Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

stood together, and strove for dignity. The cries of fear and rage died quickly away, replaced by sullen mutterings and grim bravado. And then everyone in the hall was silent as a new sound cut across the quiet, the unmistakable sound of a heavy steel bolt being drawn from its socket.
    They looked to the main door just in time to see Prince Harald pull back the second bolt, and then casually throw open the door. King John nodded calmly to his son as he walked slowly into the Hall, his company of guards fanning out around him. Harald raised an eyebrow when he spotted Julia among the guards, but shook his head when she started to say something to him. Julia nodded understandingly, there'd be time for explanations later. The King moved slowly forward into the Hall and the silent conspirators fell back before him, until only Darius, Cecelia and Gregory remained to face him. Darius
    stared blankly at Harald, who leaned against the door jamb and shook his head sadly.
    'Sorry, Darius,' said Harald. 'You can't trust anyone these days.'
    The conspirators stared at the Prince speechlessly. Darius stepped forward, his mouth working.
    'Why?' he asked finally. 'Why? We would have made you King!'
    Harald shrugged casually, but his eyes were cold. 'If you'd betray one King, no doubt you'd betray another if it suited you. Did you think I was blind, Darius? You threatened my father, you threatened me; your schemes would have endangered the whole Forest Land! I know my duty to the Land, Darius, it's more important than you or I will ever be. Did you really think I'd give it into your keeping? You've never cared for anyone but yourself in your whole damn life.'
    'Enough, Harald,' said the King. 'You've done well. Are there any other exits from this Hall?'
    'Just the one, father, the door in the far right-hand corner, it leads to Darius's private chambers. They can't escape that way, it's a dead end.'
    Darius spun round to face his fellow conspirators. 'Don't just stand there, damn you! We outnumber the guards three to one. Kill the King, and the Land is ours. Kill the King, or we'll all face the Headsman!'
    The conspirators stared at Darius, and then at the King.
    'Put down your swords,' said King John calmly. 'Those who surrender to me now will be granted exile. I give you my word on it.'
    The conspirators looked at each other.
    'Fight, damn you!' howled Darius, his face mottled with rage. 'We can still win!'
    One by one, the businessmen and the courtiers and the Lords and Ladies dropped their swords and daggers on to the polished wooden floor. Darius stared at them unbelievingly, his eyes wild and desperate. Gregory moved in close beside Cecelia, his sword at the ready.
    'It's over, Darius,' said Lord Vivian, his slow chill voice echoing on the silence. 'Better an honourable exile than a traitor's death.'
    Darius turned and ran for the far door. Cecelia and Gregory followed him.
    'After them!' roared the King, and twenty of the Royal Guard set off in hot pursuit. Julia ran with them, sword in hand. Bodeen was dead because of Darius and his schemes, and Julia had promised herself a vengeance. Pursued and pursuers disappeared through the far door, and once again a tense stillness fell across the Hall. Together, side by side, King John and Prince Harald walked slowly forward to confront the three Landsgraves, the only men in the Hall still holding swords. Half the Royal Guard moved protectively after the King.
    'Hello, John,' said Blays. 'All in all, it's been an interesting day, hasn't it?'
    King John smiled sadly. 'Did you really think my son would betray me, Blays?'
    The Landsgrave shrugged. 'It seemed a reasonable possibility.'
    'We've know each other more years than I care to remember, Blays. Time was when you were one of my staunchest allies, as close to me as my own family. And now this. Why, Blays? Why did you turn against me?'
    'Curtana,' said Blays simply. 'When you decided to draw that cursed sword, you became a threat to my master. You must have known I couldn't stand by and do nothing.'
    'And so you took the Curtana, for fear I'd use it against the Barons.' King John shook his head wearily.
    'That was never my intention, Blays. Now more than ever, I need the Curtana to throw back the darkness. Return the sword to me, and I promise you'll face nothing more than exile.'
    Blays's eyes narrowed, and his smile was openly contemptuous. 'What kind of a deal is that, John? You know we don't have the sword. Or are you just looking