diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 31dbee9..88c6ea6 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -2,11 +2,15 @@
 
 This file is the always-on map for AI coding agents (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Cline) working in this repo. It is loaded into context on every turn, so it stays as a **map plus the rules and invariants that need to be in scope at all times** — the encyclopedia content lives under [`docs/`](docs/). When you need depth, follow a pointer.
 
-> **Required reading every session: [docs/invariants.md](docs/invariants.md).** Load this in full before proposing, reviewing, or implementing any change — the §IX deny-list and §X review checklist apply to every PR, not only architecture work. Tools that support `@`-imports (Claude Code) auto-include it via the import below; other agents must open it explicitly at the start of each session.
+> **Required reading every session, every change:**
+>
+> 1. **[docs/invariants.md](docs/invariants.md)** — the architectural invariants and §IX deny-list. Apply to every PR, not only architecture work.
+> 2. **[docs/lance.md](docs/lance.md)** — the curated index of upstream Lance docs. **Consult it before every task** to identify which Lance pages are relevant to what you're about to do, then fetch those upstream URLs before grepping our code or guessing. Lance is the substrate; behavior is documented there, not here.
+>
+> Tools that support `@`-imports (Claude Code) auto-include both files via the imports below. Other agents (Codex, Cursor, Cline, …) must open them explicitly at the start of each session.
 >
 > @docs/invariants.md
->
-> **When you hit a Lance-shaped problem** (file format, fragments, indexes, transactions, branches/tags, compaction, schema evolution, vector / FTS internals): consult [docs/lance.md](docs/lance.md) and fetch the listed upstream URL before grepping our code or guessing. Lance is the substrate; behavior is documented there, not here.
+> @docs/lance.md
 
 `CLAUDE.md` is a symlink to this file — there is exactly one source of truth. Edit `AGENTS.md`.