Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

courtiers struck dumb by the open insult. Such a remark from a Landsgrave was almost a declaration of treason. Everyone looked to King John for his reaction, and it took all his years of experience and diplomacy to keep his visage calm and unmoved. A quick glance at Blays and Guillam had shown the King that he would find no support there. Their faces and their silence said more plainly than words that Bedivere spoke for all of them. The King had always known that sooner or later the Barons were bound to take advantage of the situation and turn against him, but he hadn't thought it would be this soon. Whatever happened here today, whatever decision he made, the Copper Barons couldn't lose. If he sent them men he couldn't spare, that would be a clear sign of weakness, and they'd just return with even more outrageous demands. If he refused to help, the Barons would use that as an excuse to topple him from his throne, and replace him with someone more to their liking. Someone they could control. Sir Bedivere had been sent for just one purpose; to insult and humiliate King John before his Court, and make it plain to one and all that the real power in the Forest Land now resided with the Barons.
    'It's easy to be brave behind high stone walls,' said Sir Bedivere, an unpleasant smile twisting his mouth.
    'My masters have only town walls and barricades to protect them from the demons. We demand you supply us with more men!'
    'Go to hell,' said the King.
    Sir Bedivere stiffened, and for a moment a red glare showed in his eyes, as though a furnace door had suddenly opened and closed. In that swift crimson gleam the King saw rage and hunger and a madness barely held in check, and he shivered, as though a cold wind had blown over him.
    'Brave words, from an old fool,' said Sir Bedivere, his voice harsh and strained. 'My masters will not accept such an answer. Try again.'
    'You have my answer,' said the King. 'Now leave my Court.'
    'Your Court ?' said the Landsgrave. He glanced round at the hushed courtiers and grim-faced guards and men-at-arms, and then laughed, a dark, contemptuous sound. 'Enjoy it while you can, old man.
    Sooner or later, my masters will send me back to take it away from you.'
    'Treason,' said the King mildly. 'I could have your head for that, Landsgrave.'
    'Your Champion might,' smiled Sir Bedivere. 'Unfortunately, he's not here.'
    'But I am,' said Prince Harald, rising to his feet, sword in hand. The courtiers murmured in approval as Harald moved forward to stand between his father and the Landsgrave. Julia, smiled, and surreptitiously transferred her dagger to her throwing hand, just in case one of the other Landsgraves tried to interfere.
    Sir Bedivere studied Harald a moment, and then laughed quietly. The red glare came and went in his eyes, and he reached for his sword.
    'No!' said the King sharply. 'Harald, please put away your sword. I appreciate the gesture, but he would quite certainly kill you. Please, sit down, and let me handle this.'
    Harald nodded stiffly, slammed his sword back into its scabbard, and sat down beside Julia again. She gave him a quick nod of approval, and he smiled sourly. The King leaned forward in his throne, and studied Sir Bedivere narrowly.
    'Landsgrave, you have much to leam. Did you really think you could threaten me in my own Court and get away with it? You're a fool, Sir Bedivere, and I do not suffer fools gladly. You now have a simple choice: bow your head to me, or lose it.'
    The Landsgrave laughed, and Thomas Grey stepped forward to face him. The Astrologer raised one slender hand, and Sir Bedivere's laugh became a scream as a sudden agony burned in his muscles. He tried to reach for his sword but the searing pain paralysed him where he stood.
    'Kneel,' said the Astrologer, and Sir Bedivere fell forward on all fours, tears of agony and helpless rage streaming down his face. The two other Landsgraves watched horrified as the giant warrior cried like a child.
    'And now, bow to your King,' said the Astrologer, and Sir Bedivere bowed. King John looked down at the sobbing, trembling Landsgrave, and found no pleasure in the sight. Instead, he felt tired and soiled and just a little sick.
    'Enough,' he muttered, and the Astrologer lowered his hand and stepped back beside the throne. Sir Bedivere collapsed, and lay shuddering on the rich carpeting as the pain slowly left him.
    King John looked slowly round his Court, but the courtiers for the most part avoided his gaze. Those