Alia paces angrily in the Council Chamber, facing Irulan and Idaho, whose mentat faculties she needs more than his services as abductor. She smells a massive plot potentially involving Irulan, Jessica, and the Fremen (including Stilgar). Idaho computes that the Guild and Sisterhood are probable "passive combatants." Idaho wants to be at Sietch Tabr, where The Preacher has slipped him a note using Paul's secret signal. When Irulan's comments seem not jibe with conspiracy, Alia wishes she had had Javid torture her and left Idaho in the desert, for Idaho's thinking beyond the finite limits of data are annoying her.
Within her head, the Baron agrees, but she silences him. Irulan rambles about feints within feints within feints and asks who poses the greatest threat to the Regency. Idaho computes.....
