Hasimir Fenring brooded in his private apartments, in shock. How can Shaddam do this to me?

The message capsule with the formal Imperial seal— the wax lion of House Corrino— lay discarded on his bed. He had torn Shaddam’s formal decree to shreds, but not before memorizing every word.

A new assignment— a banishment!— a promotion?

“Hasimir Fenring, in acknowledgment of your unfailing service to the Imperium and the throne of the Padishah Emperors, you are hereby appointed to a newly created post as official Imperial Observer on Arrakis.

“Because of this planet’s vital importance to the Imperial economy, you shall have all necessary resources made available to your station.”

Blah, blah, blah.

How could he dare do this? What a useless waste of his talent. What petty revenge to send Fenring off to a sandhole festering with worms and unwashed people. He fumed, wishing he could discuss the matter with the fascinating Margot Rashino-Zea, whom he trusted more than he should. She was, after all, a Bene Gesserit witch. . . .

Because of the planet’s vital importance! He snorted in disgust, then set about smashing everything breakable he could get his hands on. He knew Shaddam had banished him in a fit of pique. For a man with Fenring’s capabilities, the new job was an insult, and it removed him from the center of Imperial power. He needed to be here, on Kaitain, at the hurricane’s eye of politics, not lost out in some forgotten corner of space.

But Shaddam’s decree could not be questioned or denied. Fenring had thirty days to report to the notorious arid planet. He wondered if he would ever return.