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lowered himself onto the bench beside her. She inspected the hors d'oeuvres he
had chosen and, without asking, reached over to pluck one of them for herself.
It was a cheerful gathering, Fenring thought, without the whisperings of
discontent that had so poisoned the Palace in recent months. He was satisfied
with his own efforts in this regard. Key alliances had been solidified, and the
Federated Houses no longer made any serious talk of revolt against Shaddam. The
Bene Gesserit had thrown their public support behind the Corrino reign, and no
doubt the witches had continued their machinations behind the scenes at other
Great Houses. Fenring found it curious that many of those who'd been the most
suspicious and outspoken nobles were no longer counted among the living -- and
even more curious that he'd had nothing to do with it.
The trial of Leto Atreides had ended by fiat, and the only ones openly
dissatisfied with the verdict were the Bene Tleilax. He and Shaddam would work
to quiet them quickly, though. The greatest mystery in Fenring's mind was that
no one seemed to know exactly what had happened inside the Guild Heighliner.
The more he observed and the more he considered the strange sequence of events,
the more he began to believe the possibility that young Leto Atreides had been
framed after all -- but how and by whom? No other House had come forward to
gloat, and since virtually everyone had believed in Atreides culpability, even
the most imaginative and loose tongues had not bothered to spread additional
rumors.
Fenring would dearly love to know what had happened, if only to add the
technique to his own repertoire. But, once he went off to his new assignment on
Arrakis, he doubted he would have any opportunity to unravel the secret.
Before he could advance his pleasant conversation with Margot, though, he heard
thunderous crowds outside and resonating trumpets. "Shaddam and the royal
entourage are coming," Margot said with a toss of her honey-blonde hair. "We'd
best go find our seats."
Fenring knew the Crown Prince's carriage would now be entering the quadrangle
containing the theatre and Imperial government buildings. He tried to cover his
disappointment. "But you'll be in the Bene Gesserit section, my dear." He
stared at her with glittering dark eyes as he dipped a piece of pheasant Kaitain
into a bowl of plum sauce. "Would you like me to dress in one of those costumes
and pretend to be in the Sisterhood?" He swallowed the morsel, savored its
sweetness. "I'd do it, to be next to you, hm-m-m-m?"
She tapped him on the chest playfully. "You aren't what you appear to be,
that's for certain, Hasimir Fenring."
His overlarge eyes narrowed. "Meaning?"
"Meaning . . . we have much in common, you and I." She pressed one of her soft
breasts against his arm. "Perhaps it would be wise for the two of us to
continue -- and formalize -- this alliance we seem to be forming."
Fenring glanced around to see if anyone was eavesdropping. He didn't like
snoopers. Leaning close to her, he spoke in a passionless voice. "I never
intended to take a wife. I am a genetic-eunuch and cannot father children."
"Then we may be required to make certain sacrifices, each in our own ways. That
need be nothing personal." She arched her golden eyebrows. "Besides, I imagine
you have your ways of pleasing a woman? I, too, have had extensive . . .
training."
A cruel smile slashed his face. "Ah-um-m-m-m. Is that so? My dear Margot, it
sounds as if you're presenting me with a business plan."
"And you, Hasimir, seem to be a man who prefers practicality over romanticism.
I think we're well matched," she said. "Both of us are skilled at recognizing
layered plans, the labyrinthine ways in which seemingly unrelated actions are
actually connected."
"The results are often quite deadly, aren't they?"
She reached over with her napkin to wipe plum sauce from the side of his mouth.
"Mmm, you need someone to take care of you."
He studied her, the finishing-school way she held her chin high, the perfection
and steady tempo of her speech -- such a contrast to his occasional slurs and
verbal hesitations. Her gray-green eyes gazed at him without apparent
concealment. But he could see the sparkle of secrets held behind those lovely
pupils . . . so many secrets.
And he could spend years and years reveling in the challenge of uncovering them.
Fenring reminded himself how clever these witches were; they did not take
individual action. Nothing was as it seemed. "You and your Sisterhood have a
larger purpose in mind, Margot, my dear. I know something of the ways of the
Bene Gesserit. You are a group organism."
"Well, I've informed the organism of what I wish to do."
"Informed them, or asked them? Or did they send you after me in the first
place?"
The Dame of House Venette strolled by, leading a brace of small, coiffed dogs.
Her gilded dress was so voluminous that other guests had to back out of her way.
With each step, the noblewoman fixed her blank gaze forward, as if just
concentrating on keeping her balance.
Margot watched the spectacle, then turned back to Fenring. "There are obvious
advantages to all of us, and Mother Superior Harishka has already given me her
blessing. You would gain a valuable connection with the Sisterhood, though I
wouldn't necessarily tell you all of our secrets." She nudged him playfully,
nearly causing him to spill his plate of food.
"Mm-m-m-m," he said, looking over the perfection of her figure, "and I am a key
to the power of Shaddam. He trusts no one more than me."
Bemused, Margot raised her eyebrows. "Oh? Is that why he sent you away to
Arrakis? Because you're so close to him? I'm told that you aren't happy with
the new duty."
"How did you find out about that?" Fenring scowled, felt the uncomfortable
sensation of losing his balance. "I just learned of the assignment myself two
days ago." This clever witch had more to say, and he waited for her.
"Hasimir Fenring, you must learn to use every circumstance to your advantage.
Arrakis is the key to melange, and the spice opens the universe. Our new
Emperor may think he has merely reassigned you, but in reality he has entrusted
you with something vitally important. Think of it -- Imperial Observer on
Arrakis."
"Yes, and the Baron Harkonnen won't like it one bit. I suspect he's been hiding
many small details all along."
She graced him with a lush, full smile. "No one can hide such things from you,
my dear. Or me."
He smiled back at her. "Then we can while away the miserable days ferreting out
his secrets."
She ran her long, thin fingers along his sleeve. "Arrakis is a most difficult
place in which to live, but . . . perhaps you would enjoy it more in my
company?"
He grew wary, as was his nature. Though the crowd was filled with extravagant
costumes and exotic plumage, Margot was the most beautiful woman in the entire
hall. "I might. But why would you want to go there? A horrible place, by all
accounts."
"My Sisters describe it as a planet of ancient mysteries, and my spending time
there would greatly increase my standing among the Bene Gesserit. It could be
an important step in my training to become a Reverend Mother. Use your [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]