Chapter 60 Chapter 60

Ghanima sat far outside the circle of light of the spice lamp, watching Bur Agarvas.She didn't like his round face and overly flexible eyebrows, and the way he walked back and forth when he spoke, as if there was a hidden melody in his words and his feet danced to it. He wasn't here to talk to Stilgar, Ghanima told herself.She saw this very clearly in the man's every move.She moved back a little further, further away from the circle of the meeting. Every crypt has a room like this, but the meeting hall in this new, abandoned town feels cramped to Ghanima because it's so low.The size of the room was quite large. Sixty people from Stilgar's side, plus nine people from Agavas, only occupied one side of the conference hall.Spice lights shone on the low pillars that supported the roof.Spicy fumes filled the air with the smell of cinnamon.

It had been more than an hour since the meeting began at dusk after prayers and dinner had concluded, but Ganima still hadn't been able to see through Agarvas's hidden movements.His voice seemed sincere, but his movements and eyes were not. Agavas was speaking, answering a question from one of Stilgar's assistants.That assistant was Sasa's niece, named Raja.She was a dark, stern-looking young woman with a perpetually drawn-out mouth, which gave her a perpetual look of suspicion.Ghanima felt that her expression matched the surrounding environment quite well. "I have every confidence that Alia will forgive you all," Agavas said, "otherwise I would not be here."

Raja wanted to speak again, but Stilgar cut her off. "We don't care whether she is trustworthy, but I am a little worried about whether she trusts you." There is an undercurrent hidden in Stilgar's words.Agarvas' offer to restore him to his former status unnerved him. "It doesn't matter if she trusts me or not," Agavas said. "Frankly, I don't think she trusts me. It took me too long to find you guys. But I always feel like she doesn't really want to. Got you. She's..." "She was the wife of the man I killed," Stilgar said. "I admit he asked for it. Even if I didn't kill him, he would probably commit suicide. But Alia's attitude It looks like—"

Agavas jumped to his feet, anger evident on his face. "She forgave you! How many times do I have to say it! She had the priests put on a play, got the oracle—" "You're evading, bringing up a new question." It was Irulan, who leaned forward and covered Raja, blonde hair replacing Raja's black hair, "She convinced you. But in fact , she may have other plans." "The priest has..." "There are rumors everywhere," Irulan said, "that you are not only a military advisor, but also her..." "Enough!" Agavas was furious.His hand was shaking near the Xiaoren knife, and he could hardly control the urge to kill with the knife.Even his face began to contort, "You judge for yourself, I can no longer talk to this woman! She insulted me! She insulted everything she touched! I was used. I was Contaminated—well, let it be, but I won't throw a knife at my people. That's all!"

After seeing this scene, Ghanima thought: At least these words are his true inner reaction. Stilgar laughed unexpectedly. "Aha, my cousin," he said, "forgive me, but only anger shows the truth." "You agree?" "Not yet," he held up a hand, preventing another outburst from Agavas, "it's not for me, Bull, it's for everyone." He gestured to those around him, "They are my responsibility. We Take time to consider the settlement that Alia has proposed." "Reconciliation? She didn't say that word. Excuse me, but..."

"So what did she promise?" "Taibu Cave, you are still Naibu, maintaining complete autonomy and neutrality. She understands now..." "I will not join her forces, nor provide her with warriors," Stilgar warned. "Do you understand?" Ghanima could hear Stilgar beginning to waver.She thought: No, Steve!No! "Understood," Agavas said, "Alia only wants you to return Ghanima to her, to fulfill her engagement..." "Her intentions have finally been exposed!" said Stilgar, frowning. "Ganima is the price for forgiveness, isn't it? She thought I..."

"She thinks you are a sensible person." Agavas said. Ghanima thought happily: He will not agree.Don't waste your energy.He won't say yes. Just then, she heard a rustling sound from the left rear.She wanted to dodge, but a pair of strong hands grabbed her.Before she could cry out, a coarse cloth soaked in sweat medicine covered her face.Before she lost consciousness, she felt herself being carried towards the darkest door in the chamber.She thought: I should be able to guess it!I should have been on my guard!The hands that grabbed her were adult hands, strong and powerful.She couldn't break free.

The last thing Ghanima felt was the cold air, the twinkling stars and a masked face.The face looked at her.Then came a voice: "Is she not hurt?" She couldn't hear the answer.The starry sky rotated rapidly in her vision, and finally, with a flash of light, the starry sky disappeared.