Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

lean old man dressed in black.
    'Thank you, sir Astrologer,' said King John evenly. 'Now listen well, my noble Lords and Ladies; I will not tolerate these disturbances in my Court. Any more such outbursts, and my Headsman will earn his pay. I will have order in this Court! Is that clear?'
    One by one the courtiers knelt and bowed their heads to their King, and then the men-at-arms, and even the Astrologer himself, until in all the Court only two men remained standing: the Landsgraves of Silver and Gold. Sir Guillam trembled when King John's gaze fell upon him, but although he couldn't meet the King's eyes, he wouldn't kneel. King John knew better than to try and stare down Sir Blays; they'd known each other too many years.
    The King leaned back in his throne and studied the two men thoughtfully. There was a time Sir Blays would have taken his own life to prove his loyalty to the Forest Land, or cut down any man who questioned it. Set against his past fealty, his refusal to bow was practically a declaration of war. The King turned his attention to Sir Guillam, and frowned. Scared half out of his wits, and still the man defied him.
    Why? King John closed his eyes, and sighed tiredly. He knew why. Frightened as he was, Sir Guillam was far more frightened of the Curtana.
    I have to do this, King John thought stubbornly. It's necessary .
    He opened his eyes and stared out cynically over the sea of bowed heads before him. The sight did not impress him in the least: they bowed because they were afraid of the Astrologer's magic, not because they were loyal. The King smiled grimly. If he couldn't have loyalty, he'd settle for fear. He had a war to wage, and with the darkness pressing closer all the time he could no longer afford to be choosy over which weapons he used.
    'Rise,' he growled finally, and the Court scrambled to its feet amid a rustle of silks and the clatter of chain-mail. A rebellious murmur started among a few of the courtiers, only to die quickly away when the King frowned. He smiled sourly, and then turned to glare at Sir Blays, who stared calmly back.
    'So, noble Landsgrave, you object to my drawing the Curtana.'
    'The Sword of Compulsion has been forbidden to your majesty's line for over four centuries,' said Sir Blays coldly.
    'The situation has changed since then,' said the King reasonably. The darkness must be stopped, and since we can't hope to do it by force of arms ...'
    'The Curtana is forbidden!' said Sir Blays stubbornly. 'A King rules by the consent of his people, not because he has a magic sword that compels their obedience. We've already seen how your Astrologer uses such power. For all his faults, Sir Bedivere was a warrior; he fought and bled for you in a dozen campaigns. And your pet sorcerer treated him like a rabid dog! Do you think the Barons will stand idly by while you employ such power?'
    'When the King wields Curtana, the Barons will do as they're told,' said the Astrologer silkily, and for a long time nobody said anything.
    'Your majesty!' said a deep, resonant voice from among the courtiers, and the King groaned silently.
    'Yes, Lord Darius!'
    'With your permission, Sire, I think I may have a compromise that will satisfy both you and the noble Landsgraves.'
    'Very well, Lord Darius, approach the throne. But if this compromise is anything like your last brilliant idea, you'd be much better off staying where you are.'
    The Minister for War chuckled appreciatively as he made his way forward, his plump figure moving with surprising grace as he threaded his way through the wary courtiers. He stopped before the throne, took up a position carefully midway between the Landsgraves and the King, and bowed to them both. King John frowned impatiently.
    'Well, Lord Darius?'
    'It seems to me, your majesty, that Sir Blays and Sir Guillam are mainly concerned about how the Curtana is to be used. If you could perhaps explain a little of your strategy . . .'
    'A King doesn't have to explain anything,' said the Astrologer. 'A loyal subject obeys without question.'
    'Of course, of course,' said Lord Darius quickly. 'I merely seek to clarify matters, nothing more.'
    'It's a reasonable request,' said the King mildly. 'And if it will help to set Sir Blays's mind at rest ...' He glanced at the Landsgrave, who nodded stiffly. 'Very well. As Sir Blays has already pointed out, the nature of the Curtana is to compel obedience. I propose to turn this power on the demons, and force them to return to the darkness