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." Fenring suddenly realized he had tobe more cautious.Something had unsettled Shaddam, something recent.What doeshe know that I don't?"For once we won't use your methods, Hasimir." He was firm, insistent."Iforbid it.We will find some other way."Intense now, Fenring climbed the steps to stand beside the Crown Prince, like anequal.For some reason, though, the atmosphere was uncomfortably changed.Whathad gone wrong? As babies had they not both sucked on the same breast whenFenring's mother had been Shaddam's wet nurse? As boys, hadn't they beentutored side by side? Had they not concocted plots and schemes together as theygrew older? Why was Shaddam suddenly refusing to listen to his advice?Fenring leaned close to the Crown Prince's ear.He sounded as contrite as hecould be."My apologies, Sire, but, hm-m-m-ah, it has.already been done.I was certain of your approval, and so the notes were cleverly delivered to theappropriate representatives, asking for them to support their Emperor when itcomes time to call for a vote in the trial.""You dared that? Without consulting me first?" Shaddam purpled with outrageand could not find his voice for some moments."You just thought I'd followyour lead? In whatever schemes you might contrive?"Shaddam had grown incensed, too incensed.What else was bothering him? Fenringbacked one step away from the throne."Please, Sire.You're overreacting,losing perspective.""On the contrary, I believe I'm gaining perspective." His nostrils flared."You don't think I'm terribly bright, do you, Hasimir? Since we were childrenyou've had a snide way of explaining things to me in training class, of helpingme on examinations.And you were always the faster thinker, more intelligent,more ruthless -- or so you made it appear.But, believe it or not, I can handlesituations by myself." "I've never doubted your intelligence, my friend." Fenring's overlarge headbobbed on his thin neck."With your standing in House Corrino, your future hasalways been guaranteed, but I've had to fight for my position every step of theway.I want to be your sounding board and confidant."Shaddam sat forward on the massive crystal throne that threw sparkle-fire fromthe glowglobes around the chamber."Ah, yes.You thought you'd be the powerbehind the throne, with me as your puppet?""Puppet? Certainly not." Fenring backed another step away now.Shaddam wasterrifyingly unstable, and Fenring didn't know how he had strayed onto suchuncertain ground.He knows something I don't.Shaddam had never questioned hisfriend's actions before, had never wanted to know the details of bribery andviolence."Hm-m-m-m.I have always considered how best I might help youto become a great ruler."Shaddam rose to his feet, slow and regal, looking down his nose at the weasel-faced man who stood at the foot of the dais.Fenring decided not to backfarther away.What does he know? What news?"But, I'd never do anything at your expense, old friend.We've, ahhhh, knowneach other too long.Indeed, we share too much blood on our hands." He heldhis hand over his heart, in the way of the Imperium."I am aware of how youthink, and of your.limitations, hm-m-m-m-ah? In fact, you'reexceptionally bright.The problem is, you often find it hard to make thedifficult but necessary decisions."Shaddam climbed down from the Golden Lion Throne and stalked across the floor ofpolished stones from a million Imperial worlds."A hard decision is neededright now, Hasimir, and it regards your service to me in the immediate future."Fenring waited, afraid of what ill-advised ideas the Crown Prince might havegotten into his head.But he dared not argue."Know this -- I won't forget the grievous breach of conduct you have committed.If this bribery scheme comes back to bite us, your head will roll.I would haveno qualms about signing an execution order for treason."Fenring paled, and the startled look on his narrow face sent a wave of pleasurethrough the Crown Prince.In Shaddam's present mood, Fenring realized that hisfriend just might be capable of issuing such an order.The fidgety man's jaw clenched, and he decided to put an end to this foolishnessimmediately."What I've said to you about friendship is the truth, Shaddam."He measured his words carefully."But I'd be a fool if I hadn't taken certainprecautions that could expose your involvement in certain.mm-m-m-m.shall we call them, ah.adventures? If anything happens to me, all willbe revealed: how your father really died, the artificial-spice activities onIx, even the assassination of Fafnir when you were a teenager.If I hadn'tpoisoned your brother, he would be sitting on the throne right now, not you.We're in lockstep, you and I.Up or down.together."Shaddam looked as if he had expected to hear nothing else."Ah, yes.Verypredictable, Hasimir.You always warned me not to be predictable."Fenring had the good grace to look embarrassed.He held his silence. "You're the one who got me into this risky scheme in the first place, and whoknows when we'll see any payback from our dangerous investment on Ix."Shaddam's eyes flashed fire."Synthetic spice, indeed! I wish we'd neverallied with the Tleilaxu.And now I'm stuck with the unpleasant aftermath.Seewhere your scheming has gotten us?""Hm-m-m-m-ah, I won't be drawn into an argument with you, Shaddam.It wouldn'tbe productive.But you knew the risks from the outset, and the enormouspossible gains.Please be patient.""Patient? At the moment we're faced with two distinct possibilities." Shaddamsat back down and hunched forward on the throne, hawklike."As you said, eitherI will be crowned, and you and I can rise to the top together -- or we go downtogether.into exile or death." He let his breath out in a slow whistle."At the moment we're both in mortal danger, all because of your infernal spicescheme."Fenring pressed his last desperate idea, large eyes flicking from side to sidein search of some escape."You have had some disturbing news, Sire.I cansense it.Tell me what has happened." Few things in the Imperial Palace or thecapital city occurred without Fenring knowing about them immediately.Shaddam clasped his long-fingered hands together.Fenring flushed and leanedforward, his dark eyes widening with interest.The Crown Prince sighed inresignation."The Tleilaxu sent two assassins to kill Leto Atreides in hisprotected cell."Fenring's heart leaped, wondering if this was good news or bad."And did theysucceed?""No, no.Our young Duke somehow managed to smuggle a weapon in and protectedhimself.But this causes me great concern."Fenring hunkered down, astonished at the news."That's impossible.I thoughtyou'd already spoken to our Tleilaxu contact and told him in no uncertain terms--""I did," Shaddam snapped."But apparently you aren't the only one who no longerlistens to my commands.Either Ajidica ignored my instructions, or he has nopower to control his own people."Fenring growled, happy to divert the Crown Prince's anger."We need to strikeback in a similar manner: Let Hidar Fen Ajidica know that he must heed allorders from his Emperor, or the price will grow much higher."Shaddam looked at him, but his eyes were weary now and no longer as warm or openas they had once been."You know exactly what to do, Hasimir."Fenring seized the chance to restore himself to the Crown Prince's good graces."I always do, Sire." He scuttled away across the long reception hall
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