Eona - Alison Goodman [74]
“No. I have use for him here.”
I bowed, Ryko dropping into his own obeisance beside me, only his clenched hands giving away his frustration.
“Lady Eona, come forward,” Kygo said.
Stiffly, I moved a step toward him.
“We are discussing the black folio,” he said. “Yuso says you claim that Dillon used its power to create the ring of water.”
I glanced around the circle of men. Every face held some recognition of the tension between the emperor and me. Yuso’s eyes met mine, wary.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Dillon called on the folio’s Gan Hua.”
“How does he call it? He has as little training as you.”
“I don’t know.”
“Can he do it again?”
I lowered my head at his clipped assault. “I don’t think so.” I swallowed, trying to find some moisture in my parched mouth. “I think he would need my power again to use it, but I am not sure, Your Majesty. The black folio is a mystery to me, too.”
“So it was your power as well?”
“Dillon took it. I did not give it, Your Majesty.”
“And this black folio has the secret to the String of Pearls?”
“It is what Lord Ido told me.”
“Lord Ido.” Kygo’s snort of suspicion sent a chill through me. “You are very keen to rescue him.”
I lifted my head, meeting his challenge. “You know why, Your Majesty.”
His dark eyes held no concession. “My priority has changed. We must find the black folio before my uncle does. Lord Ido can wait.”
I stepped forward. “No, he cannot! He is barely hanging on to life.”
Kygo stiffened. “What did you say?”
Panic had pushed me too far. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. It is true we must find the black folio,” I said, recovering some control. “But getting Lord Ido away from your uncle is, in my humble opinion, more important. Dillon is not in his right mind and, even if we find him, he will not be of any help with the monsoon rains and floods. He has no control over his power or his actions. As you have already seen, he is dangerous.” I glanced around the tense circle of men. “Ido helped me hold off Dillon and the black folio’s power. We need him.”
Kygo leaned on the table. “Ido helped you? Why?”
“He was trying to save his own life as much as help me,” I said. “Dillon was trying to kill him.”
“How did he help you?”
“It is through the same kind of link I have with Ryko. The one made from healing. You saw it in the clearing when I could not control the energy.” Beside me, Ryko flinched as if I had touched him with a whip.
“Did Ido come to you, or did you make him?” There was something strange in Kygo’s tone—anticipation. But reluctance, too.
I stared at him, puzzled. “He just came into my head.” I paused, realizing I did not truly know how it happened. “Maybe I called him,” I added. “I don’t know; it was all too fast. I don’t know enough about the way it all works. It is why I need Lord Ido to train me.”
Kygo turned his back. “I wish to speak to Lady Eona.” He did not raise his voice, but I could feel the threat. “Ryko, Yuso, stay. The rest of you, leave us. Leave the cave.”
The other men could not bow and back away fast enough. As the sounds of their exit receded into the distance, I looked across at Ryko, but the islander was staring at the ground, his body tense. Yuso stood stolidly at the table, his attention fixed on his emperor.
“Tell me, Ryko,” Kygo finally said, his back still to us, “did you feel Lady Eona’s link with Ido as they fought the black folio?”
Ryko shifted. “Yes.” He looked away from my shock. “The link held no sway over my will, but I felt it. As I said before, Your Majesty.”
“Yuso, draw your sword,” Kygo said.
The hiss of steel sent a creeping shiver across my back as if it had been drawn against my skin. “Kygo, what is wrong?” I asked.
He finally turned to me, his face set. “Take Ryko’s will.”
I heard the islander suck in a breath. For a moment I could not form any sound.
“Why?” I finally managed.
“Because it is my command.”
“You saw what happened last time. I could not control it.”
“Do as I say. Now!”
“Kygo, it is too dangerous.”