Jessica enters a tense cavern assembly at the Cave of Birds, where the Fremen are impatient for Paul to challenge Stilgar and formally take command by killing him. Jessica gives Paul a captured Harkonnen message showing that Rabban has been denied reinforcements and must increase spice production with his current forces, proving that the Harkonnen position on Arrakis is vulnerable.

Paul confronts the crowd's demand for ritual combat by accepting his public role as Lisan al-Gaib while redirecting the Fremen's anger toward strategy. Paul argues that killing Stilgar would weaken the Fremen just when they need their best leaders, then puts on Duke Leto's signet ring and claims Arrakis as his ducal fief. Stilgar supports Paul, and the crowd hails Paul-Muad'Dib as Duke and leader.

Paul then has Stilgar kneel and swear fealty through an Atreides-style investiture, preserving Stilgar's authority while making clear that Stilgar commands with Paul's voice. Paul orders messengers and cielagos sent to summon a Council Gathering, and asks Stilgar to bring Chatt, Korba, Otheym, and other lieutenants for battle planning. Jessica recognizes that the Fremen are at their emotional peak and ready for war.

In Paul's inner chamber, Jessica waits for Gurney Halleck and reflects on Caladan, Chani, Paul's son, and the political marriage Paul might need for power. Gurney enters and attacks Jessica, holding a knife to her because he believes she betrayed Duke Leto. Paul interrupts and tells Gurney that Yueh was the betrayer, explaining that the Harkonnen evidence against Jessica was a trick and that Duke Leto never distrusted her.

Paul's defense of Jessica breaks Gurney's certainty. Jessica realizes how she has manipulated Paul through Bene Gesserit training and urges Paul to choose his own happiness, even if that means marrying Chani. Gurney, ashamed, begs Paul and Jessica to kill him, but they refuse; Jessica reframes the attack as a misunderstanding among old friends, and Paul asks Gurney to play the baliset for Jessica before battle planning resumes.

After leaving Jessica with Gurney's music, Paul meets a Fedaykin courier who reports that leaders are already arriving for the Council. Shaken because his prescience did not show Gurney's threat to Jessica, Paul decides that his spice tolerance has weakened his visions. Paul heads toward the place where the Fremen keep a stunted sandworm and resolves to drown the maker and drink the Water of Life to test whether Paul is truly the Kwisatz Haderach.