'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 thanks 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.
'The sad news overwhelmed me. But your courage and power have secured the Council. His Majesty was right — you were sent by the gods to bring the Prince to the throne.'
I could not bear the stinging lash of gratitude in her voice. 'I was not sent by anyone,' I said harshly.
Lady Dela blinked with surprise. 'I'm…I am sorry, my lord.'
Rilla cleared her throat. 'Can I offer you some wine, or water, my lord?'
'No, I want nothing.'
Hesitantly, Lady Dela held out the compass again. 'It was good fortune that this was found and returned,' she said, ignoring my rudeness. 'I know it is an essential tool for your art. And it is very beautiful.' She brushed her linger over the inscribed face.
I did not want to touch it. 'Just put it somewhere,' I said, waving her hand away.
But she was not listening. All her attention was on the compass. 'I know this,' she said, tracing an engraved character with her fingertip. 'It means Heaven. This is an old form of Woman Script.' Her finger skipped across to another character. 'Truth. This one is Truth.' She looked up at me. 'Why is a Dragoneye tool written in Woman Script?'
