No 14785, Tuesday 05 May 2026, Incognito

Solution to 26A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered by a non-regular/novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

8   Cost of travel in Cardiff area (4) FARE [T]

9   Mercury obtained from Arizona hotel construction after the Spanish left (5) AZOTH {AZ}{HOTel}*

10 Extraordinary risk irritates (4) IRKS*

11 Literary king with book came to know (6) LEARNT {LEAR}{NT}

12 Rival's pop nonet composition (8) OPPONENT*

13 Deserter from Army Post Office, say (8) APOSTATE {APO}{STATE}

15 Horrible diatribe on losing inspection bungalow, in short, is a verbal attack (6) TIRADE {DiATRIbE}*

17 Traverses tomb markers (7) CROSSES [DD]

19 Arranged pack with xenon containing one tool (7) PICKAXE {PACK}*{XE} over {1}

22 Ma cuts hybrid grape (6) MUSCAT*

24 Finished after Army Service Corps climbed (8) ASCENDED {ENDED}<=>{ASC}

26 Perhaps, heel's weapon? (8) ?T?L?T?O (Addendum - STILETTO [DD] - See comments)

28 Where a group of swimmers may study? (6) SCHOOL [C&DD]

30 Ship from Karwar goes (4) ARGO [T]

31 Rub off Times emblem in the beginning (5) ERASE {ERAS}{Em...m}

32 Type of house built without using aluminium in Salem, India (4) SEMI {SalEM}{I}

DOWN

1   Uncommon in Almora region (4) RARE [T]

2   Thaws forests being chopped up after beginning of December (8) DEFROSTS {FORESTS}*<=>{De...r}

3   Rule: "No pets in apartments under renovation" (6) MANTRA {ApARTMeNts}*

4   One behind Line of Control rejected final call for military officer (7) COLONEL {ONE}<=>{LOC<=} and {calL}

5   Indian bread got from guy at the inn initially (8) CHAPATTI {CHAP}{AT}{The}{Inn}

6   Meal given by doctor around nine decomposed (6) DINNER {D{NINE*}R}

7   Hide runner at end of garden (4) SKIN {SKI}{g...eN}

14 Hidden and concealed in sniper duty (5) PERDU [T] &lit

16 Pass away, having taken 9 in custody, in Southern US (5) DIXIE {D{IX}IE}

18 Extraordinary Lent diet is allowed (8) ENTITLED*

20 Relative has toured South African city (8) KINSHASA {KIN}{HAS}*{SA}

21 Ass walks around a vessel to get fruits (7) SAPOTAS {S{A}{POT}AS*}

23 Visit part of Calcutta before part of London (4,2) CALL ON {CALc...a}{LONdon}

25 We returned with money for nut (6) CASHEW {WE<=}<=>{CASH}

27 Conservative's attempt to consume egg (4) TORY {T{O}RY}

29 Units of Resistance from Head Office rejected manuscript (4) OHMS {HO<=}{MS}

Reference List

The in Spanish = EL, Book = NT(New Testament), Line of Control = LOC, Manuscript = MS