Olivia led her to the young Mother Superior who stood in front of the stone building, talking to a man in a tan work suit who made notes as she spoke. Although Valya noted Cioba’s arrival, she remained engrossed in her discussion until she dismissed the contractor.
Cioba was married to Josef and was a vital part of Venport Holdings, but she had been raised and trained in the Sisterhood, so her allegiance to the Mother Superior was deeply ingrained. Raquella’s successor was not an easy woman to know, with complex, sometimes contradictory ambitions and a wall around her.
When Valya turned her attention to Cioba, she spoke bluntly, “I am surprised you came here, Cioba Venport. The Emperor would pay a fine ransom if we delivered you to him — a small sacrifice on my part to obtain a great deal of influence.”
Cioba had hoped for a cordial conversation, and negotiations. She even wanted to visit her daughters Candys and Sabine, who were being taught here. But in light of Valya’s aggressive comment, she shifted her entire approach. “With respect to you, Mother Superior, I would advise against that. I am a Sorceress and a Reverend Mother. If you were to treat me so disrespectfully, it could create a new rift in the Sisterhood — just when you are trying to heal an old wound.”
Valya turned away to look at the construction activities. “Even so, your coming here entails great risk for us.”
“Perhaps, Mother Superior, but I am certain you have ways to prevent the escape of the information. I am here to ask you to take another risk, on my husband’s behalf. Just as he took a big chance himself when he helped the Sisterhood after we were disbanded by Emperor Salvador.”
Valya arched her dark eyebrows, looked deeply apprehensive. “What would you ask of us?”
“The Sisterhood could serve as an intermediary to resolve the dispute between Josef and Emperor Roderick. Negotiating peace would bring stability to the Imperium and place both the Emperor and VenHold in your debt.”
Valya narrowed her gaze. “The Emperor has confiscated all VenHold financial assets and seized their banks across the Imperium. Your husband recently laid siege to Salusa Secundus and retreated in defeat after the Butlerians drove him away. What possible advantage would the Sisterhood gain if we were to strengthen ties with Venport Holdings?”
Cioba forced calm upon herself. “That is an inaccurate assessment of events, Mother Superior, but keep in mind that VenHold still controls significant economic assets in other areas. Josef went to Salusa not to conquer, but to force an end to the dispute.”
“And the reason he retreated so suddenly? I don’t feel as if we have received all of the information on that.”
“I am not a military tactician,” Cioba said, with the most enigmatic smile she could muster.
Valya gave her a wry smile in return. “All right. But as for the ‘dispute,’ I believe it began when your husband assassinated Roderick’s brother — murdered an Emperor.”
Cioba struggled to find a way to break through the Mother Superior’s stony resistance. “Salvador Corrino was a volatile and dangerous man. Do not forget that he slaughtered many Sisters on Rossak. Whatever my husband’s actions, you have to agree that the Imperium benefits from a more stable Emperor.”
The young Mother Superior gazed at her dispassionately, not seeming to care about her problems. “Agreed, and that is why the Sisterhood has strengthened ties with Roderick Corrino, the Imperial Court, and many Landsraad nobles. I do not wish to jeopardize that.”
Cioba continued doggedly, “Because of Roderick’s grievance against Josef, the Butlerian fanatics have been gaining influence and power at the expense of reason. I know you have no great love for the Butlerians, Mother Superior. Think of the damage the Orthodox Sisters caused to our order, how they nearly destroyed us!”
“Yes, but that is an internal matter to the Sisterhood, and it has been resolved.” Valya gave a grudging nod. “However, I do agree that we would all be much better off if the dispute were to end. One retaliation leads to a counterretaliation, which leads to another, ad infinitum. But I have well-placed Sisters in the Imperial Palace, including Fielle as the Emperor’s Truthsayer. Those women are required to serve both the Sisterhood and the Emperor to the best of their abilities.”
“Sometimes at cross-purposes, though.”
“The Sisterhood’s purpose is paramount.” Valya’s dark eyes were hard.
“The Sisterhood’s purpose is wide-ranging,” Cioba countered. She hoped this cryptic statement was enough to remind Valya that Cioba knew about the Sisterhood’s hidden computers and their extensive genetic records. In fact, Cioba herself had arranged for the secret VenHold transport that had retrieved these computers and records from the Rossak jungles. “For the good of the Imperium, we must force a wedge between the Butlerians and the Emperor. Venport Holdings can do that, and only my husband has a military force sufficient to oppose the fanatics. He calls on the Sisterhood for assistance. You can serve as an intermediary between Josef and Roderick, finding a way for them to become allies.”
Valya crossed her arms over her chest. “Helping Josef that way would bring the wrath of the Emperor and the Butlerians down on us.” She shook her head. “No, Sister Cioba. After the setback we suffered on Rossak, I don’t think that’s wise. As Mother Superior, I will not place our order between another collision of titanic forces. Too dangerous for us. The Sisterhood must remain neutral in this matter.”
Valya dismissed her and walked briskly off to the main complex, accompanied by Deborah, leaving Cioba alone, stunned and disheartened by the aloof dismissal.
WHEN VALYA RETURNED to her offices, she received a surprising intelligence report that made her pulse race. Fielle had rushed a coded message directly to her from the Imperial Court, news that she knew the Mother Superior would want right away. Yes, Fielle knows me all too well.
Vorian Atreides had gone there to meet with Emperor Roderick on Salusa, and after the hated man left, the Truthsayer had been able to gather important information. There were strong indications that he had gone to Corrin, and that he thought he could hide there.
He was wrong.
54
In this vast and infinitely complex universe, danger is always present. For an ordinary person, the challenge is to determine the pitfalls and how to avoid them. Like other humans, I am not perfect, but my prescience elevates me to another level of consciousness.
Sometimes the revelations of prescience came to her unbidden, but the universe had so many variables, far beyond even her comprehension. Reality itself was imperfect and unpredictable.
Like other Navigators, her expanded prescience allowed her to see safe pathways through and around countless star systems. In this sense the universe was hers and available to her, as much as she wished to explore, and she wanted to give the universe to her Navigators. But the universe was not exactly a safe place.
Troubled, she gazed out upon the Kolhar field of Navigator tanks with tender feelings, letting her thoughts run through countless possibilities. These were her children, she was their creator. And this maternal sense, this undeniable love for her creations, was stronger than any feeling she held for her great-grandson. She worried about Josef’s welfare, but he had caused his own problems.
Due to the commercial embargo the Emperor had imposed throughout the Imperium, many of her Navigators had been withdrawn from their great spacefaring ships, and remained here in their tanks. Now, with the spice stockpile on Arrakis destroyed, vital melange supplies were curtailed. Even though Josef had increased harvesting to higher levels with all his teams, there still was not enough spice for her or for her Navigators.