Eona - Alison Goodman [124]
“I have had some good news,” Kygo said. Excitement had stripped away the new, harder lines of command in his face. “Word from the Mountain Resistance. Our strategy of attacking soft targets is beginning to succeed.”
It was the plan he had put in place during our last days in the crater. Using the wisdom of Xsu-Ree, he had ordered the resistance groups to attack weaker outposts and lure Sethon’s forces to defend them. By the time the army reached the position with reinforcements, the resistance would have already moved on to attack the next target. According to Xsu-Ree, it would not only keep Sethon’s forces shifting around, frustrating and exhausting them, it would also provide an insight into Sethon’s own strategy.
“That is excellent news, Kygo.” I tightened my hand around his fingers and smiled at the quick, ardent return. The Imperial Pearl at the base of his strong throat glowed in the periphery of my vision: a pale reminder of our kiss.
“For the moment it seems Sethon’s arrogance does not see us as a coherent threat,” he added. “That will change, but for the time being we will strike and harass his forces and attack the Hua-do of his men.”
His words prompted an image of High Lord Haio and his table of red-faced, sweating officers. “I think Sethon is already losing the Hua-do of his men,” I said. “What was the line in Xsu-Ree about the signs of an enemy’s will?”
“‘Men huddled in small groups, with voices low, give sign of disaffection and dying Hua-do,’” Kygo recited.
“Yes. When we were in the palace, High Lord Haio—” I stopped, realizing the man was another of Kygo’s uncles.
He smiled grimly. “Go on.”
“High Lord Haio and his officers seemed bitter. And when I was brought before Sethon, it was obvious even his top men were afraid of him.”
“That was well observed.” His thumb stroked my finger. “Yuso said you had come face to face with Sethon. Thank the gods he did not recognize you.”
“He is a vile man,” I said, shuddering. “I pity anyone in his power.”
“I have some good news on that front, too,” Kygo said. “A messenger from Master Tozay has caught up with us.” He nodded toward a dusty young man talking to Ryko. “Tozay has found your mother. She is safe from Sethon.”
“My mother?” My heart quickened so fast it brought a pain to my chest.
“Yes. Tozay is sailing to meet us farther along the coast with supplies. He is bringing your mother with him.”
“I will see her?” I could not focus through the tumult raging in me. After so many years, would she recognize me? What if she did not like me? What if she had sold me because I was—
“In four days, if all goes to plan. We can sail out before the cyclone hits,” Kygo said. He squeezed my hand again. “Are you all right?”
I cleared the ache in my throat. “Was there mention of my father and brother, too?”
Regret pulled at his mouth. “There was no word of them.”
At least my mother was safe. I touched the word again, letting it settle into calmer meaning. Mother. All I could remember was a woman crouched beside me, the weight of her arm around my shoulders, and a smile that held the same curve as my own. “I have not seen her since I was about six.”
“She will be very proud of you,” Kygo said. “You have brought great honor to your family.”
A cold shadow fell across my excitement. If Kygo knew the full history of my family, he would not be so gracious.
“There is no possible way she cannot be proud,” he added, misreading my frown. “You are not only the Mirror Dragoneye—the first in over five hundred years—but also the imperial Naiso. You are the most powerful woman in the empire, Eona.”
I looked across at Ido, his head cradled in his arms. I had not yet attained my true power. But I would soon.
Kygo followed my gaze. “He puts us all on edge. I hope he is worth the trouble you took to get him.” He reached over and, with a gentle finger, lifted one of the coils of my bedraggled Peony hairstyle. The warm musk of his skin opened through me like a flower. “Yuso said you played your part brilliantly.”
I flushed.