Contents
Chapter 23
Overview
During a public audience, Jessica deftly judges a provocative troubadour and sends him to Farad’n, then survives an assassination attempt that exposes Alia’s complicity. A Fedaykin Naib warns the worms are vanishing under ecological change.
Jessica publicly names Alia an Abomination possessed by the Baron and escapes with Fedaykin support, shifting open power struggle onto the Great Hall’s floor.
Summary
At morning audience beside Alia, Jessica evaluates a Kadeshian troubadour, Tagir Mohandis, whose bold, improvised song taunts court corruption and calls Alia “Coan-Teen.” Jessica uses the moment to assert seniority and, despite Alia’s fury, judges Mohandis a “fitting gift for Farad’n,” sending him away with passage money while signaling poise and control.
A Fremen Naib, Ghadhean al-Fali, strides forward “on a matter of the desert,” alarming Alia. As a Priest official rushes to halt him, Jessica detects Alia’s covert signal and dodges an ambush; a maula pellet tears Jessica’s sleeve. In the chaos, al-Fali kills the Priest with an achag blow, but a gaudily dressed city Fremen woman finishes the Priest—silencing testimony and revealing conspiracy. Alia tries to brazen it out; Jessica marks the killers for seizure.
Jessica publicly demonstrates the shot was aimed at her and challenges Alia’s handling of the hidden weapon, exposing the plot. She then gives al-Fali voice: he warns that “Little Makers” appear, sandworms retreat to the Empty Quarter, and rain spreads over the Belt—signs the transformation is killing Shai-Hulud and will end spice. Alia dismisses this as superstition, but Jessica recognizes the peril and Alia’s lie.
Struck by an overwhelming adab, Jessica glimpses a safe path through assassins and decides to save al-Fali as messenger. She declares her Fremen allegiance, denounces Alia’s solitary tyranny, and warns that collapsing spice will doom their power, while Alia cynically touts a monopoly.
When Alia, slipping into ancient Chakobsa, reveals the Baron’s mindset, Jessica recognizes the tapping tell of Baron Harkonnen within her. She brands Alia an Abomination before the hall. With a shouted call—“Fedaykin, follow me!”—Jessica drives into the route foreseen by adab; six Fedaykin rise and five break through behind her as she escapes the Great Hall.
Who Appears
- Lady JessicaAsserts authority, judges the troubadour, survives an assassination attempt, exposes Alia’s conspiracy, confirms Baron possession, rallies Fedaykin, and escapes.
- Alia AtreidesPresides on the masculine throne, enraged by satire, implicated in the ambush, lies about ecology, reveals Baron Harkonnen’s possession.
- Ghadhean al-FaliFedaykin Naib who warns of dying worms and rain on the Belt; kills a Priest in the chaos; allies with Jessica.
- Tagir MohandisBold Kadeshian troubadour whose song provokes Alia; Jessica sends him to Farad’n as a barbed gift.
- Priest officialRushes to block al-Fali; caught with a maula pistol; slain to prevent questioning, exposing the conspiracy.
- Priest-AdvocatePresents the troubadour’s case with false piety; part of the court’s staged test of Jessica.
- City Fremen womanGaudily dressed agent who finishes the wounded Priest, ensuring his silence.
- JavidUnseen power behind the scenes; his faction likely vetted the troubadour and enabled the ambush.