Forest Kingdom Trilogy 2 - Blood and Honor

of steel as they drew their swords and raised them to him in the warrior's salute. 'The King! The King!'
    They cheered him again and again, until the Crypt was full of echoes. Jordan looked at Sir Gawaine. The knight nodded simply, and bowed again. Jordan looked.at Taggert, kneeling grinning before him, and made a sudden decision.
    'All right,' he said crisply. 'Let's strike while the iron is still hot. I may have the crown and the seal, but I'm not King until I've made my oath to the Stone. Gawaine, take charge of these guards, and clear a path between here and the Great Hall. Offer pardons to any man who'll support me. Cord, you stick with the Steward and me. No one is to get close to us unless you know and trust them personally. Roderik, you stay close as well, in case I need any political advice. Well don't just stand there, people - get moving! We've a throne to win!'
    The guards looked expectantly to Sir Gawaine for his orders. He sighed very quietly, and bowed to Jordan. In a matter of moments he'd taken charge of the guards quickly and efficiently, left one company as bodyguards, and led the rest out of the Crypt. Cord and Taggert fell in on either side of Jordan, weapons drawn and at the ready. Roderik gave him a hard, measuring look.
    'You've got your confidence back in a hurry, your highness, but the fact remains that without me you haven't a chance of holding on to the throne. You're out of touch after your years in exile. There's more
    to being King than wearing a crown and sitting over the Stone. You need to know who you can trust and who you can't, who'll take a bribe and who'll stay bought. I know these things. You need me, Viktor.'
    'Never said I didn't,' said Jordan. 'As long as you remember which of us gives the orders, I see no reason why we shouldn't enjoy a long and profitable relationship. Right?'
    Roderik thought about it for a moment, and then bowed reluctantly. 'Yes, your highness.'
    Then let's get the hell out of here,' said Jordan. 'Dominic might be out of the running at last, but there's still Lewis to worry about.'
    'Just a minute, Viktor,' said a cold voice behind him. 'What about me?'
    Jordan looked round and found himself facing the Lady Heather. Her gown was spattered with somebody else's blood, and gore dripped from the knife in her hand, but she was apparently unhurt herself. She glared fiercely at Jordan, then looked at Taggert and if anything glared even harder.
    'I never knew you and the Steward were such good friends, darling. So close, in fact, that you forget all about me the moment she turns up! Do tell me all about her, Viktor. Leave nothing out. I never realised you had a taste for slumming.'
    I don't need this, thought Jordan tiredly. I really don't need this right now.
    'We'll talk about it later, Heather,' he said finally.
    'We'll talk about it right now! Send this overmuscled cow about her business; I want to talk to you, Viktor. It seems to me you've had your first taste of power and it's gone straight to your head. You've forgotten who your real friends are!'
    'Overmuscled cow?' said Taggert.
    Uh oh, thought Jordan. He looked around him for some support, but everyone was ostentatiously studying the scenery. This was his problem, and no one else had any intention of getting caught in the firing line.
    'Overmuscled cowV said Taggert.
    'Heather,' said Jordan, very calmly, 'I don't have the time or the inclination to put up with this nonsense.
    Go back to your
    quarters and stay there. You'll be safe there. I'll come and see you as soon as I can, but right now I'm rather busy.' Besides which, I have a strong suspicion that if I don't get you out of here right now, the Steward is quite probably going to carve you up into handy bite-size chunks. 'I can't stay any longer.
    People's lives are at stake, and I have to think of them first.'
    'Cut the nobility crap, Viktor; it doesn't suit you.' Heather's sneer made her look suddenly ugly. 'I know you, Viktor; you can't fool me.'
    'No,' said Jordan, 'you don't know me at all, Heather.' He nodded to two nearby guards, and they snapped to attention. 'See that the Lady Heather gets safely back to her quarters, and then stand guard at the door until I send someone to relieve you.'
    The guards saluted crisply, and stepped forward to stand on either side of Heather. She looked at Jordan for a long moment, speechless with rage, and then turned and stamped away. The guards hurried after her. Jordan sighed silently. She didn't really