Princess Irulan visits Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam in a sparse cell beneath Paul’s Keep. Irulan notes the room, the guard, the likely surveillance, and Mohiam’s use of the new Dune Tarot while Mohiam asks whether Irulan has contacted Lady Jessica. Irulan says Jessica is unlikely to act against Paul.

Mohiam recalls how she was captured: a Qizara confronted her aboard a Guild heighliner, identified her despite her secrecy, and ordered her to Arrakis under Paul’s command. Mohiam feared either Guild betrayal or exposure through Paul and Alia’s powers, but she had no practical way to resist and was brought to the planet where Paul had once forbidden her to set foot.

In the cell, Irulan and Mohiam speak aloud for the monitors while using Bene Gesserit finger-talk for the real conversation. Mohiam judges Irulan weak but still useful, then orders her to explore the possibility of a brother-sister breeding between Paul and Alia by creating private intimacy and exploiting their shared isolation. Mohiam also raises the possibility of removing Chani, arguing that grief could help break barriers.

Irulan reveals that Chani has begun an old Fremen fertility diet that prevents Irulan from continuing the contraceptive drugs. Mohiam is furious because Chani’s conception, especially of a son, could secure an Atreides imperial line and disrupt Bene Gesserit plans for generations. Mohiam orders Irulan to prevent any heir from Chani by using an abortifact if conception occurs, or by killing Chani if necessary.

Irulan realizes the Sisterhood may be willing to sacrifice her as an agent in Paul’s household and suspects they are concealing more about the ghola. Mohiam hints that the ghola, like melange, has deadly value. After Irulan steadies herself with the Litany Against Fear and leaves, Mohiam consults the Tarot again and reads omens of hidden enemy resources, leaving her worried that Irulan herself may endanger the conspiracy.