Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

stuffy despite the Hall's
    many air vents, and the constant roar of massed voices grated on Cecelia's nerves till she thought she'd scream. Finally she decided enough was enough, and taking Gregory firmly by the arm, she forcibly led him off to the punch bowl, in search of a little peace and a very large drink.
    'How many more do we have to talk to?' she demanded, gulping thirstily at her punch.
    'As many as it takes,' said Gregory calmly. 'We can't afford to let anyone leave who isn't a hundred per cent convinced that it's in his best interests to side with us.'
    Cecelia emptied her glass and held it out to be refilled. 'You know, Gregory, I can remember when I could dance and sing and drink all through the evening and on into the early hours of the morning, sleep for four hours, and still wake up bright-eyed and cheerful, ready to do it all again. Look at me now, I've only been here a few hours and already I'm out on my feet. I'm getting too old for this.'
    'Nonsense,' said Gregory gallantly.
    'I am,'Cecelia insisted mournfully. 'I'm forty-one, I've got a double chin, and my tits are sagging.'
    'Rubbish,' said Gregory firmly. 'You're as young and lovely now as you've always been. I should know.'
    Cecelia smiled, and leaned tiredly against the young guardsman's chest. 'Dear Gregory, you say the nicest things. I suppose that's why I keep you around.'
    'Not the only reason, surely.'
    Cecelia chuckled earthily, and pushed herself away from him. 'Later, dear, later. We have work to do.'
    And then she hesitated, and looked at him thoughtfully. 'Gregory . . .'
    'My Lady?'
    'Why do you stay with me? You know I'll never divorce Darius.'
    'Yes,' said Gregory. 'I know.'
    'Do you love me?'
    'Perhaps. What difference does it make, as long as we're having a good time together? Worry about tomorrow when it comes. For now we have each other, and I've never been happier. Never.'
    Cecelia reached up, and taking his ears in her tiny hands, she pulled his head down to hers, and kissed him tenderly. 'Thank you, my dear,' she said quietly, and then let him go. 'Now do me a favour and go and talk to those ghastly people for a while. I'm going to sit here and have a headache until I get my stamina back.'
    Gregory nodded amiably, and strode manfully off into the milling crowd. Cecelia stared dubiously at the punch in her glass, and then shrugged and sipped daintily at it. One more glass wouldn't hurt her. Darius came over to join her, mopping at his brow with a silk handkerchief that had seen better days.
    'How are we doing?' he asked, looking longingly at the punch bowl.
    'Not too bad,' said Cecelia. She offered him a sip from her glass, but he shook his head. 'Don't worry,
    Darius. Most of them are with us, the rest just need to be talked into doing what they want to do anyway.'
    'Let me know at once if anyone makes a move to leave.'
    'Of course. I take it you have your poisoned dagger handy?'
    'Of course. And the guards have their orders. No one gets out of here alive unless I vouch for them.
    We've come too far to risk being betrayed now. All our heads would roll.'
    Cecelia nodded soberly, and shivered suddenly. She reached out a hand to Darius, but he was looking round the Hall at his guests. Cecelia let her hand drop, and moved to stand beside him. The dancers had become a trifle unsteady on their feet, but seemed to be making up in enthusiasm for what they lacked in skill and timing. Voices were growing loud and raucous, and the ever-present laughter was boisterous and shrill by turns.
    'We'll be running out of wine soon,' said Cecelia. 'When do we start the unmasking?'
    'Soon, my dear, soon. It's not something we can rush, it's the first real sign of trust, the first commitment to our cause. When I think they're ready I'll give you the signal, and we'll both unmask. Once we've broken the ice, the rest will follow. I hope.'
    'What if they don't?' asked Cecelia quietly. 'What if we haven't convinced them?'
    'We must,' said Darius, just as quietly. 'If we don't, we'll be the ones who won't leave here alive.'

    Julia strode briskly down the brightly lit corridor, absently rubbing her bruised knuckles. No damn guardsman was going to tell her which passageways she could and couldn't use. No doubt he would regret his insulting tone of voice, when he finally woke up. Julia grinned, and then stopped and peered cautiously about her. She could have sworn she heard something . . . She looked back the way she'd come, but nothing moved in the