Arrakeen, Arrakis, Tuesday
The mid-day sun burned hot, and as usual every citizen of Arrakeen had sought the shadow of buildings still cooled by the desert night. Smiling a little, Leto returned his gaze towards Duncan Idaho. There was a subtle shift in the man that had gradually been increasing, and it intrigued Leto.
”A rebellion, you say?” Leto raised an eyebrow, and his voice was full of laughter. Finally! He sensed a direction forming, one which he had been looking for.
”It’s not an ordinary one, my Lord” Duncan persisted, clearly holding back irritation. ”They may be renegade Sardaukar, but what if their ideas spread?”
Leto shook his head. ”All rebellions are ordinary, repeating the same pattern. Combine adrenalin addiction and desire for power, and add an idea and you have one. The idea is replaceable. If they reject Farad’n as head of House Corrino for serving me and giving me power over his troops, they need someone to replace him with. For the time being there is only Wensicia, imprisoned on Salusa Secundus. She is weak, she is a woman; neither appeals to them. So what they have is the energy without a direction. The idea is not strong enough.” Even without his memories, Duncan should see this, and he did, and did not. The ghola’s mind was torn in different directions.
Deception and loyalty. What a delightful combination.
”But we will investigate this, you and I.”
Duncan looked surprised. ”We, my Lord?”
”Don’t you grow bored of palace politics?” Leto said cheerfully. ”Will you reject an opportunity to fight at my side?” The suggestion was unexpected and slightly absurd, and judging by the look on the ghola’s face, Leto’s intention had worked.
”Of course not,” Duncan said, bowing his head, knowing that the question didn’t really mean he had a choice.
[NFB, NFI unless you are there. Some adaptions from God Emperor of Dune.]