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hasn't recovered。〃
〃An attack with atomics？ I didn't know that。〃
〃Afterward the survivors moved the Imperial throne to Kaitain； in a different； more secure solar system； where young Emperor Hassik III rebuilt the government。〃 Seeing the concern on his wife's face； he drew her closer and held her tightly。 〃We won't fail； my love。〃
The last wall panels fizzled and went dead as the Tleilaxu knocked out the remaining eyes。
In the Imperium there exists the 〃principle of the individual；〃 noble but rarely utilized； whereby a person who violates a written law in a situation of extreme peril or need can request a special session of the court of jurisdiction in order to explain and support the necessity of his actions。 A number of legal procedures derive from this principle； among them the Drey Jury； the Blind Tribunal； and the Trial by Forfeiture。
…Law of the Imperium： mentaries
Despite disastrous military losses during the unexpected revolt； many secret places still remained on Ix。 Centuries ago； during the paranoid times after House Vernius took over the machine operations； engineers sworn to secrecy had laid down an unrecorded honeyb of transmission…shielded rooms； algae…chambers； and hideouts masked from discovery by remarkable Ixian ingenuity。 It would take centuries for an enemy to ferret them out； even the ruling House had forgotten half of them。
Guided by Captain Zhaz and the troop of personal bodyguards； Leto and Rhombur concealed themselves in an algae…walled chamber； which was entered via an access tube that led upward into the crust of the planet。 Routine enemy scans would detect only the life signs of the algae； since massive dampening fields surrounded the rest of the isolated chamber。
〃We'll only have to stay here a few days；〃 Rhombur said； struggling to recapture his usual optimism。 〃Surely by then； Landsraad or Imperial forces will have e to our rescue； and House Vernius can begin rebuilding Ix。 Things will all work out。〃
Narrowing his eyes； Leto remained silent。 If his suspicions were correct； it could well take much longer than that。
〃This chamber is just a rendezvous point； Master Rhombur；〃 Captain Zhaz said。 〃We'll await the Earl and follow his orders。〃
Rhombur nodded vigorously。 〃Yes； my father'll know what to do。 He's been in plenty of challenging military situations before。〃 He smiled brightly。 〃Some of them with your own father； Leto。〃
Leto clapped a strong hand on the other Prince's shoulder； in a display of support for his friend。 But he didn't know how many of Dominic Vernius's previous battle engagements had been desperate defensive measures like this； it was Leto's impression that Dominic's victories in the past had always been overwhelming charges against crumbling groups of rebels。
Remembering what his father had taught him know the details of your surroundings in any difficult circumstance Leto took a moment to inspect their hideaway。 He searched for escape routes； vulnerable points。 The algae…chamber had been hacked out of solid crustal rock； with an outer shell of thick green growth that gave the air a sour； organic taint。 The bolt…hole had four apartments； an extensive kitchen plete with survival supplies； and a last…chance emergency ship that could make low…planetary orbit。
Frictionless； noiseless machinery operated nullentropy bins at the core of the chamber； keeping food and beverages fresh。 Other bins contained clothing； weapons； filmbooks； and clever Ixian games for hidden refugees to while away the time。 The endless waiting could be the most difficult part of this protected sanctuary； and boredom was an often…overlooked part of isolation and escape。 The Ixians； though； had thought of all necessary preparations。
It was already evening； as determined by their chronos。 Zhaz set up his guards in the outer corridors and at the camouflaged doorhatch。 Rhombur rattled off an endless stream of questions； most of which the captain could not answer： What was going on outside？ Did they dare hope to be freed by Ixian loyalists； or would Tleilaxu invaders imprison them； or worse？ Would an Ixian e to notify Rhombur of the death of his parents？ Why hadn't the others shown up at the rendezvous point yet？ Did they have any idea how much of the capital city of Vernii remained intact？ If not； who could find out for them？
The klaxon of an intruder warning interrupted him。 Someone was trying to enter the chamber。
Captain Zhaz flipped out a handheld monitor； pressed a button to illuminate the room and activate a videoscreen。 Leto saw three familiar faces pressed close to the eyes in the secondary corridor Dominic Vernius； and his daughter Kailea； her dress torn and her coppery hair in disarray。 Between them they supported the Lady Shando； who seemed barely conscious； her arm and ribs crudely bandaged。
〃Permission to enter；〃 Dominic said； his voice tinny and granular across the speakers。 〃Open up； Rhombur。 Zhaz！ We need medical attention for Shando。〃 His eyes were shadowed； his teeth very white beneath the bushy mustache。
Rhombur Vernius rushed toward the controls； but the guard captain stopped him with an urgent tug at his arm。 〃By all the saints and sinners； remember the Face Dancers； young master！〃 Leto suddenly realized that Tleilaxu shape…shifters could assume familiar guises and walk into the most secure area。 Leto held the Ixian Prince's other arm while Zhaz interrogated and received a countersign。 Finally； a message appeared from the shielded chamber's biometric identity scanner。 Confirmed： Earl Dominic Vernius。
〃Permission granted；〃 Rhombur said into the voice pickup。 〃e in Mother； what happened？〃
Kailea looked stricken； as if the floor had dropped out from beneath her plans for the future and she still couldn't believe she was falling。 All of the newers smelled of sweat and smoke and fear。
〃Your sister was scolding the suboids and telling them to get back to work；〃 Shando said with a bit of mirth shining through her pain。 〃Very foolish。〃
〃And some of them were about to do it； too 〃the young woman said as a flush of anger blossomed beneath the soot smudges on her cheeks。
〃Until one pulled a maula pistol and opened fire。 Good thing the man couldn't aim。〃 Shando touched her arm and side； wincing at the open wound。
Dominic knocked the guards aside and tore open a medkit to tend his wife's injuries himself。 〃Not serious； my love。 I'll be around to kiss the scars later。 But you shouldn't have taken such a risk。〃
〃Not even to save Kailea？〃 Shando coughed； and her eyes sparkled with tears。 〃You would have done the same to protect either of our children or even Leto Atreides。 And don't you deny it。〃
Averting his gaze； Dominic grudgingly nodded。 〃It still upsets me。。。how close you came to death。 Then what would I have left to fight for？〃 He stroked her hair； and she clasped the palm of his hand against her cheek。
〃Plenty； Dominic。 You'd still have plenty to fight for。〃
Watching the exchange； Leto could see what had driven a beautiful young concubine to leave her Emperor； and why a war hero had risked Elrood's wrath to marry her。
Outside in the hidden corridor； half a dozen armed soldiers took up positions again； sealing the acce