Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

possible. In fact, he was most insistent. Vague threats of invasion and war hovered in between every line.'
    'Right,' said Julia. 'That sounds like Dad. Once he's made up his mind about something, he won't budge an inch, come hell or high water. Damn him.'
    'He wouldn't really go to war,' said Harald. 'Would he?'
    'Oh yes,' said Julia bitterly. 'If he thought he was being insulted, he'd fight to the last drop of everybody's else's blood.' She stared grimly at the King, her hands curling into fists that trembled impotently at her sides. 'It seems you were right after all, your majesty, I don't have any choice in the matter.'
    The King looked away, unable to meet her accusing eyes. Harald reached out as though to comfort her, but drew back his hand when she turned her glare on him.
    'I take it my father won't be attending the wedding himself?' said Julia harshly.
    'No,' said the King. 'Apparently he's very busy just at the moment, and with travel as hazardous as it is .
    . .He did send you his love.'
    'No he didn't,' said Julia.
    King John and Harald looked at each other, and for a long time nobody said anything.
    'Come with me, both of you,' said King John, rising suddenly from his throne. 'There's something I want you to see.'
    He made his way carefully down the dais steps, waving aside Harald's offered help, and led the way to the rear of the Court. Next to the door leading to the King's private chambers hung a huge, faded tapestry. King John pulled at a concealed rope, and the tapestry slid jerkily to one side, revealing a hidden alcove in which stood a simple glass display case, some seven feet tall and six wide. Beyond the dusty fly-specked glass stood two wooden mannequins, each displaying an ancient and intricately stitched wedding outfit.
    'Splendid, aren't they?' said King John. 'These are your wedding robes, my children. For nine hundred years and more it has been the tradition of this family that the firstborn son and his bride shall wear these
    robes at their wedding. Your mother and I were married in them, Harald. There's no call to look at them like that, Julia, they're a great deal more comfortable than they appear.'
    Julia studied the two outfits sceptically. The groom's robe was a dark, sombre affair in black and grey, relieved only by a few silver buttons. The bride, on the other hand, was to appear in a light, frothy concoction of laces and silks, all in purest white. Julia glanced at Harald, and then shook her head solemnly.
    'I don't think much of yours, Harald. White just isn't your colour.'
    'That's your gown!' snapped the King, keeping a firm hold on his temper.
    'I can't wear that,' said Julia. 'There's nowhere to hang my sword. And anyway, why does it always have to be white?'
    'It stands for the purity and wholesomeness of the bride,' said King John coldly.
    'Ah,' said Julia, thoughtfully. She studied the wedding gown a moment. 'Do you have it in any other colours?'
    Harald got the giggles. The King turned to him slowly. Harald immediately had an extremely unconvincing coughing fit.
    'Is something amusing you, Harald?' said the King icily. 'No? I'm glad to hear it, because I want to make something clear to you and I want your full attention. From now on, there is to be no more quarrelling with the Princess Julia in any public place.'
    'But, father ...'
    'Be quiet! Now, Harald, I want you to do something for me. I want you to go down to the dungeons, find the dungeon master, and ask htm to show you the cells directly under the moat. They are damp, dark, not a little cramped, and the smell is appalling. They are also apparently infested with a kind of fungus that eats insects and small rodents, and would no doubt love the chance for a crack at a human prisoner. When you've had a good look, go away and think about them. Because if you and Julia raise your voices again in front of the Court I swear by Blood and Stone I'll have you both locked up in one of those cells and not let you out again till your wedding day! Not one more word from you, Harald! Go!
    Now!'
    Harald looked thoughtfully at his father, quickly decided that this was one time when discretion definitely was the better part of valour, and left the Court with as much dignity as he could muster. Which wasn't a lot.
    King John waited until the doors had closed behind Harald, and then turned to stare steadily at Julia.
    'You don't think much of Harald, do you?' he said finally.
    Jiilia shrugged. 'He has his good points, I