Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

quietly,
    'and I'll cut your heart out.'
    Guillam flushed pinkly, and Blays stepped quickly forward to stand between him and the Prince.
    'I'm sure Sir Guillam meant no offence, Sire, it's just that we don't have much time. The unmasking has finally begun, and soon the party will be drawing to its close. You must understand that we are all at risk the longer we stay here. If by some chance we were to be discovered together, it might prove a trifle awkward to explain.'
    Harald laughed. 'You do have a talent for understatement, Sir Blays.'
    'Quite,' said the Landsgrave, smiling mirthlessly. 'We need an answer, Prince Harald, and we need it now. Are you with us, or not?'
    'I need more time to think about it,' said Harald.
    'Your time just ran out,' said Sir Bedivere. 'What's there to think about? If you're not with us, you're against us. And if you're against us ...'
    'Then what?' said Harald. 'Then what, Sir Berserker?'
    A crimson glare came and went in the giant Landsgrave's eyes, but when he spoke his voice was cold and emotionless. 'If you're not with us, Prince Harald, we'll just find someone else and make him King.'
    'Like who?' Harald smiled crookedly and waved his glass around to indicate the crowded Hall. 'Rupert's not coming back, and there's no one here with any claim to the throne. For better or worse, I'm the last of the Forest Kings. The line ends with me.'
    'Precisely,' said Guillam. 'So what's to stop us establishing a new line of Kings?'
    Harald looked steadily at Blays. 'You'd have to kill me first.'
    That's right,' said Guillam, and he laughed richly, as though he'd just made an excellent joke.
    There's no need for all this talk of killing,' said Blays, glaring at Guillam. 'The Barons would much rather have someone they can trust on the Forest throne, someone they know they can work with. They want you, Prince Harald. Everyone in this Hall wants you as their King. All you have to do is say yes.'
    'Supposing I did agree, just for the sake of argument,' said Harald. 'What do you get out of it? I mean, you three personally. What exactly have the Barons promised you — money, power, or what?'
    Blays thought furiously as he stared impassively at the Prince. Something was happening here, and he wasn't sure what. Harald seemed . . . different . . . somehow. When he'd gone to summon Harald to the party, Blays would have sworn the Prince's spirit was all but broken. And yet now Harald stood before him, his usual mask of flippancy thrown aside, his voice cold and unyielding. He was far too self-assured for Blay's liking, and his steady gaze seemed almost mocking, as though he knew something the Landsgraves didn't. Blays scowled. For the time being he'd play Harald's game, but later . . . later, there would be a reckoning.
    'We serve the Barons,' he said slowly. 'That is our duty and our privilege. No doubt we'll all be well rewarded for our part in this, but our loyalty lies with Gold and Silver and Copper.'
    'Bull,' said Harald. 'No one's listening, my dear Landsgrave, no one can overhear us. For once in your life, forget diplomacy and tell me the truth. You know what I stand to get out of this deal, but if we're to work together I want to know where you're going to be, and what you're going to be doing, while I sit on the Forest throne. In other words, I want to know what's in it for you, my noble Landsgraves.'
    There was an uncomfortable silence, and then Blays bowed coldly to the Prince. 'I speak for Gold, Prince Harald, as I have always done. In return for my part in this rebellion, and for my many past services, the Baron has most graciously named me as his successor. A marriage has been arranged between myself and the Baron's eldest daughter. A most charming young Lady, perhaps you remember her? She was most upset when you broke off your engagement to her, in order to marry the Princess Julia. Her father was even more upset. Still, at least now the Baron has a son-in-law he knows he can trust.
    'When he dies, I will be Baron Oakeshoff. I have no wish to take over a demesne crippled by debt and overrun by darkness, just because the Forest has a weak King. With you on the throne, and the Barons to guide you, the Forest Land will grow strong again, and with it Oakeshoff demesne. That's what's in it for me, Prince Harald.'
    'Sir Bedivere,' said Harald, turning slightly to face the tall Landsgrave.
    For a moment it seemed he might not answer, but finally he stared at Harald and said simply, 'I shall serve