Forest Kingdom Trilogy 2 - Blood and Honor

guard. The heavy steel blade punched into the guard's ribs and out again, and he fell screaming to the floor in a welter of blood. Gawaine smiled coldly, and took up a stance between Prince Viktor and the rest of the guards. Roderik gestured sharply with his left hand, and a sudden wind roared through the
    suite, rocking everyone on their heels. Jordan palmed a smoke pellet from his sleeve and threw it into the midst of the guards. Choking black clouds enveloped them, and in a matter of moments the guards'
    confident advance had deteriorated into bewildered chaos. Robert Argent stepped forward and punched out the guard nearest him. The man's head snapped back, and the merchant snatched his victim's sword before the body hit the ground. He looked around for another opponent, his face as calm and unmoved as ever. Jordan drew his sword and cut down a guard still confused by the shifting wind and smoke.
    Gawaine killed one of the guards facing him, but another drove him back with a desperate display of expert swordsmanship. Another guard headed for Viktor, who was still struggling to get up out of his chair. Heather waited to the last moment, and then kicked the guard in the groin. He bent forward, groaning, and Viktor drew a knife from his sleeve and cut the guard's throat.
    Jordan backed away as a guard came after him. He knew a few tricks with a sword, every actor did, but this man was a professional soldier, and Jordan knew his limitations. He glanced quickly about him for Gawaine, but the knight had problems of his own. Jordan reluctantly palmed one of his last flare pellets
    and crushed it in his left hand. Flames roared up around his fist, and he thrust it in the guard's face. The guard automatically raised an arm to protect his face, and Jordan ran him through.
    Roderik tried to raise his High Magic, but he'd been to the well too often in the past few days, and he just didn't have the strength. Even his air magic was beginning to fail.
    Gawaine swung his axe double-handed, and beat his way past his opponent's defence by sheer strength.
    He buried his axe in the guard's thigh, and then pulled it free and looked impatiently round for another opponent.
    DeGrange watched in shock as his men died, and then turned and ran for the door. Jordan went after him, his left hand still blazing hotly. DeGrange turned at bay in the corridor, his sword held out before him. Jordan skidded to a halt and realised too late he might have been just a bit foolish in going after DeGrarige alone. DeGrange was by far the better swordsman, and both of them knew it. Jordan gestured mystically with his blazing hand, but the flames were already beginning to die down. DeGrange launched his first attack, and Jordan barely parried the blow in time. His swordarm jarred painfully at the impact. He backed away, and DeGrange came after him, intent on finishing him off before help arrived.
    Sweat ran down Jordan's face and blood pounded in his ears as he strove desperately to ward off DeGrange.
    'Duck, Jordan!' roared a voice behind him.
    Jordan threw himself to the ground without hesitating, and a gleaming blur shot through the air where Jordan had been standing and struck DeGrange squarely in the face. He staggered back a pace, still gripping his sword. Jordan looked up, and saw the haft of Gawaine's axe protruding from DeGrange's shattered face. The ex-outlaw slumped slowly to his knees, and then fell backwards and lay still. Jordan lowered his face on to his arms, and tried to get his breathing back to normal. Gawaine walked past him.
    There was a pause, followed by an ugly sucking sound as the knight reclaimed his axe. Jordan started to get to his feet, and Gawaine was there to help him. Jordan looked shakily at Gawaine.
    'You saved my life. Thanks.'
    'You saved all our lives when you destroyed the gateway, Sire.'
    'I knew there had to be a good reason why I did that,' said Jordan. He looked back at the suite's open
    door. 'Everything all right in there?'
    'DeGrange's men are dead, and none of us is badly wounded. A few scrapes and cuts, nothing more.
    Prince Viktor is safe.'
    'Good. Good.' Jordan looked sharply at Sir Gawaine. 'You know, we were lucky this time. We should have expected more treachery from within, and been better prepared to deal with it. The way things are at the moment, we can't afford to trust anyone.'
    'I take your point,' said Gawaine. 'But unfortunately, we don't have any choice. We all need each other to make this