Kobat slipped the package under his arm and pressed it against his body.
"What makes you think the... the Worm doesn't know about your intentions... even about this meeting?"
"I think he knows many such things, that he may even know who took those volumes. My father believes he is truly prescient."
"Your father believes the Oral History!"
"Everyone in this room believes it. The Oral History does not disagree with the Formal History on important matters."
"Then why doesn't the Worm act against you?"
She pointed to the package under Kobat's arm. "Perhaps the answer is in there."
"Or you and these cryptic volumes are no real threat to him!" Kobat was not concealing his anger. He did not like being forced into decisions.
"Perhaps. Tell me why you mentioned the Oral History."
Once more, Kobat heard the menace.
"It says the Worm is incapable of human emotions."
"That is not the reason," she said. "You will get one more chance to tell me the reason."
Nayla moved two steps closer to Kobat.
"I... I was told to review the Oral History before coming here, that your people..." He shrugged.
"That we chant it?"
"Yes."
"Who told you this?"
Kobat swallowed, cast a fearful glance at Topri, then back to Siona.
"Topri?" Siona asked.
"I thought it would help him to understand us," Topri said.
"And you told him the name of your leader," Siona said.
"He already knew!" Topri's voice had found its squeak.
"What particular parts of the Oral History were you told to review?" Siona asked.
"The... uhhh, the Atreides line."
"And now you think you know why people join me in rebellion."
"The Oral History tells exactly how he treats everyone in the Atreides line!" Kobat said.
"He gives us a little rope and then he hauls us in?" Siona asked. Her voice was deceptively flat.
"That's what he did with your own father," Kobat said.
"And now he's letting me play at rebellion?"
"I'm just a messenger," Kobat said. "If you kill me, who will carry your message?"
"Or the message of the Worm," Siona said.
Kobat remained silent.
"I do not think you understand the Oral History," Siona said. "I think also you do not know the Worm very well, nor do you understand his messages."
Kobat's face flushed with anger. "What's to prevent you from becoming like all the rest of the Atreides, a nice obedient part of..." Kobat broke off, aware suddenly of what anger had made him say.
"Just another recruit for the Worm's inner circle," Siona said. "Just like the Duncan Idahos?"
She turned and looked at Nayla. The two aides, Anouk and Taw, became suddenly alert, but Nayla remained impassive.
Siona nodded once to Nayla.
As they were sworn to do, Anouk and Taw moved to positions blocking the door. Nayla went around to stand at Topri's shoulder.
"What's... what's happening?" Topri asked.
"We wish to know everything of importance that the ex-Ambassador can share with us," Siona said. "We want the entire message."
Topri began to tremble. Perspiration started from Kobat's forehead. He glanced once at Topri, then returned his attention to Siona. That one glance was like a veil pulled aside for Siona to peer into the relationship between these two.
She smiled. This merely confirmed what she had already learned.
Kobat became very still.
"You may begin," Siona said.
"I... what do you..."
"The Worm gave you a private message for your masters. I will hear it."
"He... he wants an extension for his cart,"
"Then he expects to grow longer. What else?"
"We are to send him a large supply of ridulian crystal paper." "For what purpose?"
"He never explains his demands."
"This smacks of things he forbids to others," she said.
Kobat spoke bitterly. "He never forbids himself anything!"
"Have you made forbidden toys for him?"
"I do not know."
He's lying, she thought, but she chose not to pursue this. It was enough to know the existence of another chink in the Worm's armor.
"Who will replace you?" Siona asked.
"They are sending a niece of Malky," Korbat said. "You may remember that he..."
"We remember Malky," she said. "Why does a niece of Malky become the new Ambassador?"
"I don't know. But it was ordered even before the Go... the Worm dismissed me."
"Her name?"
"Hwi Noree."
"We will cultivate Hwi Noree," Siona said. "You were not worth cultivating. This Hwi Noree may be something else. When do you return to Ix?"
"Immediately after the Festival, the first Guild ship."
"What will you tell your masters?"
"About what?"
"My message!"
"They will do as you ask."
"I know. You may go, ex-Ambassador Kobat."
Kobat almost collided with the door guards in his haste to leave. Topri made to follow him, but Nayla caught Topri's arm and held him. Topri swept a fearful glance across Nayla's muscular body, then looked at Siona, who waited for the door to shut behind Kobat before speaking.
"The message was not merely to the Ixians, but to us as well," she said. "The Worm challenges us and tells us the rules of the combat."