The Winds of Dune Read Free Page B

been proven, or to waste her on a symbolic gesture that we cannot retract.”
    “Maybe we should wait and hear what the envoy has to say?” Duncan suggested.
    Alia nodded and her imposing amazon guards led a statuesque and self-important man named Rivato through the winding passages of the fortress citadel to the brightly lit meeting room. Though the route was direct, the sheer length of the walk had confused and flustered him. Shutting him inside the thick-walled chamber with Alia and her two companions, the female guards stationed themselves outside in the dusty passageway.
    Composing himself with an effort, the Salusan envoy bowed deeply. “Emperor Shaddam wishes to express his sorrow at the death of Paul-Muad’Dib Atreides. They were rivals, yes, but Paul was also his son-in-law, wed to his eldest daughter.” Rivato glanced around. “I had hoped Princess Irulan might join us for this discussion?”
    “She is otherwise occupied.” Alia briefly considered throwing this man into the same death cell. “Why are you here?”
    They had placed no empty chair on the opposite side of the blue obsidian table—an intentional oversight that forced Rivato to remain on his feet as he faced the three inquisitors, and kept him off balance and uncomfortable. He bowed again to hide the flicker of unease thatcrossed his face. “The Emperor dispatched me instantly upon learning the news, because the entire Imperium faces a crisis.”
    “Shaddam is not the Emperor,” Duncan pointed out. “Stop referring to him as such.”
    “Your pardon. Since I serve in his court on Salusa Secundus, I tend to forget.” Regaining his momentum, Rivato forged ahead. “Despite the sad events, we have a tremendous opportunity to restore order. Since the . . . fall of Shaddam IV, the Imperium has faced extreme turmoil and bloodshed. The Jihad was driven by a man of great charisma—no one denies that—but with Muad’Dib gone, we can now return much-needed stability to the Imperium.”
    Alia interrupted him. “The Imperium will stabilize under my regency. Paul’s Jihad ended almost two years ago, and our armies remain strong. We face fewer and fewer rebellious worlds.”
    The envoy tried to give a reassuring smile. “But there are still places that require, shall we say, considerably more
diplomacy
to settle things down. A restoration of the Corrino presence would calm the waters by providing continuity.”
    Alia regarded him coldly. “Muad’Dib has two children by his concubine Chani, and these are his imperial heirs. The line of succession is clear—we have no further need of Corrinos.”
    Rivato raised his hands in a placating gesture. “When he took Princess Irulan as his wife, Paul-Muad’Dib recognized the need to maintain ties with the former Imperial House. The long tradition of Corrino rule dates back to the end of the Butlerian Jihad. If we strengthen those ties, it would benefit all humanity.”
    Stilgar pounced on the remarks. “You suggest that Muad’Dib’s reign did not benefit humanity?”
    “Ah, now, that is for historians to decide, and I am no historian.”
    Duncan folded his hands on the table. “What are you, then?”
    “I offer solutions to problems. After consulting with the Padishah—I mean, with Shaddam—we wanted to suggest ways to face this transition of rule.”
    “Suggestions, such as?” Alia prodded.
    “Rejoining the bloodlines, in whatever manner, would eliminate much of the turmoil, heal the wounds. There are many possible avenuesto accomplish this. For instance, you, Lady Alia, might marry Shaddam—in name only, of course. It has been well established that Muad’Dib took Princess Irulan as his wife in name only. There is an obvious precedent.”
    Alia bristled. “Shaddam’s wives have not had a high survival rate.”
    “That is in the past, and he has been unmarried for years.”
    “Nevertheless, the offer is unacceptable to the Regent.” Duncan’s voice carried a slight undercurrent of