Tyron turned back to me. 'Is Ryko not here?' he asked.
1 shook my head. The islander's continued absence dug a spike of dread through my numb exhaustion.
'Then Hollin can assist you too.' Tyron motioned to his apprentice to take my arm.
Lord Ido stepped up beside me, his baud brutally gripping my shoulder. 'No need, Tyron.
Lord Lou and I are quartered together. My boy can help us both back to the Dragon 1 louse. It is only a few lengths away, after all.'
Tyron hesitated then nodded, his own weariness making the decision. Leaning heavily on Hollin's arm, he shuffled across the dais. I wanted to call out to them, but Ido's hand pinned me into terrified silence.
'Take Lord Eon's other arm,' he ordered Dillon. 'He can hardly walk.'
I felt Dillon drape my arm over his shoulders. I slowly turned my head to him, my mouth close to his ear.
'Don't leave me alone,' I murmured, tilting my head towards Ido.
Dillon shot a glance up at his master then back at me. His eyes shifted away from mine. There would be no help from him this time.
As we stepped down from the dais, Ido kept me pressed close to his body. I could feel the easy strength in him. He did not seem to be exhausted like the rest of us. Had he stolen power from the other Dragoneyes as well as me?
Two of Ryko's men suddenly appeared in front of us, blocking our way. My heart lifted: Ryko had not left me unprotected. The guards bowed politely to Lord Ido, the senior man stepping forwards with professional determination.
'Thank you, Lord Ido,' he said. 'But our orders are to accompany Lord Eon from the compassarium.'
I struggled to free myself, but Ido tightened his grip. The amber of his eyes smoothed into silver. 'Lord Eon says he does not need your assistance,' he said softly I held my breath. Surely this hard soldier would not be influenced by Ido's dragon charm.
The man frowned and I saw his dogged gaze waver.
'No, wail…' But the rest of my plea was lost in agony as Ido drove his thumb into my shoulder
— the same place my master had dug his will into mine at the ceremony Both guards sketched a quick duty bow then walked away.
Ido laughed softly. 'Your power still lingers in me.'
He released my shoulder, but I was so dizzy from the pain and fatigue that he and Dillon half dragged, half carried me through the Dragon House passageway into the small courtyard. I heard a door screen slide open and raised my head, blearily searching for Rilla. She ran towards me.
Are you all right, my lord? Where are your guards?' She faced Ido. 'What are you doing with him? Let go. I'll look after him.'
'Get back, woman,' Ido snapped. 'We will take him to his room.'
She watched as Lord Ido and Dillon lifted me over the raised threshold and eased me back onto the pallet in the dim room. Ido sat next to me, his fingers digging another warning into my flesh.
'Your master just needs rest,' Ido said. 'He has the Dragoneye weariness.'
Rilla hesitated, then looked to me. 'Is that true, my lord?'
'Lord Eon says go. Prepare him food and leave him to rest,' Ido said smoothly.
I struggled against him, hoping to stop the dragon charm I knew was colouring his eyes.
But Rilla's face relaxed into obedience. She bowed and backed out of the room.
'Go,' Ido ordered Dillon. The Dragoneye turned to me, not even waiting for the door to close behind his apprentice.
The sudden release of his grip made me fall against the pallet. I scrabbled along the bed until my back hit the wall. My limbs still felt heavy from the long hours of his control.
'Get away from me.' My voice was small and weak.
A bit late for that, don't you think?' I Ie smiled, rolling his shoulders and easing them straight.
'So you and Brannon thought you could fool the Emperor and the Dragoneye Council?' He laughed. 'I suppose you were right. You did fool everyone. Even me.'
He reached across and stroked my ankle. 1 jerked away from his touch, fear driving new energy into my body.
'But now I know. And that puts you into a very difficult situation, doesn't it?'
I eyed him, watching for any other movement towards me.
'I would say that puts you completely in my power.' He laughed softly again. 'In more ways than one.'
I dug my fingers into the soft pallet. Was he going to enslave me again? I could not endure it.
'How did you do that? How did you control me?'
'Strange to say, I don't know,' he said. 'My guess is that we were joined through my dragon.'
He shrugged. 'However it was done, it increased my power tenfold. Exhilarating. Too bad the effect is already wearing away, but we will work on that.'
The effect was wearing away? Did that mean he no longer had the power to overcome me? I grabbed at the small hope.
'Brannon risked everything for you.' He studied me for a moment. 'The Moon Shadow disguise was inspired. But are you really deformed? Or was that a masquerade too?'
I looked away, my master's betrayal still raw.
'So, you are deformed. A pity Still, I can now see the girl in you, and you are not without your attractions. Was that part of your agreement with Brannon?'
'You're disgusting,' I spat, clinging to the strength of my hate. 'I know you killed him. You make me sick —'
The blow knocked me sideways onto the pallet, setting up a burning throb across my cheekbone. I saw a light spring into his eyes that sent a chill of knowledge through me. A memory of the whipmaster.
'Do you want to continue?' His voice was soft.
I drew my knees up into a curl of protection.
'Now, how did you commune with my dragon?' he asked. And why do you not commune with your own?'
1 stared down at the bed. For so long I had kept my true identity hidden, my failure a secret.
Now I was stripped of all pretence.
His hand lifted again.
'I don't know,' I said hurriedly
'Really?' I flinched as his fingers brushed across the drug rash on my neck. 'Are you sure?'
'I didn't unite properly with my dragon in the ceremony He has slipped away from me.' I swallowed against the jab of loss. 'But I can call your dragon. I don't know why'
'No, neither do I.' He cocked his head to one side. 'You are quite the mystery, but I think I have the key to you.'
I stared at him. 'Key? What do you mean?'
'The black folio.' He shook his head at my blank face. 'No, that won't work. I know you took the red book from my library. Along with my supply of the Sun drug.'
Instinctively, I pressed the folio closer to my body I tried to mask the move, but it was too late.
'So that's where you keep it.' He grabbed my wrist, pushing up the sleeve of my robe. I felt his fingers trace the pearl rope, feathering my skin. He forced his finger underneath the pearls and pulled at them. They resisted, their loyalty giving me courage. 'I see the pearls respond to you
— that must mean something.' He tightened his hold. 'Give it to me.'
I fought against his grip, but he grabbed my jawbone and slammed my head back against the wall with dizzying force. 'Give it to me or I will hurt you in ways you have never imagined.'
My vision blurred with pain. I nodded and he let go. I pushed at the pearls, easing them down my arm until they dropped onto the pallet, the red folio landing heavily on top.
Gingerly, Ido reached for it. The pearls rose like a snake ready to strike. He snatched his hand away.
'Interesting.' He looked hack at me. 'Did you try and pick up the black folio?'
'No. I didn't want to.'
He grunted agreement. 'From what I have read of it, I know why'
