Dune_ House Atreides - Brian Herbert [275]
Shaddam fixed a long glance at the Tleilaxu, and Leto had the distinct impression that the Emperor also had the gnomish men over a barrel. Somehow. Seeing that Shaddam stood by House Atreides, their hauteur crumbled.
“And if the complainants won’t agree?” Vidal inquired.
Shaddam smiled. “Oh, they’ll agree. I am even willing to open the Imperial coffers to pay generous, ah, disaster relief for what was, undoubtedly, an unfortunate accident. It is my duty as your new ruler to maintain peace and stability throughout the Imperium. I cannot allow such a feud to destroy what my dear father built during his long reign.”
Leto caught Shaddam’s gaze, and detected a glimmer of fear beneath the statesmanship and bravado. Without words Shaddam told Leto to keep his mouth shut, making Leto even more curious about what alarms his mysterious bluff had triggered.
So he held his tongue. But could Shaddam afford to let him live afterward, not knowing what proof Leto might have against him?
Following a short conference among themselves, Baron Lar Olin cleared his throat and announced, “It is the finding of this duly sworn Landsraad Council that all evidence against Leto Atreides is circumstantial and unprovable. Given such extreme doubts, there are insufficient grounds to proceed with a trial of such devastating consequences, especially in light of the extraordinary testimony of Crown Prince Shaddam Corrino. We therefore declare Leto Atreides fully exonerated and restore to him his title and property.”
Stunned at his sudden good fortune, Leto found himself congratulated by the Emperor-to-be and then mobbed by his friends and supporters. Many of them were delighted to see him win, but despite his youth Leto was not naive; he knew just as many of them were happy simply to see the Tleilaxu lose.
All around him the courtroom erupted in cheers and thunderous ovations, with the exception of a few in attendance who remained conspicuously silent. Leto marked them for further consideration, and knew Thufir Hawat would be doing the same.
“Leto, there is one more thing I must do,” Shaddam said, his voice cutting through the din.
Out of the corner of his eye, Leto saw something glint in the light. Shaddam’s hand moved, snatching a jewel-handled knife from his sleeve—translucent blue-green like the Hagal quartz of the Imperial throne. He raised it, moving quickly.
Back at the bench, Thufir Hawat leaped to his feet, but too late. The crowd fell into an instant hush.
Then, with a smile, Shaddam slipped the knife into the empty sheath at Leto’s waist. “My congratulatory gift to you, Cousin,” he said in the most pleasant of tones. “Carry this blade as a reminder of your service to me.”
We do what we must. Friendship and loyalty be damned. We do what we must!
—LADY HELENA ATREIDES,
her personal journals
Hasimir Fenring brooded in his private apartments, in shock. How can Shaddam do this to me?
The message capsule with the formal Imperial seal—the wax lion of House Corrino—lay discarded on his bed. He had torn Shaddam’s formal decree to shreds, but not before memorizing every word.
A new assignment—a banishment!—a promotion?
“Hasimir Fenring, in acknowledgment of your unfailing service to the Imperium and the throne of the Padishah Emperors, you are hereby appointed to a newly created post as official Imperial Observer on Arrakis.
“Because of this planet’s vital importance to the Imperial economy, you shall have all necessary resources made available to your station.”
Blah, blah, blah.
How could he dare do this? What a useless waste of his talent. What petty revenge to send Fenring off to a sandhole festering with worms and unwashed people. He fumed, wishing he could discuss the matter with the fascinating Margot Rashino-Zea, whom he trusted