Dune_ House Atreides - Brian Herbert [286]
Leto drew a sharp breath, and the hawklike features on his narrow face darkened. “Exalted Emperor Shaddam, we beseech you to grant amnesty to House Vernius and restore them to their rightful place in the Landsraad. The world of Ix is economically vital and must not remain in the hands of the Tleilaxu. They have already destroyed important manufacturing facilities and have curtailed products vital to the security of the Imperium.” Then he added, with just another hint of his bluff, “We both know what is really going on there, even now.”
The Tleilaxu connection again, Leto thought. Let’s see if I can make him believe I know more than I really do. Standing beside him in the room, Prince Rhombur fixed him with a wary gaze.
“I cannot discuss such matters through intermediaries,” Shaddam said quickly.
Leto’s eyes widened at the possible mistake Shaddam had just made. “Are you suggesting that the Guild can’t be trusted, Sire? They haul armies for the Imperium and the Great Houses; they know or suspect battle plans before they are implemented. This Guildlink is even more secure than a face-to-face discussion in the Imperial audience chamber.”
“But we haven’t studied the merits of the matter,” Shaddam protested, clearly stalling. He had been watching the rising popularity and influence of Duke Leto Atreides. Did this upstart have connections that extended even to the Spacing Guild? He looked around his empty gardens, wishing Fenring were with him after all, but the ferretlike man was preparing for his journey to Arrakis. Perhaps it was a mistake to save Leto after all.
Keeping his phraseology lean and to the point, Leto presented the noble case of the Ixians, asserting that House Vernius had never manufactured forbidden technology. Despite their promises, the Tleilaxu had brought no case and no evidence to the governing body of the Landsraad, and had instead taken matters into their own hands in their greed to acquire the riches of Ix. Based upon conversations he’d had with Rhombur, Leto provided a value for the fief and how much damage the Tleilaxu had caused.
“That sounds excessive,” Shaddam said, too quickly. “Reports from the Bene Tleilax indicate a much lower figure.”
He’s been there himself, Leto thought, and is concealing it. “Of course the Tleilaxu would try to establish a low number, Sire, in order to reduce reparations, if they are ever forced to pay them.”
Leto went on to estimate the loss of Ixian life, and even commented on Elrood’s unwarranted blood price for the death of the Lady Shando. Then, in an emotion-filled voice, he conjectured about the desperate plight of Earl Vernius, who remained in hiding on some unknown, distant world.
During an extended pause on his end of the conversation, Shaddam seethed. He desperately wondered how much this brash Duke truly knew about the Tleilaxu matter. There had been hints, nuances . . . but was he bluffing? As new Emperor, Shaddam needed to do something quickly, to keep the situation under control—but he could never afford to allow House Vernius to return to its ancestral home. The Tleilaxu synthetic-spice research was vital and not easily moved. The Vernius family was an unfortunate casualty—Shaddam didn’t care about his father’s stung pride or petty revenge—but those people could not be rescued now, as if nothing had happened.
Finally the Emperor cleared his throat and said, “The best we can offer is limited amnesty. Since Rhombur and Kailea Vernius are in your personal care, Duke Leto, we grant them our full protection and pardon. From this day forth there shall be no price on their heads. They are absolved of any wrongdoing. You have my guarantee on this.”
Seeing a look of disbelieving exultation on the faces of the two exiled Ixians, Leto said, “Thank you, Sire, but what about reparations to the family