tense negotiation. Jean-Luc led most of the diplomatic efforts, though others contributed. It gradually became clear that Halfdan and Mustafah were working together despite having different objectives: Mustafah sought to banish or kill Anansi, while Halfdan wanted to arrest the party for the murder of an imam near Valencia (a crime they witnessed but didn't commit).
The two came to terms due to a mysterious agreement between the djinn Mustafah and the Emir of Valencia. The party attempted to drive a wedge between them but failed to capitalize on their conflicting goals.
During this time, Anansi's voice returned to Axel, manifesting as an annoying buzzing presence like a mosquito—echoing the trickster god's mythological form. The party was eventually arrested and began marching under guard.
On the march, Halfdan confronted Jean-Luc about the compromising letter. Jean-Luc read the situation and directed Halfdan to Axel, who had been keeping the details of Halfdan's affair secret. Axel played coy initially, but Jean-Luc and Axel eventually worked out a loose deal with Halfdan: they would help each other escape from Mustafah's custody if the opportunity arose.
This led to testy words between Jean-Luc and Axel over the latter's secret-keeping. Meanwhile, Bjorn spent the entire session attempting to befriend and serenade Mustafah, who remained politely obliging throughout.