Guards and courtiers kept themselves at a respectful distance well behind the cart. Most of them were trying to avoid even the appearance of eavesdropping on Leto and Moneo. Not so Idaho. He had positioned some of the Fish Speaker guards at both sides of the Royal Road, spreading them out. Now, he stood staring at the cart. Idaho wore a black uniform with white piping, a gift of the Fish Speakers, Moneo had said.
“They like this one very much. He is good at what he does.”
“What does he do, Moneo?”
“Why, guard your person, Lord.”
The women of the Guard all wore skintight green uniforms, each with a red Atreides hawk at the left breast.
“They watch him very closely,” Leto said.
“Yes. He is teaching them hand signals. He says it’s the Atreides way.”
“That is certainly correct. I wonder why the previous one didn’t do that?”
“Lord, if you don’t know . . .”
“I jest, Moneo. The previous Duncan did not feel threatened until it was too late. Has this one accepted our explanations?”
“So I’m told, Lord. He is well started in your service.”