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Narrowing his eyes； Leto remained silent。 If his suspicions were correct； it could well take much longer than that。
〃This chamber is just a rendezvous point； Master Rhombur；〃 Captain Zhaz said。 〃We'll await the Earl and follow his orders。〃
Rhombur nodded vigorously。 〃Yes； my father'll know what to do。 He's been in plenty of challenging military situations before。〃 He smiled brightly。 〃Some of them with your own father； Leto。〃
Leto clapped a strong hand on the other Prince's shoulder； in a display of support for his friend。 But he didn't know how many of Dominic Vernius's previous battle engagements had been desperate defensive measures like this； it was Leto's impression that Dominic's victories in the past had always been overwhelming charges against crumbling groups of rebels。
Remembering what his father had taught him know the details of your surroundings in any difficult circumstance Leto took a moment to inspect their hideaway。 He searched for escape routes； vulnerable points。 The algae…chamber had been hacked out of solid crustal rock； with an outer shell of thick green growth that gave the air a sour； organic taint。 The bolt…hole had four apartments； an extensive kitchen plete with survival supplies； and a last…chance emergency ship that could make low…planetary orbit。
Frictionless； noiseless machinery operated nullentropy bins at the core of the chamber； keeping food and beverages fresh。 Other bins contained clothing； weapons； filmbooks； and clever Ixian games for hidden refugees to while away the time。 The endless waiting could be the most difficult part of this protected sanctuary； and boredom was an often…overlooked part of isolation and escape。 The Ixians； though； had thought of all necessary preparations。
It was already evening； as determined by their chronos。 Zhaz set up his guards in the outer corridors and at the camouflaged doorhatch。 Rhombur rattled off an endless stream of questions； most of which the captain could not answer： What was going on outside？ Did they dare hope to be freed by Ixian loyalists； or would Tleilaxu invaders imprison them； or worse？ Would an Ixian e to notify Rhombur of the death of his parents？ Why hadn't the others shown up at the rendezvous point yet？ Did they have any idea how much of the capital city of Vernii remained intact？ If not； who could find out for them？
The klaxon of an intruder warning interrupted him。 Someone was trying to enter the chamber。
Captain Zhaz flipped out a handheld monitor； pressed a button to illuminate the room and activate a videoscreen。 Leto saw three familiar faces pressed close to the eyes in the secondary corridor Dominic Vernius； and his daughter Kailea； her dress torn and her coppery hair in disarray。 Between them they supported the Lady Shando； who seemed barely conscious； her arm and ribs crudely bandaged。
〃Permission to enter；〃 Dominic said； his voice tinny and granular across the speakers。 〃Open up； Rhombur。 Zhaz！ We need medical attention for Shando。〃 His eyes were shadowed； his teeth very white beneath the bushy mustache。
Rhombur Vernius rushed toward the controls； but the guard captain stopped him with an urgent tug at his arm。 〃By all the saints and sinners； remember the Face Dancers； young master！〃 Leto suddenly realized that Tleilaxu shape…shifters could assume familiar guises and walk into the most secure area。 Leto held the Ixian Prince's other arm while Zhaz interrogated and received a countersign。 Finally； a message appeared from the shielded chamber's biometric identity scanner。 Confirmed： Earl Dominic Vernius。
〃Permission granted；〃 Rhombur said into the voice pickup。 〃e in Mother； what happened？〃
Kailea looked stricken； as if the floor had dropped out from beneath her plans for the future and she still couldn't believe she was falling。 All of the newers smelled of sweat and smoke and fear。
〃Your sister was scolding the suboids and telling them to get back to work；〃 Shando said with a bit of mirth shining through her pain。 〃Very foolish。〃
〃And some of them were about to do it； too 〃the young woman said as a flush of anger blossomed beneath the soot smudges on her cheeks。
〃Until one pulled a maula pistol and opened fire。 Good thing the man couldn't aim。〃 Shando touched her arm and side； wincing at the open wound。
Dominic knocked the guards aside and tore open a medkit to tend his wife's injuries himself。 〃Not serious； my love。 I'll be around to kiss the scars later。 But you shouldn't have taken such a risk。〃
〃Not even to save Kailea？〃 Shando coughed； and her eyes sparkled with tears。 〃You would have done the same to protect either of our children or even Leto Atreides。 And don't you deny it。〃
Averting his gaze； Dominic grudgingly nodded。 〃It still upsets me。。。how close you came to death。 Then what would I have left to fight for？〃 He stroked her hair； and she clasped the palm of his hand against her cheek。
〃Plenty； Dominic。 You'd still have plenty to fight for。〃
Watching the exchange； Leto could see what had driven a beautiful young concubine to leave her Emperor； and why a war hero had risked Elrood's wrath to marry her。
Outside in the hidden corridor； half a dozen armed soldiers took up positions again； sealing the access door behind them。 On the external…monitor screen； Leto saw the rest of them shock troops in case of a violent rebel incursion setting up lascannons； sensors； and sonic defensive equipment in the chamber's access tube。
Relieved to see his family safe at last； Rhombur hugged his parents and sister。 〃It'll be all right；〃 he said。 〃You'll see。〃
Despite her wound； the Lady Shando appeared proud and brave； though salty tracks around her reddened eyes showed evidence of tears。 Self…consciously； Kailea glanced over at Leto； then dropped her emerald gaze。 She looked defeated now； and fragile； without her usual aloof demeanor。 He wanted to fort her； but hesitated。 Everything seemed too unsettled now； too frightening。
〃We don't have much time； children；〃 Dominic said； wiping perspiration from his brow； then rubbing his sweaty biceps； 〃and this time calls for desperate measures。〃 His shaved scalp was smudged with someone else's blood ally or enemy？ Leto wondered。 The torn helix insignia dangled from his lapel。
〃Then now is not the time to call us children；〃 Kailea said with surprising strength。 〃We're a part of this fight。〃
Rhombur stood tall； looking unusually regal beside his broad…shouldered father； rather than spoiled and stocky。 〃And we're ready to help you retake Ix。 Vernii is our city； and we have to get it back。〃
〃No； all three of you are going to stay here。〃 Dominic held up a wide； callused hand to silence Rhombur's instant objection。 〃First order of business is to keep the heirs safe。 I'll hear no argument in this。 Each moment of arguing takes me away from my people； and they desperately need my leadership right now。〃
〃You boys are too young to fight；〃 Shando said； her delicate face now looking hard and unbreakable。 〃You're the future of your respective Houses both of you。〃
Dominic came forward to stand in front of Leto and looked him directly in the eye for the first time； as if he finally saw the Atreides boy as a man。 〃Leto； your father would never forgive me if anything happened to his son。 We have already sent a message to the Old Duke； notifying him of the situation。 In response； your father has promised limited assistance and has dispatched a rescue mission to take you； Rhombur； and Kailea to safety on Caladan。〃 Dominic placed beefy hands on the shoulders of his two children children who now needed to be much more than that。 〃Duke Atreides will protect you； give you sanctuary from this。 It is all he can do for now。〃
〃That's ridiculous；〃 Leto said； his gray eyes flashing。 〃You should take refuge with House Atreides as well； m'Lord。 My father would never turn you away。〃
Dominic gave a wan smile。 〃No doubt Paulus would do exactly as you say but I cannot； because that would doom my children。〃
Rhombur looked over at his sister in alarm。 Lady Shando nodded and continued； she and her husband had already discussed the various possibilities。 〃Rhombur； if you and Kailea live in exile on Caladan； then you may be safe； not worth anyone's trouble。 I suspect that this bloody revolt has been engineered with Imperial influence and support； and all the pieces have fallen into place。〃
Rhombur and Kailea stared at each other in disbelief； then at Leto。 〃Imperial support？〃
〃Why the Emperor wants Ix； I do not know；〃 Dominic said； 〃but Elrood's grudge is against me and your mother。 If I go with you to House Atreides； the hunters will e for all of us。 They'll find some reason to attack Caladan。 No； your mother and I have to find a way to draw this fight away from you。〃
Rhombur stood indignant。 His pale skin flushed。 〃We can hold out here a while longer； Father。 I don't want to leave you behind。〃
〃The deal is done； my son。 It's already negotiated。 Other than the Atreides rescue operation； there is no help ing no Imperial Sardaukar to assist us； no Landsraad armies to drive back the Tleilaxu。 The suboids are their pawns。 We have sent appeals to all the Houses Major and to the Landsraad； but no one will move fast enough。 Someone