Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

you as your Champion, Sire. It is all I want. It is all I have ever wanted. Your enemies shall fall before me, and I will bring you their heads to set upon your gates. I shall be your right hand, dealing out death and destruction, blood and terror, to any who dare oppose you. I will be your Champion, Sire, and all who live will fear your justice.'
    There was an unfocused, faraway look to his eyes, and Harald shivered suddenly. He'd always known Bedivere was a killer, but now he stared into the man's eyes and saw a bloody madness staring back.
    There was something in the giant Landsgrave that called for murder and sudden death, and would never be satisfied. Harald swore silently to himself that come what may, Sir Bedivere would have to die.
    'Sir Guillam?' he said coldly.
    Guillam looked up from his glass of wine, spilling some down his chin as he tried to empty his mouth too quickly. He swallowed hard, and then dabbed daintily at his mouth with a folded silk handkerchief. 'The Barons promised me I could have anything I wanted,' he said finally, 'and I've seen what I want. She's tall and graceful and very beautiful, and she's going to be mine. She's too proud to have anything to do with me now, but she'll come to heel quickly enough once I've broken her spirit. They always do.' He giggled suddenly, fingered the skinning knife in his sleeve, and drank more wine.
    Harald turned away in disgust, pitying whichever poor woman the Landsgrave had set his mind on.
    'Lovely girl,' said Guillam softly, his eyes very bright. 'Julia's such a lovely girl.'

    'What the hell's going on?' demanded Julia.
    Bodeen drew his sword and stepped back a pace, blocking the narrow passageway. Behind the King, several of the Royal Guard raised their swords, and Julia could see fresh blood on the blades.
    Treason,' said the King. 'And this man is a part of it. Aren't you, Bodeen?'
    'I'm afraid I can't let you pass, Sire,' said Bodeen calmly. 'I have my orders.'
    'Will you cut it out, Bodeen,' hissed Julia. 'These people are serious.'
    'So am I,' said Bodeen. Candlelight shimmered on his sword as he hefted it, and the nearest of the Royal Guard stirred restlessly.
    'I trusted you,' said King John. His voice was flat, but his eyes were confused and angry. 'You taught my son swordsmanship, you fought beside me in the Border campaign. And now you betray me. Put down your sword, Bodeen, at least that way you'll live to stand trial.'
    'That's not much of a choice,' said Bodeen.
    'You can't fight a whole company of guards,' said Julia urgently. 'Come on, Bodeen, do as he says. If you don't they'll kill you.'
    'I think you may well be right,' said Bodeen, and before anyone could react he grabbed Julia by the arm and pulled her to him, twisting her arm up behind her back. The King and his guardsmen surged forward, and Bodeen set his sword against Julia's throat.
    'One more step and she dies!'
    'Stay where you are!' thundered the King, and the guardsmen stopped. The King stepped forward.
    'That's far enough,' said Bodeen. His sword moved slightly, and Julia felt her skin part under the blade's keen edge. Blood trickled down her neck to stain the high collar of her tunic. The King stopped where he was. Julia tried to breathe as lightly as possible.
    'Let her go,' said the King.
    'I don't think so,' said Bodeen calmly. 'She's my way out of here. I'm going to back down this corridor, and you're going to let me do it. Because if you don't, you're going to have to invite the Princess Julia's father to a funeral.'
    Julia tried to ease the strain on her twisted arm, but Bodeen immediately hauled it back into place. Her head jerked as she cried out in pain, and more blood ran down her throat.
    'Keep still, Princess,' said Bodeen. 'I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I have to.'
    He means it, thought Julia wildly, he really means it.
    King John gestured for his guardsmen to stand steady, and glared at Bodeen. 'All right, traitor, how do you want to play this?'
    'First of all, everybody puts their swords on the ground,' said Bodeen, unperturbed. 'Then Julia and I are going for a little walk. I have some people to warn. And Sire, if I see anyone following me, I'll cut this young lady's throat from ear to ear.'
    Julia slammed the back of her head into Bodeen's face. There was a muffled crack as his nose broke, and his grip loosened as he groaned with pain. Julia elbowed him sharply in the ribs, ducked under the threatening sword, and broke free of Bodeen while he