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Book Two: Muad‘dib
HefoundhimselfinanopenspaceconfrontedbyStilgarandastrangewomanwearingaflowingwraparoundgarmentofbrilliantorangeandgreen.Herarmswerebaretotheshoulders,andhecouldseesheworenostillsuit.Herskinwasapaleolive.Darkhairsweptbackfromherhighforehead,throwingemphasisonsharpcheekbonesandaquilinenosebetweenthedensedarknessofhereyes.
Sheturnedtowardhim,andPaulsawgoldenringsthreadedwithwatertalliesdanglingfromherears.
“ThisbestedmyJamis?”shedemanded.
“Besilent,Harah,”Stilgarsaid.“ItwasJamis’doing—heinvokedthetahaddial-burhan.”
“He’snotbutaboy!”shesaid.Shegaveherheadasharpshakefromsidetoside,settingthewatertalliestojingling.“Mychildrenmadefatherlessbyanotherchild?Surely,’twasanaccident!”
“Usul,howmanyyearshaveyou?”Stilgarasked.
“Fifteenstandard,”Paulsaid.
Stilgarswepthiseyesoverthetroop.“Isthereoneamongyoucarestochallengeme?”
Silence.
Stilgarlookedatthewoman.“UntilI’velearnedhisweirdingways,I’dnotchallengehim.”
Shereturnedhisstare.“But—”
“YousawthestrangerwomanwhowentwithChanitotheReverendMother?”Stilgarasked.“She’sanout-freynSayyadina,mothertothislad.Themotherandsonaremastersoftheweirdingwaysofbattle.”
“Lisanal-Gaib,”thewomanwhispered.HereyesheldaweassheturnedthembacktowardPaul.
Thelegendagain,Paulthought.
“Perhaps,”Stilgarsaid.“Ithasn’tbeentested,though.”HereturnedhisattentiontoPaul.
