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Book Two: Muad‘dib
“ThusitreadsabovetheEmperor’sdoor.Iproposetoshowhimlaw.”
“AndI’mnotsureIcouldtrustthepersonwhoconceivedthisplan,”Kynessaid.“Arrakishasitsownplanthatwe—”
“Fromthethrone,”Paulsaid,“IcouldmakeaparadiseofArrakiswiththewaveofahand.ThisisthecoinIofferforyoursupport.”
Kynesstiffened.“Myloyalty’snotforsale,Sire.”
Paulstaredacrossthedeskathim,meetingthecoldglareofthoseblue-within-blueeyes,studyingthebeardedface,thecommandingappearance.AharshsmiletouchedPaul’slipsandhesaid:“Wellspoken.Iapologize.”
KynesmetPaul’sstareand,presently,said:“NoHarkonneneveradmittederror.Perhapsyou’renotlikethem,Atreides.”
“Itcouldbeafaultintheireducation,”Paulsaid.“Yousayyou’renotforsale,butIbelieveI’vethecoinyou’llaccept.ForyourloyaltyIoffermyloyaltytoyou...totally.”
MysonhastheAtreidessincerity,Jessicathought.Hehasthattremendous,almostnaïvehonor—andwhatapowerfulforcethattrulyis.
ShesawthatPaul’swordshadshakenKynes.
“Thisisnonsense,”Kynessaid.“You’rejustaboyand—”
“I’mtheDuke,”Paulsaid.“I’manAtreides.NoAtreideshaseverbrokensuchabond.”
Kynesswallowed.
“WhenIsaytotally,”Paulsaid,“Imeanwithoutreservation.Iwouldgivemylifeforyou.”
“Sire!”Kynessaid,andthewordwastornfromhim,butJessicasawthathewasnotnowspeakingtoaboyoffifteen,buttoaman,toasuperior.NowKynesmeanttheword.
