“Roderick needn’t worry,” Valya said. “He will have his replacement Truthsayer, and your own Sisters will explain the agreement that Dorotea and Mother Superior Raquella reached. The Sisterhood must be strong and unified again.”
Still unsure, Ninke continued to lead them forward. “We have a private box from which to observe the coronation ceremony. Zimia was not prepared for the influx of travelers from across the Imperium. Security is extremely tight, to prevent another backlash and frenzy. Leader Torondo was not invited, and neither was Directeur Venport. Prince Roderick was afraid their presence might cause unnecessary agitation.”
And indeed they might, Valya thought.
When the Sisters reached the central square, a new path opened for them. Ninke spoke to one of the uniformed soldiers waiting at a stairway to the observation pavilions, and an Imperial guard escorted the women to a private box. From that vantage they could see the coronation stage and the green-crystal throne that had been placed there. A large group of Dorotea’s followers awaited their arrival. Valya knew most of them.
Sister Esther-Cano and other Sisters rose to their feet and gave curt bows when Valya approached; then all resumed their seats. Valya sensed hesitation and uneasiness, questions and buried challenges. She hoped that with four orthodox Sisters vouching for her claims, Dorotea’s followers would honor the agreement with Mother Superior. If not, Valya was prepared to fight them in personal combat and kill any dissenters.
Nearby boxes were crowded with gaudily uniformed functionaries, including the Court Chamberlain, the Imperial Protocol Minister, and a variety of invited guests. In front of the stage sat rows of elegantly dressed delegates from various Landsraad houses and leading commercial conglomerates. Valya did not see any VenHold business representatives.
Roderick Corrino emerged on one side of the flag-draped ceremonial stage, wearing a scarlet-and-gold uniform decked with silver epaulets, and gleaming medals and bright ribbons on the chest; a galaxy of small gold stars ran down the arms and encircled the wrists. A golden-lion pin sparkled at his collar. He waited while an additional security perimeter was set up in front of the coronation stage, a cordon of honor guards brandishing projectile rifles.
The orthodox Sisters pressed closer to Valya and her companions from Wallach IX. Esther-Cano leaned forward. “We have many questions for you, Sister Valya.”
Remembering this woman’s personality, her moods and weaknesses, Valya put an edge on the tone of her response, driving it deep. “Mother Superior Valya.”
Esther-Cano recoiled as if she’d been lashed, then struggled to recover. “Yes. That is one of our questions.”
“You have been informed that I am the new Mother Superior, per the wishes of Mother Superior Raquella, cemented by the suicide of Reverend Mother Dorotea.”
“A convenient suicide…” Esther-Cano’s voice dripped with suspicion.
“You are a Truthsayer — so hear the truth. In her last days of life, Mother Superior Raquella forced Dorotea and me to make peace, for the good of the Sisterhood. We both agreed. Your Sisters witnessed it.”
She saw the Salusan Sisters listening, knew she had to select her words carefully. “After Mother Superior Raquella passed away, Dorotea plunged a knife into her own throat. The ashes of both women are now scattered across the grounds of the new school on Wallach IX.” She narrowed her gaze, hardened her voice. “I am your new Mother Superior.”
Olivia said, wide-eyed, “She speaks the truth.”
Ninke, Esther-Cano, and several of their companions looked troubled, glanced at one another. Ninke finally said, “She speaks the truth, whether we like it or not.”
Valya used her most compelling, throaty Voice to reinforce her words. “We are no longer foes or rivals. You and the others here will accept me as your Mother Superior. Today, we have a new Emperor, and a new Sisterhood. Help me make us all stronger.”
Ninke was the first to bow in acquiescence. Then the other Salusan Sisters did the same, some with greater reluctance than others.
The crowd noises diminished when a green-robed High Priest marched out on the stage carrying the priceless Imperial crown on a golden pillow. Another priest walked beside him holding an overlarge tome, a special volume of the Orange Catholic Bible. Salvador had been the first Emperor to use the new publication in his coronation, and Roderick intended to maintain the tradition.
A tall man with a deeply cleft chin, the High Priest stood behind Roderick and raised the jeweled crown high as his assistant priest read a long passage from the illuminated pages of the Orange Catholic Bible. Valya was impressed that the holy man could hold the heavy crown so high for so long. Amplifiers transmitted the words out over the crowd and across Salusa; the ceremony was also being recorded for immediate distribution around the Imperium.
When the crowd began to show signs of restlessness, the assistant priest finally concluded, “The Imperium is the very soul of the human race, and the Emperor is its heart. Do you, Crown Prince Roderick Corrino, swear fidelity to your people, to your honor, and to the Imperium?”
“For as long as I live.” Roderick formally bowed, as he had rehearsed.
The High Priest set the crown on Roderick’s head. “Long live Emperor Roderick Corrino the First. May your reign shine as long as the stars!”
The plaza erupted in boisterous applause and cheers, with so much excitement and giddy relief that Valya worried the mobs might work themselves into a frenzy. But Imperial soldiers had been stationed at strategic points, some with stun darts or canisters of soporific gas. All those seated rose to their feet, while the assistant priest stood at the front of the stage, sprinkling a container of iron-red holy dust onto the audience.
As the newly crowned Emperor gazed out at the crowd, he was joined by his wife, Haditha, and their surviving children, all dressed in regal finery. Haditha’s long scarlet-and-gold gown glittered with a thousand jewels. The boy Javicco wore a princely outfit, and the two daughters were dressed in matching gowns.
Valya watched the fledgling Emperor with the intense focus she had developed through Sisterhood training and noticed that Roderick looked neither happy nor eager to begin his new role. Apparently he would not be an Emperor who reveled in trappings or power, but a man who accepted and endured his responsibility. His smile was strained. According to reports Valya had read, Roderick had genuinely loved his brother, even though Salvador was never much beloved by his people, nor known for great deeds.
After years of uninspired rule, the Imperium was in a fragile, turbulent state. Emperor Salvador had committed a grave error, she thought, when he decided to seize all melange operations on Arrakis, just before his mysterious (and convenient?) disappearance. An accident? An assassination? She couldn’t believe Josef Venport would be so bold.
Venport Holdings had, however, reiterated its embargo against any world that signed the Butlerian pledge, and there were persistent rumors that Directeur Venport was increasing the number of armed ships in his force. To what purpose?
Meanwhile, antitechnology fanaticism still ran rampant, and she’d learned that Manford’s followers had overrun the Mentat School on Lampadas. And that Anna Corrino was missing. Valya knew the vapid girl was not capable of surviving difficult circumstances, although she would make a good hostage. Valya felt a twinge of sympathy; she had not disliked the Corrino girl while pretending to be her friend … but Valya had moved on to greater things.
This was an uncertain time. Valya knew that the Sisters — including those loyal to Dorotea — had excellent sources of information, and she decided she would take time to learn the details, analyzing Roderick’s motivations and the alliances hidden in the politics. As Mother Superior, she had to understand the entire tapestry if her Sisters were to pull the right strings. Once she had all the new information, she would see that loyal Sisters were assigned to important houses in the Landsraad, where they would advise nobles, while knowing the overall plan that Mother Superior Valya would develop.…