Chapter 1

Under First Moon in the Forbidden Forest, three rebels—Ulot, Kwuteg, and Siona—flee D-wolves after infiltrating Leto II’s Citadel. Ulot, overweight but keen-minded, falls behind and is killed, upholding Fremen-style loyalty by not calling for help.

Kwuteg, injured yet determined to buy time for Siona, turns to fight. He uses a wolf as a flail, briefly scattering the pack, but is overwhelmed and killed, his last cry—"Go!"—urging Siona to flee.

Siona, carrying Citadel plans and two heavy ciphered volumes she insisted on keeping, reaches the Idaho River. Knowing the wolves’ conditioning stops them at the water, she plunges in, surfaces under a cutbank, and watches the pack withdraw. Exhausted and grieving nine dead comrades, she vows to make Leto pay and strides toward the orchards, renewing her oath by her full name.

The narrative shifts to Leto II’s journals. He recounts his lineage, the Golden Path’s purpose—human survival—and his spice monopoly that enforces Leto’s Peace. He describes his sandtrout-encased transformation into a pre-worm body and reliance on Ixian devices, including the dictatel used to print the stolen volumes. Leto admits watching Siona’s raid and allowing the wolves to test her, framing himself as the ultimate predator.

A final fragment presents a dialogue between a teenaged Siona and her father, Moneo. He insists Leto kills no one—the Worm-God does—claiming survival rests on recognizing when the Worm approaches. Siona rejects this distinction, citing slain Duncan Idahos, while Moneo maintains his fearful devotion.