Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

say that Rupert would be going out to fight again at dawn?'
    'Well of course he'll be there,' said Harald. 'It's his duty.'
    'You can't be serious! You saw him in Court, he's exhausted!'
    Harald shrugged coldly. 'He doesn't have any choice in the matter. Rupert, father and I will be leading the charge against the demons; it's expected of us. After all, you can't expect the rabble to follow if royalty won't lead, can you? Not that it actually matters whether Rupert turns up or not, as long as I'm there. I'm the eldest son, and I'm the one they'll follow.'
    'He'll be there, and you know it,' said Julia. A slow, cold anger wrapped itself around her like an old, familiar cloak. 'Rupert knows his duty. He's always known his bloody duty. And he's not a coward.'
    Harald laughed unpleasantly. 'Rupert's always been a coward. He still needs a nightlight in his room before he can sleep!'
    Julia turned her back on him, and started down the dais steps. Harald hurried after her.
    'Julia! Where are you going?'
    'I have to see Rupert. I have to talk to him.'
    Harald grabbed her by the arm, and stopped her at the foot of the dais steps. She jerked her arm free, and clapped her hand to her swordhilt.
    'Get away from me, Harald.'
    'No, Julia,' he said firmly. 'It's too late for that now. You made your choice, and you can't go back on it.'
    'Don't be too sure about that, Harald.'
    'Oh, I think I can be, my dear. Or do you really believe Rupert would take you back, once he's found out just how close you and I have become during his absence?'
    'I thought he was dead!'
    'I doubt that'll make any difference to Rupert. He's always been rather . . . old-fashioned ... in such matters. Face facts, my dear. You've made my bed, and now you must sleep in it. Forget Rupert. You're going to be my wife, Julia, and as such you must learn to obey me.'
    Julia brought her knee up sharply, and Harald doubled over, gasping for breath. Julia left him there before the throne, and hurried, almost running, to the door through which Rupert had already passed. It was horribly clear to her that if she didn't talk to him first, Rupert would go out to face the waiting demons believing that she didn't care for him. And she couldn't let him go to his death believing a lie.
    She hurried out of the Great Hall and down the corridor that led to the King's private chambers. She soon came to the King's door, and stood there a moment, composing herself, before knocking politely.
    Nobody answered, and when she tried the handle it wouldn't turn. She beat on the thick wooden panels with her fist, and then fell back suddenly as a single glowing eye opened in the wood of the door, and looked at her. Julia shuddered uncontrollably as she faced the shining, metallic eye. All her instincts were telling her to turn and run, but still she stood her ground and glared defiantly back.
    This door is sealed, said a cold voice in her mind.
    'You must let me in,' said Julia shakily. 'I have to see the King.'
    Prince Harald, Prince Rupert and the High. Warlock may enter, said the cold voice. To all others, this room is sealed. Leave now.
    'I have to see the King! It's important!'
    Leave now.
    'Damn you, let me in!'
    Julia reached for her sword, and a bright flash of balefire sent her sprawling to the floor. She shook her head to clear it, and then clambered unsteadily to her feet, carefully keeping her hand away from her sword. The eye in the door stared calmly back at her, bright and metallic and utterly inhuman.
    Leave,said the cold voice. Leave now .
    Julia glared helplessly at the unblinking eye, and then turned and walked back down the corridor. The eye watched her go, and then closed, disappearing back into the wood of the door. Julia slowly made her way back to the Great Hall. Whatever King John wanted with his sons and the High Warlock, it must be pretty damned important to justify such a strong warding spell. She'd just have to talk to Rupert later, that was all.
    She had to talk to him, while there was still time.

    Deep in the endless gloom of the South Wing, a concealed door swung slowly open, and Lord Darius stepped out of the wainscoting and into the corridor. He looked cautiously around him, but nothing and no one moved in the wide, empty gallery that stretched away to either side of him, cold and dark and silent. Darius smiled slowly, and pulled the door shut behind him. It closed with only the faintest or clicks, and no trace remained in the panelled wall to show where it