Ezr Vinh and Zinmin Broute are escorted to Lands Command through rebuilt districts and into cramped underground quarters. Negotiations begin with Belga Underville and Elno Coldhaven, often consulting unseen advisors. Ezr discovers Trixia is still Focused at Spider insistence; Pham Nuwen argues it is essential for trust, and Ezr angrily demands her deFocus once POW talks end.

Despite discomfort working face-to-face with Spiders, the talks progress. With Focused corroboration, the Spiders accept Ezr’s account and agree to technology transfer, a Spider presence at the rockpile, human ground access, and eventual joint high‑orbit infrastructure and shipyard plans. At night, Ezr dreams uneasily of Trixia’s ensorcellment and Qiwi’s advice. Pham relays that after prisoner negotiations, Trixia will be removed from the case, per Lighthill’s promise.

On the final day, guards lead Ezr and Zinmin down an intimidating “spiral” shaft into the Royal Deepness for a private session with Underville. Ezr recognizes the staging as a last bid for Spider face. Reviewing the Hand’s crash and aftermath, Underville offers to return zipheads but brands the rest criminals; Ezr counters, detailing roles and exonerating most, including cold‑sleep victims.

The hardest case is Jau Xin, accused of triggering the strikes. Ezr cites records showing Jau sabotaged much of the attack and invokes Jau’s family. When Underville scoffs, Ezr produces Rita’s thumb‑locked gift, warning it will self‑destroy if forced. After testing the box’s limits, Underville relents and grants the release of Jau Xin and other staff.

Underville then refuses to surrender Ritser Brughel, declaring he will be kept as a living experimental subject to probe human limits of pain and fear. Ezr accepts Spider jurisdiction, recognizing this as a fate fitting Brughel’s crimes. The chapter closes with the deal poised to conclude: broad cooperation secured, prisoners largely freed, Brughel retained by Spiders, and Trixia’s deFocus promised after the POW talks.