Eona - Alison Goodman [26]
“You serve a traitor,” I said.
“He has the blood, and the right.” He thrust at me, but I turned away the blade, catching his second sword in a lastminute slide.
“Prince Kygo has the true right,” I said, retreating a few steps. “Sethon claims that Kygo is dead. But he is not—there he is, right in front of you.”
Haddo glanced across at the young emperor, who was beating back a soldier with frenzied blows. The Imperial Pearl shone at his throat, a beacon of the truth. Kinra’s ambition flared again. I concentrated through her humming fervor.
Haddo lowered his swords. Cautiously, I matched him. We faced each other, still and watchful, our weapons at the ready in case this strange truce broke.
“Why do you think Sethon wants me alive?” I asked.
“You are a lord.”
“No. He wants to use my dragon power for war.”
Haddo eyed me. “That is forbidden. You’re lying.”
“It is Sethon who is lying.”
Haddo glanced at the emperor again: living proof of Sethon’s lies. Then I saw him focus on something behind me.
“Eona!” It was Dela’s voice.
I risked a glance over my shoulder. Dela was circling the emperor and Ryko. “Eona, stop him! He’ll kill Ryko.”
Kygo’s frenzy had turned on the islander. Although Ryko was valiantly blocking the emperor’s blows, he was not engaging. Neither Ryko nor Dela would raise their swords against their master. Dead and wounded men lay on the ground around them. A quick scan of the courtyard showed only Ryko’s captain and another guard still fighting a handful of soldiers. Almost all of Haddo’s men were down.
“Eona?” Haddo repeated. “You really are a woman? A woman Dragoneye?” I could see the shock in his widened eyes. He touched the blood amulet around his neck.
“Dela, take over here,” I ordered, and backed away from the lieutenant. He stared at me, bewildered, until Dela rushed him, whooping a battle cry.
I spun around and felt Kinra gauge the scene. Ryko was retreating from the emperor with every strike against his swords. At each step, the islander shouted his allegiance, but Kygo kept advancing. The young emperor’s face was dark with rage and effort, his wild swords only finding their mark from years of relentless training. Kinra’s focus dropped to the pearl. He does not deserve it. I ignored her treacherous thought.
“Ryko, get out of the way,” I yelled.
He ducked under the emperor’s slashing blades.
“He does not know who we are,” he gasped. “I cannot rouse him.”
“Your Majesty,” I called. “It is Eona.” The emperor’s gaze traveled across to me. There was no recognition, only the fever of madness. He raised his swords. I was a fool—he had never known my true name.
I tried again. “Your Majesty. I am Lord Eon. Your ally.”
Kinra’s reflexes saved me from the slice at my face and the cunning lower cut. I leaped back, landing on the soft give of a fallen body. It spasmed; the man underfoot was not dead. He shrieked his agony, clawing at my legs. Cold horror propelled me off his bloodied torso. The shock weakened my hold on Kinra. Her purpose surged through me like water smashing through a dam, my terror and pity obliterated by angry ambition.
She swung the swords and I felt them sing Kygo’s death, not his deliverance. Desperately, I tried to wrest back control, but Kinra held true, aiming for the emperor’s chest. The wicked thrusts slammed against Kygo’s blades. Steel slid along steel in screeching protest. I gritted my teeth and wrenched the swords free, fighting Kinra’s desire to drive them into his heart.
Something flickered across Kygo’s glazed eyes. Fear? Or was it recognition?
“Your Majesty!” I groped for something that might bring him back. “Kygo! We have a pact. Mutual survival.” But the humming in my head screamed his destruction.
He lunged, swords circling in a high Goat attack. Kinra’s experience blocked his heavy charge, her sliding parry forcing the emperor off balance. Before I could pull away, she flicked up the grip. The vicious punch caught Kygo in the forehead. He reeled backward and staggered over the legs of a splayed body.