Alison Goodman - Eon - Dragoneye Reborn

The sky through the window was brightening. I tucked the pouch into my trousers and brushed specks of ash and tea off the tunic. I had worn the rich garments during my vigil to honour my new-found ancestors. They were made from the softest material I had ever worn: a close silk weave in the rich red of the candidate. Twelve gold embroidered dragons were worked around the hemline of the tunic, and the sash ends were edged with gold tassels. The cloth was like oiled water against my skin and, when it moved, the sound was the wind's whisper. No wonder the nobles acted like gods: they'd captured the very elements in their robes. I pulled on the matching red leather slippers, flexing my feet at the unfamiliar confinement. They were edged in gold thread and had the same dragon design painted on the toes. What had all this finery cost my master?

I stood and practised a few steps of the first sequence, feeling for the difference in toe grip as I spun from the Rat Dragon First into the second form. The leather soles had greater slip than my old sandals; it could be treacherous on the hard-packed sand of the Dragon Arena. I spun again and again, adjusting my weight into the floor, enjoying the swirl of the silk tunic as it flared and settled around my body

The clang of the oven lid in the kitchen brought me to a halt. Kuno, banking the fires. It was close to dawn break and there was still much to do. I hurried over to the clothes press, digging under my folded work tunic for the scroll. After three months of snatched moments, I had finally finished it: a black ink painting of the roads and landscape around my master's house.

It was made up of scraps of mulberry paper from the paper-maker near the school; he'd allowed me to have the edges of the clean cuts and I'd stitched them together to make the roll.

The painting was in the style of the great Master Quidan — a long thin rendering that was meant to be opened in small sections for meditation upon the landscape. Would Chart like it?

I knew my artistry was poor, but perhaps it would help him imagine the world outside the kitchen. I fingered the plain wooden sticks fixed to the ends. I would miss describing our neighbourhood to him and laughing at his wicked comments.

The small inner courtyard was quiet. I tucked the scroll into my sleeve and stood for a moment in the doorway, the soft morning air and stillness moving through me like a meditation. Should I chance calling the Rat Dragon? One last look before the ceremony?

Maybe this time he would acknowledge me. I took a deep breath, narrowing my mind's-eye to the north-northwest. A shimmering outline of the dragon formed, a hint of the huge horse-like head and snake-shaped body Then the edges of the vision began to fray. My legs buckled as a hollowing drain dragged at my consciousness. I snatched all of my self back, falling painfully to my knees. I had never seen anything like it

before. Panting, I leaned against the doorframe and turned my attention inwards, clumsily tracing the flow of my Hua. There didn't seem to be any damage and my strength was already returning. Maybe it had happened because the Rat Dragon was ascending today. I took a few deep breaths, then pulled myself upright and headed slowly to the kitchen. At least the strange mind-sight that had brought me to this day was still within me. Whether that meant anything to the Rat Dragon would soon be made clear.

At the kitchen door, I slipped off the shoes then stepped inside. Kuno was standing over the stoves stirring my master's morning soup. The smell of the rich broth and steaming buns made my stomach pinch. I licked my lips, remembering the piece of bread hidden in my room.

'E…on?' Chart peered around the leg of the preparation table. He rolled his eyes at my finery

'Little lord.'

Kuno sniffed at me as I brushed past him and squatted painfully beside Chart.

'There'll be hell to pay if he dirties those new robes of yours,' Kuno said. He stamped across the kitchen and disappeared into the dry-goods pantry.

Chart twisted closer to me. He touched the bottom of the tunic. 'So soft…like a girl's bottom.'

'How would you know,' I scoffed.

'Know more…than you.' He waggled his eyebrows. 'Maids think…poor Chart…doesn't…know what he's doing.'

I shook my head at his cheerful lewdness. 'I have something for you,' I said, pulling the scroll out and placing it on his mat.

He touched it, his eyes wide. 'Real paper?' He looked up at me quizzically 'You know…don't read.'

'It's not words,' I said. 'Open it.'

He hoisted himself onto an elbow and slowly pulled apart the wooden handles. I watched his puzzlement smooth into understanding. Then his face tightened.

'I know it's not very good,' I said quickly 'But see, that is the crossroad at the bottom of the laneway' I pointed to the place on the scroll. And that is old Rehon's pig. See, I've drawn it in the middle of Kellon the moneylender's vegetable garden…' I stopped. Chart had turned his face away

'I know it's not very good,' I said again.

Chart shook his head, pushing his face into his shoulder.

Was he crying? I sat back. Chart did not cry

He touched my hand, a clumsy press of bone-thin fingers against mine, and took a deep, trembling breath.

'I have…something…for you too,' he said. He glanced at the pantry doorway.

'Quick…before…Kuno comes.'

I held out my hand, expecting more bread or cheese. Instead something heavy hit my palm. A coin, covered in grime. I ran my thumb over it and saw a flash of gold: a Tiger coin, more than three months' wages for a freeman. And a certain flogging if discovered.

'Where'd you get it?' I whispered.

'I…not stuck…to this mat,' he said, grinning slyly

'Did you steal it from the master?'

He pulled himself towards me with his elbow, his contorted hand batting the question away

'Heard Kuno…and Irsa talking…last night,' he whispered, his shoulders and throat tense with the strain of lowering his voice. I bent closer until I felt his warm breath against my ear.

'Master… sell you…back to salt farm..if you…not Dragoneye. Sell you…like the boys before.' I flinched back, but Chart raised his body to follow me, frowning with the effort. 'If you not…chosen…you must…run away. To…the islands.' Panting, he dropped back against his mat.

Run away? But I was in bond — I had always belonged to a master. I tightened my grip on the coin. That was not quite true. There had been a time when there was a family and no master. I had memories, more impression than image, of a mother on a beach, a father hunched over nets, and a baby brother beside me in a straw bed.

'What about you?' I said.

Chart snorted. 'Run?'

I held out the coin. 'You should keep it,' I said. 'You and Rilla might need it.'

Chart caught hold of my hand. The muscles in his neck twitched and bulged as he struggled to hold his head still. 'Mother knows. She said…give it…to you.'

I stared at him. Rilla thought I should run away too?

'You still here?' Kuno said, swinging a sack of beans onto the table. Chart and I jumped apart.

'You'd better get moving or you'll keep the master waiting.'

Chart closed my fingers around the coin. 'Goodbye… Eon…Go…with…good fortune.'Amidst the twitches of his head, I saw a nod of encouragement.

I stood up and bowed, low and deep — a bow for an honoured friend. As I straightened, he turned his face away his narrow jaw set.

'Thank you,' I whispered.

He didn't look up but I saw his hand clutch the scroll closer to his chest.

Outside, I stood for a moment in the half-light, steadying my breath. Could I really run away if I was not chosen? Maybe I could look for my parents. But then, they had sold me and I would be returning as a runaway. I doubted I would be welcomed back.