Leto and his royal entourage march toward the bridge across the Idaho River during Festival time, accompanied by Moneo and a troop of Fish Speakers. As they walk, Leto questions Moneo about the Bene Gesserit petitioning for a permanent embassy on Arrakis, ordering Moneo to simply give them a negative reply. Leto launches into a lecture on religious power, criticizing rhetorical despotism, hypocrisy, and the dangerous self-righteousness of groups like the Jesuits and the Bene Gesserit. Moneo listens with mounting dread, terrified that preaching about religious power and corruption will anger Leto and provoke a violent outburst from the worm within him. Leto remarks on the nature of power bases, which attract insane individuals seeking control for its own sake, and mentions Torquemada as an example of historical obscenity.
Moneo struggles to keep pace while monitoring Leto’s physical state, terrified of the worm signs appearing on his body. Leto shifts topics to discuss the spice allotments, telling Moneo to delay announcements and handle bribes, specifically noting that House Corrino has offered a bribe. Leto orders Moneo to have House Corrino killed as a test for Duncan Idaho, noting that melange can shorten life just as it extends it. Moneo reflects on his secret memories of the gigantic underground storage rooms filled with glowing blue melange, where Leto once revealed his ultimate plan to return to the sand and reintroduce sandtrout and a new breed of sandworms to reclaim the planet's water over centuries.
The cortège presses onward through the steep rock barriers of the Sareer as Leto brings up Moneo's rebellious daughter, Siona. Leto expresses interest in Siona and her companions, noting that surprises are what he desires most. Moneo grows increasingly anxious about Siona and the looming presence of Duncan Idaho among the guards. As the moisture in the air causes the worm signs to grow more pronounced, Leto warns Moneo about the unpredictable part of his nature that reacts without logic or thought, demanding to know why Leto does not fear the unknown. Moneo successfully answers that Leto's vast memories make the unknown merely a new surprise to understand.
Pleased with the answer, Leto grants Moneo a boon, prompting Moneo to ask to bring Siona back to the Citadel and separate her from her companions. Leto agrees, warning that it will only lead to testing her sooner. The dialogue ends as Leto falls silent, leaving Moneo to battle lingering anxiety about the upcoming encounter with waiting Fremen petitioners and the ever-present danger of Leto's volatile moods.