Dune Messiah (pgs. 24-36) Summary

In from a secret, nighttime walk around the city of Arrakeen, Paul is tired, but his mind seethes with envy for those who enjoy the freedoms forbidden him as Emperor. Dune is a world under siege. When Paul's longtime and beloved concubine, Chani, enters, he wonders how he appears to her these days. He recalls his grandfather's insistence that a ruler is responsible for those he rules and must show selfless love. Paul worries he is, instead, loosing a "wolf among sheep."

Chani orders Paul into bed, pours coffee, and massages his aching muscles. She mentions that Irulan wants a child. Chani usually avoids such indiscreet questions, looking rather to help Paul through her sharp memory for names and details. Paul is suspicious about Irulan's recent trip and thinks about putting her away. Chani forbids this, seeing...