bh.houseatreides-第122部分
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ransition times。〃
The Crown Prince laughed。 〃You sound like one of our diplomats。 Give me a yes or a no； without equivocation。〃
〃Yes； Majesty。 That is； I give you a yes； without hesitation。 Anirul is a woman of fine breeding and disposition。。。a bit young； but she has a great wisdom about her。〃 With a glance at Margot beside him； Fenring said； 〃You assured me that she can indeed bear children？〃
〃Royal heirs will flow from her loins；〃 Margot quipped。
〃What an image！〃 Shaddam exclaimed； with another hearty laugh。 〃Bring her to me so I can meet her myself。〃
Margot raised her hand； and Anirul hurried to the Crown Prince's side。 The rest of the Bene Gesserit entourage buzzed with conversation。
Shaddam looked at the woman closely； noted that Anirul his wife…to…be had delicate features。 He noted tiny lines around the doe eyes； though her gaze was youthful and her movements lithe。 At the moment she continued to lower her head with its ruffled bronze hair。 As if being coy； she looked at the Crown Prince and then away again。
〃You have just made one of the best decisions of your life； Sire；〃 Margot said。 〃Your reign will have a strong foundation。〃
〃This is cause for celebration； with all the pomp and splendor the Imperium can muster；〃 Shaddam said。 〃In fact； I plan to announce that the marriage will take place on the same day as my coronation。〃
Fenring beamed。 〃It will be the grandest spectacle in Imperial history； my friend。〃
Shaddam and Anirul exchanged smiles； and touched hands for the first time as he reached out to her。
When the center of the storm does not move； you are in its path。
…Ancient Fremen Wisdom
The Atreides frigate departed from Cala City Spaceport for the Padishah Emperor's coronation； loaded with an abundance of banners； exquisite clothes； jewels； and gifts。 Duke Leto wanted to make sure he contributed visibly to the magnificence of the Imperial ceremony。
〃It is a good tactic；〃 Thufir Hawat agreed with a grim nod。 〃Shaddam has always reveled in the trappings of his position。 The more finery you wear and the more gifts you present him； the more impressed he'll be。。。and therefore the more inclined to grant your request。〃
〃He appears to value form over substance；〃 Leto mused。 〃But appearances can be deceiving； and I dare not underestimate him。〃
Kailea had worn her own gorgeous sky…blue…and…lilac dress to see them off； but she would remain at the Castle； with no one to see her finery。 Leto could see how much she longed to go to the Imperial Court； but he refused to bend in his decision。 Old Paulus had taught him stubbornness as well。
Rhombur emerged into the staging area wearing pantaloons； a synthetic merh…silk shirt； and a billowing cape of purple and copper； colors of the lost House Vernius。 He stood proudly； while Kailea gasped at her brother's bravery for flaunting his family heritage。 He seemed much more a man now； muscular and tanned； without the gentle roundings of baby fat。
〃Some might see that as arrogance； my Duke；〃 Hawat said； nodding toward Rhombur's clothes。
〃This is all a gamble； Thufir；〃 Leto said。 〃We need to hark back to the grandeur that was lost when Tleilaxu treachery forced this noble family to go renegade。 We must show the shortsightedness of Emperor Elrood's malicious decision。 We must help Shaddam see what a great ally House Vernius could be to the Imperial throne。 After all〃…he gestured to the proud Rhombur…〃would you rather have this man as your ally； or the filthy Tleilaxu？〃
The Master of Assassins favored him with a small； contained smile。 〃I wouldn't e out and say that directly to Shaddam。〃
〃We'll say it without words；〃 Leto replied。
〃You are going to make a formidable Duke； m'Lord；〃 Hawat said。
They walked together from the staging area to the landing field； where twice the usual plement of Atreides troops had just finished boarding the frigate that would take them up to the waiting Heighliner。
Kailea came forward and gave Leto a brief； formal hug。 Her pastel dress rustled with her movements； and he pressed his cheek against one of the gold bs in her copper…dark hair。 He could feel the tension in her arms； and sensed that they both wanted to share a much more passionate embrace。
Then； with tears in her eyes； the daughter of Dominic and Shando Vernius clutched her brother even more desperately。 〃Be careful； Rhombur。 This is so dangerous。〃
〃This may be the only way we can restore our family name；〃 Rhombur answered。 〃We must throw ourselves upon the mercy of Shaddam。 Perhaps he'll be different from his father。 He has nothing to gain by maintaining the sentence against us； and much to lose…especially with the restlessness in the Imperium。 He needs all the friends and strength he can get。〃 He smiled and swirled the purple…and…copper cape。
〃Ix is wasted on the Bene Tleilax；〃 Kailea noted。 〃They don't have an inkling about how to run a galactic business。〃
Leto； Rhombur； and Hawat would be representatives from Caladan。 Brash perhaps； and showy in their impertinence…or would it be seen as calm confidence？ Leto hoped for the latter。
As Duke； he knew that flying in the face of Court politics was unwise。 But his heart told him to gamble when the stakes were important enough； when he was on the side of righteousness where he always intended to be。 The Old Duke had taught him no less。
His father had shown him that a gambit filled with bravado often paid off far more substantially than a conservative and unimaginative plan。。。so why not this？ Would the Old Duke have done something similar； or would he； guided by his wife； have taken a safer course？ Leto had no answer for that； but was thankful that he didn't have anyone like the stern and inflexible Lady Helena getting in his way now。 When he decided to marry； it would never be to anyone like her。
He had sent a formal Courier to the Sisters in Isolation pound on the Eastern Continent； notifying his mother that he and Rhombur would journey to Kaitain。 He didn't delineate their plan or ment on the obvious risk involved； but he wanted her to be prepared for the worst。 With no other heirs； Lady Helena would bee the ruler of House Atreides should things go wrong； should Leto find himself executed or 〃accidentally〃 killed。 Though he knew she had instigated the murder of his father； he had no choice in this circumstance。 It was a matter of form。
The final pieces of Atreides luggage and trunks were loaded aboard； and within seconds the big frigate leaped into the gray…locked skies of Caladan。 This would be different from his previous trips the future of Rhombur's bloodline hung in the balance。。。and perhaps his own as well。
With all the ceremonial fanfare； Leto was fortunate to have been granted an Imperial audience four days after the coronation。 At that time he and Rhombur would make a formal petition to Shaddam； stating their case and throwing themselves on his mercy。
In the glorious first days of his regime； would the new Padishah Emperor risk casting a dark pall upon the festivities by renewing a sentence of death？ Many Houses still saw omens in every action； and Shaddam was rumored to be as superstitious as any of them。 This omen would be clear enough。 By his own decision； Shaddam would establish the tenor of his reign。 Would the Emperor want to begin by denying justice？ Leto hoped not。
The ducal frigate took its assigned position inside the Heighliner's cavernous but crowded cargo bay。 Nearby； shuttles full of passengers moved delicately into position； along with transports and cargo ships filled with the trading goods of Caladan： pundi rice； medicinals from processed kelp； handmade tapestries； and preserved fish products。 Privately owned lighters were still loading merchandise into the hold； ferrying up from the surface to the Heighliner。 This huge Guild ship had gone from world to world on its roundabout route to Kaitain； and the province…sized cargo bay was dotted with ships from other worlds in the Imperium； all on their way to the coronation。
While they waited； Thufir Hawat looked at the chronometer mounted on a bulkhead of the frigate。 〃We still have three hours before the Heighliner pletes loading and unloading and is ready to depart。 I suggest we use
