laugh,' she said bitterly.
'The gods are already laughing,' I said. 'How else could the future of an Empire rest on my shoulders?'
The old Emperor's body was laid out in the Pavilion of the Five Ghosts. It was the only building in the entire palace complex made of precious white marble, its blank facade more imposing for its lack of carving or gilt. My protocol escorts, four of the highest-ranked eunuchs, stopped at the bottom of the nine marble steps of mourning that led up to the doorway. Large brass incense burners were set to the left side of every step, the incense sticks thickening the air with their heavy melancholic perfume. Through the open doorway I could hear the soft entreaties of the Beseechers and see the flicker of their swinging lamps.
Tomorrow, the Emperor's body would be moved to the red and black Audience Hall in the entrance courtyard for all to mourn. But today, it would lie here under the watchful eyes of the new Emperor and his second mourner, set with the task of guarding it from the malevolent attention of bad spirits.
I looked back at Lady Dela. She had accompanied me as far as she was allowed — to the far edge of the Five Ghost Square — and now stood amongst the other silent courtiers, waiting for me to enter the pavilion. 'Ill see you in the apartment,' she had said firmly as I was ushered forwards by the protocol officers. I had nodded, but we both knew that the laughter ol gods did not
guarantee their goodwill. Across the expanse of the square, I could not make out Lady Dela's features, but 1 knew from the angle of her head that she was crying.
The two officers in front of me stepped to the side and bowed.
'Please ascend, my lord,' the highest-ranked man said. 'His Royal Highness the Pearl Emperor awaits you.'
I stared up the staircase at the dim arch of the double doorway. As soon as I walked into that pavilion, my life was forfeit. But I had already missed my chance of escape; it had passed me by on the sands of the Dragon Arena as I waited to make my defeated bow to an indifferent Emperor. How brief and hidden were the moments of destiny And now I faced another.
I took the first step, and then the second. Desperation had its own momentum. Now that the decision was made, I was almost impatient to meet the resolution.
But there was no hurrying destiny. I was met at the doorway by more protocol officers and led into the dim hall, past the kneeling ranks of Beseechers, the sound of their whispered entreaties made loud by sheer numbers, the swooshing swing of their lanterns an eerie counterpoint. The wrapped body of the old Emperor lay on a stone bier at the end of the chamber. A low table stood beside it, set with offerings of food and wine in gold bowls and goblets. Kneeling before his dead father was the Prince, the Pearl Emperor. He was facing the bier and his head was bowed, but I could see that it had already been shaved clean, with only the Imperial queue, braided with gold beads and jewels, left at the back. My eyes followed the broad line of his back to his hips. He wore no sword. No knife. I licked my lips in relief. He only had his hands, although with all his training they were lethal enough.
A cushion lay beside him for the second mourner. Slowly, I kneeled on it, the grinding ache in my hip dogging my movements again. My gaze dropped from the tense welcome on his face to the brutal mess of dried blood and bruising at the base of his throat. The Imperial Pearl. Its gold claw setting had been sewn roughly into the tender hollow between his collarbones, the wound still seeping into the while cloth of his robe.
'Good to have you by my side, Lord Eon.' I lis voice was hoarse and hesitant.
I met his pained eyes, my hand going to my own throat in sympathy.
He nodded. 'The royal physician fled last night.' He swallowed carefully. 'His replacement was nervous.' His pale lips quirked up into a wry smile. 'Very nervous.'
'Fled?'
The smile hardened. 'He will be found.' His dark eyes met mine and I saw how tightly he was controlling his rage. 'You and I will have our revenge.'
He bowed his head again as the Beseechers ended an entreaty progression and struck the gong. I bowed my head too, but more to hide my shock at the change in the Prince. There was something in his face and voice that made me think of Ido. I pushed back the rising fear and concentrated on the meaning behind the Prince's words. He believed the royal physician had been involved in his father's death. And my master's. Was it true? I went over and over the events leading up to my master's death and came no closer to a confident answer, but it kept me from dwelling on the moment when I would be alone with this new Emperor.
Two hours later, the Beseechers placed their lanterns on the floor in small circles of eternity, kowtowed and backed out of the pavilion. They were immediately replaced by the twelve Shola priests to sing the death chants. As we knelt through three hours of their intricate harmonies, I watched the new Emperor's hands slowly bunch into white-knuckled fists. I knew he was bracing himself against the pain; there had been so many times when I had done it myself. He was suffering and, may the gods forgive
me, I found my own hope in his weakened body. Perhaps his exhaustion would give me a chance to plead my case.
The final intonations of the death chants died away into a heavy silence. Beside me, the Pearl Emperor inhaled deeply, drawing in strength to stand. There was no evidence of his pain as he rose, bowed to his dead father and turned to face the priests, I struggled upright and bowed, then took my place at the side of the bier.
The twelve Shola priests kowtowed and backed out of the room, leaving only the two protocol officers. But they too bowed and backed away, pulling closed the heavy doors until only the mellow light from the Beseechers' lamps lit the chamber. The ghost watch had begun.
The Pearl Emperor rubbed wearily at his forehead. 'Get us some wine, Lord Eon,' he rasped, motioning towards an alcove. 'I think I will be able to drink now'
I bowed and edged over to a small table set with two gold bowls and a precious glass jug of wine.
'It is my belief that the royal physician had a hand in Lord Brannon's death,' he said, gingerly holding his throat as he spoke. 'And perhaps in my father's, although the canker in his leg was already poisoning him. The man will be found and he will pay for our sorrow'
I nodded.
'My messengers reported your success at Daikiko.' He walked towards me. 'It was well done.
You have kept your side of our pact. And I will keep mine.'
I picked up the jug, gripping hard to stop the trembling in my hand. The rich fruit scent of the red wine swirled up to me as I poured. There was a hung quality in the air, as though time had caught its breath. I picked up the bowls.
'Your Majesty,' I said, handing him the wine.
He looked into its depth then raised his eyes to mine. Waiting for me to test it. Slowly, I lifted the bowl and drank, tilting back
my head until it was drained. The wine burned as it went down, but it was the fire of alcohol.
The fire of false courage.
His mouth twisted. 'Habit,' he said and took a deep drink, wincing as he swallowed. 'I d<i not mistrust you, Lord Eon.'
The moment had come.
'I am not Lord Eon,' I said.
He stilled. There was no immediate comprehension in his face, but he had heard the tone of betrayal.
'What?'
'I am not Lord Eon. The Mirror Dragon is female. And so am I.'
He tilted his head, his red-rimmed eyes narrowing. 'Female? You are a woman?'
I gave one nod, my body tensing for the final understanding.
A woman Dragoneye?'
'Yes.'
He stared at me, and I could see his quick political mind forging through the shock.
'The dragon returned because you are a woman.' His hand grasped my shoulder. And you have her power. Is it greater than Ido's?'
I did not expect him to find the heart of the matter so fast. Before I could mask my face, he saw the truth in it. His wine bowl hit the floor, his hand as quick as a snake strike under my jaw In one movement, he had me up against the pavilion wall, the back of my head connecting with the marble in a thud that sent sick pain tolling
