Irulan was apprehensive as she entered the Lady Jessica's chamber. Never
had they held any love for one another, only a mutual respect within the
sisterhood, and the shared bond of protection and love for the twins.
The twins. They were all that mattered now. Alia was falling faster and faster into abomination, what little hold she had on herself and her sanity was swiftly eluding her grasp as she commanded armies of her priests to abolish rebel sietches, those who did not mold to her will. A mad potter was what she was, molding and shaping what was once beautiful and dangerous into a frail cracked society, all it's faults visible for all who wished to see. Irulan knew that, and, she was certain, so did Jessica.
"Irulan," was the abrupt greeting she received. Her eyes scanned the room for any hearing devices, before she began to reply.
"Jessica, we have much need to speak-"
Irulan was cut of by a raised hand, a hint, and a cue of what would really be happening in this meeting. They would speak not with their mouths, but in the Hand gestures of the sisterhood, a curious safeguard, Irulan thought.
"It has been so long," Jessica stated, sitting in a high backed woven chair, gesturing for Irulan to do the same, while with her hands she spoke,
*hush child, w are in enough danger already, I stress caution, no doubt you understand. There are eyes everywhere.*
"Yes, Mother-In-Law, it has been quite some time, and I greatly desire to see you again. How is Caladan?"
*My apologies. Forgive me, Lady Jessica. In my apprehension I seemed to have slipped.*
"As beautiful as ever. But it is an easy beauty. I have missed the sands of Arrakis," Lady Jessica replied.
*of course. Remember your training. Are the twins safe?*
"It has a haunting beauty I dare say," Irulan spoke, though she watched Jessica's hands instead of her face as she truly spoke.
*for now, though Alia becomes more forceful and ardent in her quest to make Either Leto or Ghanima take the spice trance*
"The twins have grown since I last saw them,"
*They will not be able to elude her forever. She will not always be so pre-occupied. They must be taken away from this place*
Irulan nodded, "They seem to grow daily. Leto is a fine young man, witty though. Ghanima has grown very beautiful, she has a strong mind."
*Where do you suggest? There is no where safe anymore.*
Jessica glared at her. "It will be needed no doubt,"
*there is always a safe place. Sietch Tabr has been declared neutral territory, has it not?*
"I would hope she does not need to bother herself with the rigors of it all," Irulan relayed,
*Yes it has. We will go as soon as possible,*
"I would have my granddaughter learn to defend herself than rely on
others," Jessica announced, still signing furiously.
*go tomorrow. At dawn. Alia can do nothing or she breaks treaty with
the Naibs.*
"Sometimes one needs to rely on others. I will leave you now," Irulan
told Jessica, raising from the chair to inform the twins. "Goodnight,"
******************************************************
Chaysula stood silently, Ankhar at her heels as she looked at
the vast stone carving that marked the entrance to sietch Tabr, a man
in robes with his hands held out, carved in stone, but no less real to
the girl as she summoned the courage to approach her sanctuary.
Stooping to pick up Ankhar, she failed to notice the shadowed
silhouette that stood along the ridge, watching her as she
purposefully strode inside, Ankhar inside his bag and balliset slung
over her shoulder, like a bard of Ancient Terra Earth, come to lull
the savage beast.
The twins. They were all that mattered now. Alia was falling faster and faster into abomination, what little hold she had on herself and her sanity was swiftly eluding her grasp as she commanded armies of her priests to abolish rebel sietches, those who did not mold to her will. A mad potter was what she was, molding and shaping what was once beautiful and dangerous into a frail cracked society, all it's faults visible for all who wished to see. Irulan knew that, and, she was certain, so did Jessica.
"Irulan," was the abrupt greeting she received. Her eyes scanned the room for any hearing devices, before she began to reply.
"Jessica, we have much need to speak-"
Irulan was cut of by a raised hand, a hint, and a cue of what would really be happening in this meeting. They would speak not with their mouths, but in the Hand gestures of the sisterhood, a curious safeguard, Irulan thought.
"It has been so long," Jessica stated, sitting in a high backed woven chair, gesturing for Irulan to do the same, while with her hands she spoke,
*hush child, w are in enough danger already, I stress caution, no doubt you understand. There are eyes everywhere.*
"Yes, Mother-In-Law, it has been quite some time, and I greatly desire to see you again. How is Caladan?"
*My apologies. Forgive me, Lady Jessica. In my apprehension I seemed to have slipped.*
"As beautiful as ever. But it is an easy beauty. I have missed the sands of Arrakis," Lady Jessica replied.
*of course. Remember your training. Are the twins safe?*
"It has a haunting beauty I dare say," Irulan spoke, though she watched Jessica's hands instead of her face as she truly spoke.
*for now, though Alia becomes more forceful and ardent in her quest to make Either Leto or Ghanima take the spice trance*
"The twins have grown since I last saw them,"
*They will not be able to elude her forever. She will not always be so pre-occupied. They must be taken away from this place*
Irulan nodded, "They seem to grow daily. Leto is a fine young man, witty though. Ghanima has grown very beautiful, she has a strong mind."
*Where do you suggest? There is no where safe anymore.*
Jessica glared at her. "It will be needed no doubt,"
*there is always a safe place. Sietch Tabr has been declared neutral territory, has it not?*
"I would hope she does not need to bother herself with the rigors of it all," Irulan relayed,
*Yes it has. We will go as soon as possible,*
"I would have my granddaughter learn to defend herself than rely on
others," Jessica announced, still signing furiously.
*go tomorrow. At dawn. Alia can do nothing or she breaks treaty with
the Naibs.*
"Sometimes one needs to rely on others. I will leave you now," Irulan
told Jessica, raising from the chair to inform the twins. "Goodnight,"
******************************************************
Chaysula stood silently, Ankhar at her heels as she looked at
the vast stone carving that marked the entrance to sietch Tabr, a man
in robes with his hands held out, carved in stone, but no less real to
the girl as she summoned the courage to approach her sanctuary.
Stooping to pick up Ankhar, she failed to notice the shadowed
silhouette that stood along the ridge, watching her as she
purposefully strode inside, Ankhar inside his bag and balliset slung
over her shoulder, like a bard of Ancient Terra Earth, come to lull
the savage beast.