Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

first followed you to Court to be your Astrologer!'
    John stared at him, tears rolling unheeded down his sunken cheeks. 'Thomas . . . we've been friends since we were children together ...'
    'Children grow up, John.'
    'Do you really hate me so much?'
    'More than you can imagine, John. I've looked forward to this moment for years. A great many years.'
    'You . . .' said John slowly. 'You were the one who first suggested we call the Demon Prince!'
    'Of course,' said the Astrologer calmly. 'With his power, I could have made myself King.'
    He broke off as the Demon Prince laid a hand on his shoulder, and squeezed gently. Blood ran down the Astrologer's arm as the long claws sank deep into his flesh, but he didn't flinch or cry out.
    'Such a foolish mortal, to think of controlling me,' murmured the Demon Prince. 'You were mine, body and soul, from the moment you decided to summon me out of the darkness, From that moment on, you became my agent, my slave, my—'
    Traitor,' whispered the King.
    'I have always been well served by traitors,' said the Demon Prince.
    John bowed his head and looked away. In the space of a single day he had lost his Kingdom, his Castle, and his oldest friend. It didn't seem possible that a man could hurt so much and still go on living.
    Rupert cautiously raised himself up on his elbows. The geas was almost gone, but the sword was too far away. The Demon Prince would stop him before he could get anywhere near it. The King, on the other hand, was almost on top of the sword . . . Rupert frowned. In order to stand any chance at all, the King was going to need a diversion, to distract the Demon Prince and the Astrologer . . . Rupert smiled sourly as the answer came to him. He might not be able to reach the sword, but he could certainly reach the Demon Prince. Damn , thought Rupert, this is going to hurt . He quickly caught his father's eye, and jerked his head slightly at the sword lying between them. Now, if the Demon Prince would just move a few steps closer . . . The Astrologer laughed suddenly, and the King slowly turned his head to look at him.
    'Well, John,' grinned the Astrologer, 'nothing more to say to me? No last-minute appeals to my better nature, or the friendship we once shared?'
    John just looked at him.
    'I'm going to be King,' said Thomas Grey simply, a world of satisfaction in his voice. 'At long last, I'm going to be King. My master promised me your throne, for my part in this. Don't worry, John; I'll put the
    Kingdom back together, and run it as it should be run. And with the demons to back me up, there's not a Baron in the Land will dare stand against me.'
    'You're crazy,' said Julia harshly. 'King? King of what? There's nothing but the Darkwood now.'
    'Things won't always be like this,' said the Astrologer calmly. 'I shall rule the Forest Land. This was promised to me.'
    'Such a petty ambition,' said the Demon Prince. 'I offered you all the Kingdoms of the world.'
    'The Forest Land is all I want,' said Thomas Grey. 'It's all I've ever wanted. And now I shall be King, at last.'
    'I think not,' said the Dark Prince.
    The Astrologer turned to stare at the inhuman creature lounging carelessly on its decaying throne.
    'I have no use for Kings,' said the Demon Prince. 'Only slaves. Come here, slave.'
    Thomas Grey shook his head slowly. 'I'm to be King. King of the Forest Land. You promised me!'
    The Demon Prince smiled, showing his teeth. 'I lied.'
    He rose to his feet in one sudden movement, and started towards the Astrologer. Thomas Grey backed away, and then turned and ran. He barely made half a dozen steps before the night closed around him like a living cloak. Grey fell struggling to the ground, wrapped in darkness, and screamed horribly as within his body he felt his bones and muscles moving, changing, twisting . . .
    The screams finally died away, and King John watched horrified as the thing that had once been his friend rose slowly to its feet as a demon. A low-browed head squatted on broad, muscular shoulders, and its overlong arms fell down past its knees. Thick oily hair showed clearly through great rents in the sorcerer's torn robes. A simple, crafty intelligence showed in the glowing blood-red eyes, but the was no trace of recognition in them when the demon glanced at the King before scuttling away to crouch fawningly at the Demon Prince's side.
    'Well?' said the Demon Prince to the King. 'How do you like your friend now?
    Rupert lunged forward and slammed into the Demon