Dune_ House Atreides - Brian Herbert [126]
“Ambassador, your prejudice is not welcome here in my Imperial anteroom. I have nothing but the utmost respect for your Earl . . . and, of course, his Lady Shando.”
Shaddam looked at the Guild agents at the rear of the room. In subdued tones they conversed in a secret language. Presently they nodded to each other. A violation of the Butlerian Jihad was a most serious matter to them.
“But in two days my planet will be lost.” Pilru sent a pleading look to the Guildsmen for support, but they remained silent and would not make eye contact.
“You can’t do this—you’ll doom our people to destruction!” Yuta Brey shouted at Elrood.
“Messenger, you are impertinent, just like Dominic Vernius. Tax my patience no more.” Looking sternly at the Tleilaxu representative, Elrood commanded: “Ambassador Tooy, bring me your proof—incontrovertible proof—within two days, or withdraw your forces from Ix.”
Mofra Tooy bowed. Concealed from the Guildsmen directly behind him, a slight smile worked briefly at the edges of his mouth, then faded.
“Very well then,” the Ixian Ambassador said, trembling now with rage. “I hereby demand an immediate Security Council session of the Landsraad.”
“And you shall have it, precisely according to law,” Elrood said. “I have already acted in the manner I believe best serves the Imperium. Mofra Tooy here will address the Council in two days, and you may do the same. If you wish to return to your planet in the meantime, I will divert an express Heighliner for your use. But be warned, if these charges are indeed valid, Ambassador, House Vernius will have much to atone for.”
Wiping perspiration from his shaven head, Dominic Vernius studied his Ambassador to Kaitain. Pilru had just delivered a shocking report to the Earl and his Lady. The man was clearly anxious to search for his missing son in the chaos of the underground city, though he had been back on the planet for less than an hour. They stood together in a subterranean operations center, deep within the ceiling of rock, since the transparent Orb Office in the Grand Palais was too vulnerable in time of war. Machinery sounds could be heard, tube transports moving Ixian troops and equipment through the catacombs of the planetary crust.
The defensive battles had not been going well. Through well-planned sabotage and carefully arranged bottlenecks, Tleilaxu now controlled most of the underworld, and the Ixians were being herded into smaller and smaller areas. The rebellious suboids vastly outnumbered the besieged Ixian defenders, and the Tleilaxu invaders took full advantage, manipulating the pale-skinned workers with ease.
“Elrood has betrayed us, my love,” Dominic said, holding his wife. They had only the dirty clothes on their backs and a few household treasures they had managed to rescue. He understood everything now, though. “I knew the Emperor hated me, but I never expected such loathsome behavior, not even from him. If only I could prove it.”
Looking pale and more fragile than ever, though her eyes flared with iron determination, the Lady Shando drew a deep breath. Delicate lines etched around her exquisite eyes and mouth were the only indications of her advancing age, subtle reminders to Dominic to treasure her beauty, love, and fine character more each day. Stepping to his side, she looped one arm through his. “Maybe if I went to him and threw myself on his mercy? He might be reasonable, for whatever memories he still holds of me. . . . “
“I wouldn’t let you do it. He hates you now and resents me for marrying you. Roody is beyond compassion.” Dominic clenched his fists and studied Ambassador Pilru’s face, but found no hope there. Looking back at Shando, he said, “Knowing him, he’s undoubtedly set up intrigues so complex that he couldn’t withdraw now if he wanted to.
“We’ll never receive war reparations, even if we are victorious. My family fortunes will be confiscated, my personal power stripped.” He lowered his voice, trying to hide the despair. “And all to get even with me for taking