Forest Kingdom Trilogy 2 - Blood and Honor

them. Over the years, the power of the Stone has also helped to stabilise and magnify the various elemental magics. And, of course, the Test also serves to show up any Unreal imposter who might try to replace a Real noble. And, finally, it's the main legal proof of parentage and inheritance.'
    He broke off as the speeches finally came to an end. The young noble stood alone before the throne, unaccompanied now even by his seconds. There was a tense, anticipatory silence in the Court. The Regent said something in a harsh guttural language that Jordan didn't recognise. There was a sudden grating sound, and the Stone slid jerkily out from under the throne. Jordan looked at it curiously. From where he was standing, it looked like just another piece of rough'hewn granite. Except granite doesn't come when you call it. Jordan tried to smile at his own joke, but couldn't. There was a definite feeling of age about the Stone, an ominous, disturbing sense of antiquity, of having watched impassively as time passed and history became legend.
    What happens if he's wrong about his having Blood?
    The Stone will kill him.
    Jordan looked away, and made himself think about something else. He pressed his arm lightly against his side, feeling the reassuring presence of the glass vial containing Viktor's Blood. Getting it had proved just as difficult as he'd expected. After DeGrange's treachery, Viktor had become decidedly jumpy about letting sharp blades get anywhere near him. In the end, Heather had to hold his arm steady while Jordan made the necessary incision.
    Lewis leaned close to the Monk's cowl, and spoke quietly to him while everyone's attention was fixed on the Stone. 'Use your magic, Monk. If that's not really my brother over there, but only an actor, he must be under some kind of illusion spell. See if you can undo it.'
    The Monk's empty cowl turned briefly in Jordan's direction, and then back again. 'There is no illusion spell there to undo, your highness.'
    Lewis glared at him, but still had enough sense to keep his voice low. 'You swore to me that they were using a double in public!'
    'They are.'
    'Then who the hell's that? If that's not an illusion, then he really does look like that . . .' Lewis's voice trailed away. 'My God, could Dominic have been right after all? Could that be an unreal double that's replaced Viktor?'
    He fell silent as the Regent glared at him, and wrestled furiously with the possibilities. Count William gestured to the young noble, who knelt obediently before the Stone. The Court grew utterly silent to hear his words.
    'I, Jonathon of Virbrook, son of Michael and Clarissa Trelawney, swear allegiance to the Stone of Redhart, and the King who rules by its grace.'
    One of his seconds handed him a slender knife. The young noble's hand shook slightly as he took it, and he stopped a moment to let his hand settle before continuing. He made a shallow cut on the inside of his left forearm, and blood ran down his arm and splashed on to the Stone. It looked very red and very bright against the cold grey Stone. The young noble swallowed once, and then placed his left palm firmly on to the bloodstained Stone. He made a soft, puzzled sound, and then the breath went out of him and he fell limply backwards. His head made a flat, final sound as it hit the floor. His two seconds knelt beside him and searched for a pulse, but they already knew they wouldn't find one. The boy's mother fainted.
    His father let her lie where she fell, his face slack and grey with grief. The Regent gestured urgently to his guards, and two of them went to carry out the body, while others saw to the father and the mother. The Court buzzed with shocked whispers as soon as the great doors closed behind them.
    'What happened?' said Jordan quietly.
    'It seems the boy had no Blood after all,' said Roderik. 'Whoever his father was, it wasn't Trelawney.
    His mother must have been . . . indiscreet.'
    Jordan said nothing. Without turning round, he could tell the Court was turning to look at him. Word of Lewis and Dominic's intentions had obviously got around. Well, thought Jordan, when in doubt, grab the bull by the horns. And if that fails, try a swift kick at his nuts as he runs past. He turned to face the Court, stepped forward a single pace to draw everyone's attention, and raised his trained actor's voice in a carrying declaration.
    'My friends, it seems there are those among us who have become confused by the Real and the Unreal, and are no