Eon: Dragoneye Reborn

I had not told Lady Dela and Ryko the whole truth about the red folio. They knew it was the last Mirror Dragoneye text. They

knew it could not stay in Lord Ido's hands. But they did not know it was my only chance of learning my dragon's name. I could not tell them I had no power yet. It might lose me their support. Although it was too dangerous to be the hope of the Resistance, it was just as dangerous not to be.

'The plan is straightforward,' I said quickly. 'Dillon will meet us at the side entrance of the Rat Dragon Hall at the midnight bell. He'll let us in and take us to the library. Ryko will pick the lock, we'll find the folio, and then leave with all haste.'

There was silence.

'It's a bit loose on details,' Ryko said carefully. He glanced across at Lady Dela but she avoided his gaze, her posture still stiff and unforgiving. 'Do we know how many guards will be on duty? Do we know their positions?'

'No,' I admitted, 'but I'm sure Dillon will be able to tell us.'

Ryko crossed his arms. 'I think it would be more prudent if I did this alone, my lord. I've had a lot of experience and, no offence, it would be a lot quicker.'

Lady Dela nodded at me across the low tea table. 'He's right. You should not endanger yourself, my lord. You are too important.'

'But Dillon is already nervous. He won't let you in if you are by yourself,' I said, forestalling Ryko's objection. And he says that there is some force around the library that stops people from entering.'

'Dragon power?' Lady Dela asked.

I shrugged. 'I don't know. But if it is, I will have a better chance of deflecting it than Ryko.'

I said this with as much confidence as I could muster. I had no idea how to deflect dragon energy, but I was not going to wait patiently in my apartments while Ryko may or may not retrieve the only thing that could save my life.

'Lord Eon is right,' Lady Dela said, finally looking up at Ryko. 'You cannot get around dragon magic on your own.'

Ryko rubbed the back of his shaved head. 'We need more information. Are you even sure Lord Ido has this folio? Are you sure he keeps it in the library?'

'No. As I said, there is no record of it.'

'Well, at least if you do retrieve it, Lord Ido will not be able to say anything,' Lady Dela said tartly. 'Since he stole it himself.'

Ryko shook his head. 'It's too dangerous. We should delay a few days and gather information.'

'No!' I ground my palms together. 'It must be tonight. Lord Ido has ridden out to meet High Lord Sethon. He will be gone from the hall until morning. I swear, if you do not go, I will do it by myself

'I had heard that Sethon returns,' Lady Dela said. A dangerous time. Beside the victorious general, our Emperor will look old and sick.'

Ryko sighed. 'If Ido is gone, then it is probably the best time to do this,' he allowed. 'He will probably have taken most of his guards for the journey and left only a basic detail.' He paused. All right then, we will go. I will come to your apartments in good time to meet the midnight bell at the Dragon Hall. Listen for my knock at your window'

'Thank you,' I said.

'You will need to find some dark clothes. Can you ride?'

'No.' I had not even touched a horse, let alone sat on one of the huge beasts.

'Well, we cannot order a chair to take us to and from a theft. And it is too far for you to walk with that —' He stopped, suddenly aware of his discourtesy. 'I will carry you on my back,' he finished abruptly.

'Well, if being a spy does not work for you,' Lady Dela said coolly, 'at least you could hire yourself out as a donkey'

'I think I would have more luck as a bullock than a donkey, my lady' he said, bowing deeply She did not smile back. 'Be careful,' she said to me. Her eyes flicked over to Ryko but he had already turned to open the door. 'Both of you,' I heard her whisper.

Rilla opened the front door of the Peony apartment as I approached. Even from the pathway I could see the tight worry in her face. I should have returned earlier.

'How is the master?' I asked as I entered.

She shut the door. 'He is refusing to take the sleeping draught prescribed until he has spoken to you. The royal physician is here again.'

'Do you think he is worse?'

'I don't know' She shook her head as though chasing away her doubts. 'I think he just needs to rest. He has cancelled all the evening engagements. He wants to be well enough to accompany you tomorrow'

'Tomorrow?'

'Did you not hear? High Lord Sethon will be riding into the city triumphant and the Emperor has declared a day of celebration. Another feast for you to get through.' She smiled sympathetically 'Come. The master is waiting.'

Only one lamp was alight in the bedchamber, its glow shielded by a bronze cover. Above the bedhead, sticks of the same sweet incense that had burned for me a few days ago were smouldering in a gold holder shaped like two leaping carp. My master was propped up against the pillows, his features reduced to shadowy planes. Beside him, the royal physician was sitting on a small stool studying his patient's fingernails. He was dressed for the evening in a lush crimson coat worn over a silk tunic of soft rose that complemented his maroon physician's cap. He looked up as Rilla announced me.

'Lord Eon. Come in, come in,' he said, releasing my master's hand and dipping into a low bow. 'Lord Brannon is not asleep. Merely resting.'

My master stirred and opened his eyes, their liquid gleam catching the light. 'I am glad you are here.' His voice was still rough. He glanced across at the physician. 'You may go now.'

I thought I saw the physician's face darken at the dismissal, but perhaps it was just a shadow from the flickering lamp as he bowed again. We watched him leave the room.

'Close the door and come here,' my master said.

He did not speak until I pressed the door home and took the stool next to the bed.

'You have heard that Sethon returns?' he asked softly. The bruising around his throat had deepened into the shape of Lord Ido's grip.

'Rilla told me,' I said, but it was an image of Dillon's frightened face in my mind. Would he keep his word and meet me at the gate tonight?

'Ido has left the city,' my master said. 'There is no doubt that he has gone to meet his master and report on his failure in the Council. We have them on the back foot.'

'What will happen now?' I asked. He was including me in his plans; he knew we had to rely on one another. The knowledge made me sit straighter and focus on his words.

'They'll try and consolidate their influence in the Council,' he said. 'But I am confident that I will hold the vote.' He pushed himself up against the pillows, the determination showing through his fatigue like bones under thin skin. 'Tomorrow is a celebration of Sethon's victory in the east. We must counter his show of military strength with a show of our own strength.

We will appear together, dressed in the red of the Mirror Dragoneye. It will be a symbol of our combined force: your Ascendant power and my experience.'

'Will you be well enough? What does the physician say?'

'Don't worry,' he said, smiling. 'This is only exhaustion. I have not slept more than four hours since you were chosen. The physician has left me a draught. A good night's sleep will see me whole again.'

He tapped my hand, the fleeting touch bringing our gazes together. For a moment something weighted the air between us, and then I looked away from the fullness in his eyes.

'And you?' he said, clearing his damaged throat. 'How was your first Staminata lesson?'

'It went well.'

For all his protestations, he looked more than tired. I did not want to burden him with my worries about Tellon's keen eyes. Nor could I tell him about the folio. Not yet. Not until I had solved the problem of calling my dragon. And maybe not even then — for the danger would be over and he would never need to know. So many secrets to keep. Each one was like lead in my chest.