Forest Kingdom Trilogy 2 - Blood and Honor

looked up from the fire and looked soberly at Jordan. 'It's strange to see another man with my face,' he said slowly. 'We have a legend, here in Redhart, of the doppelganger: a supernatural double who appears to us only at the time of our imminent death. Are you a bad omen for me, actor?'
    'I hope not, your highness,' said Jordan carefully. 'I'm here to help you gain the throne.'
    Viktor smiled slightly. 'Yes. I will be King. I never really thought I would, when I was younger. Lewis
    was the eldest, after all, and Dad's favourite, so I always assumed he'd wear the crown. Not that he deserved it. He's been chasing everything that breathes since his voice broke. And those he couldn't intimidate with his position, he took by force. You'd have thought he'd have more pride. I never liked Lewis. No one did really, but all the time I was here Dad wouldn't hear a word said against him. Old fool. He didn't want to know about Dominic either, though we all told him often enough. Even Lewis couldn't stand Dominic. I think he was bom crazy. One time, whgn we were all still kids, he took a puppy from the Castle kennels and cut it open, to see how it worked. None of us was surprised when Dominic took up sorcery. I'm going to enjoy ordering his death.'
    Jordan looked at him, startled, and Viktor smiled.
    'Oh yes, actor, Dominic is going to die. I should have taken my time and done the job properly when he first took my
    Elizabeth. That was when things started to go wrong . . .' His voice trailed away, and his eyes became distant, fixed on yesterday. 'I loved her, actor. I loved her more than I ever loved anyone else ... I used to walk around all day with a stupid grin on my face, just so happy that she loved me. I didn't believe it at first, when they told me she was still. . . seeing . . . Dominic. I threatened one man with a duel, for spreading such vile rumours. I was so young ... In the end, I had to believe it. I confronted Elizabeth with the truth, and she laughed at me. I should have taken more time, and done the job properly. I should have killed them both when I had the chance.
    'I've learnt patience since then, rotting in exile with only that stupid relic Gawaine for company. All he knows is duty and honour and taking orders. Those things are for the lesser people, not Princes, and Kings. Kings don't answer to anyone but themselves. They don't have to. No, actor, I had a lot of time in exile to think of all the things I'd do if they were ever foolish enough to allow me back. On my first morning as King, I'll see Lewis and Dominic and Elizabeth die. Their heads shall sit on spikes outside my Castle gates, and the ravens will eat their eyes.'
    Viktor heaved himself up out of his chair and stood with his back to the fire. His face was flushed, and his eyes were unnaturally bright. 'Everyone who ever stood against me will die! All of them! Once I am King, the power of the Stone will be mine, and I will take vengeance for all those long years of insult and neglect. I will command the Unreal, and Redhart will become great again, through me.'
    Jordan looked uneasily at the Prince, disturbed by the direction his thoughts were taking him. 'From what I've seen of the Unreal, your highness, it's not something to trifle with. It's too dangerous ..."
    'Don't lecture me!' Viktor glared at Jordan. His voice was high and strained. 'What do you know about the Unreal? I was born and raised in this Castle, and I know more about the Unreal than you ever will.
    Now be quiet, actor. You're here to listen, not to talk. I'm sick of people advising me, telling me what to do. I don't have to put up with that any more, and I'm not going to. There's a power in the Stone and in the Unreal, actor; a power beyond your comprehension. My father was afraid of it, but I'm not.'
    'Yes, your highness,' said Jordan. 'But what are you going to do with that power?'
    'Whatever I choose,' said Viktor, his eyes still far away.
    'The harvests have been bad this year,' said Jordan. 'It's been a long, hot summer, with little rain. I've travelled through your Kingdom, town by town, and seen the hardships and the suffering. Food's scarce, and market prices are high. Your people are hungry. By winter, many of them will be starving.'
    'Let them,' said Viktor. 'What did they ever do for me? Where were they when I was sent into exile?
    Damned peasants breed like rabbits anyway. As long as they pay their taxes on time I'll leave them alone, and if they're sensible they'll be