Great Schools of Dune, #2
Mentats of Dune
by Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
Contents
Chapter 27 (It is not enough to survive great adversity)
Overview
Roderick, shattered by Nantha’s death, manages Salvador’s paranoia, rejects crude body-double attempts, and confronts the political fallout of House Péle’s fraud. When Omak Péle flees off-world, Roderick steers Salvador from vengeance to asset seizure. Truthsayer Dorotea exonerates Tabrina, averting a Landsraad backlash while consolidating Corrino authority.
Summary
Roderick Corrino waits in the Imperial Palace courtyard as Emperor Salvador, shaken by recent riots, tests an unconvincing body double. Grieving his daughter Nantha, killed in Manford Torondo’s mob violence, Roderick pushes past sorrow to stabilize security and counsel his brother.
Roderick reports that Empress Tabrina has retreated to a guarded country home. He credits Truthsayer Sister Dorotea for exposing House Péle’s tax fraud and notes Blanton Davido’s execution by Grand Inquisitor Quemada. Salvador demands the arrest of Omak Péle despite Roderick’s warning of political fallout.
Tabrina confronts Roderick, pleading for her father and urging a return to normalcy. Roderick refuses, emphasizing Nantha’s innocence and his refusal to forget the Butlerian-caused tragedy.
Later, with Dorotea present, Roderick informs Salvador that Omak Péle has fled to an Unallied Planet, likely aided by Landsraad allies. Roderick argues against pursuing retribution that could unite the Landsraad against House Corrino, proposing instead to seize all Péle assets.
Dorotea asserts Tabrina’s ignorance of the scheme. After hesitation, Salvador accepts Roderick’s plan: House Péle’s holdings, including Omak’s prized foldspace barge, are forfeit to the Imperium. Roderick frames the decision as firm but not vindictive leadership, while privately vowing to oppose the Butlerians responsible for Nantha’s death.
Who Appears
- Roderick CorrinoGrieving father; manages imperial security, counters Salvador’s impulses, and engineers seizure of House Péle’s assets.
- Emperor Salvador CorrinoParanoid and vengeful; tests a body double, demands Omak Péle’s arrest, but accepts asset forfeiture.
- Sister DoroteaImperial Truthsayer; exposed Péle fraud and confirms Tabrina’s ignorance, guiding a measured political response.
- Empress TabrinaPleads for her father, retreats to safety; ultimately cleared of involvement in Péle’s tax scheme.
- Omak PéleHead of House Péle; flees to an Unallied Planet after tax fraud exposure, triggering asset seizure.
- Manford TorondoButlerian leader whose incited riots caused Nantha’s death, fueling Roderick’s resolve.
- Nantha CorrinoRoderick’s youngest daughter, killed in the riots; her death drives his decisions.
- Grand Inquisitor QuemadaExecutes Blanton Davido for Péle fraud; symbol of imperial retribution.
- Blanton DavidoPéle underling executed for tax underreporting; his death precedes Omak’s flight.