Read Online Blood and Honor (Forest Kingdom Novels) by Simon R. Green - Free Book Online Page B

confused in the retelling. Magic, elemental magic, that is, is very common at the castle, but that’s only because so many of the aristocracy have some ties to the royal Bloodline. In fact, status among the castle’s High Society is largely determined by the power of your magic, as that demonstrates the relative purity of your Blood. As for ghosts and monsters … that’s a little more complicated. You have to understand that what is Real and Unreal can easily become rather confused at the castle. It’s always been that way. Some say there’s High Magic built into the ancient walls. Others claim there’s Wild Magic in the hill the castle rests on. No one knows the whole truth. But for as long as anyone can remember, there have always been ghosts in Castle Midnight, day and night. They’re mostly harmless, as long as you don’t upset them, and after a while you get used to them. They’re only people who have become lost in time. Who wandered from the path and cannot find their way back.”
    “And the monsters?” said Jordan, hesitantly.
    “There are a few monsters, every now and again. Our steward takes care of them, as and when necessary. I suppose I’d better tell you about her. Catriona Taggert is the third of her line to serve as steward to the castle. Good-looking girl, and tough with it. She has no Blood, but like all her family she’s very proficient at the High Magic. She and Viktor don’t get on. I think he disapproves of anyone outside the aristocracy wielding so much power. Anyway, it’s the steward’s job to keep an eye on the Unreal, and make sure it doesn’t get out of hand. In normal times, there isn’t much for her to do.
    “You see, the combination of Real and Unreal in one place generates a hell of a lot of mystical power: a power the king can draw on through the ancient Stone set under his throne. The power amplifies the king’s elemental magic enormously, and at the same time enables him to keep the Real and the Unreal in balance. This, of course, ensures that the power keeps on flowing, which means … and so on, and so on. However, at times like these, when there’s no king on the throne, things can get pretty hairy at Castle Midnight. Without the king to maintain the balance, the Unreal starts trying to break loose and run free. All kinds of insanity take shape and form, and come to life. Ghosts and monsters are only the half of it. And this, of course, is where the steward really comes into her own. Her job is to hold things together as best she can with her sorcery, until a new king takes the throne, and restores the balance.”
    “You make it sound as though the Unreal is … alive,” said Jordan slowly.
    Gawaine shrugged. “No one knows for sure what the Unreal is. Ask ten different people, and they’ll give you ten different answers. You’ll see for yourself when we get to the castle.”
    “Wait a minute,” said Jordan. “I think I’m missing something here. If there’s that much power just waiting to be grabbed, why haven’t Lewis or Dominic simply declared themselves king, and taken the throne by force? From what I’ve heard about those two, it ought to be the first thing they’d think of.”
    “As I keep pointing out, inheritance isn’t quite that simple at Castle Midnight,” said Count Roderik.
    Jordan looked around sharply. Roderik and Argent stepped forward and warmed their hands at the fire. Jordan wondered if he ought to say something cutting, given their earlier slights, but decided against it. For better or worse, he had to learn to work with these people. And they were, after all, the ones who were paying him. Fifty thousand ducats , he thought grimly. And I’m earning every bloody penny of it . He realized Roderik was still talking, and paid attention to him.
    “In order to inherit the kingship,” said Roderik patiently, “the claimant has to produce both the king’s crown and his seal of office, and present them to the Stone in the correct