Forest Kingdom Trilogy 2 - Blood and Honor

rather a weak sort, but Gawaine had said he never backed down to anyone. Jordan shrugged mentally. What the hell, everyone knew Viktor had been away for four years. Exile can change a man.
    'I'm glad to hear you've got your strength back,' said Lewis finally. 'You're going to need it. I imagine things are going to be rather hectic round here for a while.'
    'Looks that way,' said Jordan. 'Do you know why the Regent wants to see us?'
    'Haven't a clue, but I doubt it's anything good. Have you seen Dominic?'
    'Not recently.'
    'I understand he and Elizabeth have gone into politics. They're doing rather well, I believe. But then, they always were a splendid team.'
    'Yes,' said Jordan. 'I always knew Elizabeth would go far, one way or another.'
    Lewis looked at him. 'You've mellowed, Viktor. Your time in exile must have agreed with you.'
    Jordan smiled. 'I learned a great many things while I was away from Court, Lewis. You'd be surprised.'
    He glanced at the Monk and Ironheart, still keeping a respectful distance. 'I see your taste in friends hasn't improved.'
    'They have their uses. And they are very loyal.'
    'Oh, I'm sure they are, Lewis. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why? All loyalty has its price.
    You should know that.'
    Lewis started to say something, and then stopped. He looked at Jordan thoughtfully, and then nodded politely and moved away. Ironheart and the Monk went with him. Jordan watched them go, and felt a little of the tension drain out of him. He was only too aware that the encounter could have ended nastily, in any number of unpleasant ways. He looked at the dozen armed guards surrounding Lewis, and felt an immediate desire to start checking for exits he could get to in a hurry. He took" a deep breath to calm himself, and let it out slowly.
    'Well, Gawaine,' he said quietly, 'how am I doing?'
    'Very well, your highness,' murmured the knight. 'I'm impressed. If you'll pardon a little advice, you are coming on a bit strong, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. No one's been quite sure how to react to you after your long absence, and a little show of strength now might help to keep the flies off.'
    'That crack Lewis made about Dominic and Elizabeth - should I have been more upset? I mean, I know how important Elizabeth was to me, but I've got Heather now. Though come to think of it, where is Heather? Shouldn't she be here with me?'
    'She'll be joining us shortly, Sire, I've no doubt. As for Elizabeth and Dominic, you've waited four years for a chance to make them pay. I think you can wait a little longer, to be sure of getting them. You've had a lot of time to learn patience.'
    The main doors swung open again, and the Court fell silent as the herald announced the arrival of Prince Dominic and the Lady Elizabeth. Jordan studied them both interestedly as they stood a moment in the doorway, acknowledging the bows and curtsies of the Court. Dominic was tall and slender, with a dour ascetic face and pale, straw-coloured hair that fell lifelessly to his shoulders, held back from his face by a gleaming silver circlet. His outfit was a blue so dark as to be almost black, making his pale skin seem even paler. Jordan had seen corpses that looked healthier than Prince Dominic. He looked pretty much as Jordan had expected him to, given the various descriptions he'd had, but even so Jordan was unprepared for the cold air of menace that hung about him like a shroud. And there was something disturbing about the pale blue eyes. It took Jordan a few moments to realise that Dominic didn't blink often enough.
    The Lady Elizabeth stood close by Dominic, her arm linked possessively through his. She was easily as tall as Dominic, and had a voluptuous figure that was almost too full. Jordan knew her type. Only strict diets and ruthless self-control kept her figure from exploding into fat. Her hair -was a thick tangled mane of raven's black that tumbled unconfined to her bare, powdered shoulders. Her dress of aquamarine blue had been cunningly tailored to make the most of her spectacular figure. Her face . . . Jordan wasn't sure how he felt about her face. Elizabeth was certainly beautiful, no doubt of that, but the lips were a shade too full, the cheeks a trifle too broad, and her flawless skin owed a little too much to the make-up box.
    Probably no one but an actor would have noticed these things, but to Jordan they made all the difference.
    Working in the theatre you meet more beautiful women than not, and you soon