Irulan was just about to leave when she heard someone approaching.

The footsteps seemed familiar... She tensed herself, shifting herself into combat readiness.

Chani...

The Royal Concubine appeared. A true Fremen, her lethal form concealed a razor mind with battle instincts. She seemed troubled and withdrawn.

Something was wrong.

"Can I help you Chani", Irulan asked quietly.

Chani raised her head and gave Irulan a grim smile.

She barely avoided the strike as it was. The strength of the blow was incredible , it would have crushed her sternum if connected. Chani followed the punch, with a whistling side kick.

Irulan was a Bene Gesserit. She had trained to be one in any case. Her rudimentary training in Prana-Bindu reflexes kicked in, enabling her body to move faster than a normal human being. Her arms flexed in a cross, Irulan absorbed the side kick just in time. The impact smashed through her defenses, stumbling her to the keep wall. Chani followed up her attack with a dizzying barrage of blows.

This was not good.

The first rule of combat was to maintain mobility. The hallmark of any good fighter was his ability to create empty space. Giving himself options to maneuver. Irulan was hemmed in. She desperately tried to weave a matrix of defense, but it was getting difficult. The Fremen woman was stronger, younger and more experienced in the art of combat.

Irulan grimaced as the impact of a body shot thundered through her. "I can't hold out much longer." She thought. Irulan considered her options.

Chani was a deadly fighter. Her combat style was battletested, precise and built for speed. Irulan knew she could not defeat her straight up. Fortunately, her Bene Gesserit style was unique. Drawn from the Other Memory of female fighters throughout history, her style consisted tricks unknown to Fremen culture. It was only this that had kept her alive so far.

A palmed strike brought her back to the present. It missed her by inches, forcing Irulan to perform an ancient silat maneuver. Uncertain, Chani backed away, considering her strategy.

There was only one way out. Voice. "Enough" she shouted. Flexing her syllables to impact Chani's nervous functions. Her Bene Gesserit training in this field was indeed extensive. Her voice would paralyze the Fremen for a short moment.

She was shocked to see Chani shrug off the effect. Letting the Voice pass through her. A Bene Gesserit trick. "Muad'Dib must have taught her to resist Voice" Irulan realized. Quickly calculating, Irulan launched a leg sweep dropping Chani.

That was the opening she needed. To flee.

Ditching her high heeled shoes, Irulan hurled herself down the hallway, knowing Chani would be on her in seconds. "At least I've got a head start". Irulan thought.

But for how long?

To be continued.