Dune_ House Atreides - Brian Herbert [251]
Across the comsystem he could hear other messages being shouted to the navigation chamber—accusations and demands from the ships aboard. Muffled, angry tones.
The Navigator spoke again. “Atreides must shut off shields. Obey Guild laws and regulations.”
“Refused.” Leto stood firm, but his skin had gone pale and cold, and he knew his expression just barely concealed his terror. “I don’t think you can get us out of here as long as my shields are on, so we stay here, wherever we are, until you accede to my . . . request.”
“After destroying a Bene Tleilax ship and activating your shields, you are in no position to make any requests!” cried an accented voice, a Tleilaxu.
“Impertinent, Atreides.” It was the mutated Navigator’s rumbling, underwater-sounding voice.
More muffled communications ensued, which the Navigator abruptly silenced. “State . . . request . . . Atreides.”
Pausing, Leto met the inquiring but respectful gazes of his friends, then spoke into the comsystem. “First, we assure you we did not fire upon the Tleilaxu, and we intend to prove it. If we lower our shields, the Guild must guarantee the safety of my ship and crew, and transfer jurisdiction of this matter to the Landsraad.”
“The Landsraad? This ship is under Spacing Guild jurisdiction.”
“You are bound by honor,” Leto said, “as are the members of the Landsraad, as am I. There is in the Landsraad a legal procedure known as Trial by Forfeiture.”
“My Lord!” Hawat protested. “You can’t mean to sacrifice House Atreides, all the centuries of noble tradition—”
Leto shut off the voice pickup. Placing a hand on the warrior Mentat’s shoulder, he said, “If billions have to die for us to keep our fief, then Caladan isn’t worth the price.” Thufir lowered his gaze in acquiescence. “Besides, we know we did not do this—a Mentat of your stature shouldn’t have much difficulty proving that.”
Reactivating the comlink, Leto said, “I will submit myself to Trial by Forfeiture, but all hostilities must cease immediately. There must be no retaliation, or I will refuse to deactivate my shields, and this Heighliner will remain here, nowhere.”
Leto thought of bluffing, threatening to fire lasguns at his own shields to cause the dreadful atomic interaction that would leave the gigantic Heighliner nothing but bits of molten flotsam. Instead, he tried to be reasonable. “What is the point in further argument? I have surrendered, and will submit myself to the Landsraad on Kaitain for a Trial by Forfeiture. I am merely trying to prevent a full-scale war over a mistaken assumption. We did not commit this crime. We are prepared to face the accusations and the consequences if we are found guilty.”
The line went dead, then crackled back on. “Spacing Guild agrees to conditions. I guarantee safety of ship and crew.”
“Know this, then,” Leto said. “Under the rules of Trial by Forfeiture, I, Duke Leto Atreides, intend to give up all legal rights to my fief and will place myself at the mercy of the tribunal. No other member of my House may be subjected to arrest or to any legal proceeding. Do you acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Landsraad in this matter?”
“I do,” the Navigator assured him, in a firmer tone, more accustomed to speaking now.
Finally, still nervous, Leto switched off the frigate’s shields and sagged into his chair, trembling. The other ships in the immense hold powered down their weapons, though the tempers of their crews continued to flare.
Now the real battle would begin.
In the long history of our House, we have been constantly shadowed by Misfortune, as if we were its prey. One might almost believe the curse of Atreus from ancient Greek times on Old Terra.
—DUKE PAULUS ATREIDES,
from a speech to his generals
On the prism-lined promenade of the Imperial Palace, the Crown Prince’s new fiancée Anirul and her companion Margot Rashino-Zea strode past three young women, members of the Imperial Court. The showpiece city extended all the way to the horizon, and massive works filled the streets and buildings, colorful preparations for the upcoming spectacular