Contents
Chapter 9
Overview
On Salusa Secundus, Princess Wensicia directs a covert plot to eliminate the Atreides twins using trained Laza tigers, positioning her son Farad’n for the throne. She orders Tyekanik to adopt Muad’Dib’s religion to sway Farad’n, eliminates the tiger handler, arranges deceptive gifts to Arrakis, and demands ruthless secrecy.
These moves expand House Corrino’s conspiracy, threaten the Atreides succession, and foreshadow a religious-political clash over imperial legitimacy.
Summary
In a dim control room on Salusa Secundus, Princess Wensicia and Sardaukar aide Tyekanik watch a remote feed of two Laza tigers finishing a kill under the oversight of a Sardaukar Levenbrech. They weigh the political payoff: with the Atreides twins dead, Farad’n could claim the Imperial title.
Wensicia challenges Tyekanik’s qualms about using Muad’Dib’s religion, insisting he publicly embrace it to help convert Farad’n. She focuses him on “attention to detail,” demanding absolute discretion and control over every step of the plot.
Fearing leaks, Wensicia triggers the tigers to attack and kill the Levenbrech, demonstrating her readiness to erase liabilities. She orders Tyekanik to ensure their transport pilot is cautious, deliver the tigers to Javid’s people, and then silence the pilot as well.
Wensicia directs Tyekanik to dispatch luxurious Atreides-style stillsuit robes to Arrakis as gifts allegedly from Farad’n, masking their intentions under polite pretexts. She frames armies and agents as disposable parts serving supreme command, warning Tyekanik to obey without hesitation.
Despite his resentment, Tyekanik submits. Wensicia concludes by instructing him to report when Farad’n is ready to “grasp the sword,” signaling a near-future push to assert Corrino power under a veneer of religious legitimacy.
Who Appears
- Princess WensiciaCorrino plotter; orders Laza tiger assassination of Atreides twins, kills the handler, and orchestrates deceptive gifts.
- TyekanikSardaukar Bashar Aide; resists but obeys Wensicia, tasked to embrace Muad’Dib’s religion and manage deadly cleanup.
- Levenbrech (Sardaukar trainer)Tiger handler; remotely observed and then killed by his own Laza tigers on Wensicia’s command.
- Farad’nWensicia’s son; offstage heir she aims to place on the throne by religion and assassination.
- JavidArrakis contact; to receive the Laza tigers and assist in the covert operation.