"I know that you have borne children, that you have lost loved ones, that you have hidden in fear and that you have done violence and will yet do more violence. "My husband told me of your title, Shadout," Jessica said. "Do you know this, my Lady?" Mapes asked. "The weapon was sent as a gift to you should you prove to be the One." In a low voice, Mapes said: "I meant no offense, my Lady." I know you came prepared for violence with a weapon in your bodice."Īnd Jessica wondered: Why do I play out this sham? But the Bene Gesserit ways were devious and compelling. "You speak of the legend and seek answers," Jessica said. "You know the ancient tongues then?" Mapes asked, and she waited with an odd intensity. There are worse things than dying, you know - even for an entire people." "There's a remote possibility you could draw my life's blood," Jessica said, "but in so doing you'd bring down more ruin than your wildest fears could imagine. Mapes took a backward step, appeared poised to flee. It was double-edged like a kindjal and the blade was perhaps twenty centimeters long. The blade seemed to shine and glitter with a light of its own. She took sheath in one hand and handle in the other, withdrew a milk-white blade, held it up. A black handle with deep finger ridges protruded from it. Slowly, Mapes reached into the neck of her dress, brought out a dark sheath.
"Andral t're pera Trada cik buscakri miseces perakri -" "Miseces prejia," she said in the Chakobsa tongue. She read the more obvious signs in Mapes' actions and appearance, the petit betrayals. "I know the Dark Things and the ways of the Great Mother," Jessica said.
Still, she found the thought unsettling that water was a major mark of wealth here. But bringing order of the confusion in the castle was more imperative. Jessica hesitated, wanting to question this Fremen woman, needing data to guide her.
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