Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

need to know how fast the Darkwood is advancing, and the troop of guards I sent to find out hasn't come back. If nothing else, goblins do make excellent reconnaissance scouts. Mainly because they have a positive gift when it comes to hiding from anything even remotely threatening.'
    'Very good, Sire,' said the Seneschal. 'I'll send them on their way.' He hesitated, and then glanced at the King. 'They do mean well, your majesty, it's just ...'
    'Yes,' said King John. 'They are, aren't they.'
    The Seneschal grinned, bowed and left. As he walked out, the three Landsgraves walked in. The two Royal Guardsmen glanced at each other, and then moved protectively closer to the throne, their hands ostentatiously near their swords. Ever since he'd been dragged senseless from the Court after his assassination attempt, Sir Bedivere had been careful to wear an empty scabbard at all times, but even so, there wasn't a guard in the Castle that trusted him an inch. Or the other two Landsgraves, come to that.
    Sir Bedivere, Sir Blays and Sir Guillam marched silently forward, and the farmers gave way to them, stepping passively aside so that the Landsgraves could take their centre position before the throne. They knew better than to protest to men who represented the Barons. Farmers might work the land, but the Barons owned it.
    King John studied the three Landsgraves warily. There was a calm sureness about them that worried him. Still, when in doubt, attack. He leaned forward in his throne and glared coldly at Sir Blays.
    'This is a private audience, sir Landsgrave. I have business with these men.'
    'The peasants can wait,' said Sir Blays. 'We have business with you.'
    'And what might that be?'
    'Demons have overrun the Barons' lands. What are you doing about it?'
    King John scowled at the Landsgrave's bluntness, and struggled to keep his voice calm and even. 'You know damn well what I'm doing. My guards are running themselves ragged fighting the demons, training peasant militias in those towns nearest the darkness, and helping to stockpile provisions in case of siege.'
    'While the Castle itself stands virtually unprotected,' said Sir Blays sardonically.
    King John smiled sardonically. There's always the goblins, my dear Landsgrave. I'm told they're very good with boiling oil.'
    Sir Blays stiffened angrily, and Sir Guillam laid a restraining hand on his arm. The two Landsgraves stared at each other; Sir Guillam shook his head slightly, and Sir Blays subsided.
    Now that is interesting, thought the King. I always knew there was more to Guillam than met the eye. He glanced quickly at Sir Bedivere, who was staring off into the distance as though nothing that had been said was of any interest to him. Probably it isn't, thought the King sourly. He's just a killing machine, waiting for his next set of orders. But who gives those orders, Blays or Guillam? He stared at the timid little man standing passively before him, and tugged pensively at his beard. Why had the Barons sent Sir Guillam? He wasn't a diplomat, like Sir Blays, and he certainly hadn't the makings of an assassin. He claimed to be an accountant, but so far he'd made no attempt to inspect the Castle's finances. Not that the King would have let him, of course . . .
    King John frowned uncertainly. If the Landsgraves hadn't come to complain about the goblins, what the hell were they here for? And why were they so interested in his guards? The King sighed quietly. Now that the Astrologer was no longer on hand to advise him, it seemed he'd have to keep digging for answers the hard way.
    'Well, Sir Guillam,' he said heavily, 'perhaps you'd care to tell me why you've chosen to interrupt this private audience. Sir Blays doesn't seem too sure.'
    Sir Guillam smiled politely. 'There are . . . questions . . . which need to be answered, Sire.'
    'Such as?'
    'Such as what's happened to the High Warlock.' Sir Guillam smiled diffidently. 'He does seem to be rather overdue. Months overdue, in fact.'
    'He'll be here.'
    'When?'
    'How the hell should I know?'
    'You don't seem too unhappy about his tardiness,' said Sir Blays. 'Anyone would think you didn't want him to come.'
    'Sir Blays,' said the King slowly, 'I don't care to be interrogated in this manner. You know very well how I feel about the High Warlock, you were here the night I read the Edict of Banishment upon him. Now
    my noble Landsgraves, it's been a long day, and I still have much to do. What exactly do you want from me?'
    'We want