Schools of Dune, #1
Sisterhood of Dune
by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
Contents
58. The path to human …
Overview
Valya’s attempt to befriend and manage Anna Corrino becomes dangerous when Anna’s curiosity about the Reverend Mother transformation turns into reckless action. Anna steals Valya’s laboratory key and nearly takes one of Karee’s untested drugs, forcing Valya to intervene before political disaster strikes.
Dorotea’s arrival at the lab deepens the tension, since her suspicions of Valya and the Sisterhood’s secrets remain active. The chapter reinforces Valya’s divided priorities: protecting House Harkonnen, controlling Anna, avoiding Dorotea’s scrutiny, and resisting the tempting but deadly path to becoming a Reverend Mother.
Summary
On Rossak, Valya Harkonnen cultivates Anna Corrino’s trust because Reverend Mother Raquella has made the Emperor’s sister one of Valya’s priorities. Valya spends long hours with Anna, listens to Anna’s loneliness and infatuation with Hirondo Nef, and deliberately presents herself as a close friend while also keeping Anna away from Dorotea’s suspicions.
Valya brings Anna to the lower cave levels for acolyte work in the sewing room. As they mend robes, Anna asks about Raquella’s ancestral voices and the dangerous poison transformation that can make a Reverend Mother. Valya warns that only Raquella has survived the process, but Anna becomes fascinated by the possibility of hearing her mother’s memories and suggests that she and Valya try the transformation together.
Valya rejects the idea because Anna is immature and because Valya herself cannot risk dying while House Harkonnen still depends on her and Griffin. Valya reflects on her desire for the abilities and authority of a Reverend Mother, but she knows that failure would damage her family’s hopes for redemption and revenge against Vorian Atreides.
That night, Valya cannot sleep. She worries about Dorotea’s suspicions over Ingrid’s death and possible Sisterhood computers, about Griffin’s mission, and about Anna’s repeated questions concerning Karee Marques’s pharmaceutical laboratory. When Valya discovers her laboratory key missing and finds Anna’s bunk empty, Valya realizes Anna has gone to the lab and rushes there alone to avoid public scandal.
Valya reaches the hollowed-tree laboratory and finds Anna handling one of Karee’s untested drug samples, intending to bring pills back so both women can become Reverend Mothers. Valya snatches the capsule away and scolds Anna for endangering herself, but Dorotea arrives after following Valya and demands an explanation. Valya shifts the blame onto Dorotea for leaving the lab unattended, agrees the incident must be reported to Raquella, and leads the tearful Anna away while warning Anna never to slip away from her again.
Who Appears
- Valya HarkonnenBefriends and monitors Anna, weighs Reverend Mother ambitions, and prevents a dangerous lab disaster.
- Anna CorrinoLonely Imperial princess whose fascination with ancestral voices drives her to steal untested drugs.
- Sister DoroteaSuspicious Sister who follows Valya to the lab and insists on reporting the incident.
- Raquella Berto-AnirulReverend Mother whose unique transformation and ancestral memories inspire Anna’s dangerous curiosity.
- Karee MarquesAbsent researcher whose experimental transformation drugs tempt Anna while the lab is unattended.
- Griffin HarkonnenValya’s brother, absent but central to her worries about Harkonnen revenge and survival.