Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

Can't stand that fire. It sits there while I'm trying to sleep, making me jump with sudden noises, and all the time glaring at me like a great red eye.'
    He broke off as the door swung open, and Lord Vivian strode calmly into the room with a guardsman's blade at his back. He stopped where the guard told him, a fair distance away from the King, and stood quietly at ease, ignoring everyone. His scabbard was empty, but his hands were unbound. King John nodded curtly to the guard, who bowed formally, and left. Lord Vivian looked at the King.
    'Do you trust me enough to leave me unguarded in your presence?' he asked slowly.
    'Of course,' said Harald easily. 'You're unarmed.'
    Vivian smiled coldly.
    'You're here because I want to talk to you,' said the King, shooting a warning scowl at Harald. 'The Landsgraves are dead and Darius is still missing, which makes you the nearest thing to a leader the rebels have. They'll listen to you, where they might not believe me. So, what I'm about to say to you is intended for their ears as well. Is that clear?'
    'Of course,' said Lord Vivian, his pale blue eyes disturbingly direct and unblinking. 'But then, I'm hardly in a position to disagree, am I? My life is in your hands.'
    'You're to be exiled, not executed.'
    'We're dead either way. Traditionally, exiles are allowed neither weapons nor shelter till they're beyond the Forest boundaries. Once outside the protection of the Castle walls, my fellow traitors and I will he sitting targets for the first demons to come along.'
    'You could always beg protection from the Barons,' said Harald.
    'Hardly,' said Vivian. 'The Barons don't have enough food to feed their own people, never mind three hundred more mouths. And without their providing an armed escort, it's extremely unlikely any of us would survive the journey through the Forest. I've led scouting parties from one end of this Kingdom to the other; the demons are everywhere. Put us outside these walls unarmed, and you're condemning us to death.'
    'There is an alternative to exile,' said the King, slowly.
    Lord Vivian smiled coldly. 'I thought there might be.'
    'Earlier this evening,' said the King, 'I granted an audience to a deputation from the outlying farms.
    They're overrun with demons, and fighting a losing battle against the plague. They came to me for help, and I had to tell them there was nothing I could do. But now it seems to me that, just possibly, there is some help I can offer, after all.
    'Go with them, Lord Vivian, you and all your fellow rebels. Escort the deputation back to their farms, defend them against the demons, and teach the farmers how to defend themselves. I'll supply you with weapons, horses, and whatever provisions we can spare. It's not much of a choice I'm offering you. If the demons don't get you, the plague probably will. But all those who serve me in this matter will receive a full Pardon, and when the dark has finally been defeated, those of you who survive may return to the Forest Castle with a clean slate.'
    'You're right,' said Vivian. 'It isn't much of a choice. I accept your offer, on behalf of myself and my fellow traitors.'
    I he King nodded stiffly. 'I won't deceive you, my Lord Vivian, the odds are that none of you will survive to claim that Pardon.'
    'It's a fighting chance, Sire. And that's all I've ever asked for.'
    Lord Vivian stood straight and tall before the King, his head held high, and for the first time since he entered the King's chambers, there was something about him that might have been dignity and pride. Julia studied him warily, impressed in spite of herself. It occurred to her that just because a man is a traitor, it doesn't automatically follow that he's a villain or a coward. Harald sipped at his drink, and made no comment. King John stared into the fire, rather than at Vivian, but when he spoke his voice was calm and even.
    'My Seneschal will take you to the farmers. Their leader is a man called Madoc Thorne; obey his orders as you would mine. Give them all the support you can, Lord Vivian. They were true to me, even after I failed them.'
    'We will defend their lives with our own, Sire. My word on it.'
    King John looked up from the fire, and stared at him for a long moment. 'Why did you betray me, Vivian?'
    Vivian smiled. 'Ambition, Sire. I wished to be High Commander of the Guard.'
    'No other reason?'
    'No, Sire,' said Lord Vivian quietly. 'No other reason worth the mentioning.'
    Harald shot Vivian a quick glance, but said