Eon - 01 Eon

by Alison Goodman

  The sound of running feet in the courtyard made him pause.

  'Lord Eon,' a voice called outside the door. Ido pressed his hand against my mouth, his eyes warning me into silence. 'Messengers have arrived. From the Emperor. They are asking for you, my lord. Please, you must come. All the Dragoneye lords are assembling.'

  Ido clicked his tongue in irritation. With a smile of regret, he brushed his thumb across my lips and released me. Then he stood and quickly searched my baggage, pulling out a large drying cloth. With a flick, he unfolded it and deftly bundled the folio and squirming pearls into it.

  ' You may be tempted to get help or even to run,' he said softly 'Don't. 1 will hunt you down, and I will take that pretty maid of yours and her freak son and throw them to my men. I'm sure they would last at least an hour before they died.'

  He opened the screen and looked down at the villager crouched on the ground.

  'Next time, do not interrupt your betters.' Although his voice was mild, the man stiffened with fear. Ido turned back to me, his eyes lingering over my body. 'Congratulations on your success today, Lord Eon,' he said. 'You have exceeded all expectation.' Then he smiled and left the room.

  CHAPTER 18

  The village man at the doorway dropped into a bow again. I stared at him, unable to break out of the horror that held me like a vice against the wall.

  He slowly lifted his head. 'My lord?' he ventured. 'Please forgive me, but the messenger said it was most urgent.'

  I took a deep shaking breath. Ido was gone. At least for now.

  'Tell them...' My voice wavered. I stopped and took another breath, forcing strength into my words. 'Tell them I will be there soon. Now go.'

  He backed away, leaving me with a view of the small courtyard garden and the grim understanding that Ido's control was complete. I shuddered. Not only did he have my mind and body in his grip — he had cornered me into betraying my friends and allies. Whatever I decided to do, I would be the agent of their defeat. If I found the courage to confess to the Council, I would be killed and the Emperor and the Prince left without their Ascendant ally and the Council's support. Sethon would take the throne. If I obeyed Ido, I would be forced to do his bidding in the Council and Sethon would have control of the Dragoneyes. In either case Ryko and his Resistance would have no Dragoneye to rally around, and Lady Dela would be at the mercy of a court who thought her a demon. I could not even run without placing Rilla and Chart in Ido's path. I had failed everybody. And behind it all was Ido's ultimate ambition: to create the String of Pearls with me and become Emperor.

  Who knew if it was possible? But just the thought of it made me lock with terror.

  There was one other course I could take, but Ido had seen my true nature: it was not in me to choose that final way Perhaps it was cowardice, but I was not ready to die. Not for my Emperor, not for the Prince, not even for my friends. And for this shameful lack of courage, I was now slave to Ido's desires.

  Perhaps it was this unworthiness that had driven away the Mirror Dragon. I had not even seen a faint outline of the beast on the dais. It was as if the dragon had never existed. And now I had lost the last link to him: the red folio. I touched my bare forearm, missing the reassuring hold of the pearls. Ido had truly stripped me of everything.

  Rilla appeared at the doorway 'My lord, Ryko is back.'

  I stirred, my despair pierced by her words. 'Ryko?'

  'I am here, lord.' Ryko stepped into the room and bowed. He was covered in mud and stank of stagnant water, but a huge smile lit his face. 'Well done, my lord. Your magnificent success has given us all hope.'

  'Where were you?' I rose from the bed, suddenly furious. 'You said you would be back for the test.'

  'I am sorry, lord.' He took a step back from my anger. 'I was looking for Ido's messenger. To find out what information he had delivered.'

  'You should have come back.'

  'My men had orders to guard you. Did they not do their duty?'

  I was unable to meet his frank gaze. 'Yes, your men came.' I glanced across at Rilla, but her face did not register my lie. Ido's

  dragon charm had obscured her memory too. 'Did you find the messenger?'

  'I did, eventually,' he said. 'Thrown into an old channel with his throat cut.'

  Rilla grimaced. 'But why?'

  Ryko scrubbed wearily at the mud caked on his face. '1 would guess it was to stop someone like me forcing the message out of him.'

  'Or perhaps someone else wanted the message and got there before you,' I said.

  Ryko nodded. 'True. But my gut says it was on his orders.' He jerked his head towards Ido's room.

  'Lord Eon!' It was Tyron's voice. 'The Emperor's own men are here. You must come now'

  The old Dragoneye, flanked by Hollin, peered in through the doorway. Both Rilla and Ryko bent into bows.

  'They will not deliver until you are present,' Tyron said.

  I could delay no longer. I squared my shoulders, trying to find the courage to face Ido again.

  'I fear this is bad news,' Tyron murmured as we entered the stone passageway. 'Six messengers to deliver one message — no chances taken.'

  It seemed as though the whole village had congregated around the stone dais. Now that the King Monsoon had been defeated, the women and children were allowed back into the town centre. The small area should have been full of jubilation and laughter. Instead, everyone stood silently in the late afternoon sun watching the six emissaries from the Emperor. The men were still mounted on their horses, although the animals were lathered with sweat and fidgeting with the press of people.

  A flash of gold and silky green cloth amongst the drab homespun caught my eye; Lady Dela, escorted by two of Ryko's men, was working her way along the shopfronts towards us. The warm greeting in her face drove a barb of guilt into me; I had put my friends into such peril. I motioned to Rilla to go and meet her, then turned to the messengers, every part of me aware of the tall figure of Ido staring at me from the dais. I clenched my hands, forcing back the wild fear that made me want to run from him. Hollin and Ryko cleared a path through the tense crowd. As Tyron and I stepped up onto the stone stage, the air thickened with expectation.

  'We seek Lord Eon, the Mirror Dragoneye,' the leader said, his cultured city voice reaching the furthermost corners of the square.

  'I am Lord Eon,' I said, unable to bring myself to finish the formal claim of dragon status.

  All six men dismounted. The leader thrust his reins into the hands of the man beside him and withdrew a scroll from the holder strapped to his body The villagers hastily made way for him as he approached and then dropped to his knees beside the dais, bowing his forehead to the ground three times. Twin short swords were crossed over the man's broad back; he was one of the Emperor's own personal guard. He held up the scroll, his face solemn.

  The parchment was sealed with the wax image of the Imperial dragon. Its message was short.

  Lord Eon, Mirror Dragoneye, Co-Ascendant of the Dragon Council, My honoured father is dead. May his spirit walk with our glorious ancestors and bring good fortune to my reign.

  Return to the city immediately to sit the ghost watch with me. Be advised by Lady Dela, who was given leave by my father to study the rituals and understands your part in the proceedings.

  Pearl Emperor Kygo-Jin-Ran

  I looked up at the intent faces around me.

  'The Emperor has passed into the land of the ancestors,' I said.

  My focus narrowed on Ido. Air hough his face was schooled into new regret, I was sure that it was old news to him. The morning message. Had he played a pan in the E.mperor's death?

  The timing seemed too opportune to he just luck. And how else would his messenger learn of the death and heal the Emperial horsemen?

  The villagers close to the dais whispered the news behind them until the silence around us broke into a slow moan that shivered through the village square, building into a keen so piercing that it must have reached the otherworld.


  'We must all return to the city,' Lord Tyron said over the terrible sound.

  I nodded numbly. 'I am summoned to sit the ghost watch with Prince...' I stopped; Prince Kygo was now the Emperor. 'With our glorious new overlord.'

  'You are to sit the Imperial ghost watch?' Lord Silvo gasped. 'Then the Pearl Emperor makes you second mourner. You are a guardian of the old Emperor's spirit.' He bowed low. 'May your sacred duties ease his way to his noble ancestors.'

  The keening around us trailed off, marshalled into the gentler rhythms of a prayer chant led by a holy man at the other end of the square.

  'It is a wise move on our new Emperor's part,' Tyron said softly, his low tone drawing Silvo closer. 'Especially now that Lord Eon has proved his power and his leadership of the Council.

  This should dissuade Sethon from making a claim.'

  I stared at Tyron. 'What do you mean?'

  'Prince Kygo will be Pearl Emperor for twelve days until his father's body is entombed, and then he will be formally anointed as Dragon Emperor,' Tyron said. 'But the Pearl Days are the most dangerous: any male of royal blood can make his claim for the throne. That is why it is also traditionally the time when the Pearl Emperor kills any younger brothers to stop the internal wars that come with a divided claim.'

  The Right of Reitanon,' Lord Silvo said, nodding. 'But I doubt our new Emperor will follow that tradition. He is his father's son.'

  'Yrs, I'm sure he will spare his infant brother — the child poses no threat,' Tyron said.

  'However, Sethon has made no secret of his ambitions, and he has the armies, led by his own younger brothers, backing him.'

  'I can't stop High Lord Sethon from making a claim!' I grabbed Tyron's sleeve. 'You must not rely on me to stop Sethon. I cannot!'

  Tyron pulled his arm free from my desperate grasp. 'Be easy, Lord lion. It is not you, personally, who will stop Sethon. He will be stopped by the knowledge that his nephew has your power behind him. You are the Mirror Dragoneye, you are Ascendant, and you now have the Council's full support. He would be mad to go against all that. Even with the armies.'

  I felt a sob thicken my throat. The Prince — the new Emperor — was building his fortress on the quicksand of my power.

  I grabbed at Tyron again. 'You don't understand —'

  'Lord Eon,' Ido's rich voice harnessed my words. '%u are greatly honoured by our new Emperor.' From behind, I felt his hand close over my bruised shoulder. 'He raises you higher and higher. Soon you will not be able to see the humble truth of your beginnings.'

  With subtle pressure on the older pain he turned me until I faced Rilla and Lady Dela, standing nearby. Lady Dela's pale make-up was streaked by tears. Did she cry for the death of the old Emperor, or for the loss of her protector?

  'I will never forget my beginnings,' I said through my teeth.

  'Nor, I am sure, your responsibilities,' he added. I felt his thumb stroke my shoulder before he released me.

  'Lord Eon is very aware of his responsibilities,' Tyron said firmly 'As we all are at this time.'

  He motioned to Hollin. 'Rally everyone,' he ordered. 'We must leave now to mourn the old Emperor and give our support to the new.'

  The leader of the Imperial messengers rose to his knees and bowed again. 'Lord Eon, to expedite your return to the city, His Glorious Majesty the Pearl Kmperor has ordered fresh horses to await you at the villages of Reisan, Ansu and Djin.'

  Tyron nodded his approval. 'With three horse changes, you should be in the city by morning.

  We will follow as quickly as possible. If we push, we should be with you by dusk.'

  The village gong sounded the first of the twelve tolls of mourning. All around us the villagers dropped into kowtows, their foreheads flat to the stone flags.

  'Help me down, lad,' Tyron said, 'I am so tired, I fear I'll fall off this dais.'

  I grasped his forearm, bracing myself against his heavy weight as he lowered himself to his knees. Then I took my position alongside him and the other Dragoneyes kneeling around the dais.

  As the gongs resonated through the square, I recalled the lesson in the library with Teacher Prahn and the Prince. Now, with hindsight, it was obvious that the Emperor's unscheduled visit had been orchestrated to win my support, but I believed his kindness to a frightened peasant-made-lord had sprung from genuine warmth. And although I was sure it would have meant nothing to one so exalted, I had liked him very much. The Emperor's loss lodged in my heart; a small ache compared to the loss of my master, but another sadness that ground its shards into my spirit. Now in the palace, the Prince — the Pearl Emperor — would be faced with the pain of losing his father, and his own dangerous ascension to the Imperial throne. He had made a pact with me for mutual survival, but he had made it with Lord Eon, not a worthless peasant girl in the power of his enemy I could no more influence his survival than I could my own.

  The last toll echoed around the silent square. Beside me, Lord Tyron sighed.

  'Go, Lord Eon,' he said. 'Go and stand your power behind our new Emperor. Make Sethon kneel before him.'

  I moved along the cushioned seat as Lady Dela climbed into the carriage and released Ryko's hand with a murmur of thanks. She settled next to me, self-consciously smoothing down her heavily embroidered cream gown. In the brief time we'd had to prepare for the journey back to the city, she had fretfully rummaged through her repacked baggage, repeating that her gown was not suitable for mourning. It was not until Rilla grabbed her hands, steered her into a chair and ordered her maid to find a gown that would honour the Emperor, that Lady Dela stopped her frantic search.

  As well as changing her outfit, the lady had removed her court make-up. Without the distraction of the pale mask, her angular face was muddy and shadowed with grief. She smiled wanly at me, her fingers plucking at the small travelling basket on her lap.

  Rilla had also hurriedly stripped me of my red Dragoneye robe and exchanged it for a sombre tunic and trousers, ready for the hard night of travelling. Although it was probably just a strange fancy, I was sure the Dragoneye silk had stunk of vanilla and orange, and I was glad to have it off my body. Unfortunately, there had been no time for a bath as well to scrub away Ido's touch.

  The carriage rocked again as Rilla took the small servants' seat facing us. She directed Ryko to place a large basket of food on the floor at her feet. I met her defiant gaze with a frown. We had already had this discussion — I did not want to eat.

  'With respect, my lord,' she said briskly, 'you must take something otherwise you will not have the strength to honour the old Emperor.'

  Lady Dela nodded. 'It is true, Lord Eon. The ghost watch is very demanding.'

  I knew they were right. I would have to eat and replenish my body, but the thought of swallowing food made my gut jerk with

  nausea. Perhaps another dose of the Sun drug would renew me — it was meant to kindle Sun energy and I still carried the pouch with me. Then again, the drug had failled on every level during the King Monsoon — it had not helped me unite with my dragon or kindled my energy. Maybe it only worked on men. Was that why it had not helped me see my dragon? Or had Ido somehow blocked me from my own beast? 1 felt the stranglehold of despair close around my throat again.

  'Give me something then,' I said, trying to focus past the choking emptiness.

  Rilla drew out a lacquer box from the basket. She pulled the lid off, bent into a quick bow, then passed it across the small space. Three spiced rice balls, bound with strips of seaweed, lay nestled on a bed of thinly cut cabbage like bird eggs in a nest. A beautiful dish prepared with care. I felt like vomiting.

  'My lord, my lord! Please wait!'

  It was Elder Hiron, running and waving something. Ryko stopped his approach with a raised hand.

  'Lord Eon is about to leave,' he said. 'What is your business?'

  The old man crouched into a bow, his thin back heaving with exertion.

  I leaned past Lady Dela. We had already gone through the requisite tha
nks and farewells with the village leader. What did he want now?

  'My lord,' he gasped. 'He is an honest man, he just didn't know how to approach you, what with the terrible news of our Emperor's...' The old man bent over trying to catch his breath.

  'What are you talking about?'

  'This, my lord.' Elder Hiron held up the ruby compass. 'Jie-can, our baker, found it near the dais. He is a good man. He came to me with it as soon as he could.'

  I stared at the gold disc; I had dropped it when I turned to see the Mirror Dragon. And he was gone. The terrible loss twisted through me again.

  Elder I Hiron paled and dropped into a low bow. 'Please, my lord, Do not be angry. It was —'

  'I am not angry,' I said, drawing back into my seat. 'Pass it to Lady Dela.' I had not even noticed its absence nor did it matter; my dragon had abandoned me. I did not deserve to hold a Dragoneye tool again.

  He scurried up to the carriage and held out the compass, sneaking a wide-eyed look at the court Contraire. Lady Dela took it gracefully, smiling gently at the overwhelmed villager.

  'Thank you, Elder Hiron,' she said softly

  'Yes, give your baker my thanks too,' I added.

  The old man bowed and backed away, still staring at Lady Dela.

  Ryko shut the low carriage door and mounted his horse, steadying the animal alongside the cabin. He bent over the saddle to look in at us, waiting for my order.

  'Go,' I said.

  He called the command and the carriage jerked forwards, quickly settling into its well-sprung sway I looked back at the dwindling figures of Tyron and Silvo — still and silent amongst the noisy preparations of their attendants — but could not return their grave salute.

  Lady Dela held out the compass. 'You must forgive me, my lord, for neglecting to congratulate you on your glorious victory over Ido,' she said. 'The sad news of the Emperor's death...' She stopped and swallowed against her grief, the black pearl bobbing at her throat.