Eona - Alison Goodman [167]
“Yes, my lady,” he said, ducking his head. “We are all well. And glad you are safe.”
“Lady Eona.” Kygo’s call was crisp but he was smiling. “I understand your joy in the return of your friends and rejoice with you, but we must proceed.”
Although his voice seemed easy, I heard the tension within it. Guiltily, I looked back at my mother; she would have seen my joy, too. Yet she smiled at me, the gentle understanding on her face bringing an answering smile to my own.
“Of course, Your Majesty, we must proceed,” I said loudly, and turned to Rulan. “My thanks to you and your people for finding my friends.” With a touch to Rilla’s shoulder, I drew all three toward the raised bench. “Come, sit by me.” My firm order stopped the approach of the door guards, obviously intent on removing Chart from the meetinghouse. They looked to Rulan, who waved them back. Ignoring the subtle shifting of dismay around the tent, I returned to my position beside Kygo, while Rilla and Lon seated themselves and Chart on the rugs near my feet.
“You have indeed survived well without the blessing of a dragon,” Kygo said to the gathering. “And your courage and skill in battle are legendary.” He touched the Imperial Pearl at his throat, its pale luminescence drawing everyone’s eyes. “As you can see, I am the rightful heir to the throne. The pearl is within me, is a part of me. And with the might of the Mirror Dragon and the Rat Dragon behind us, we will be victorious in the struggle ahead.”
Rulan cut through the rise of voices with a flat hand. “We acknowledge your right, Your Majesty,” he said. “But with all due respect, you have brought us a girl barely beyond childhood, and a traitor who killed his Dragoneye brothers and sided with our enemy. We do not see how his power can be brought to our venture. Or how a little girl can be trusted to fight and not run from the battle.”
On the bench to our left, I saw Tozay stiffen.
“Lady Eona does not run from a battle,” Kygo said coldly. “She has as much courage as any man in this room. And she can compel Lord Ido’s power. He will do as she commands. And she will do as I command.”
The change of atmosphere in the tent sent danger prickling across my scalp. I straightened, not even daring to swallow, in case it was seen as weakness.
“Then show us this staunch chain of command, Your Majesty,” Rulan demanded. “Prove that all of this power is under your control, and we will follow you to victory—or death—with joy in our hearts.”
His words were greeted with yips of enthusiasm from around the room.
“Silence,” Kygo commanded.
The noise stopped, its shrillness shifting into a sudden press of expectancy.
“You have something in mind, Rulan,” Kygo said flatly. “What is it?”
Rulan looked around the tent with a smile, the delay in his answer sharpening his people’s excitement. “Have Lady Eona compel Lord Ido.” His eyes fixed on the Dragoneye, then found me. “Make him hold his arm in the brazier coals for a count of ten. One count each for the Dragoneye Lords he betrayed.”
Beside me, Rilla gasped. I sucked in a hard breath, forcing myself to meet the challenge in Rulan’s face. The demand was too brutal. I would not do it. Yet I had placed my power under Kygo’s command, and I could not renege on that promise. Perhaps Kygo would refuse. If he loved me as much as Tozay had said—as much as his sweet endearment and caresses seemed to say—then surely he would not ask me to do this.
I turned from Rulan, praying that Kygo would see my reluctance. But he was staring at Ido, his jaw tensed into a brutal line. He needed the Eastern Tribes. He could not refuse, and he could not show weakness. And as his Naiso and Dragoneye, neither could I.
Ido’s hard gaze moved to me. He was not a man to plead, but I saw something flick across his face. What he saw in mine made him close his eyes.
“For a count of ten,” Kygo agreed.
Ido’s hands clenched in the irons.
“Ryko,” Kygo said. The islander looked up. “Take Lillia outside.”
Ryko