History is best left in the past, so that legends do not interfere with our daily lives.

—RODERICK CORRINO, private memo to the Emperor

Wearing his old dress uniform from a military force that no longer existed, Vorian Atreides met privately with the Emperor and Roderick Corrino. Despite the lavish surroundings in the Imperial Palace, he preferred his private home with Mariella on quiet Kepler.

Now that he had reappeared with such fanfare in the public eye, however, he feared the people would not leave him in peace. The enthusiastic public reaction during the recent parade had disturbed him as much as it had the Emperor.

As Vor entered the Emperor’s personal office, he noted the gilded desk and tables, the priceless paintings on the walls, the ornately woven curtains tied back with gold braids. He remembered his years of fighting in the old League of Nobles; he had been a hero to the people and could easily have crowned himself the first Emperor after the Battle of Corrin. Back then, Faykan Butler had been afraid of Vor’s popularity, not understanding that Vor never had imperial ambitions. He had been paid off and sent away … which was exactly what Vor wanted.

Now, summoned by Roderick and Salvador Corrino, he could guess that they wanted the same thing. And he would make them pay dearly—again.

The three men sat at a whorled elaccawood table, and Vor opened the discussion by talking about the dark practice of slavery on the fringe worlds, as well as the cruel men who had recently struck Kepler. “Perhaps it’s time for me to lead a different crusade.” Vor let the anger bubble in his voice, making sure they knew he could cause plenty of trouble if he wished. “Didn’t the Jihad teach us that human beings should not be treated in such a way?”

“Slavery is still an important part of the economy out in the frontier,” Roderick observed.

“Then frontier planets need to be protected from the slavers.”

At the head of the table, Salvador looked unsettled. “There are so many planets, how can we watch them all?”

Vor narrowed his eyes. “You can start by watching Kepler. Protect my world.” Leaning forward, forcing himself to remain calm, Vor described the day that many of his people had been taken; he submitted a full roster of their names, as well as his bill of sale to prove that he had purchased them from Poritrin. “I freed them this time, but that doesn’t solve the problem. More slavers will prey on my world—and even if they don’t strike my valley again, they will go to one of the other settled areas. You must not allow that to happen, Sire.”

Roderick’s expression was hard. “We hear your passion, Vorian Atreides, but in an Imperium burdened with crises, a few unruly slavers on minimally populated planets are not our predominant concern.”

“If I chose to rally the people, I could make it a predominant concern,” Vor said.

Salvador’s anger flared, but Roderick remained calm. “Perhaps you could use your celebrity to accomplish that—and perhaps we can come to some reasonable accommodation. What, precisely, would you like us to do about your situation?”

“You can’t ask us to outlaw slavery entirely!” Salvador blurted out.

“I could ask for that, but it would not be practical.” His gaze shifted to the Prince. “What can you do in exchange for my silence, you mean?” Vor paused, and provided the answer. “Simple enough. Issue an Imperial decree announcing that Kepler is off-limits to slavers, then give me a dozen or so warships to discourage anyone who doesn’t listen.”

Salvador rocked back as if he had been slapped. “One doesn’t speak to the Emperor in such a manner. It is customary to make requests, not demands.”

Vor found that humorous. “I knew your great-great grandfather. I fought at his side, and his son’s, and his grandson’s—long before you called yourselves Corrinos and long before the Imperium existed at all.” He leaned across the table. “Considering the fact that my family was kidnapped and sold into slavery, you will forgive me for skipping a few niceties. I came here to request your help, but I can just as easily call upon the people. You saw their reaction at the parade. They would rally around a living legend. They’ve seen statues with my face, and coins imprinted with my likeness—just like an Emperor. But I’m sure you would rather they cheered for you than for me.”

While Salvador reddened, Roderick made a calming gesture to his brother, then said, “Our Imperium is fragile enough as it is—the CET riots, the Butlerians, so many powerful interests pulling us in all directions.” He spoke as if his words were written on fine parchment even before he uttered them. “We shall not tolerate you creating more unnecessary turmoil. Our people must think of the future, not be reminded of the bloody past.”

Salvador’s voice was darker. “Have you come to set yourself up as the next Emperor? As the people shout out?”

Vorian gave a cold laugh. “I left such personal aspirations behind long ago, and do not intend to revisit them. I have retired and want to be left alone. As I come before you, Sire, I swear my allegiance to you, and swear that I have no interest in taking any role in government or in appearing before the full Landsraad.” His gray eyes hardened. “But I do want my family and planet protected. Keep my people safe and you have nothing to worry about. I will slip back into obscurity. You’ll never see me again.” Vor looked away. “Frankly, I’d rather have it that way, too. I just want to go home and be left in peace.”

“Unfortunately,” Roderick said, “the people know you are alive now. They will come to you at Kepler, beg you, pester you, ask you to come to the aid of the Imperium by taking up the mantle of a legend. How long will you be able to resist their demands for you to return to public life?”

“As long as necessary.”

Vorian understood that Salvador would feel threatened, would never be the center of attention when the great war hero was present. Since the current Emperor was not even the legitimate child of Emperor Jules Corrino, the dynasty was already weakened. Vor could take over the Imperium, if he wanted it. But he didn’t.

“I give you my word I will remain on Kepler with my family. You need never see me on Salusa again.”

Salvador remained silent, considering the offer. Roderick said, “The solution isn’t quite that simple, Supreme Bashar. You have stepped back into the limelight. The people know you are still alive after they’ve assumed you to be long dead. You cannot stay on Kepler. You have to vanish again.”

“I prefer to keep a low profile anyway. I’ll change my name if I must.”

Roderick shook his head. “You won’t be able to stay hidden on Kepler. People know you too well there.” His face was hard. “This is one guarantee we will require of you as a condition of our help. Leave the planet and Kepler will never need to worry about the threat of slavers again. We’ll issue a decree of Imperial protection and provide a few warships in orbit to keep slaver ships away, as you requested. Imperial troops will operate the guard ships initially, but the vessels will eventually be turned over to the control of the local Kepler government. Under this arrangement your people will be safe, your family and friends—but you must leave, go to some other planet.”

“Vanish back into history, where you belong!” Salvador interjected.

Vor swallowed, but could taste only dust. Leave Kepler? Leave Mariella, their children, and grandchildren? He had been happy there for decades, watching the babies grow up to become parents and his wife grow old.… while he had not aged a day.

But he also remembered the lumbering slaver ships, how they had so easily stunned the entire village, whisking away all the captives they wanted and killing a dozen others. He had promised he would find a way to keep them safe.…

“My solution repays the Corrino debt of honor, protects your people, saves a whole world,” Roderick said. “Just move on and quietly vanish again for the rest of your life, however long that may be.”

Before Vor could answer, the Emperor cut in. “That’s our offer. Take it or leave it.”

Unable to forget the burning fields and buildings on Kepler, or the crowded, stinking slave markets of Poritrin, Vor understood the reality. It was time for him to turn the page and begin the next chapter in his long life.

When he agreed, he saw the Emperor breathe an unmistakable sigh of relief.