Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

have that, can we?'
    'We need your fellow patriots to ensure that Harald's Court will toe the line,' murmured Guillam, 'but we don't necessarily need you. When all is said and done, Darius, you are a go-between. Nothing more.
    And go-betweens shouldn't keep things to themselves, should they? I really think you ought to tell us about these other reasons of yours.'
    Darius met their gaze unyieldingly. A rivulet of blood ran down his neck as Bedivere pressed lightly with
    his sword. For a moment the tableau held, with no one giving way. Blays and Guillam exchanged a glance, and Guillam nodded at the terrified Lady Cecelia. Blays grabbed a handful of her hair and bent her head sharply back. Both her screams and her struggles ceased abruptly as Guillam pressed a dagger against her throat. She started to whimper, and then stopped as the blade cut into her skin.
    'Well?' said Blays.
    'I wanted revenge,' said Darius, so quietly that it took the Landsgraves a moment to understand what he'd said. Blays gestured for Guillam to put away his dagger, and released Cecelia. Bedivere took his sword away from Darius's throat, but made no move to sheathe it.
    'I never wanted to be Minister for War,' said Darius. 'I inherited the post from my father. No one gave a damn what I wanted to do with my life, nobody cared that I had no training or inclination for the work. I could have been a sorcerer, I had the talent. I had the power. The Sorcerers' Academy offered me a place even before I reached a man's years. But the King and my father wouldn't allow me to go. I would be the next Minister for War, and that was all there was to it.
    'I did my best, to begin with, but somehow my best was never good enough, so after a while I just stopped trying. And the King and the Astrologer and the Champion have taken it in turns to insult and ridicule me because I'm no good at a job I never wanted anyway. After the rebellion, Harald will probably grant me whatever post I want, but that isn't why I've done all this. I want revenge. I want revenge for all the years of abuse I've suffered, for all the insults I've had to swallow. I want to see everyone who ever laughed at me broken and humbled.'
    'You will,' said Blays. 'You will.'
    'I want to see the King die!'
    Bedivere chuckled darkly, and sheathed his sword. Darius nodded his thanks shakily, and then reached out and took Cecelia's hand as she ran over to kneel beside his chair. A spot of blood stained the high collar of her dress, from where Guillam's dagger had nicked her throat. Blays rose to his feet.
    'I don't see the need for any further discussion. Lord Darius, arrange for a meeting between Prince Harald and your fellow patriots. The sooner he commits himself to our cause, the better. And make sure everyone attends. It's time we sorted out our friends from our enemies.' Blays smiled coldly. 'I'm sure I don't need to tell you what to do if anyone tries to betray us to the King.'
    'I'll take care of any problems,' said Darius.
    'I'm sure you will. Good night, my Lord and Lady. Sleep well.'
    He bowed slightly, and then turned and left. Guillam and Bedivere followed him out. The door swung slowly shut after them. Cecelia waited a moment to be sure they'd really gone, and then made a rude gesture at the door.
    'They think they're so smart,' she said, dismissing the Landsgraves with a contemptuous sniff. 'By the time you've finished working on Harald, you'll be the power behind the throne, not the Barons.'
    Darius patted her hand soothingly. 'Let them think they're in charge for the time being, my dear. It does no harm, and it keeps the Barons happy.'
    'And after the rebellion?'
    'Afterwards, it shouldn't be too difficult to prove to Harald who really killed his father . . .'
    Cecelia laughed, and clapped her hands together impishly. 'And with the Landsgraves discredited, who else can he turn to for support, but us? Darius, dear heart, you're a genius.'
    Darius smiled, and sipped at his wine. 'Have you been able to entice Harald into your bed yet?'
    'Not yet.'
    Darius raised a plucked eyebrow. 'Are you losing your touch, my dear?'
    Cecelia chuckled earthily. 'I'm beginning to wonder. Court gossip has it that he's infatuated with the Princess Julia. I suspect the novelty of a woman who knows how to say no intrigues him. Still, he'll get over that. And I'll have him in my bed if I have to drag him.' She frowned thoughtfully. 'King Harald. It sounds well enough, and with us behind him he'll be great in