Eon: Dragoneye Reborn

And what do you say, Lord Eon? Does the acceptance of foreigners into our land dilute our magnificent culture?'

My tongue clagged to the top of my mouth. What could I add to such a learned discussion? I had no knowledge of foreign policy No deep understanding of politics. Across from me, the Prince nodded encouragingly I groped for the only thing I had: experience.

'I like the coffee that Ari the Foreigner sells in the market, Your Majesty' I said, knowing my words sounded foolish and naive. 'I do not know about diluting our culture. It is just a drink and he is just a man who sells it.'

The Emperor's smile widened. 'Yes. Just a man, like any other.' He leaned closer, his gaze holding me still. And tell me, young philosopher, how can we know a man's heart? How can we know if he means us ill or good?'

There was something behind the question that I did not understand. Some kind of test. What did the Emperor want? There was no clue in his politician's face; he'd had a lifetime of hiding his thoughts. The full-hour bell rang through the courtyard, silencing the ensemble music. It was as though the whole palace waited for my answer.

'No one can ever truly know what is in another man's heart,' I said. That was the gamble my master and I were taking. I clenched my fists beside my thighs, riding out the long silence as His Majesty studied me.

'Indeed,' he finally said. All men have a hidden nature. I am glad you understand that, Lord Eon.'

I licked suddenly dry lips. Did the Emperor see through me to my true self? I tensed as he turned to the Prince.

'But it is also important to understand that a hidden nature is not always an evil nature,' he said to his son. 'Is that not correct, Lord Eon?'

I nodded, smiling with relief; there did not seem to be any special knowledge in the Emperor's looks or posture. His questions were aimed at other concerns: the instruction of his son and the protection of his throne.

The Emperor sighed and sat back in the sedan chair. 'A most invigorating debate, Teacher Prahn,' he said. 'My compliments. But now it is the hour for me to sign the daily edicts.'

He clapped and the two servants hurried back into the room, deftly lifting the chair under the unnecessary direction of the physician. I bowed low as the Emperor was carried from the room, the physician darting around the chair, murmuring orders to his eunuchs like a buzzing fly

'Teacher, show us the library's sword collection before the ladies come,' the Prince said, rising from his own bow.

Prahn smiled. 'It is always the swords with you, Your Highness. When will you have such enthusiasm for the philosophy texts?'

The Prince shrugged. 'You want to see the swords too, don't you, Lord Eon?'

I nodded, more to please the Prince than in true interest. 'And I would very much like to see more of your library, Teacher Prahn,' I said. 'Does it hold Dragoneye texts too?' Perhaps something in its collections might help my search for the red dragon's name.

'Of course not, my lord,' Prahn said, his colourless mouth puckering in shock. 'Dragoneye texts are always kept by the Dragon lords in their halls.' He stopped, frowning. 'Wait, that is not right — we do have one Dragoneye text. A red leather folio bound with black pearls strung on silk. A most beautiful thing. It is one of the Mirror Dragon treasures saved from the fire.' He rubbed between his eyes, as though his head hurt. 'I'm sure I saw it amongst the other things. The restorers will be preparing it for the Twelfth Day celebrations, when His Majesty returns the treasures into your keeping.'

'Can I see it? Can you show it to me now?'

'Before Twelfth Day?' Prahn shifted nervously.

'Yes, I need to see it.' I tried to control the urgency in my voice.

The Prince caught my tension. 'Surely there can be no problem with that, Teacher?' he said.

'The treasures will soon be Lord Eon's property'

Prahn twisted his hands together. 'I am not surc.no, no, it is not procedure.'

I bit my lip and looked across at the Prince. I needed to see that text.

The Prince's bearing suddenly changed. 'Lord Eon will see his property, Teacher Prahn,' he said, rising from the floor and standing over the scholar. For the first time I saw the young ruler within him. 'Take us there, now.'

Prahn froze for a moment, then bowed until his forehead touched the wooden floor. 'Yes, Your Highness.'

He scrabbled to his feet, hovering in a half bow as the Prince walked out of the pavilion. He stayed in that position as I struggled to my own feet and followed the next Emperor out of the room of equality and across the wooden bridge.

The low buildings that formed the library were similar to those in the first courtyard, but the shutters were plain and the doors were crossed with thick bands of metal. Prahn, his shoulders still hunched, led us towards the buildings on the left. The Prince dropped back slightly to match his pace to mine.

'Do you think this Dragoneye text holds the mysteries of the Mirror Dragon?' he asked softly He walked so close that I could smell the spice of the storage herbs in his clothes.

'I'm not sure, Your Highness.' I angled my face to watch him. It was hard to tell where the dark brown met the black in his eyes, making his expression oddly intense. 'It is possible.

Although if it does, then it seems strange that the text has not been studied before now.'

'Not so strange,' he said. 'My father told me the vault has been sealed since the dragon was lost.'

'Then it could have some answers,' I said, my excitement growing.

'That's the Scholars' Gate, Lord Eon,' Prahn said, calling my attention to a narrow alley between the first two buildings. At the end was a solid metal gate set in the harem's outer wall. One of the large eunuch guards stood at attention, only a slight move of his head showing he had noted our passage.

'There is another gate too,' the Prince whispered. 'The Concubines' Gate. An escape route for the ladies of the harem in case of danger. Only the Imperial guards know its whereabouts. But I happen to know that women can come in that gate as well as go out.' He grinned at me. 'We should look for it.'

I felt heat rise to my face. The Prince stared at me for a moment then his own face flushed.

'I apologise, Lord Eon. Of course, you would have no interest in such things. Forgive my vulgarity.'

I nodded, keeping my face carefully averted. Part of me wanted to claim interest, wanted to lean closer and listen, but a Moon Shadow would not continue the conversation. The Prince quickened his pace, leaving me to walk by myself.

We stopped at the door in the second building. The window shutters were closed, but yellowish lamplight showed along the edges. Prahn pushed open the door and entered, beckoning us inside. I followed the Prince into an overwhelming smell of dust and camphor sweetened by the rich honey of wood wax. A large bureau stood in the centre of the room, half of it darkened with polish and glossed by the soft lamplight. On the floor beside it, a young eunuch was kowtowing to the Prince, most of his grey tunic covered by a rough smock.

A long trestle table was pushed up against the far wall and held an odd collection of silver, jewellery and porcelain. Another smocked eunuch was prostrated behind an open lacquer chest stacked with bolts of cloth. I saw red velvet, orange silk and a rich brown satin, its folds rusty with age.

'The Mirror Dragon treasure,' Prahn said, bowing to me.

All of this was mine? I turned in a circle, noting a large brass incense burner and three carved stools under the window, one of them blackened on the seat.

The Prince slid open one of the bureau doors. 'This is a handsome piece,' he said. 'How was it saved?'

'We think it was a new order that had not yet been delivered to the Mirror Dragon I [all, Your Highness,' Prahn said.

I touched the oiled wood, leaving a smear on the glowing surface.