Forest Kingdom Trilogy 2 - Blood and Honor

counted to ten slowly, and then turned around.
    The corner was empty, and the Monk was gone. There was also no sign of the dog. Jordan had a sudden horrid suspicion that the Monk had taken the dog with him as a kind of revenge, but even as he thought it he heard the animal snuffling somewhere nearby. He walked slowly round the room, calling encouragingly, and looking under chairs and behind hanging tapestries. There was no sign of the dog anywhere, and the snuffling sounds had stopped. Jordan came to a halt in the middle of the room and looked around him. The dog's got to be here somewhere . . . He knelt down and crawled under one of the tables. There was a suppressed giggle behind him. Jordan straightened up suddenly, and banged his head on the underside of the table. He cursed
    feelingly, put his hand to his head, and sat down suddenly. The giggles stopped.
    'Sorry,' said a quiet voice.
    Jordan looked around, and found himself face to face with a young boy, about seven or eight years old.
    He was painfully thin, with a narrow pinched face and straight straw-coloured hair. He was standing awkwardly in that plaintive stance young children adopt when they know they've done something wrong, but his pale blue eyes were bright and steady, and his timid smile brought an answering smile to Jordan's lips. The boy was dressed in very conservative, somewhat old-fashioned clothes, but they looked neat enough. Hand'Tncdowns, thought Jordan sympa-thetically. We all go through it.
    He crawled out from under the table, got to his feet and dusted himself off. 'What's your name?' he asked the boy kindly.
    'Geordie,' said the boy shyly. 'Everyone calls me Wee Geordie, 'cause I'm small for my age. Mother says I'll grow taller later on, though. Both my brothers are tall.'
    'Well, Geordie,' said Jordan, 'I'm Viktor. Now what are you doing in my chambers at this time of night?
    You're not really supposed to be here, are you?'
    Geordie bit his lower lip, and looked down at his feet. 'I'm lost. I'm looking for my mother. We got separated, and I can't find her. Have you seen her?'
    'I don't know, lad. Can you tell me her name?'
    'Lady Mary of Fenbrook. She's ever so pretty.'
    'I'm sure she is,' said Jordan. 'But I don't think I've met her. I'll tell you what. I'll talk to the guards outside my door, and one of them will take you to the Steward. She'll find someone to look after you, while they look for your mother to tell her where you are. Is that all right?'
    Geordie smiled, and nodded. 'I know Kate. She's nice.'
    I just hope she doesn't mind my dumping you on her, thought Jordan, but I'm damned if I can think of anyone else.
    A small hand nestled trustingly into his, and Jordan gave it a reassuring squeeze. He led the boy over to the main door and
    opened it. The guards looked in surprise at Wee Geordie, and Jordan glared at them both impartially.
    'This young chap managed to sneak in here without either of you spotting him. If you think you can stay awake long enough, I want one of you to take him to the Steward, and stay with him until they find his mother. Think you can manage that? Good. Because if I find out later that you just left him there on his own, I'll have you both peeling potatoes in the kitchens until your fingers turn brown! Is that clear?'
    Both the guards nodded emphatically, and one of them held out his hand to the boy. Geordie looked up at Jordan, and he nodded that it was all right. The boy transferred his grip to the guard's hand, and the two of them went off down the corridor. Jordan looked hard at the remaining guard.
    'See if you can remain alert from now on. Because if I get any more uninvited guests this evening, I am going to be distinctly peeved with you. Got it?'
    The guard nodded quickly. Jordan went back into his suite and slammed the door shut behind him. It had been a long day, and so far it had shown no signs of getting any shorter. He looked longingly at the door to his bedchamber, and thought wistfully about the deep soft mattress that awaited him. The next person who disturbs me, he thought grimly, had better have a bloody good reason. And even then I might not listen.
    He'd only taken a few steps towards his bedroom when the commotion began. Someone roaring threats and curses was charging up and down the corridor, apparently pausing now and then to hit the floor with something heavy. I am going to ignore this, thought Jordan determinedly. It's none of my business, and I am not going to get involved.