Navigators of Dune
Page 48
Near him, Empress Haditha addressed the heartbroken villagers rather than the courtiers. “You are all citizens of the Imperium, and we will care for every one of you. See, I have brought more help.”
Roderick added, “I present these noble members of my Imperial Court, who also feel for your plight. They will contribute their sweat and hard labor to help you at a time when you most need it. They will work beside you until your town is rebuilt and you have homes again.”
Willem realized that the Emperor was testing the dismayed nobles, so he spoke up to set an example. “I will lead a team, Sire—I’m not afraid to work.”
Heads turned toward him, eyes glaring, but Willem nodded respectfully to the Emperor and the Empress.
Haditha beamed at him, and Roderick gave him a warm smile. “Very good. Yes, Vorian said I should pay close attention to you.”
“I’m willing to pitch in too,” said another voice. The familiar-looking young man with dark hair stepped forward. He seemed pale and uncertain, but determined. Willem suddenly felt claws of ice run down his spine.
Obviously pleased, the Emperor raised his voice for all to hear. “Danvis Harkonnen and Willem Atreides, you both provide good examples for these others to follow.” He turned his stern gaze toward the uneasy courtiers. “Let these two show you how to do what’s best for the Imperium.”
Willem trembled, barely able to contain his fury at this unwelcome surprise. As additional nobles stepped forward, accepting their fate, he only heard a roaring noise in his ears.
Danvis looked at him, clearly struggling with his own deep-seated anger. He stood straight and arrogant, gazing sidelong with a ferocious glare.
Willem fashioned a brittle smile in response, but the wheels were turning in his mind as he tried to determine how soon he would be able to kill this Harkonnen for his family’s heinous crimes.
He would do it for the honor of the Atreides.
OTHER BOOKS
BY BRIAN HERBERT AND KEVIN J. ANDERSON
Dune: House Atreides
Dune: House Harkonnen
Dune: House Corrino
Dune: The Butlerian Jihad
Dune: The Machine Crusade
Dune: The Battle of Corrin
Hunters of Dune
Sandworms of Dune
Paul of Dune
The Winds of Dune
Sisterhood of Dune
Mentats of Dune
Navigators of Dune
Hellhole
Hellhole Awakening
Hellhole Inferno
BY BRIAN HERBERT
Dreamer of Dune
(biography of Frank Herbert)
BY FRANK HERBERT
Dune
Dune Messiah
Children of Dune
God Emperor of Dune
Heretics of Dune
Chapterhouse: Dune
BY FRANK HERBERT, BRIAN HERBERT, AND KEVIN J. ANDERSON
The Road to Dune (includes the original short novel Spice Planet)
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Brain Herbert (right), the son of Frank Herbert, is the author of multiple New York Times bestsellers. In 2003, he published Dreamer of Dune, a moving biography of his father that was a finalist for the Hugo Award. You can sign up for email updates here.
Kevin J. Anderson (left) has written dozens of national bestsellers and has been a finalist for the Hugo Award, Nebula Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the SFX Readers’ Choice Award. He also set the Guinness-certified world record for the largest single-author book signing. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Begin Reading
Other Books by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
About the Authors
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.
NAVIGATORS OF DUNE
Copyright © 2016 by Herbert Properties LLC
All rights reserved.
Cover art by Stephen Youll
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
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Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-0-7653-8125-5 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4668-7880-8 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781466878808
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First Edition: September 2016