Mentats of Dune

Chapter 36 (Every person can be manipulated)

The Mother Superior moved with surprising stealth for a woman of her age and frailty. She managed to startle Valya outside between two of the main school buildings. “I’ve been watching you closely, and you don’t seem saddened by your sister leaving.”

Valya calmed herself, kept her expression flat and unreadable. “She has been gone for weeks already, Mother Superior. I am not her keeper — and I am following your advice to control my emotions. I should not appear sad or disappointed that she made her own choice.”

Raquella seemed amused. “On the contrary, you seemed pleased by her departure — even eager to have her go. I find this odd, since you were the one who indoctrinated Tula into the Sisterhood. Do you consider her a failure now that she has given up on us?”

“No, Mother Superior — not a failure. And she hasn’t given up. Tula will succeed in whatever she attempts, though perhaps not in any way we anticipated. I have high hopes for her.”

Walking away from the main school grounds, the two women worked their way up a steep and rugged path along Laojin Cliff, a wooded hillside with an abrupt drop-off. It was the highest point in the vicinity, and Raquella liked to take the rugged walk at least once a week. The Mother Superior insisted on demonstrating that she was still physically and mentally fit to lead. Today, even Valya found it difficult to keep up with the Mother Superior’s pace.

“The loss of my brother Griffin was a tremendous blow,” Valya admitted as she kept up with Raquella. She cast her gaze down. “Having Tula back will make my parents and Danvis very happy.”

Raquella paused on the trail to give her a hard look. “You may be a Reverend Mother, but I can still read you. Are the goals of the Sisterhood paramount in your mind now? Above those of your family?”

Valya always felt uncomfortable trying to explain herself. “I have two families — House Harkonnen and the Sisterhood. I can be loyal to both.”

“A diplomatic answer, but potentially problematic.”

“I refuse to view the universe in simplistic terms.”

Raquella’s papery lips formed a genuine smile. “Perhaps that suggests a future leadership role for you.”

Valya fought to control the surge of excitement. Certainly the Mother Superior realized that Valya was the best choice to follow as her successor, to continue rebuilding the school. Before she could press the issue, the old woman changed the subject. “I received a report from observers in the Imperial Palace. Sister Dorotea has made herself invaluable as Emperor Salvador’s Truthsayer, and he has allowed her to begin training her own new acolytes on Salusa.” She let out a long, rattling sigh. “The splinter group of orthodox Sisters will have no incentive to reunite with us. I had so hoped for…” She shook her head. “Dorotea is my own granddaughter.”

Sister Fielle approached from the ridge above, negotiating her way down the slope along a steep zigzag trail. When Raquella waved for the Sister Mentat to join them, Valya was disappointed to lose an important private moment with the Mother Superior. Nevertheless, she shifted her thoughts, concentrated on solidifying her efforts to make Fielle an ally.

The young Sister Mentat shared greetings, giving Valya an unreadable smile, and the three fell into step together on the trail, with Raquella setting the pace to continue the climb. The Sister Mentat didn’t seem to mind returning uphill the way she had come.

Valya continued the discussion with some urgency, expecting Fielle to take her side. “Our faction is stronger than Dorotea’s, Mother Superior. We are the better organization with a greater long-term vision.” She controlled the intensity in her voice. “We can also work on Truthsaying abilities here among ourselves, and I’ll redouble our training in new combat techniques.” She hadn’t told the Mother Superior about her experimental new voice control. “We’re in a war for our very survival, and every Sister must know how to fight, both personally and in the larger political arena. Our Sisters have to be unparalleled as fighters and as advisers.”

Fielle interrupted, “But we use our minds more than our bodies. The Sisterhood is a philosophy, a way of life, and a way to better the human race.”

Valya raised her voice. “And if we had learned how to fight earlier, we could have been more effective against the Emperor’s troops before they slaughtered so many of us on Rossak. What if Dorotea convinces him to come to Wallach IX and finish the destruction?”

“That would never happen again,” Fielle said.

Valya paused on the path, straightened her back. “I won’t take that chance. I want us to become better fighters, for ourselves and for the Sisterhood.”

Raquella gave her a wry smile. “You are already our best fighter.”

“And I can be better still — and then I can make others better. In each Sister, and in the Sisterhood as a whole, the physical and mental must work together. Each aspect strengthens the other.”

Valya turned to Fielle. “Sometimes I can be a bit abrupt because I am focused on the Sisterhood, on the grand missions and goals that the Mother Superior has laid out for us. I apologize if I seem impatient and overly intense. I am trying to do better.”

Looking sideways, she saw Raquella smiling like a proud parent.

Valya spoke in a rush. After sending Tula on her mission, she had goals of her own, larger plans. “With your permission, Mother Superior, I would like to travel to Ginaz — visit the Swordmaster School and ask them to accept me as a student. Whatever I learn from them can be applied to the Sisterhood.” Valya could also use those skills on behalf of House Harkonnen, perhaps even in personal combat against Vorian Atreides.

Fielle seemed confused by the suggestion, but Raquella gripped the young Sister Mentat’s arm with a withered hand. “Valya’s idea is interesting. You have Mentat training, and it occurs to me that we might learn much from the other great schools as well, adapting their techniques to improve our own.”

Valya squared her shoulders. “Since I’m a Reverend Mother, I can learn more swiftly than others, be better. Let me take them by surprise. I’d like to observe Ginaz, absorb and adapt their fighting methods, bodily control, defenses, and how to think during combat. There is great strength in combining disciplines, and the Sisterhood must have strength. We will be more than a match for Dorotea’s traitors.”

Raquella scolded her like a child. “I may disagree with the others, but they are not traitors, just a different perspective on our teachings. Dorotea has something that we do not — a respected position close to the Emperor. She has no reason to envy us, or fear us. It would be best for our future if we could find common ground. That is what I long for most, before I die.”

Valya tried to control the edge in her voice. “Dorotea should not have betrayed us in the first place, if her true loyalties lay with the Sisterhood.”

“Her loyalties may be confused, but I believe she is still a true Sister in her heart.” Raquella looked sad as she paused on the trail. She turned to Valya. “Just as your blood sister needed to return to your homeworld, I understand that you must go on your own journey. You have my permission to travel to Ginaz.”