Dune_ House Atreides - Brian Herbert [207]
But she herself had made the decision to punish Paulus. He knew it in the core of his soul. With her fifteen-year-old son, she would now control Caladan and make the decisions she believed best.
Leto, my son, you are Duke Atreides now. Those had been his mother’s words only moments after her husband’s death. An odd reaction for a shocked and grief-stricken woman.
“Please stop this,” Yresk said, wringing his hands. “M’Lord, I would never betray the House I serve.” He pointed at Duncan. “But you know this stable-rat must be a Harkonnen. He came from Giedi Prime not that long ago.”
Lady Helena sat rigidly, and when she finally spoke, her voice cracked, as if she hadn’t used it much in recent days. She leveled a challenging look at her son. “You’ve known Yresk since you were a child, Leto. Would you accuse a member of my entourage? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“No accusations yet, Mother,” Leto said very carefully. “It’s just discussion at this point.” As leader of House Atreides, he had to work hard to distance himself from his childhood, from when he had been an eager boy asking the white-haired stablemaster if he could see the bulls. Yresk had taught him how to pet various animals, ride some of the older mounts, tie knots, and fix harnesses.
But the wide-eyed child Leto was the new Duke of House Atreides.
“We must study the evidence before we draw any conclusions.”
Emotions roiled across Yresk’s face, and suddenly Leto was afraid of what the stablemaster might say. Pressed into a corner and afraid for his life, would he implicate Helena? The guards in the hall listened attentively. Kailea watched, drinking in every detail. Others would no doubt hear and repeat everything that was spoken here. The scandal would rock Caladan, perhaps the Landsraad itself.
Even if his mother had arranged for the accident at the bullfight, even if Yresk had done it under orders—or because he had been bribed or blackmailed somehow—Leto did not dare let the man confess it here. He required the truth, but in private. If word got out that Lady Helena had been behind the Old Duke’s death, it would tear House Atreides apart. His own rule could be damaged beyond repair . . . and he would have no choice but to deal out the harshest possible justice to his own mother.
He shuddered as he thought of the play Agamemnon, and the curse of Atreus that had dogged his family since the dawn of history. He drew a deep breath, knowing he must be strong.
“Do what you must, lad,” his father had said. “No one can blame you for that, as long as you make the right decisions.”
But what was the right decision now?
Helena stood up from her chair and spoke to Leto in a cool maternal tone. “The death of my husband was no treachery—it was a punishment from God.” She gestured toward Rhombur and Kailea, who seemed stunned by the proceedings. “My beloved Duke was punished for his friendship with House Vernius, for allowing these children to live in our Castle. Their family has broken the commandments, and Paulus still embraced them. My husband’s pride killed him—not a lowly stablemaster. It’s as simple as that.”
“I’ve heard enough, Mother,” Leto said.
Helena gave him an indignant, withering glare, as if he were a child. “I am not finished speaking. There is much to being a Duke that you couldn’t possibly understand yet—”
Leto remained seated, putting all the power he could muster into his voice and composure. “I am the Duke, Mother, and you will be silent, or I shall have the guards forcibly evict you from the hall and lock you in one of the towers.”
Helena’s skin paled, and her eyes went wild as she fought to contain her shock. She couldn’t believe her own son had spoken to her in this manner, but thought better of pressing him. As usual, she struggled to maintain appearances. She had seen similar expressions on the Old Duke’s face and didn’t dare bring the storm closer.
Though it would have been better for him to remain silent, Yresk