But like the unprepossessing heirs of whose stories history is full, Gunseng disproved appearances. While his father lay on his deathbed, Gunseng knew his survival was in jeopardy. Taking advantage of the palace paranoia, he managed to reach his father's ear and coaxed from him an order for the execution of certain military officers and commanders of the elite guard. We cannot now verify the possibility of a coup, but Gunseng was privy to more knowledge than even his father suspected, and his later career demonstrated his ability to smell out power plays When Granuk died within days, Gunseng's placement of his own men in the vacated positions ensured his succession. HARKONNEN, GUNSENG 291 HARKONNEN, GUNSENG Gunseng married Muertana, Lady Sarobella, to cement a union with that house. She bore him three sons, the first of whom died in infancy, Araskin, a club-footed giant, and Vladimir. He also fathered Abulurd (Rabban) by the concubine Gunella Sorvag. Gunseng set about building a strong foundation of financial investments and political alliances, with the help of his mental, Chardin Klees, and, from the age of twelve, his favored son Vladimir, Aside from Klees, chosen as much for his human sentiments as for his mental abilities, Gunseng was the only friend Vladimir had. Among these three existed a trust and affection unique in the history of House Harkoimen. At forty-nine, Gunseng became involved in an unofficial kanly with bis wife's house, Sarobella, that would eventually cause his death. Through deft market manipulations, he had gained several CHOAM franchises for which Sarobella had been his chief rival. Success meant tine dominance of one House over the other, so Gunseng moved carefully lest Sarobella be provoked into declaring open war. However, he knew he must eliminate Sarobella eventually. The resourceful Chardin orchestrated a proces verbal against the rival house, charging that Duke Fernandez conspired to increase his CHOAM holdings at the expense of House Corrino. Klees' arguments were bold but convincing. Duke Fernandez was discovered dead one morning and his planet occupied by Sardaukar as a "stabilizing force." The death of her father turned Muertana's feelings toward Gunseng from indifference to hatred. Sil, Reeve Ferrin was again on the scene for the last act m the drama: I never planned to return to Giedi, but Gunseng's surprising longevity gave me second thoughts, Everyone knew that Sarobella had united with Haifconnea in marriage to absorb and overthrow Gtmaeng. But they underestimated him, and when he succeeded in avoiding chaumarky and poison needles in his clothes, I decided the relative stability of his reign was a good opportunity to visit. ! win sever know why Gunseng didn't execute Muerana out of hand following the overthrow of Sarobella. Perhaps he thought her powerless, retained a mistaken fondness for the mother of his sons, merely pitied her, or may simply have grown weary of die deadly intrigue.