After Ana and Thelenai settle the plan for keeping Din alive during his visit to the Shroud, Thelenai takes Din into a medical chamber in the Apoth manufactuaries and prepares him for transport. Din notices observation cells in the room, underscoring that he will be confined and monitored until departure.

As Thelenai mixes a powerful draught, she explains that she has identified two augurs on the Shroud who once worked with Sunus Pyktis. Because augurs rotate out after a few years due to paranoia and apophenia, these two are rare surviving links to Pyktis. She also explains that the Shroud is kept intellectually barren so the augurs remain focused on leviathans, which means Din will only get two hours with them before his presence becomes too distracting.

Thelenai tells Din the drink contains strong mood-stabilizing grafts that will suppress his emotional reactions and help prevent the augurs from drawing information out of him. She orders Din to ask questions only, never answer theirs, and to avoid tapping or making rhythm, since augurs compulsively analyze patterns and can become enraged by meaningless beats. She adds that Immunis Ghrelin must ingest augury to interpret the augurs for Din, and warns that the process will alter Ghrelin and make him less dependable.

Din obeys and drinks the draught, which quickly leaves him physically weak and perceptually altered. While Din sinks into the drug's effects, Thelenai voices fear that the mission may already be too late and that she may be remembered as the imperial servant who nearly secured a better future for her people only to lose everything at the end.

Ana answers with unusual bluntness, saying Thelenai is already stained regardless of what happens next. Ana argues that even if the marrow is saved, Thelenai's works created the corrupt system that tempted Gorthaus and led to the deaths of fellow Apoths. Struck by the accusation, Thelenai silently prepares and gives Din another dose.