Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

the cesspits,' murmured Harald, as he and Julia entered the Court side by side.
    'How could I forget?'
    'Then smile, dammit, it won't kill you.'
    'Want to bet?'
    With heads held high, and wearing gritted-teeth smiles, they walked quickly forward to bow and curtsey respectively before the throne. The King regarded them both, and grinned sardonically.
    'Drop the smiles, my children, you're not fooling anyone.' He gestured for the guard to leave, and waited patiently for the doors to shut behind him. King John studied Harald and Julia a while in silence. Harald stared calmly back, while Julia shifted impatiently from foot to foot, her hand never far from the pommel of her sword. The King had made a decision about them, she could see it in his face.
    'You two aren't getting on at all, are you?' said King John, finally.
    'Early days yet, father,' said Harald brightly. Julia sniffed audibly.
    The King stared at her, and sighed audibly. 'Princess Julia, how can anyone cause so much trouble in so short a time?'
    'Practice,' said Julia briskly. 'What have I done wrong now?'
    'According to the latest report, you've been organising the Castle women, everyone from the scullery maids to the Ladies-in-Waiting, into a last-ditch militia. This has apparently included drilling them in swordsmanship, archery and dirty tricks. Such as where best to kick a man when he's down, and how to smear your sword blade with fresh dung so that any wounds you make will fester.'
    'That's right,' said Julia. 'Some of my ladies are shaping up rather well.'
    'That is not the point!' snapped the King. 'Women don't fight!'
    'Why not?'
    King John spluttered speechlessly for a moment. 'Because they're not suited to it, that's why not!'
    'That right?' drawled Julia. 'Want to strap on a sword and go a few rounds with me ? I'll give you a two points' start and still beat you three out of five.'
    'What are you grinning at?' growled the King to Harald. 'I suppose you've been supporting her in all this!'
    'No,' said Harald. 'I hadn't heard about this latest venture, but I really don't see the harm in it. As and when the demons decide to storm this Castle, we're going to need all the defenders we can muster. I don't care if there's a man or a woman guarding my back, as long as they know how to use a sword.'
    'Every now and again, you have moments of sanity,' said Julia approvingly. 'Not often, I'll admit, but it's an encouraging sign.'
    King John took a deep breath, held it, and let it go. It didn't calm him as much as he'd hoped. 'I am also told, Princess Julia, that when my guards quite properly tried to break up your latest training session, you and your ladies drove them off at swordpoint. Is this true?'
    'Pretty much,' said Julia. 'Served them right for interfering, it wasn't any of their business. And what's more, half your guards turned out to be really lousy swordsmen. They should have stayed and watched.
    They might have learned something.'
    The King shook his head disgustedly. 'I don't know why I waste my time arguing with you. You have no sense of the fitness of things.'
    'None at all,' said Julia cheerfully. 'Is that all? Can I go now?'
    'No, you can't! You're here to discuss your forthcoming marriage to Harald.'
    'I'm not marrying him!'
    'We've been through this before, Julia, you don't have a choice in the matter. Twenty-two years ago, your father and I signed a Peace Treaty to end the Border War between our two countries. Part of that Treaty was an arranged marriage between my eldest son and the Duke's youngest daughter, as and when
    said daughter should come of age. You are of age, Julia, and the marriage will take place as planned. I will not risk another war because of your stubbornness. The postponements are at an end, Julia. I have spoken to the Castle chaplain, and the wedding will finally take place two weeks from today.'
    Two weeks ?' Julia shot a furious glance at Harald, but he seemed just as surprised as her.
    Two weeks,' said King John firmly.
    'Last I heard, you'd put it off till next month,' said Harald. 'Why all the rush?'
    'Yeah,' said Julia suspiciously. 'What's happened?'
    The King gave her a grudging smile. 'I have received a communication from your father, my dear. From what I can gather, he wasn't at all surprised to learn you'd survived your encounter with the dragon. Now that he knows you've arrived here safe and sound, he states quite clearly that it is his wish that your marriage to Harald should take place as soon as