Netiqret’s agents lead Vis and Ahmose through tighter hidden tunnels to an even more secret passage beneath Duat. The route opens into a vast cavern under the Infernis, where multiple waterfalls feed a dangerous underground river. Netiqret gives Vis and Ahmose scarab amulets, warns them away from the water and the choking green mist, and guides them across slippery stone and ancient wreckage. As Vis studies the ruined machinery and water channels, he realizes this hidden system may connect to the east and confirms that Netiqret knows parts of the city he has never seen.

After crossing, Netiqret lures Vis and Ahmose into a barred chamber and locks them inside. She reveals that the room floods when the Infernis swells and begins questioning them under threat of a slow death. Vis identifies her as Netiqret and keeps using the alias Siamun while explaining that he seeks a way across the river and got her name from Djedef. Netiqret distrusts the story, denies ever helping anyone leave Duat, and makes clear she believes Vis is lying about being from outside.

Trying to create leverage, Vis secretly imbues the scarab amulet Netiqret gave him and tosses it back to her as a supposed gift. After Netiqret leaves with the child, Vis tells Ahmose that he is still controlling an Overseer and plans to use it to free them. While they wait, Ahmose explains what a mesektet is: a killer who uses poison to make victims die naturally so wealthy easterners can have those bodies assigned to them as western servants after death. The revelation disgusts both men, but it also convinces Vis that Netiqret’s profession makes her uniquely knowledgeable about Duat’s hidden routes.

Vis also reassures Ahmose that, despite having used his power on others, he has never controlled Ahmose and does not intend to cross that line. The controlled Overseer arrives, tears the gate free with unnatural strength, and frees them. Instead of escaping, Vis uses his link to the imbued scarab to track Netiqret through the tunnels and sends the Overseer after her. When the Overseer catches up, Netiqret quickly understands that Vis is speaking through it and becomes intensely interested in his ability to command an iunctus directly. She agrees to a safer face-to-face meeting, but before Vis can respond, she suddenly steps forward and slashes upward with her blade at the Overseer, ending the chapter on a violent turn.