Eona by Alison Goodman

was facing Haddo with swords ready, he seemed transfixed by the islander and the graceful man fighting beside him. Then I saw him make the connection.
    â€œBy the gods, you’re them.” He rounded on me. “You’re not a woman. You’re the Dragoneye!” As he took another breath to shout the alarm, I lunged.
    My sudden thrust stopped him, but his return was quick and strong. He launched into a volley of savage cuts, his anger driving me backward. Suddenly, a devious flick of his left blade sliced across the back of my hand, close to the folio bound above my wrist. The pearls around it snapped up like a striking snake. I cried out, but it was the show of blood that tempered Haddo’s rage; he had to take me alive, unhurt. He withdrew, allowing both of us a moment to recover. The pearls tightened around my arm, securing the folio and stopping the blood. Was it their mandate to steal the Imperial Pearl, too? I could no longer trust any of Kinra’s treasures. Taking a shaking breath, I readied myself for Haddo’s next attack.
    This time his pass was more subdued; a cautious hunt to disarm.
    â€œYou must know you will be caught,” he said, disengaging from my low block. “The whole army is looking for you.”
    â€œYou serve a traitor,” I said.
    â€œHe has the blood, and the right.” He thrust at me, but I turned away the blade, catching his second sword in a lastminute slide.
    â€œPrince 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.
    â€œWhy do you think Sethon wants me alive?” I asked.
    â€œYou are a lord.”
    â€œNo. He wants to use my dragon power for war.”
    Haddo eyed me. “That is forbidden. You’re lying.”
    â€œIt 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.
    â€œEona!” 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.
    â€œEona?” 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.
    â€œDela, 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.
    â€œRyko, get out of the way,” I yelled.
    He ducked under the emperor’s slashing blades.
    â€œHe does not know who we are,” he gasped. “I cannot rouse him.”
    â€œYour Majesty,” I called. “It is Eona.”