After the Emperor's Herald leaves Caladan in Dune, the Duke and ducal heir, Paul, discuss one-on-one the challenges that the departure to Arrakis brings. Duke Leto Atreides remains cautious of his mortal enemies, the Harkonnens. This rival house has amassed immense wealth from controlling the spice trade and holding Arrakis in a quasi-fief under a CHOAM Company contract for eighty years. He is aware that the Emperor is his hidden enemy, and tells Paul that the man has practically stirred a war between them and House Harkonnen by granting them the stewardship of Arrakis.