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anything。 Uh； my sister sends her support； by the way； via a fresh Courier from Caladan。 I thought you'd like to know。 It might cheer you up。〃
His expression grew serious； and revealed the layered strain of his long ordeal； the subtle signs of stress and instant maturity that a boy of sixteen shouldn't have had to endure。 Leto knew his friend was concerned about where he and Kailea would end up if House Atreides lost this trial。。。two great noble families destroyed in a frighteningly short time。 Perhaps Rhombur and Kailea would go in search of their renegade father。。。。
〃Thufir and I were just discussing the merits of our case；〃 Leto said。 〃Or as he might put it； the lack of merits。〃
〃I wouldn't say that； my Duke；〃 Hawat protested。
〃Well； then； I bring good news；〃 Rhombur announced。 〃The Bene Gesserit wish to provide Truthsayers at the trial。 Those Reverend Mothers can draw falsehoods out of anyone。〃
〃Excellent；〃 Leto said。 〃They'll end this whole problem in a moment。 Once I speak； they can verify I'm telling the truth。 Can it be that simple？〃
〃Normally a Truthsayer's testimony would be inadmissible；〃 Hawat cautioned。 〃An exception may be granted here； but it's doubtful。 Witches have their own agendas； and legal analysts posit that they can therefore be bribed。〃
Leto blinked in surprise。 〃Bribed？ Then they don't know very many Reverend Mothers。〃 He began to think more about this； though； considering various possibilities。 〃But secret agendas？ Why would the Bene Gesserit make such an offer？ What do they have to gain by my innocence or my guilt； for that matter？〃
〃Be cautious； my Duke；〃 Hawat said。
〃It's worth a try；〃 Rhombur said。 〃Even if it isn't binding； a Truthsayer's testimony would lend weight to Leto's version of events。 You and all the people around you including Thufir； me； the frigate crew； and even your servants from Caladan can all be scrutinized by Truthsayers。 And we know the stories will be consistent。 They'll prove your innocence beyond a shadow of a doubt。〃 He grinned。 〃We'll be back on Caladan before you know it。〃
Hawat； though； remained unconvinced。 〃Exactly who contacted you； young Prince？ Who among the Bene Gesserit made this generous offer？ And what did she ask in payment？〃
〃She； uh； didn't ask for anything；〃 Rhombur said； surprised。
〃Not yet； maybe；〃 Hawat said； 〃but those witches think in the long term。〃
The Ixian Prince scratched his temple。 〃Her name is Margot。 She's in Lady Anirul's entourage； here for the Imperial wedding； I suppose。〃
Leto drew a quick breath as an idea occurred to him。 〃A Bene Gesserit is to be married to the Emperor。 Is this Shaddam's doing； then？ In response to our message？〃
〃The Bene Gesserit aren't errand girls for anyone；〃 Hawat said。 〃They're notoriously independent。 They made this offer because they wanted to； because it benefits them somehow。〃
〃I didn't stop to wonder why she would e to me； of all people；〃 Rhombur said。 〃But think about it： Her offer could be of no advantage to us； unless Leto is indeed innocent。〃
〃I am！〃
Hawat smiled at Rhombur in admiration。 〃Of course。 But now we have proof that the Bene Gesserit know Leto's telling the truth； too； else they would never have made such a suggestion。〃 He wondered what the Sisters knew； and what they hoped to gain。
〃Unless they were testing me；〃 Leto suggested。 〃Just by accepting their Truthsayer； they'd know I wasn't lying。 If I turned them down； they'd be convinced I have something to hide。〃
Standing by the cell wall； Hawat gazed through an armor…plaz window。 〃Be mindful that we're in a trial that is a shell only。 Prejudices exist against the Bene Gesserit as well and their arcane weirding ways。 Truthsayers might betray their oath and lie for a greater purpose。 Witchcraft； sorcery。。。Perhaps we should not be so quick to accept their help。〃
〃You think it's a trick？〃 Leto asked。
〃I always suspect deception；〃 the Mentat said。 His eyes flashed。 〃It's in my nature to do so。〃 He switched to Atreides hand signals and signed to Leto； 〃These witches may be on an Imperial errand after all。 What alliances are hidden from us？〃
The worst sort of alliances are those which weaken us。 Worse still is when an Emperor fails to recognize such an alliance for what it is。
…PRINCE RAPHAEL CORRINO；
Discourses on Leadership
Crown Prince Shaddam did as little as possible to make the Tleilaxu representative feel fortable or wele in the Palace。 Shaddam hated even being in the same room with him； but this meeting could not be helped。 Heavily armed Sardaukar escorted Hidar Fen Ajidica through a back passageway； through maintenance corridors； down unmarked stairways； and finally behind a succession of barred doors。
Shaddam chose the most private room； a chamber so discreet it appeared on no printed floor plans。 Long ago； a few years after the death of Crown Prince Fafnir； Hasimir Fenring had uncovered this place during his usual skulking around。 Apparently； the hidden room had been used by Elrood in the early days of his interminable reign； when he had taken numerous unofficial concubines as well as those he formally adopted into his household。
A single table remained in the chill room； illuminated by new glowglobes dragged in for the occasion。 The walls and floor smelled of dust。 The sheets and blankets on the narrow bed against the wall were now little more than frayed fibers and lint。 An ancient bouquet； now petrified into a clump of blackened leaves and stems； lay in a corner where it had been tossed decades ago。 The place conveyed the desired impression； though Shaddam knew the Bene Tleilax were not known for their attention to subtleties。
Across the plain table； Hidar Fen Ajidica； swathed in his maroon robes； folded his grayish hands on the wooden surface。 He blinked his close…set eyes and looked across at Shaddam。 〃You summoned me； Sire？ I came from my researches at your mand。〃
Shaddam picked at a plate of glazed slig meat one of the guards had brought him； since he'd had no time today for a formal dinner。 He savored the buttery mushroom sauce； then grudgingly nudged the platter toward Ajidica to offer his guest a morsel。
The diminutive man drew back and refused to touch the food。 Shaddam frowned。 〃Slig meat is of your own manufacture。 Don't you Tleilaxu eat your own delicacies？〃
Ajidica shook his head。 〃Though we breed those creatures； we do not consume them ourselves。 Please forgive me； Sire。 You need offer me no amenities。 Let us discuss what we must。 I am anxious to return to Xuttah and my laboratories。〃
Shaddam sniffed； relieved that he didn't have to make any further attempts to be polite。 He had no interest in displaying proper etiquette to this man。 Instead； he rubbed his temples； where his long…standing headache threatened to grow even worse within the hour。 〃I must make a request no； a demand as your Emperor。〃
〃Forgive me； my Lord Prince；〃 Ajidica interrupted； 〃but you have not yet been crowned。〃
The guards at the door stiffened。 Shaddam's eyes flew open wide in astonishment。 〃Does any man's mand bear more weight than mine？ In all the Imperium？〃
〃No； m'Lord。 I was merely correcting a matter of semantics。〃
Shaddam pushed the food platter to one side and leaned over the table like a predator； so close that he could smell the man's unpleasant odors。 〃Listen to me； Hidar Fen Ajidica。 Your people must withdraw your charges in the trial of Leto Atreides。 I don't want this matter to e to open court。〃 He sat back again； took another bite of slig meat； and continued with his mouth full。 〃So； just drop your accusations； I'll send some treasure your way； and everything will settle down。〃
He made the solution sound so simple。 When the Tleilaxu man did not respond immediately； Shaddam rambled on； trying to be gracious。 〃After discussing this with my advisors； I have decided that the Tleilaxu can be pensated； paid blood money for their losses。〃 Shaddam brought his reddish eyebrows together in a stern expression。 〃Real losses only； though。 Gholas don't count。〃
〃I understand； Sire； but I am sorry to say that what you ask is impossible。〃 Ajidica's voice remained low and smooth。 〃We cannot ignore such a crime mitted against the Tleilaxu people。 It strikes to the heart of our honor。〃
Shaddam nearly choked on another bite of his food。 〃 'Tleilaxu' and 'honor' aren't words usually used in the same conversation。〃
Ajidica brushed the insult aside。 〃Nevertheless； all of the Landsraad is aware of this horrible event。 If we withdraw our objections； then House Atreides will have attacked us openly destroyed our ships and people with impunity。〃 The pointed tip of his nose twitched。 〃Surely you have enough statecraft； Sire； to know that we cannot back down on this matter。〃
Shaddam fumed。 His headache was getting worse。 〃I'm not asking you。 I'm telling you。〃
The little man considered this for some time； his dark eyes glittering。 〃Might I inquire as to why the fate of Leto Atreides is so important to you； Sire？ The Duke represents a relatively unimportant House。 Why not throw him to the wolves and give us our satisfaction？〃
Shaddam growled deep in his throat。 〃Because somehow Leto knows about your artificial…spice activities on Ix。〃
Alarm fina