Din Kol and Immunis Ana Dolabra meet Fayazi Haza under guard, with Fayazi’s two Sublimes beside her, as Fayazi claims she only sought help after hearing from Commander Hovanes that similar “outbreaks” had killed Engineers. Pressed by Ana, Fayazi says her father Kaygi Haza died when a plantlike growth erupted through his chest; the household sealed the estate in seven days of containment, then lifted it without reporting to the Apoths, arguing that messages could spread contagion and that the breach chaos forced them to prepare evacuation.

Ana challenges Fayazi’s professed ignorance: Fayazi says she did not know Commander Blas died the same way, did not receive information about the Daretana groundskeeper’s collaboration with an assassin, and claims grief and containment kept her uninformed. Fayazi also reveals Kaygi’s body was cremated immediately, removing the chance for inspection. When Ana asks about Engineers poisoned at Fayazi’s estate and the dead Engineers’ possession of reagents keys to Haza gates, Fayazi denies recognizing any of the names and suggests the keys were stolen or that the Engineers might have been intruders.

Ana summarizes Fayazi’s position as total ignorance and obstruction, then openly insults her with a vulgar jab about “clay” in her eyes and ears. Commander-prificto Vashta explodes at Ana for antagonizing the Hazas, stressing Talagray’s dependence on them and the need to prioritize catching the killer over personal grudges. In private, Ana admits Fayazi is obviously lying but concedes Fayazi is unlikely to be the murderer; Ana still believes Jolgalgan is the likeliest culprit and argues access to the Haza estate is necessary to find signs of Jolgalgan’s presence.

After Vashta leaves to salvage cooperation, Ana tells Din she believes the Hazas are “coming clean” only to muddy the investigation, likely because word leaked that investigators traced the poisoning back to their house. Ana acknowledges she expected an additional non-Engineer murder to link the crimes, but not that the victim would be a Haza prime son; she also hints at a deep, hostile history between herself and the Haza clan, refusing to explain further.

Vashta returns with terms: Fayazi refuses to be in the same room as Ana, but will allow an immediate inspection of the Haza halls limited to circumstances of Kaygi’s death, and only one Iudex officer may enter. Vashta assigns Din to go alone, in a Haza carriage. Ana and Miljin warn Din that Fayazi may try to manipulate him—possibly through seduction and blackmail—and Ana gives Din a concrete goal: find Kaygi’s correspondence, especially scribe-hawk messages sent after Blas’s death, to learn who Kaygi contacted and what he knew. Ana orders Din to improvise access, stay cold and guarded, and avoid all Haza food, drink, fumes, bodily traces, and physical contact with Fayazi.