Leto grabbed his sister's hand as she stumbled in front of Sietch Tabr's
entrance.
"My lord, my lady, your aunt is inside the sietch!" a guard yelled to them.
Leto nodded and they went inside.
"People wonder why I have not had any children," Alia told Stilgar.
"They only wonder that because you are married to Idaho," Stilgar said.
"Sorry it took so long," Leto said, coming in.
"It's fine. Your aunt and were just having a mice talk," Stilgar said.
"I was worried! I suppose you two were out on one of your desert treks again," Alia said.
"Are we going back to the city soon?" Ghanima asked.
"No. I need to speak with someone. I want you both to watch," Alia said.
"Yes, the man Lornett found. I saw," Leto said.
"You never told me about that," Ghanima said, looking at her brother.
"When will you question him?" Leto asked Alia.
"Right now, I was only waiting for you two. I assume you're ready now."
"Follow me please," Stilgar said, leading the way.
They followed him.
"Be silent in here Duncan unless you need to speak," Irulan told Duncan outside the Reverend Mother Kathern's door.
Duncan nodded, he understood. The door opened and the guards took up positions inside the room.
"Reverend Mother." Irulan said. A woman probably in her mid-forties looked up at them. She had dark hair with a round face.
"Irulan, you finally come to see me. And I see you brought the Duncan Idaho ghola," Kathern said.
"He is not really a ghola anymore. He has all of his memories," Irulan said.
"So I heard. Why do you come to visit now? It's been almost two days since I got here," Kathern said.
"She comes now because this is when she had time. If that's not good enough for you maybe you should leave," Duncan said.
"This one is quick with his mouth," Kathern said looking at Duncan.
"Sometimes one needs to express their feelings. Irulan should have that right."
"Does she not? She has never been one for speaking her mind as I recall."
"I would leave now if you had nothing to tell me but I think you do," Irulan said.
"Yes. We would like for you to come back. Muad'dib is gone so what use are you here?" Kathern said.
"Never speak of Paul in front of me or I will kill you," Duncan said.
"I cannot accept your offer Reverend Mother. There are people that need me here," Irulan said.
"Then what use are you to anyone?" Kathern said.
"Do you threaten the princess?" Duncan asked.
"You are very good with your mind. I have no need to talk to you two anymore."
Irulan motioned for Duncan to follow her out.
"I don't like her attitude," Duncan said.
"Thank you for sticking up for me Duncan," Irulan said.
"I didn't like the way she spoke to you."
"Does she intend to kill me Duncan? Surely your Mentat abilities turned up something."
"I don't know. The way she threatened you seemed as if since she had no use for you, you would be eliminated. But that won't happen," Duncan said, and then he motioned the guards closer to Irulan.
"Thank you for your concern for my safety Duncan," Irulan said.
They continued to walk, Duncan's mind thinking the whole way.
"My lord, my lady, your aunt is inside the sietch!" a guard yelled to them.
Leto nodded and they went inside.
"People wonder why I have not had any children," Alia told Stilgar.
"They only wonder that because you are married to Idaho," Stilgar said.
"Sorry it took so long," Leto said, coming in.
"It's fine. Your aunt and were just having a mice talk," Stilgar said.
"I was worried! I suppose you two were out on one of your desert treks again," Alia said.
"Are we going back to the city soon?" Ghanima asked.
"No. I need to speak with someone. I want you both to watch," Alia said.
"Yes, the man Lornett found. I saw," Leto said.
"You never told me about that," Ghanima said, looking at her brother.
"When will you question him?" Leto asked Alia.
"Right now, I was only waiting for you two. I assume you're ready now."
"Follow me please," Stilgar said, leading the way.
They followed him.
"Be silent in here Duncan unless you need to speak," Irulan told Duncan outside the Reverend Mother Kathern's door.
Duncan nodded, he understood. The door opened and the guards took up positions inside the room.
"Reverend Mother." Irulan said. A woman probably in her mid-forties looked up at them. She had dark hair with a round face.
"Irulan, you finally come to see me. And I see you brought the Duncan Idaho ghola," Kathern said.
"He is not really a ghola anymore. He has all of his memories," Irulan said.
"So I heard. Why do you come to visit now? It's been almost two days since I got here," Kathern said.
"She comes now because this is when she had time. If that's not good enough for you maybe you should leave," Duncan said.
"This one is quick with his mouth," Kathern said looking at Duncan.
"Sometimes one needs to express their feelings. Irulan should have that right."
"Does she not? She has never been one for speaking her mind as I recall."
"I would leave now if you had nothing to tell me but I think you do," Irulan said.
"Yes. We would like for you to come back. Muad'dib is gone so what use are you here?" Kathern said.
"Never speak of Paul in front of me or I will kill you," Duncan said.
"I cannot accept your offer Reverend Mother. There are people that need me here," Irulan said.
"Then what use are you to anyone?" Kathern said.
"Do you threaten the princess?" Duncan asked.
"You are very good with your mind. I have no need to talk to you two anymore."
Irulan motioned for Duncan to follow her out.
"I don't like her attitude," Duncan said.
"Thank you for sticking up for me Duncan," Irulan said.
"I didn't like the way she spoke to you."
"Does she intend to kill me Duncan? Surely your Mentat abilities turned up something."
"I don't know. The way she threatened you seemed as if since she had no use for you, you would be eliminated. But that won't happen," Duncan said, and then he motioned the guards closer to Irulan.
"Thank you for your concern for my safety Duncan," Irulan said.
They continued to walk, Duncan's mind thinking the whole way.
