Forest Kingdom Trilogy 2 - Blood and Honor

learn to see the true nature beneath the pretty face. Elizabeth was undeniably gorgeous, but it only took Jordan a few moments to decide that he wouldn't touch her with a bargepole. There was a subtle streak of cruelty in the twist of her smile, and in her narrowed eyes; a catlike delight in seeing her prey suffer before she destroyed it. Her dark eyes fell on Jordan, and she caught his appraisal.
    She smiled mockingly at him, and murmured something to Dominic. He turned slowly to stare at Jordan with his cold unwavering gaze. Jordan inclined his head slightly. Dominic walked unhurriedly towards him, with Elisa-beth at his side. The courtiers fell quickly back to make way for them, and a breathless hush filled the Court. Gawaine stirred at Jordan's side. Jordan held himself as conspicuously relaxed as possible. It was important that he didn't seem at all nervous or intimidated. The Court was watching too closely. Dominic and Elizabeth finally stopped short a few paces away from him, and Dominic bowed very briefly. Elizabeth didn't curtsey.
    'Welcome home, brother,' said Dominic. His voice was surprisingly deep and resonant, but it was still as cold as his eyes. 'My apologies for not meeting you before, but I've been rather busy just lately. You must be glad to be home again, though I think I should warn you that many things have changed in your absence.'
    'Oh sure,' said Jordan amiably. 'But then, some things never change, do they? I hear you and Elizabeth have gone into politics.'
    'Dominic has many friends at Court these days,' said Elisa-beth. 'Powerful and influential friends, who expect him to do great things in the future. They're all being very supportive.'
    'Yes, I imagine they are,' said Jordan to Dominic, ostenta-piously ignoring Elizabeth. 'But as I was just saying to Lewis, all loyalty has its price. Even simple friendship often has a price these days. Personally, I've never cared much for friendships that have been bought and paid for. They tend to be so ...
    impermanent.'
    Dominic said nothing, but Elizabeth flushed angrily at being ignored. Then again, dear Viktor,' she said tartly, 'some friendships aren't worth buying, are they? Because some people don't have any future worth the mentioning. You'd do well to
    watch your step, Viktor. There's a new order at Castle Midnight, and you're not a part of it, and never will be.'
    'Talks a lot, doesn't she?' said Jordan to Dominic. 'She even mutters in her sleep, from what I remember.'
    Elizabeth stood very still, two bright spots of colour burning on her cheeks. Dominic frowned slightly.
    'I never liked you, Viktor,' he said finally, his voice calm, and even distant. 'I'll weep no tears at your funeral. If you're wise, you'll leave Castle Midnight while you have the chance. If you don't, I can't be responsible for your safety.'
    'I can look after myself,' said Jordan. 'And if anyone's stupid enough to try anything against me, their friends will be carrying what's left of them home in a bucket. You're a pain in the arse, Dominic. That's all you ever were, and it's all you'll ever be. Still, I shouldn't be too hard on you, I suppose; you did do me one great favour. You took that arrogant loud-mouthed bitch off my hands. I don't know how you stand it, myself. If I were you, I'd invest in some earplugs and a gag.'
    'You bastard!'
    Elizabeth raised her hand to strike Jordan across the face. He quickly palmed one of his flare pellets, and crushed it in his hand. Flames leapt up around his fist as he held it up before him. Elizabeth dropped her hand and fell back a pace. Dominic didn't move. The Court was utterly silent, the only sound the crackling of the bluewhite flames as they leapt and danced around Jordan's fist.
    'Never raise a hand to me,' said Jordan softly, 'Not you, or anyone else.'
    Dominic looked at him impassively. 'You're a dead man, Viktor.'
    'Blow it out your ear, Dominic.'
    Dominic turned and walked unhurriedly away, followed after a moment's hesitation by Elizabeth. Not far away, Lewis stood watching silently, flanked by Ironheart and the Monk. Jordan blew out the flames and lowered his hand, and the Court's chatter slowly resumed, if a trifle subdued.
    'You're pushing it, your highness,' said Gawaine quietly.
    'What would you have done if Dominic had challenged you to a duel, and raised his magic? Your conjuring tricks wouldn't have lasted five seconds against his water magic.'
    'It was a risk,' Jordan admitted, 'but I was pretty sure he