“Everyone will know in time,” Hwi said. “This is not the time. I tell you because it helps impress upon you the gravity of the Lord Leto’s trust.”
“His trust in you?”
“In both of us.”
This had sent a barely concealed, shuddering thrill through Anteac. The power inherent in such trust!
“Do you know why Ix chose you as Ambassador?” Anteac asked.
“Yes. They intended me to beguile him.”
“You appear to have succeeded. Does this mean that the Ixians believe those Tleilaxu stories about the Lord Leto’s gross habits?”
“Even the Tleilaxu don’t believe them.”
“I take it that you confirm the falsehood of such stories?”
Hwi had spoken in an odd flatness which even Anteac’s truthsense and abilities as a Mentat found hard to decipher.
“You have talked to him and observed him. Answer that question for yourself.”
Anteac put down a small surge of irritation. Despite her youth, this Hwi was not an acolyte . . . and would never make a good Bene Gesserit. Such a pity!
“Have you reported this to your government on Ix?” Anteac asked.
“No.”
“Why?”
“They will learn soon enough. Premature revelation could harm the Lord Leto.”
“Isn’t your first loyalty to Ix?” Anteac asked.
“Truth is my first loyalty.” She smiled then. “Ix contrived better than it thought.”
“Does Ix think of you as a threat to the God Emperor?”
“I think their primary concern is knowledge. I discussed this with Ampre before leaving.”
“The Director of Ix’s Outfederation Affairs? That Ampre?”
“Yes. Ampre is convinced that the Lord Leto permits threats to his person only up to certain limits.”
“Ampre said that?”
“Ampre does not believe the future can be hidden from the Lord Leto.”
“But my mission to Ix has about it the suggestion that . . .” Anteac broke off and shook her head, then: “Why does Ix provide the Lord with machines and weapons?”
“Ampre believes that Ix has no choice. Overwhelming force destroys people who pose too great a threat.”
“And if Ix refused, that would pass the Lord Leto’s limits. No middle point. Have you thought about the consequences of wedding the Lord Leto?”
“You mean the doubts such an act will raise about his godhead?”
“Some will believe the Tleilaxu stories.”
Hwi only smiled.
“He is changing the design of his religion,” Anteac accused. “That’s it, of course.”
“Do not make the mistake of judging all others by yourselves,” Hwi said. And, as Anteac started to bridle, Hwi added: “But I did not come here to argue with you about the Lord.”
“No. Of course not.”
“The Lord Leto has commanded me,” Hwi said, “to tell you every detail in my memory about the place where I was born and raised.”
As she reflected on Hwi’s words, Anteac stared down at the cryptic square of black in her lap. Hwi had proceeded to recount the details which her Lord (and now bridegroom!) had commanded, details which would have been boring at times were it not for Anteac’s Mentat abilities at data absorption.
Anteac shook her head as she considered what must be reported to her Sisters at the Chapter House. They already would be studying the import of her previous message. A machine which could shield itself and contents from the penetrating prescience of even the God Emperor? Was that possible? Or was this a different kind of test, a test of Bene Gesserit candor with their Lord Leto? But now! If he did
This new development reinforced Anteac’s Mentat summation of why she had been chosen for the mission to Ix. The God Emperor did not trust this knowledge to his Fish Speakers. He did not want Fish Speakers suspecting a weakness in their Lord!
Or was that as obvious as it appeared? Wheels within wheels—that was the way of the Lord Leto.
Again, Anteac shook her head. She bent then and resumed her account for the Chapter House, leaving out the revelation that the God Emperor had chosen a bride.
They would learn it soon enough. Meanwhile, Anteac herself would consider the implications.
If you know all of your ancestors, you were a personal witness to the events which created the myths and religions of our past. Recognizing this, you must think of me as a myth-maker.
—THE STOLEN JOURNALS
The first explosion came just as darkness enfolded the City of Onn. The blast caught a few venturesome revelers outside the Ixian Embassy, passing on their way to a party where (it was promised) Face Dancers would perform an ancient drama about a king who slew his children. After the violent events of the first four Festival Days, it had taken some courage for the revelers to emerge from the relative safety of their quarters. Stories of death and injury to innocent bystanders circulated all through the City—and here it was again—more fuel for the cautious.
None of the victims and survivors would have appreciated Leto’s observation that innocent bystanders were in relatively short supply.
