Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

isn't the Darkwood, it's the Demon Prince.'
    'We figured that out for ourselves,' said Rupert.
    The Warlock fixed him with a steady glare. 'Interrupt me again and you're an aardvark. Got it?'
    Rupert nodded silently. He wasn't altogether sure what an aardvark was, but he had a definite feeling he wouldn't enjoy finding out first-hand.
    'The Demon Prince,' said the High Warlock thoughtfully. 'Evil that walks in the shape of man, the never-born, the soulless. One of the Transient Beings, the stalkers on the edge of reality. His power increases as the Blue Moon rises, but if we can get to him before the Moon is full. . . before the Wild Magic is loosed in the Land ...' The Warlock's voice trailed away, and his shoulders slumped. He suddenly looked very tired, despite his new youthfulness. 'Listen to me, I'm talking as though we actually stood a chance against the Demon Prince. Even at my peak, I was never that good. And I'm a long way from my peak. My power stems from the High Magic, but the Darkwood is of the old, Wild Magic.'
    'What's the difference?' asked Rupert.
    The High Warlock smiled grimly. The High Magic can be controlled, the Wild Magic owes no allegiance to anything save itself.' He stopped suddenly and shrugged, frowning. 'Ah hell, I don't know, there's always the Infernal Devices in the Castle Armoury. They could make a difference.'
    For the first time Rupert realised that, when it came to the Darkwood, the mighty and awesome High Warlock was just as scared and uncertain as he was. 'You show me a way to fight the darkness, and I'll follow you anywhere,' he said impulsively. 'Even if it means going back into the Darkwood.'
    The Warlock looked at him, and then grinned suddenly. 'Practical, aren't you?'
    Rupert grinned back. 'I've had good teachers.'
    'All right,' said the Warlock decisively, 'let's give it a try. Who knows, we might get lucky.'
    'Can we go now?' said the Champion. 'We've little enough time as it is.'
    'Oh sure,' said the Warlock amiably. He glanced at Rupert. 'Race you to the window?'
    'Wait a minute,' said Rupert. 'Just out of curiosity, sir Warlock, why aren't there any doors?'
    'Windows are easier to defend,' said the Warlock craftily. 'And besides, I never needed a door, till now.
    I never went out.' He paused to peer wistfully round the crowded room. 'What a mess. I always meant to get organised one day, but I just never got round to it. I suppose I'd better put the animals into hibernation before I go. Kinder than ... ah well. It's all for the best, I suppose.'
    He sniffed and shrugged, and walked towards the nearest window. 'You know, Rupert, I should never have left the Sorcerers' Academy. I was quite happy there, changing gold into lead.'
    'Shouldn't that be lead into gold?' asked Rupert.
    'Why do you think I had to leave?' said the High Warlock.

    The wall of swirling snow pressed close around the Dark Tower, and the still night air was bitter cold. A fresh silver frost covered all the grass and sparkled on the ancient brickwork of the tower. The Warlock was leaving, summer was over, and already the bleak midwinter laid claim to the land so long denied it.
    Every now and again, Rupert glimpsed strange dark shapes moving purposefully through the howling blizzard, watching and waiting for the High Warlock to step outside the protection of his remaining shields. Rupert scowled, and rested one hand on the pommel of his sword. His guards were tired, battered and bloodied from their trip through the Darkwood, and now he had to ask them to do it again.
    The Warlock had said something about a short cut, a way to avoid the long night, but Rupert knew better. The maps were clear enough. There was only one route that would get his people back to Forest Castle before the Full Moon, and that was the way they'd come. Through the Darkwood.
    'I'm hungry,' said the unicorn.
    'You're always hungry,' said Rupert. 'How can you think of food at a time like this?'
    'Practice,' said the unicom. 'What are we waiting for now? I hate hanging around like this.'
    'Well, not to worry. We'll be heading back into the Darkwood soon enough.'
    'On second thoughts, let's hang around here for a while.'
    Rupert laughed briefly, and patted the unicorn's neck. 'It shouldn't be so bad this time, we'll have the High Warlock with us.' He looked up and saw the sorcerer approaching. The Warlock was drinking wine and singing a bawdy song. The unicorn studied him carefully.
    This is the High Warlock? Our great hope against the