Alison Goodman - Eona: The Last Dragoneye

EONA

Books by

ALISON GOODMAN

Singing the Dogstar Blues

Killing the Rabbit

Eon

Eona

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Published in Puffin Canada hardcover by Penguin Group (Canada), a division of Pearson Canada Inc., 2011. Simultaneously published in the U.S.A. by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

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Copyright Alison Goodman, 2011

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

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Manufactured in the U.S.A.

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION

Goodman, Alison

Eona / Alison Goodman.

ISBN 978-0-670-06414-4

I. Title.

PZ7.G6353Eona 2011 j823.92 C2010-907704-0

American Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication data available

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For Ron

EONA

Ox Dragon

Compass: NORTH

Color: Purple

Dragoneye: Lord Tyron (deceased)

Keeper of Determination

Tiger Dragon

Compass: NORTH-NORTHEAST

Color: Green

Dragoneye: Lord Elgon (deceased)

Keeper of Courage

Rabbit Dragon

Compass: EAST-NORTHEAST

Color: Pink

Dragoneye: Lord Silvo (deceased)

Keeper of Peace

Dragon Dragon (Mirror Dragon)

Compass: EAST

Color: Red

Dragoneye: Eona (Before Eona, the mirror Dragon had been missing for over 500 years.)

Keeper of Truth

Snake Dragon

Compass: EAST-SOUTHEAST

Color: Copper

Dragoneye: Lord Chion (deceased)

Keeper of Insight

Horse Dragon

Compass: SOUTH-SOUTHEAST

Color: Orange

Dragoneye: Lord Dram (deceased)

Keeper of Passion

Goat Dragon

Compass: SOUTH

Color: Silver

Dragoneye: Lord Tiro (deceased)

Keeper of Kindness

Monkey Dragon

Compass: SOUTH-SOUTHWEST

Color: Ebony

Dragoneye: Lord Jessam (deceased)

Keeper of Resourcefulness

Rooster Dragon

Compass: WEST-SOUTHWEST

Color: Brown

Dragoneye: Lord Bano (deceased)

Keeper of Confidence

Dog Dragon

Compass: WEST

Color: Ivory

Dragoneye: Lord Garon (deceased)

Keeper of Honesty

Pig Dragon

Compass: WEST-NORTHWEST

Color: Dove Gray

Dragoneye: Lord Meram (deceased)

Keeper of Generosity

Rat Dragon

Compass: NORTH-NORTHWEST

Color: Blue

Dragoneye: Lord Ido

Keeper of Ambition

THE EMPIRE OF THE CELESTIAL DRAGONS

PREFACE

From the hand of Teacher Prahn, Imperial librarian and tutor of His Majesty, Kygo, rightful heir to the Imperial throne.

A WISE MAN once wrote: In war, truth is the first casualty. It is for this reason that I write a true account of the seizure of the Imperial palace and throne by High Lord Sethon, a day after the death of his brother, our revered Emperor of Peace and Harmony.

I was present during the armys brutal attack on the palace and saw many of my eunuch brethren slaughtered, although they held no weapons. I saw the harem invaded, the Imperial Guard cut down, and the royal household assaulted. To my eternal grief, I also saw the infant second heir to the throne and his mother murdered by High Lord Sethon himself. It has been officially reported that Prince Kygothe first heir, who was anointed Pearl Emperor before his uncles savage coupwas killed in the battle. However, no body has been found, and I have heard that he escaped with the remnants of his guard; may this be a truth from the gods lips.

I can confirm a report that Lord Idothe Rat Dragoneye was instrumental in killing almost all of his fellow Dragoneyes and their apprentices in the quest for their power. I saw the bodies, and we have all felt the tremors in the earth and the thunder across the sky that is no doubt the sorrow of their ten dragons. Now the only Dragoneye Lords alive are the treacherous Lord Ido and the new Mirror Dragoneye, Lord Eon, who was seen escaping the Palace. Lord Idos apprenticeDillonis also believed to have escaped. It is not known if Dillon shares his masters lust for power, but if he is indeed alive, he may become the Rat Dragoneye very soon. Lord Ido tried to double-cross High Lord Sethon and is now in the Imperial cells. It is said he cannot call his power and is at the mercy of the High Lords rage.

No one knows the whereabouts of Lord Eon. I pray that he is hidden far from the City. I know that he was under the protection of Ryko, one of the elite Shadow Men guards, and Lady Dela, a twin soul with a mans body and a womans spirit, whose resourcefulness is legendary among the courtiers. It can only be hoped that their combined skills will keep the young Dragoneye safe. Amid all the fear and lies circulating the Palace, a foul whisper has arisen that Lord Eon, a brother eunuch, is in a fact a girl. I have been in the presence of the new lord, and his delicate features and frame are usual in one of our kind who has made the sacrifice so young. I mention this rumor only to stop the profane idea of a female dragoneye from spreading through our wounded land and creating more panic.

I do not know how our Empire can survive with only two Dragoneyes and their beasts to control the elements, especially when one Dragoneye is an imprisoned traitor and the other an untrained boy. Although Lord Eon is quick and clever, he cannot control the earth energies by himself. For as long as can be remembered, it has taken the combined power of eleven Dragoneyes and their beasts to nurture the land. When the missing twelfth dragonthe Mirror Dragonreturned from exile and chose Lord Eon as the first Mirror Dragoneye in five hundred years, it was seen as an omen of renewed strength and good fortune. I pray that this is so, and that the return of the Mirror Dragon to the Circle of Twelve spirit beasts is not an omen of annihilation. A resistance force has long been gathering against High Lord Sethons brutal war-mongering, but now they will have to stand against the entire army, and such a struggle will tear our land apart.