The new escort, vibrant with repressed emotion, had taken him into a region deep beneath the plaza, a place not on any of the city charts Idaho had studied. It was a maze-first one direction and then another through corridors wide enough and high enough to accommodate the Royal Cart. Idaho lost track of directions and fell to reflecting on the preceding night.
The sleeping quarters in Goygoa, although Spartan and small, had been comfortable-two cots to a room, each room a box with white-washed walls, a single window and a single door. The rooms were strung along a corridor in a building designated as Goygoa's "Guest House."
And Siona had been right. Without asking if it suited him, Idaho had been quartered with her, Inmeir acting as though this were an accepted thing.
When the door closed on them, Siona said: "If you touch me, I will try to kill you."
It was uttered with such dry sincerity that Idaho almost laughed. "I would prefer privacy," he said. "Consider yourself alone."
He had slept with a light wariness, remembering dangerous nights in the Atreides service, the readiness for combat. The room was seldom truly dark-moonlight coming through the curtained window, even starlight reflecting from the chalk-white walls. He had found himself nervously sensitive to Siona, to the smell of her, the stirrings, her breathing. Several times he had come fully awake to listen, aware on two of those occasions that she, too, was listening.
Morning and the flight to Onn had come as a relief. They had broken their fast with a drink of cold fruit juice, Idaho glad to enter the predawn darkness for a brisk walk to the 'thopter. He did not speak directly to Siona and he found himself resenting the curious glances of the Fish Speakers.
Siona spoke to him only once, leaning out of the 'thopter as he left it in the plaza.
"It would not offend me to be your friend," she said.
Such a curious way of putting it. He had felt vaguely embarrassed. "Yes... well, certainly."
The new escort had led him away then, coming at last to a terminal in the maze. Leto awaited him there on the Royal Cart. The meeting place was a wide spot in a corridor which stretched off into the converging distance on Idaho's right. The walls were dark brown streaked with golden lines which glittered in the yellow light of glowglobes. The escort took up positions behind the cart, moving smartly and leaving Idaho to stand confronting Leto's cowled face.
"Duncan, you will precede me when we go to Siaynoq," Leto said.
Idaho stared into the dark blue wells of the God Emperor's eyes, angered by the mystery and secrecy, the obvious air of private excitement in this place. He felt that everything he had been told about Siaynoq only deepened the mystery.
"Am I truly the Commander of your Guard, m' Lord?" Idaho asked, resentment heavy in his voice "Indeed! And I bestow a signal honor upon you now. Few adult males ever share Siaynoq."
"What happened in the city last night?"
"Bloody violence in some places. It is quite calm this morning, however."
"Casualties'?"
"Not worth mentioning."
Idaho nodded. Leto's prescient powers had warned of sonic peril to his Duncan. Thus, the flight into the rural safety of Goygoa.
"You have been to Goygoa," Leto said. "Were you tempted to stay' '" ,No,,
"Do not be angry with me," Leto said. "I did not send you to Goygoa.'.
Idaho sighed. "What was the danger which required that you send me away'?"
"It was not to you," Leto said. "But you excite my guards to excessive displays of their abilities. Last night's activities did not require this."
"Oh?" This thought shocked Idaho. He had never thought of himself as one to inspire particular heroism unless he personally demanded it. One whipped up the troops. Leaders such as the original Leto, this one's grandfather, had inspired by their presence.
"You are extremely precious to me, Duncan," Leto said.
"Yes... well, I'm still not your stud!"
"Your wishes will be honored, of course. We will discuss it another time."
Idaho glanced at the Fish Speaker escort, all of them wide-eyed and attentive.
"Is there always violence when you come to Orin" Idaho asked.
"It goes in cycles. The malcontents are quite subdued now. It will be more peaceful for a time."
Idaho looked back at Leto's inscrutable face. "What happened to my predecessor?"
"Haven't my Fish Speakers told you?"
"They say he died in defense of his God."
Chapter Sixteen
"And you have heard a contrary rumor."
"What happened?"
"He died because he was too close to me. I did not remove him to a safe place in time."
"A place like Goygoa."
"I would have preferred him to live out his days there in peace, but you well know, Duncan, that you are not a seeker after peace."
Idaho swallowed, encountering an odd lump in his throat. "I would still like the particulars of his death. He has a family..."
"You will get the particulars and do not fear for his family. They are my wards. I will keep them safely at a distance. You know how violence seeks me out. That is one of my functions. It is unfortunate that those I admire and love must suffer because of this."
Idaho pursed his lips, not satisfied with what he heard.
"Set your mind at ease, Duncan," Leto said. "Your predecessor died because he was too close to me."
The Fish Speaker escort stirred restively. Idaho glanced at them, then looked to the right up the tunnel.
"Yes, it is time," Leto said. "We must not keep the women waiting. March close ahead of me, Duncan, and I will answer your questions about Siaynoq."