Do we derive our identity, our worth, from our families or from ourselves?

—REVEREND MOTHER RAQUELLA BERTO-ANIRUL, Sisterhood Training Manual

As Princess Anna’s mentor and protector, Valya tried to discover how to motivate the young woman and make her a stronger person … but the girl had very little drive. Raised and sheltered in the Imperial Palace, Anna was prone to impulsive, somewhat juvenile decisions and mood swings. Sisterhood training should eventually teach her how to deal with that, and Anna would return to Salusa Secundus as a changed woman … and Valya’s close friend.

Perhaps Anna would ask Valya to accompany her back to Zimia and give her a position at court. From there, Valya could open political doors for her brother. His success in the Landsraad League would go a long way toward restoring Harkonnen wealth.

But that was not all she wanted, not by a long shot. She actually considered the assassination of Vorian Atreides to be an even higher priority than getting Griffin to Zimia, which was why she had demanded that he go in search of the treacherous man who had brought down House Harkonnen. If Griffin cauterized the festering wound that had made generations of Harkonnens so miserable, their family could finally escape the ignominy they had been forced to endure for eighty years, the terrible pall of shame that had been covering them like a Lankiveil ice sheet. Revenge was more important to her than wealth, far more important.

Back on her cold and barren homeworld, Valya had seen little point in marrying a native fisherman or whale hunter. Her great-grandfather Abulurd had left the family with no legacy, and her own father had few ambitions, too readily accepting their drastically reduced state. Her mother, Sonia, was a traditional local woman who had never been off-planet and was not interested in the rest of the Imperium. Since she had no noble blood, she was willing to accept the pittance of a life she and her family had, not questioning what House Harkonnen’s enemies had done to them.

Valya could not be so passive. Once she escaped from Lankiveil and the millstone it represented, she intended to accomplish a great deal for House Harkonnen. For a young woman in her situation, the Rossak School seemed to offer limitless possibilities—as proven by this chance to establish close ties with the Corrinos.

Even so, Valya was quickly losing excitement about her assignment to befriend Anna Corrino. The girl was sweet, with many misconceptions about how others lived, and sometimes the job tested Valya’s patience.

Alone now, she hurried down one corridor and then another, calling Anna’s name, but getting no response. The girl was so unpredictable! A few minutes ago, as breakfast ended in the great dining chamber and Sisters were milling about or heading for the exits, the green-robed Anna had slipped away, melting into the crowd of women. Did she think this was a game? Muttering, Valya felt a sinking sensation. If anything bad happened to the Corrino Princess, it would not be good for the Sisterhood, nor for Valya’s personal ambitions.

As she passed an alcove, she saw Anna peeking out from around a statue of one of the heroes of the Jihad, chortling like a preteen. Valya was the same age, but there was a huge gulf of maturity between them.

“Don’t ever do that again,” Valya took her by the hand and pulled her out with a little more force than she intended.

“I can take care of myself,” Anna said.

Valya controlled her temper, reminding herself of this young woman’s connections. “Rossak has dangers, and the Sisterhood has rules. I’m just trying to watch out for you.” She kept protectively close to the troublesome young woman while guiding her to an Imperial economics class.

When she released Anna just inside the classroom, the Princess frowned. “You won’t sit next to me?” Natural light illuminated the room, entering through slits and crevices in the rock, accompanied by a warm breeze that was redolent with the pungent odors of the jungle.

“This is a class for acolytes, and I have another assignment,” Valya said. “I’ll come and get you after the lecture.”

“Are you my best friend now?” Anna asked. “I haven’t had a good friend for a long time.”

Valya softened her voice. “Yes, I’m your best friend now. Trust me, once you adjust here, you won’t want to go home.” She put a gentle hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“Hirondo really cared for me.” Anna looked dejected and needy. “My stepmother Orenna loved me.”

“And now you have me, and we have trust.”

Anna looked up at her. “My brothers never trusted me.”

“Then you’re better off here, with us.” Through her own feelings and goals, Valya felt some sympathy for this misfit woman who had suffered from her doomed infatuation with a lowly kitchen worker, but Valya knew emotional attachments might compromise her own mission in life.

She saw plainly that Anna was in desperate need of a friend—and no doubt had been for years. Valya intended to fill that role, partly out of pity, but primarily for her own reasons. She could only hope Griffin would also fulfill his obligations. He should already be on his way to deal with Vorian Atreides.