Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

saw the King making his way towards him, but deliberately continued his exercises. He waited until the King had almost reached him, and only then looked up and came to a stop. He lowered and sheathed his sword in one fluid movement, and leaned casually back against the closed gates. He mopped at his sweating face with a handkerchief, and bowed slightly to the King, who nodded brusquely in return.
    'Ready for the battle, Harald?'
    'Of course, father.'
    King John stood silently a moment, as though waiting for Harald to say something more. Harald let him wait.
    'You wanted to speak to me, Harald?'
    'That's right, father.' Harald wiped the last of the sweat from his brow, and slipped the handkerchief back into his sleeve. 'I want you to marry Julia to me before the battle. There is still time.'
    King John looked at him incredulously. 'You want what?'
    'I want Julia as my wife, and I want the ceremony performed now. It will do wonders for the morale of our people, and settle once and for all the somewhat nagging question as to whether I or Rupert is the favoured son. I need to be sure the people will follow me.'
    'Your marriage has been postponed,' said the King evenly. 'Apart from the fact that this is neither the time nor the place for a wedding, I don't want Rupert upset. It won't be long before he'll be riding out into battle alongside us, and there are those who will follow him where they won't follow you.'
    'Precisely my point,' said Harald. 'I am the eldest son, the firstborn. I am the one whose orders they should follow. Besides, there are other reasons for the marriage. It's entirely possible that you and I and Rupert could all die in this battle, leaving the Forest Land without a ruler. If Julia and I were married, the royal line could still continue through her. And if, by some calamity, you were to die while Rupert and I both survived, my being married to Julia could well ensure my succession to the throne. Either way, holding the marriage now would make your wishes in the matter quite clear. Otherwise, we could win this battle against the darkness, and still lose the Land to civil war.'
    'No,' said the King. 'I've given you my answer, Harald, and I don't like to repeat myself. The wedding is postponed, indefinitely.'
    'I see,' said Harald. 'So that's the way the wind blows.'
    For a long moment the two men faced each other silently, their eyes locked. From all around them came the clamour and hubbub of the last army of the Forest Land, as it slowly readied itself for battle, but Harald and the King were deaf and blind to everything but the moment of conflict between them. King John studied his eldest son coldly. Harald and Rupert had always been at odds; it was only to be expected given their situation. But this sudden vehemence on Harald's part had caught the King by surprise. In the past, Harald had always been ready and able to deal with Rupert on his own. He never lost his temper, and he knew how far he could go. But now . . . this was the first time Harald had ever turned to his father for help. King John frowned thoughtfully. Either Harald was genuinely fond of the Princess Julia, or he was seriously worried about Rupert's rising influence in the Court. The latter was by far the most likely reason, but you could never tell with Harald. You could never tell anything with Harald.
    King John sighed, and looked away. He was sorely tempted just to turn and walk away, but he knew he couldn't do that. It wouldn't do to have Harald thinking the King was afraid to face him. It wouldn't be ...
    safe.
    'You are my eldest son,' said the King slowly, carefully meeting Harald's gaze again. 'When the gates finally open, you will ride out I beside me, at my right hand. But Rupert is also my son, and he will ride at my left hand. It is vital for the morale of our troops that the three of us present a united front against the dark. Our army is going to have enough to worry about without having to decide whose orders they will and won't obey. We don't have time for politics any more. So, there is to be no more open dissension between you and Rupert. Is that clear, Harald?'
    'Perfectly clear,' said Harald.
    'Good,' said the King. 'Then there's nothing more we need to discuss, is there?'
    'I saw you speaking with the Warlock,' said Harald. 'Is he still drinking?'
    'Of course. But he'll do what's needed, when he has to.'
    Tell me,' said Harald easily, 'I've always wondered, were the stories true?'
    'Stories?' said the King.