DUNE-A False Haderach (OC X Shishakli) (OC x Alia)

Part 40

Chapter 40

LADY JESSICA ATREIDES

When word had first come that the Emperor wished for House Atreides to relocate to Arrakis, she knew that their future was over. It was a death sentence, and she had advised Leto to rebuff the Emperor's command and escape into the vast galaxy.

And yet he had denied her that, choosing to walk into the trap knowing that they could all die. And when all hope had seemed lost, one person had emerged as a beacon of hope in their darkest time.

Inzal Kazab Corrino, Anirul's wayward son, had appeared out of nowhere and had saved them all for literally nothing. The boy could have wrung the dry, taken advantage of their desperate condition, or even let them be bait for the Harkonnens and the Saradukar, yet he had helped them out, saving them and treating them as equals as he made to usurp his own father.

Their alliance may have seemed equal to many, but she knew that it was anything but that, and now House Atreides had broken that alliance. And they were being shunned for it, the Atreides honor lost and decimated because of the actions of her own son—no, grandson, one who was not even born yet.

"You cannot accept the kanli," she began as she looked Inzal in the eye.

"I will claim otherwise, exercise my powers as the Lady of House Atreides, and have the challenge withdrawn," she offered, clinging to straws in desperation.

"You and I both know that such a thing is not possible. Paul issued the challenge using his title as the Baron-na of House Harkonnen rather than heir Atreides. You have little to no jurisdiction," he replied softly, and she bit her lip.

"He is my son!" she roared, and Inzal shook his head.

"That changes nothing," he said as he leaned back.

"There has to be a way. You have always figured out a way to beat the odds, do it again. Just once more, but you cannot accept the challenge," she reiterated, and he sighed.

"But I already have," he said rather forcefully, quieting her. She had tried to talk Paul out of it, to make Paul or whoever was controlling him see the truth, but it had never worked.

After their initial meeting, Paul refused to see anyone, even herself. She was told that he had met Chnai Kynes for a few minutes and then recused himself into his quarters, waiting for Inzal to set the time and terms of the kanji.

As the challenged, it fell on Inzal to determine the terms and time of the kanli. Though there was the stipulation that both the terms and timeline must be of a reasonable nature, it was up to a truth sayer to determine what was suitable or not.

"Then delay it for a hundred years," she offered seriously. Although agreeing to this would probably result in her removal as the truth-sayer, that did not matter to her.

"I will rule in your favor and deem it reasonable," she offered and Inzal sighed as he leaned forward, putting his hands on the table.

"This kanli will have Lady Jessica, you must accept that. There is nothing you can do to prevent it," he said sharply and she bit her lip.

"Then don't fight yourself. Send Gurney, or Duncan, or m..." so that their House may recover some of its honor.

"That is enough," he said.

"I have made up my mind. And the time and the terms I have chosen are as follo..."

0000

SHISHAKLI

The Fremen had been a mess ever since Paul's challenge of kanli. They all felt betrayed and let down, for they had housed the Atreides, nursed them, and bled for them. And now the Atreides were trying to take away their freedom, something they had clawed away with their own hands.