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〃Informed them； or asked them？ Or did they send you after me in the first place？〃
The Dame of House Venette strolled by； leading a brace of small； coiffed dogs。 Her gilded dress was so voluminous that other guests had to back out of her way。 With each step； the noblewoman fixed her blank gaze forward； as if just concentrating on keeping her balance。
Margot watched the spectacle； then turned back to Fenring。 〃There are obvious advantages to all of us； and Mother Superior Harishka has already given me her blessing。 You would gain a valuable connection with the Sisterhood； though I wouldn't necessarily tell you all of our secrets。〃 She nudged him playfully； nearly causing him to spill his plate of food。
〃Mm…m…m…m；〃 he said； looking over the perfection of her figure； 〃and I am a key to the power of Shaddam。 He trusts no one more than me。〃
Bemused； Margot raised her eyebrows。 〃Oh？ Is that why he sent you away to Arrakis？ Because you're so close to him？ I'm told that you aren't happy with the new duty。〃
〃How did you find out about that？〃 Fenring scowled； felt the unfortable sensation of losing his balance。 〃I just learned of the assignment myself two days ago。〃 This clever witch had more to say； and he waited for her。
〃Hasimir Fenring； you must learn to use every circumstance to your advantage。 Arrakis is the key to melange； and the spice opens the universe。 Our new Emperor may think he has merely reassigned you； but in reality he has entrusted you with something vitally important。 Think of it Imperial Observer on Arrakis。〃
〃Yes； and the Baron Harkonnen won't like it one bit。 I suspect he's been hiding many small details all along。〃
She graced him with a lush； full smile。 〃No one can hide such things from you； my dear。 Or me。〃
He smiled back at her。 〃Then we can while away the miserable days ferreting out his secrets。〃
She ran her long； thin fingers along his sleeve。 〃Arrakis is a most difficult place in which to live； but。。。perhaps you would enjoy it more in my pany？〃
He grew wary； as was his nature。 Though the crowd was filled with extravagant costumes and exotic plumage； Margot was the most beautiful woman in the entire hall。 〃I might。 But why would you want to go there？ A horrible place； by all accounts。〃
〃My Sisters describe it as a planet of ancient mysteries； and my spending time there would greatly increase my standing among the Bene Gesserit。 It could be an important step in my training to bee a Reverend Mother。 Use your imagination： sandworms； Fremen； spice。 It could be most interesting if you and I were to solve those mysteries together。 I'm stimulated by your panionship； Hasimir。〃
〃I'll give your。。。proposal some thought。〃
He was drawn to this woman physically and emotionally。。。bothersome feelings。 When he had experienced such strong emotions in the past； he had felt pelled to dismiss the attraction； get rid of it in any manner necessary。 This Sister Margot Rashino…Zea was different； though or seemed to be。 Only time would tell。
He'd heard stories of Bene Gesserit breeding programs； but because of his congenital deformity； the Sisterhood would not be after his genetic line； there had to be something else to it。 Obviously Margot's motives went beyond her personal feelings if she truly had any feelings for him。 This woman had to see the opportunities in him； both for herself and for her order of Sisters。
And Margot offered him something as well a new avenue to power he'd never dreamed existed。 Until now； his only advantage had rested with Shaddam； his fortuitous childhood panion。 But that status had been recently damaged when the Crown Prince began behaving strangely。 Shaddam had stepped beyond his abilities； attempting to make his own decisions and think for himself。 A dangerous； foolhardy course of action； and he didn't even seem to know it yet。
Given the circumstances； Fenring needed new contacts in powerful places。 Such as the Bene Gesserit。
With the arrival of the Imperial carriage outside； guests began streaming into the Grand Theatre。 Fenring discarded his plate on a side table； and Margot slipped her arm through his； saying； 〃You'll sit with me； then？〃
〃Yes；〃 he said with a wink； 〃and maybe a little more than that。〃
She smiled prettily； and he thought of how difficult it would be to kill this woman。 If it ever came to that。
EACH HOUSE MAJOR had received a dozen tickets to the double event in the Grand Theatre； while the rest of the population in the Imperium watched over planetary relays。 Everyone would talk about the details of the magnificent ceremony for at least the next decade exactly as Shaddam intended。
As the representative of his restored House； Duke Leto Atreides sat with his entourage in blackplaz seats in the second row； main level。 The Emperor's 〃beloved cousin〃 had maintained pretenses since the ending of the Landsraad trial； but Leto did not believe the feigned friendship would last beyond his return to Caladan unless； of course； Shaddam intended to collect on the favor。 Beware of what you buy； the Old Duke had said； for there may be hidden costs。
Thufir Hawat sat on Leto's right and a proud and effusive Rhombur Vernius on his left。 On the other side of Rhombur sat his sister Kailea； who had joined the delegation after Leto was freed。 She had rushed to Kaitain to see the coronation and to stand beside her brother her emerald eyes dazzled with every fresh sight。 Not a moment went by without Kailea gasping or exclaiming in delight at some new marvel。 Leto's heart warmed to see such utter joy in her； the first he'd noticed since their flight from Ix。
While Rhombur wore Vernius purple and copper； Kailea chose to drape her creamy shoulders with an Atreides cloak sporting red hawk armorial crests； like Leto's。 Clutching his forearm and letting him escort her to their seats； Kailea told him with a soft smile； 〃I chose these colors out of respect for the host who granted us sanctuary； and to memorate the restored fortunes of House Atreides。〃 She kissed him on the cheek。
Since the matter of the death sentence on House Vernius still hung like a thick cloud on the horizon； the siblings attended the festivities at considerable personal risk。 In the present atmosphere of celebration； however； Thufir Hawat surmised that they were probably safe； provided they didn't overstay their wele。 When Leto first heard this； he laughed。 〃Thufir； do Mentats ever provide guarantees？〃 Hawat did not find this amusing。
Though the coronation and Imperial wedding were among the safest places in the universe because of the intense public attention； Leto doubted that Dominic Vernius would show his face。 Even now； after vindictive Elrood's death； Rhombur's father had not ventured out of hiding； had not sent them any sort of message whatsoever。
Across the rear of the cavernous theatre； on both the main and upper levels； sat representatives of Houses Minor and various factions among CHOAM； the Spacing Guild； the Mentats； the Suk doctors； and other power bases scattered across the million worlds。 House Harkonnen had their own segregated section in an upper balcony； the Baron； attending without his nephew Rabban； refused even to glance in the direction of the Atreides seats。
〃The colors； the sounds； the perfumes it's making me dizzy；〃 Kailea said； drawing a deep breath and leaning closer to Leto。 〃I've never seen anything like this on Ix； or on Caladan。〃
Leto said； 〃No one in the Imperium has seen anything like this in almost a hundred and forty years。〃
In the first row； directly in front of the Atreides； sat a contingent of Bene Gesserit women in identical black robes； including withered Mother Superior Harishka。 On the other side of the aisle from the quiet and manipulative women stood fully armed Sardaukar in ceremonial uniforms。
The Bene Gesserit delegation greeted fresh…faced Reverend Mother Anirul； the Empress…to…be； as she passed the group； acpanied by a large honor guard and garishly dressed ladies…in…waiting。 Rhombur searched for the stunning blonde woman who'd given him the mysterious message cube； and found her sitting with Hasimir Fenring instead of with the other Sisters。
An air of expectation filled the high…ceilinged； tiered facility。 Finally； a hush fell over the Grand Theatre； and everyone stood respectfully； holding their hats and caps。
Crown Prince Shaddam； attired in a formal Sardaukar mander's uniform with silver epaulets and the Golden Lion crest of House Corrino； marched down the aisle on a carpet of velvet and damask。 His red hair was pomaded with glitter。 Members of his royal Court followed him； all of them wearing scarlet and gold。
Bringing up the rear was the green…robed High Priest of Dur； who had by tradition crowned every Emperor since the fall of the thinking machines。 Despite the varying fortunes of his ancient religion； the High Priest proudly sprinkled the iron…red holy dust of Dur right and left onto the audience。
Seeing Shaddam's stately pace and how smartly uniformed he was； Leto recalled when the Crown Prince had marched up another aisle only days earlier to testify on his behalf。 In a way； it seemed to him that his royal cousin had looked even more regal then； swathed in the fine silks and jewels of