Forest Kingdom Trilogy 2 - Blood and Honor

beautiful and graceful, but Jordan felt a sudden chill when she looked up suddenly and their eyes met. He saw ambition written clearly in her face, together with a ruthless determination. In that moment Jordan knew her mind as though he'd known her for years, and in a way he had. She had the look of every hard-edged leading lady he'd ever worked with, the kind of woman who always made sure no one else in the cast sang better than she did. When she broke the gaze and looked away, he felt almost relieved. There was an unwavering strength that burned in her like a bright flame, implicit in every move she made, even in the soft, soothing murmurs she was bestowing on Prince Viktor. Jordan didn't need to be told who she was. She had to be the Lady Heather Tawney, the latest love in Viktor's life. Prince Viktor
    finally got himself settled comfortably, and looked hard at Jordan.
    'Come closer,' he said finally. His voice was surprisingly strong and resonant, despite his illness. 'Let me look at you. It's a strange thing to see your own face on another man's body.'
    Jordan moved forward obediently and stood before the Prince's chair, letting Viktor and Heather look him over. Their eyes weighed and measured him as impersonally as a butcher judging a side of beef.
    'Say something,' said the Prince.
    'I am happy to meet your highness,' said Jordan smoothly. 'I hope I meet with your approval.'
    Viktor frowned. 'He looks all right, but his voice is too high. I don't sound like that.'
    'Hush, Viktor dear, his voice is perfect,' said the Lady Heather. 'He sounds just like you, honestly.'
    Viktor shrugged, but said nothing more. Jordan looked to Roderik for a cue, but the Count avoided his eyes. Jordan looked back at the Prince. There was no doubt that the man's illness was eating away at him inside. He didn't look to have lost much weight, but his feebleness was apparent in every shaky movement.
    The Lady Heather patted Viktor comfortingly on the arm, and glared at Roderik and DeGrange. 'It's been weeks since Viktor first fell ill, and you still haven't found out what's causing it! How much longer is it going to take?'
    'We're doing everything we can,' said DeGrange calmly. 'Our magicians are adamant there's no trace of any sorcerous attack, not even anything as vague as a curse. The new quarters we've moved him to are a closely guarded secret, and are warded against every kind of magic. He couldn't be any safer if he was in a Sanctuary. In fact, right now Prince Viktor is probably the most securely guarded person in Castle Midnight, and that includes the Regent. His food is prepared freshly every day, under Robert Argent's supervision. Up until he left with Count Roderik, Argent even went so far as to taste the Prince's food first, in his presence. Since Argent is still well and hale, I think we can rule out poison. I don't see what else Security can do, my Lady Heather. As far as any of us can tell, Prince Viktor has simply contracted a rather nasty illness, and that is the province of the Castle surgeons, not Security.'
    'The surgeons are doing everything they can, Heather,' said Roderik. 'We all are. It's only a matter of time . . .'
    Heather sniffed disparagingly, but said nothing more. Viktor roused himself, and fixed Roderik with his feverbright eyes.
    'Gawaine tells me we're no nearer finding the crown and the seal. Are you sure you've checked all the places I suggested?'
    'Yes, your highness,' said Roderik. 'There's still no sign of them. But then again, there's nothing to suggest your brothers are any closer to finding them either.'
    Viktor stirred irritably in his chair. 'They've got to be here somewhere. I thought I knew all Dad's secret hiding places . . . but then, anything I know, Lewis and Dominic would know ..."
    'Wait a minute,' said Jordan excitedly. 'I've just had an idea! Castle Midnight is lousy with ghosts, right?
    So why don't we just call up King Malcolm's ghost and ask him where he hid the crown and seal?'
    Everyone in the room looked at him with varying degrees of exasperation.
    'Don't you think we would already have done it, if it was at all possible?' said Roderik cuttingly. 'All members of the royal line are protected by spells from their birth, precisely to make sure that their rest won't be disturbed once they've died. There's nothing like everyday contact with ghosts to make you very determined never to become one.'
    Viktor snorted angrily, and everyone turned their attention back to him. He was