Forest Kingdom Trilogy 2 - Blood and Honor

deception work. And anyway, by taking part in this conspiracy we're all legally guilty of treason. If you're proved an imposter, we'll all hang beside you on the gallows.'
    Jordan shook his head slowly. 'If I'd known things were going to get this complicated, I'd have asked for a rise.'
    'You did,' said Gawaine.
    'Let's get the Blood sample from Viktor,' said Jordan. 'We've still got to get to Court yet.'
    The Great Hall was packed with nobles and courtiers, far more than would be expected to witness the Testing of one minor noble. He stood nervously before the throne, between the two seconds who would speak for him. He was unarmed, and naked to the waist, as tradition demanded. He was trembling slightly, possibly from the cold. There was a bitter chill to the air in the Hall, despite all the several fireplaces could do. The Hall was also decidedly gloomy. The overhead chandelier hadn't been replaced yet. Prince Lewis stood to one side, together with the Monk and Ironheart, surrounded by a good number of heavily armed guards. They stood grim, silent and aloof from the brightly chattering courtiers, and paid the young noble no attention at all. Count William and the Lady Gabrielle stood on either side of the empty throne. There was no sign of Prince Dominic anywhere.
    'Just how badly did you burn him?' murmured Roderik to Jordan.
    'Pretty badly,' said Jordan quietly. 'But with his High Magic he should have been able to heal himself.'
    'Magic is unreliable at the moment,' said Sir Gawaine. 'The Unreal is affecting everything. That's why so many of the people here are wearing swords. Swords always work.'
    The three of them stood close together, inside a defensive circle of their own armed guards. The assembled courtiers and nobles had muttered uneasily at the presence of so many armed men at Court, but nobody made any objection. They all understood the realities of the situation. Jordan looked sympa-thetically at the young noble waiting for his. Testing. It must be bail enough having to prove your parentage and your social position in public, without having so many unpleasant undercurrents in the Court as well. His two seconds were trying to chat cheerfully with him, to ease the tension, but none of them was really in the mood. The young noble's mother and father stood by, prevented by law and custom from even approaching him. They both looked anxious, but composed.
    A sudden stir ran through the Court as the Hall's main doors flew open, and Prince Dominic made his entrance, surrounded by guards. Silence fell across the Great Hall. Dominic looked calmly about him, allowing the Court to study his ruined face, as though daring anyone to comment. When no one broke the silence, he moved unhurriedly forward to take up his usual position. He stopped as he drew level with
    Jordan, and the two men stared at each other past their guards. Half of Dominic's face had been burnt away, leaving nubs of discoloured bone showing through the dark, shrivelled flesh. His right eye had been sealed shut, and his right ear was a shapeless lump of burnt flesh. Flashes of teeth gleamed whitely through the torn cheek. The pain must have been appalling, but Dominic showed no sign of it. Jordan felt sickened at the sight of what he'd done. Guilt would have prompted him to speak, but the memory of what Dominic had done to his own wife kept Jordan silent. After a while Dominic walked on, and took up a position with his guards to the right of the throne's raised dais, opposite Lewis. The Regent stepped forward a pace, and everyone turned to look at him. His voice was calm and even.
    'My Lords and Ladies, your Majesties, we are gathered here in ancient tradition to witness a Testing, an oath of fealty to the Stone. Jonathon of Virbrook, son of Michael and Clarissa Trelawney of Virbrook, claims the power and prestige of Blood through his father's line. Let all here witness the truth or falsity of his claim.'
    The two seconds took it in turn to step forward and swear upon their Blood and upon their honour that the young noble was the man he claimed to be. There followed several more formal speeches and declarations, and Sir Gawaine took the opportunity to explain some of the background to Jordan.
    'Like so many of the customs at Castle Midnight, the Testing came about as a result of the time of inbreeding. For a while, it became very important to establish true claims of parentage, so that the Bloodlines could be salvaged without further endanger-ing