I looked back at Ido, terrified he would follow my focus. The sounds of Ryko's battle were further apart. Was his staunch strength finally failing?
'Your skill is far too great for your training,' Ido said. 'What kind of dragon power is this?'
1 ignored the question, watching as he gathered himself for his next attack. I could not risk retreating any further. I spun my swords into the whirring Goat Second and ran at him. The shock of the collision resonated through my whole body. My right sword blocked his chest cut, the strength of his blow too light to be anything more than a feint. The knowledge was not mine nor was the swinging angle of my left blade that stopped the vicious attack on my legs. Ido pulled back, his smile gone.
'Don't be a fool, girl,' he said. 'Even with this extra skill, you'll fail. I need you alive, but I don't care what condition you're in.'
I suddenly understood his pattern of attack: hacking at hands, slicing at ankles. He didn't want me dead. He wanted me helpless. For a second, the realisation made my vision haze with white terror.
'My lord, we have the islander,' the older guard called.
Ido kept his eyes on me. 'Is he alive?' he asked.
'Yes, my lord.'
Ido smiled. 'If you surrender now, Eona, you can save your friend a great deal of pain.'
I tightened my grip on my swords.
Ido raised his eyebrows. 'Or do you have enough steel to let him die in agony?'
'No,' I whispered.
He started forwards. I raised the swords and stepped back. If I gave up, he would take my will forever.
Ido's smile widened. 'Bring the islander here,' he ordered.
The two remaining guards approached us with Ryko's body slumped between them. I lis head was bowed and a dark spread of blood from under his armour had seeped into the cloth of his trousers. It clung wetly to his thigh, Ido motioned to the guards to drop their burden at his feet. Ryko's body lolded onto the stone with a slapping thud. His lace was turned towards me, his dark skin drained into grey hollows. I chanced a look at the guards — both of them were injured, deep lines of pain and exhaustion on their faces. Ryko had made them work hard for their victory.
Ido kicked Ryko's injured side, forcing a moan out of the islander. He was barely conscious.
Ido looked over at me. 'Well?'
I knew Ryko would not want me to surrender. But I also knew Lord Ido: there was no mercy in the man. He would make me watch my friend suffer. And he would enjoy both kinds of pain. I kept my eyes fixed on the Dragoneye although every part of me longed to glance across at Lady Dela. Was she any closer to the name? But I could not risk bringing her to the attention of this monster.
'Hold him down.'
The older guard settled his knee between Ryko's shoulders and leaned his forearm into the back of his neck. The islander stirred, but did not rouse.
'Spread his hand and hold it still,' Ido ordered the other guard.
The man squatted beside Ryko and pulled his hand from under his body, pressing it flat onto the stone paving and holding it by the wrist. Ido raised his sword and positioned the tip over Ryko's knuckles. He licked his lips as though savouring the moment.
'Put your swords down, Eona,' he said softly.
May the gods and Ryko forgive me: I did not move.
For a hung moment, Ido stared across at me with an odd smile, then he drove the sword tip through Ryko's hand. My
friend's scream shuddered through me. He thrashed, trying to pull his speared, spasming hand free, but one guard held his wrist /down and the other was on his back, locking him against the stone. A thin line of blood oozed from under his palm and collected in the cracks between the flags.
'More?' Ido asked, but he didn't wait for my answer. He jerked the sword, tearing another scream from the big man. I heard Ryko's teeth connect as he clenched the terrible sound back, his agony forced into rasping pants.
'Get his other hand,' Ido ordered.
'No!' I shouted. 'No!'
Ryko's pain-glazed eyes found me. 'Don't,' he breathed.
I dropped Kinra's swords. They hit the stone with an echoing clang.
'Good girl,' Ido said.
He motioned to the older guard to take his place. 'Hold the sword. If she makes any move, rip open his wrist.'
The guard released his grip on Ryko's hand and stood, grasping Ido's sword. The grinding shift of the blade sent a shudder through Ryko.
'And you,' Ido said to the other guard. 'Get the freak. She's behind that last row of crates.'
I felt all my hope leave me. Ido had won.
Lady Dela's head was still bent over the book, her forefinger tracing a line along a page, her lips moving in silent translation. She, at least, had not given up. The guard pushed himself off Ryko's back and pulled a knife out of a wrist scabbard.
'Don't kill her,' Ido added. 'Not yet.'
The man nodded and advanced. I watched him pass me and warily round the corner of the stack. Lady Dela glanced up at his cautious approach, her face flaring with fear, then she bowed her head, still reading.
And then Ido was coming at me, so fast I didn't have time to move. He grabbed my right arm in a bruising hold and steered me
backwards towards the end of the alley, I stumbled and felt my feet leave the ground. I le half turned, hall dragged me to the wall, my shoulder twisting up into agony, With B grunt, he rammed my back against the grimy stone and let go ol my aim, only the solid press of his hips keeping me upright. His face was so close that I couldn't focus; all I saw was his mouth framed by the neat line of his black oiled beard and the blur of his dilated eyes. I le was so heavy; solid muscle made of Sun drug and hard training. I strained, trying to turn from his overwhelming strength, but I felt the warm pressure of his hand curl around my throat. I clawed at his fingers. He gave a slight shake of his head and squeezed. Gasping, I dropped my hands away and held very still. I le bent his head and pressed his lips against mine, slowly relaxing his hold so that I gulped for air, opening my mouth to him. I lis tongue licked mine, bringing the taste of vanilla-orange, and then he was dragging his teeth across my lower lip, biting the tender skin into sharp pain. I jerked away, tasting the copper warmth of blood.
'So now we find out,' he said softly against my cheek, each word brushing me like a kiss.
'Now we find out what really happens when the last two Dragoneyes become one.'
'We're not the last two,' I croaked.
He pulled his head back slightly 'You mean Dillon?'
I met his eyes. Thin threads of silver slid through the amber. The caress of his charisma stroked my skin.
'Poor Dillon,' he said. 'I've bound his Hua to mine. He no longer has his own link to the Rat Dragon.' He traced his forefinger along my jaw. And what little power he has will soon be drained.' His other hand yanked at the neck of my undertunics. The thin silk gave way, exposing my shoulder and the tight breast-band.
The sound of scuffling snapped his head around but I could not see past him.
Lady Dela's voice screamed, 'She's the Mirror Dragon, she —' I Ier voice was suddenly muffled as if someone had slapped their
hand over her mouth. What was Dela trying to tell me? I already knew she was the Mirror Dragon.
Ido turned back. 'She? The dragon is female too?' He gave a low, wondering laugh. 'Of course, I should have guessed; it is the feminine where your power exists. No wonder the black folio speaks of the Sun and Moon joining.'
His hand skimmed over the tight bindings at my breast and dropped to my waist, pulling at the thin linen of my undershorts. I flinched, but his other hand tightened on my throat again.
The alley closed around me in a haze of grey suffocation. Again he released the pressure, allowing me precious air. His face had hardened into harsh purpose and I knew I could not stop him physically But he was not
