Day 4 | Afternoon | It's All About Spice

[Kannon]

"The cartel wasn't the threat, it was just a sign of it. House Londine was financing Marek, Hawat collected enough proof from the site. We'll give you access to it for when it comes up in the Landsraad. It's Kanly-grade. The Emperor beat us to the punishment though. Rajiv Londine and Cuarte are gone, wiped out by the Sardaukar three days ago. Accused of treason, like the Verduns before them. All without any Landsraad censure." Paul rubbed his face, scared how banal it sounded despite the enormity. "Hope you didn't have any friends on Cuarte."

[Cuyler Gray]

"The people shouldn't suffer for their lords." She shook her head. "But, it seems like that is always the way. All of that aside, I wouldn't be here if there were no potential to strengthen ties between Attredies and Mutelli. Is there anything you seek in that?"

[Kannon]

"First Verdun, and now Vok, Mumford and Londine may well be traitors to the Imperium. We certainly have no reason to mourn the violent end of the last of those. But the way the Padishah Emperor has been meting out his justice against them puts him on a pathway to needing no reason at some point. I do acknowledge both the close relationship your House enjoys with House Corrino and your legal acumen and stake in the Imperium. But if Shaddam IV manages to silence the Landsraad by beating every independent voice into fearful submission the tripod of power the Imperium has always rested on shall crumble. He has already tried this during the Great Spice War."

Paul had many thoughts about it all. But it took a moment for him to sift them.

"All my father would like and has always striven for is the balance between our obeisance to the Corrino Imperium and the strength of the Landsraad. They call him Leto the Just for a reason after all. What we would expect of our allies is to support us in demanding respect for the rights of the Great Houses, and if the Lion Throne overstretches, that it is checked in the Great Chamber, in accord with the laws, so that neither of us ever goes in the dark, quietly, in isolation, without recourse."

It's what my father would say. Do I really agree?

[Cuyler Gray]

Once she was satisfied with the pastry dough, it was placed in the cooler with the seared beef. With the speed and precision she moved in, it was easy to forget she was still recovering.

She moved on to chopping mushrooms and shallots.

"That's a large commitment for any house. But, not an unthinkable one, given the circumstances. A proper balance is untenable without effort. I think the Mutelli could be convinced. Our position has been relatively comfortable, but the Duke has recognized how easily and quickly that may change."

Soon, she was sauteing the mixture with butter and sherry.

"That's why I've been sent on diplomatic visits, to expand my knowledge and skills and to gather whatever information I can."

[Kannon]

Paul was observing her, and the dish-making. Her more.

"Do you seek any particular information for your House right now?"

[Cuyler Gray]

"I have the begining of an understanding between us. There's not much more I could ask for now." She answered. "You could, however, offer more suggestions of what information we should all be seeking and sharing."

[Kannon]

"I know that you and other Mutelli auditors briefly spoke with my father on Kaitain, but that was before our Houses joined ranks for your bid for a CHOAM directorship. You are very observant. I wonder if you would have more to say about the Harkonnen rule on Arrakis that didn't get into the report. With your foothold there, the Baron is likely to treat Duke Flambert as an enemy. And we have a wealth of experience about them. We've been fighting them for centuries."

[Cuyler Gray]

"There are definitely many questionable aspects of the Harkonnen management of Arrakis." She agreed. "I'll tell you what I can."

The duxelles finished she set it aside and began to thinly slice some ham. As she continued her preparations, she told him about her experiences during the audit.

[Kannon]

For that, he took out a good year's bottle and poured her some wine. He then got engrossed in her story, not exactly starry-eyed, but hanging on details as a mentat would.

"This is a wealth of information." He began after the long pause, fiercely blinking. "I assume you couldn't find out where the illegal spice from Orgiz had been going." He resisted biting cuticles. It was childish, as his mother would chide. "What makes me uneasy is the similarity between how that refinery and the cartel operations here on Caladan had been set up."

[Cuyler Gray]

She nodded. "It is a definite concern."

Finally, she laid out the prosciutto in overlapping rows, before spreading the duxelles over.it. The tenderloin was then wrapped in these layers of mushroom, shallot and ham. Then, it all was wrapped again in the pastry, which she decorated with a delicate lattice and coated in egg wash.

Only once it was all in the oven did she take a sip of the wine.

"We could only present so much in our report, without clearer evidence. Our movements were monitored and restricted, for our safety and to ensure we didn't stray outside of the parameters of the audit. We left with a number of unanswered questions."

[Kannon]

"You still got more answers than the Baron will ever be comfortable with. It was impressive, all things considered. The Londine participants, I've understood they were rather dedicated to the goals of the audit?"

He got a bit of wine for himself as well on a cue, though perhaps he shouldn't. But between the data better relayed to Hawat, the intriguing and mouth-watering dish that was emerging from under Cuyler's fingers, and Cuyler being confusingly similar to the girl from his dreams, his avenues of thought veered away from educated restraint. Instead, he was picturing the chef on the dunes of Arrakis, talking to him, trying to credibly fit it into the imagery that had not been leaving him ever since this particular dream started.

[Cuyler Gray]

"That's correct." She nodded. "I did my part. But, much like accompanying your men, I was following their lead."

[Kannon]

"Thufir Hawat has projected that the cartel may have been financed by more factors in CHOAM circles than just the Londines. The Noble Commonwealth is the elephant in the room, but there is no proof. Orgiz might have been their doing, but the Harkonnen enabled it at the very least."

[Cuyler Gray]

"I am still learning the complexities of the political landscape, but that is not difficult to believe." She sighed. "Another reason why we are becoming more active."


The delicious scent of Cuyler's dish was already filling the kitchen.
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Day 4 | Afternoon | It's All About Spice, Making Beef Wellington, Hard Education (Intellect), Boists from Kitchen, "What we do will return to us.": 1eA+3eP+2eB+3eD 3 successes, 3 advantage

[Kannon]

"I'm still learning that too. Gods above, Hawat gives me no break."

He sighed, admiring the finishing touches of her preparation. He put the wine away. He didn't want to make a fool of himself by getting past his juvenile tolerance without noticing.

"Not just us. The game for Arrakis is on, even with your House's headway. I've noticed from your account that there were auditors from House Hagal on your team, but they barely contributed to the collective auditing. It looks like they had their own skin in the game and were just using the audit as an excuse to be on Arrakis at that time. Count General Bain is an old friend of my father, and a diplomatic ally in the Landsraad, just like Archduke Armand. But Hagal have a rather complex system of government and their own set of ambitions, generational change will come to it just like it has come to Ix. We don't know enough of the intentions of their cadet lines, including the siridar governors of our planetary neighbour, Harmonthep. We have some indication that Harkonnen agents have successfully been operating from there. And that is... troubling."

His train of thought was broken by the waft of the beef.

"What happens now? It looks too good to be casually eaten. Needs an occasion."

[Cuyler Gray]

"It's for the team." She explained. "In thanks for watching over me for the past few days. I know everyone is busy with various affairs. Gathering for a meal would be difficult. But, it should keep well enough."

"They should all be comended." She added. "They each demonstrated great skill and bravery."

[Kannon]

Paul nodded.

"The soldiers have received their commendations and promotions this afternoon. The mercenaries shall be paid what they asked for. The Muadh are more secure in their ways than before. If I was asked, I'd say it's you who is the least rewarded. And you still think more about the others."

[Cuyler Gray]

"It's natural for a chef to focus on others." She shrugged. "I am concerned about the Vims, as well."

[Kannon]

Paul nodded, frowning.

"We did right by them. Dr Yueh says Sinsei may recover. She will be receiving the best medical care the Atreides can offer."

[Cuyler Gray]

"I intend to look into a few ways to help her recover." she said. Her voice was still raspy and she coughed occasionally. "The poisons will linger for some time without additional treatment."