I remember it clearly; I was in my office on Kaitain when we learned about the surprise invasion of Ix by the Bene Tleilax. I could scarcely believe it; the honorable Earl Dominic Vernius and his Lady Shando, who both dined at my master's mansion not a month ago, enemies of the Imperium... Punished for defying the Great Convention…

What became of them I do not know. They died, most likely. And that would have been the fate of their House as well had the old Duke Paulus Atreides not interceded on behalf of their children, Rhombur and Kailea, whom he promised to keep under close watch. A smart bet; Rhombur eventually took Ix back twenty years later, and House Vernius was cheered and reinstated into the Landsraad as if it had never left. House Atreides was now one ally stronger, and more popular than ever. Much to the Emperor’s chagrin, I’d wager…

Duke Leto Atreides hasn't always enjoyed such popularity as he has after retaking Ix from the Bene Tleilax. House Harkonnen's enmity toward the Atreides eclipsed all others, so much so that one would forget that a House on such a swift rise would have had many enemies besides its most well-known archnemesis. Many attempts were made to remove this pesky rival from the board, one of which almost succeeded; and while the Duke escaped unscathed, it was not the case for all...

Here lies a mystery: among the wounded figured Rhombur Vernius, who went on to reclaim the Ixian throne with the Duke's help. He died a decade later, with his secrets kept close and with no ears to collect them, aside from his own son… who now has gone missing. On Arrakis, of all places. Bronso Vernius could be dead, but I doubt it; as does the Bene Tleilax, who seems to have developed a peculiar interest in the man. For one of Rhombur’s secrets I now know: he could not conceive. But no one knows where the child came from…

To hell with the Atreides. It doesn’t matter whether this house or that house wins. Dukes, Barons, Emperors. It doesn’t matter who rules, the rest of us suffer. I gave it my best shot with that spice we found on Ix, 'cause the Atreides are sure as hell not winning this war. It was just my luck that it was powdered death. I used to be like them, before; I idolized the Duke. For a moment, when he interceded on my behalf, when that blasted Fenring was breathing down my neck about the spice we stole, I thought maybe I was worth something. But what he did wasn't about me; it was about his damn honor. His ideals. Damn them. Damn them all. There are many like me out there who are losing faith. We all know it's only a matter of years before this House finally crumbles. And I damn well know any of them would have grabbed this free ticket off this wretched planet no matter the cost. The Duke can die here on Arrakis if he wants. I would have preferred that this wasn't my fate.