Alison Goodman - Eon - Dragoneye Reborn

'The twelve have shown their skill and stamina,' they chanted. 'Now is the time to see the Rat Dragon. To see the new Dragoneye apprentice.'

The crowd's exuberant screams sent pain stabbing into my ears. This was the only time a layman could ever see one of the great beasts; a glimpse in the ascendant mirror as the dragon crossed the sand to make his choice, and then the glorious moments of union when the new apprentice laid his hands on the pearl and the dragon took solid form.

The gong cut off the exultation.

'Witness the final bow! Witness the rise of one boy to the glorious honour of communion with the Rat Dragon!'

The gong was lost in thunderous applause and stamping. The herald ran to the side and formed a line against the wall, waiting to give their final announcement. The name of the apprentice.

Lord Ido emerged from the rampway. As he walked towards the Rat Dragon mirror, the Imperial trumpets and drummers played a climbing fanfare. The elderly official who had spoken to my master stepped up in front of us.

'Stand,' he said. 'Form your line, one to twelve, for the final bow'

I dug the tips of my swords into the sand to pull myself upright. It was an unforgivable breach, but I didn't care. Every limb dragged with heaviness, and my head pounded in counterpoint with the drums. Even so, as I crossed my swords in salute and followed Quon across the sand, a reserve of excited energy made me straighten and step out. Maybe I still had a chance. We lined up in front of the Rat Dragon mirror and in the bright glass I saw the other candidates — faces blanched with fear but heads held up, shoulders back, every one of them pushing through their exhaustion.

The fanfare suddenly stopped, leaving an eerie silence.

Lord Ido turned to face the mirror. He stood with his legs apart, as though standing against a wind, and raised his arms. In the reflection, I saw his eyes slide along our row and for a shocking moment our gazes locked. His eyes were silvered with Hua, the raw energy stealing his expression. I looked away from his blank face, fear surging through me.

'One is worthy,' he called to the mirror, his voice a curious mix of entreaty and command.

'Show us who will serve you.'

It was as though the whole audience sat forwards and held their breath, every gaze focused on the bright glass.

Light shivered in the air above the carved gold rat. Slowly, a large claw slid into the reflection, pale blue scales glowing above five opal talons. The Rat Dragon was descending from his perch, his translucent body only solid and visible in the mirror as he passed by it. A reflection without an original. It was the first time I'd ever seen one of the dragons in full physical form. My own gasp was echoed around the arena. A powerfully muscled foreleg came into view, the scales darkening into ocean blue as the underside of a broad chest and shoulder followed in the glass. Next, a beard, the white hair thick and tapered like a horse's tail. And for a fleeting moment, beneath the coarse strands, I saw the dragon's pearl — his source of wisdom and power — tucked under his chin and shining with blue iridescence. Then it was hidden by his flared muzzle, the delicate scales and fine horse nostrils accentuating the size of the fang that curved from his upper lip.

The dragon turned to stare across the sand at the Emperor, one large dark eye visible in the mirror, his broad brow crowned by two curled horns. I heard nervous murmuring from the crowd as both of his forelegs reached the sand, his sinuous body stretched full length in the reflection. Then it coiled like a snake and dropped behind him, the invisible weight sending up a cloud of sand and dust that fell back over his body, giving us a shimmering outline of him. He shook his head, dislodging more sand, then turned and looked at himself in the glass, the endless depth of his eyes giving him an expression of sadness. Two pale blue membranes extended out from each shoulder and rippled in the sunlight like watered silk, then folded back against his body. The heavy head swung around to face us again, the mirror showing the solid line of his spine and the thick fall of white mane. Although his eyes were no longer reflected, I knew he was studying us, choosing his apprentice.

The sand in front of the mirror stirred as the dragon stepped forwards. Beside me, Quon braced himself, his breath quickening. Lanell whispered a hurried prayer. I tried to swallow but I was so parched it caught in my throat like dry bread. The swish of a giant snake track appeared in the sand as the dragon moved closer, the graceful sway of his tail mesmerising in the

mirror. Inside me, something was beginning to build like slow bubbles breaking the surface of near boiled water. Was it the dragon's power? I looked down the line of candidates. Some had broken rank and stepped back; Baret was edging away, but Dillon held his place. The heavy indents of the dragon's claws were visible in the sand as he approached. In the mirror, his head was moving back and forth like a dog sniffing the air. He turned to Baret.

Energy was thrumming through my body. I narrowed my eyes, groping for my mind-sight; perhaps if I showed him my power, he would come. The dull thud in my head built into unbearable pressure. The dragon shimmered into being for me and I felt him dragging energy from my body His head jerked around, a thick blue tongue licking out, tasting the power. He paced a few steps, then backtracked as if undecided. I gritted my teeth, trying to hold him in my sight, but the drain was too great. The dragon disappeared from my view, the sudden wrench of the connection making me sway.

The crowd's excitement finally found voice, cutting through the loud drums and trumpets in shrill calls. I looked up at the mirror. Had it been enough? The dragon lifted a claw and raked at the air, then with a few flicks of his tail he was upon me. In the reflection, his huge face bent down to mine, but I couldn't see him, only feel his hot breath on my cheek. It smelled of vanilla and orange. Was he choosing me? I tried to merge into my mind-sight again but my head was too full of pain and pounding power. Sand sprayed into an arc, whipping me across the face. Quon covered his eyes, crouching as the unseen bulk of the beast passed between us.

I felt the heavy tail brush my leg, a sliding touch of hard muscle. I looked wildly from the shifting sand to the reflection of the dragon as he reared up behind me, the heat of his body pressing against mine. Was I chosen? I saw Lord Ido start towards me. His eyes were no longer wide and blank; they were narrowed in fury. I Ic must have seen me call the beast.

The dragon suddenly swung around to face the Emperor above the dark mirror. He cocked his head to one side then screamed, the sound like the shriek of a hunting eagle but a hundred times louder. It pushed me down to my knees. I dropped my swords, pressing my hands against my ears, but the scream was in my head, shattering my senses. A surge of energy knocked me sideways. And then the heat at my back was gone. Struggling to lift my head, I watched the whirl of sand move down the line. He was leaving me. The mirror showed him in front of Baret and Dillon. Screaming again, the beast lunged at Dillon, circling him in a gritty tornado, his huge tail catching Baret in the chest, flicking him to the ground. The closest candidates scattered. Quon grabbed the sleeve of my tunic and pulled me backwards. I ripped myself free of his grasp; I had to stay close in case the dragon came back for me.

For a moment, Dillon's slight figure was hidden in the centre of the churning sand, then the funnel burst upwards like an exploding volcano, falling in a stinging rain on me and the other candidates. Only Dillon was untouched. He stood with his head back, his face a pale O of astonishment. I turned to the mirror. He was staring into the eyes of the dragon, the beast's body curled like a crescent moon over him. The dragon bent closer, his muzzle a finger-length from Dillon's face. The huge head slowly lifted to expose the shimmering pearl hidden under chin and beard. Dillon reached up and placed his hands around the sphere. A pale blue flame surged from it, the connection between beast and boy sparking in a rush of silver Hua that brought the dragon into shimmering solidity With a gasp, the crowd shifted their attention from the mirror to the two glowing figures on the sand. The dragon's colour was lost in t he sheen of energy but Dillon's red tunic stood out like a splash of blood against the huge chest.