The Prince leaned over to me. 'My sisters give him a lot of trouble. Always asking questions and debating his answers.'
'I did not know that ladies could be educated. Like scholars,' I said, my skin prickling with the idea.
The Prince nodded vigorously. 'My father says he will not have ignorant fools for companions. And my sisters will one day marry into high positions that will require more than music and dancing. Of course, there are some who say educating women can only bring disaster.' The Prince looked slyly at Prahn. 'But what the Emperor commands must be right. Is that not so, Teacher?'
Prahn bowed from the waist. 'The Heavenly Master is as wise as he is generous.'
'I am glad to hear it,' a voice said from the doorway We all turned to see the Emperor seated in a sedan chair carried by two sturdy servants. They were flanked by the royal physician and his pair of eunuchs.
'Father!' the Prince said. 'You did not say you would come today'
The Emperor waved his hand forwards, the gold nail cover on his forefinger catching the light. The two servants carried him into the room, setting the chair gently down at the head of the table. The royal physician, this time dressed in gaudy gradations of blue, hovered beside him, ordering the eunuchs to change the position of a small stool for the royal foot.
'Enough,' the Emperor snapped. His long purple day tunic looked oversized on his shrunken frame, and the Imperial Pearl, glowing pale and pure at the base of his throat, emphasised the yellow cast of his skin. He looked even sicker than he had at the banquet.
He waved his attendants away, the physician and servants bowing and backing out of the room. The Prince dropped to his knees in front of his father. I bowed my forehead to the floor, Prahn prostrating himself beside me.
'Come now, what is the rule of the Pavilion of Earthly Enlightenment?' the Emperor chided.
'All who enter are equal in the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge,' Prince Kygo said quickly, sitting back on his heels.
'Yes, all are equal in this room. All ideas welcome,' the Emperor said. 'Rise, Lord Eon. And you too, Teacher Prahn.'
I sat up, warily watching the three men around the table. I did not understand this idea of equality. There was rank even amongst slaves; it was the nature of men.
And what is today's lesson, Teacher Prahn?' the Emperor asked.
The scholar glanced sideways at me, his face flushed. 'We are studying the advantages and disadvantages of isolationism, Your Majesty'
A most worthy topic,' the Emperor said.
Again, Prahn looked across at me, and I realised that the subject was for my benefit.
The debate began, and although I did not understand all the words or recognise the names of the philosophers, I was able to follow the gist of the arguments. The Emperor, jabbing the air with his gold forefinger, mounted a persuasive defence of his policy to open the land to foreigners for trade and political alliance. Prahn took the opposition, and I knew from Lady Dela's instruction that the isolationist beliefs he put forward echoed those of High Lord Sethon. The Prince acted as mediator, adding a sharp comment here and there that won him smiles of approval from his father and tutor. Finally, the Emperor turned to me, his worn face vibrant from the battle of wits.
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
