Forest Kingdom Trilogy 2 - Blood and Honor

then, finally, the level of the water fell away, and the tsunami was past, its fury spent. Gawaine lowered his axe, and let out a slow sigh of relief.
    'That was close. That was as close as it's ever been, and then some. Are you all right, your highness?'
    'Fine. I've always wanted to play the part of a drowned rat.' Jordan tried to squeeze some of the water out of his clothes, and then gave it up as a bad job. 'That's some axe the High Warlock gave you.'
    'I've always thought so. We'd better get moving. Calling up that much water must have weakened your brother considerably, but it won't take him long to recover. His apartments should be just down here.'
    Gawaine splashed through the inches-deep water and headed for a closed door up on the right. Jordan followed him, wondering absently if the water was draining away through the holes in the floor, and if so, what would happen when all those gallons of water met the blazing magma down below. He decided that he'd rather not be around when it happened, and increased his pace to draw level with the knight.
    Gawaine finally stopped before a door that looked no different from any of the others. He tried the
    doorknob, and it turned easily in his grasp. Gawaine eased the door open an inch, and let go of the handle. He looked inquiringly at Jordan, who nodded firmly. Sir Gawaine kicked the door open, and the two of them charged into Dominic's apartment.
    The Lady Elizabeth was hanging on the far wall. Crude iron nails had been driven through her arms and legs, pinning her to the brickwork. She'd been gutted, her body split open from neck to crotch. And yet somehow, horribly, she was still alive. Her mouth worked silently, but there was no sanity left in the bulging eyes. In the centre of what had been Elizabeth's abdomen, strange lights and colours moved sickeningly.
    A gateway can be anything.
    'Impressive, isn't it?' said Dominic.
    Jordan and Sir Gawaine looked round sharply. Prince Dominic was seated elegantly in a comfortably padded chair, one hand cradling a brandy glass. Beside him stood a small table, bearing a silver tray with a dozen or so dainty little snacks. He looked like he'd been there for some time. As always, Dominic wore no sword or armour, but still he looked totally at ease, and in full command of the situation.
    'You bastard,' said Jordan. 'How could you do that to her? She was your wife!'
    'You're even more sentimental than the man you pretend to be,' said Dominic, amusedly. 'Ours was never a love match, actor. Elizabeth thought she was using me as a means to power. In fact, it turned out to be the other way round. Poor Elizabeth.' He gestured languidly with his free hand, and all the water soaking Jordan and Gawaine's clothes suddenly disappeared. 'There. That's better. I don't know why you're looking so shocked, Gawaine. You know perfectly well that you despised Elizabeth, and she you.
    Or perhaps you're merely worried about the Castle. Fear not. The Unreal isn't nearly strong enough yet to break through without my gateway. As soon as it's caused enough chaos to suit my purpose, I'll destroy the gate, and the Unreal will be back under control again. Simple, but elegant, don't you think?
    Like all the best plans.'
    'What do you hope to achieve by all this?' said Jordan slowly. A dizzying anger had begun to burn within him, but for the moment he kept it firmly under control. 'What's so important that hundreds of people in the West Wing had to die because of it?'
    'Just a little general chaos,' said Dominic, 'which my people, carefully forewarned, will take advantage of to gain the best positions in the Castle, and destroy Lewis's troops. William's men will be too busy coping with the Unreal to interfere, until it's too late. By the time I finally close the gateway, my people will control Castle Midnight, and my rule will begin.'
    'You take care of Dominic,' said Gawaine to Jordan. He turned to stare at the gateway. 'I'll take care of this abomination.'
    'I'm afraid I really can't allow that,' said Dominic. He rose to his feet in a single languid movement, pivoted on one foot, and
    kicked the axe out of Gawaine's hand. 'Now, old man, let's see how good you are without a magic axe to protect you.'
    Gawaine cursed angrily, and reached for Dominic with his bare hands. The Prince smiled, and gestured lightly with his left hand. Gawaine groaned once, and slumped to his knees. Fat beads of sweat formed
    on his face, and ran away in steady streams.
    'Have you