Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

nearer, hut its light didn't penetrate far into the Darkwood. Rupert smiled grimly. He didn't need to see the demons to know they were there, and it didn't matter a damn how many there were. If it came to a fight, the odds were that none of his party would survive to reach the Castle. Their only hope was to get as close to the Castle as possible, und then make a run for it. It wasn't much of a hope.
    Rupert gripped his swordhilt until his fingers ached, but his hand still shook. The unremitting weight of the Darkwood beat down on him in all its old familiar horror, and it was no easier to bear now than it had been before. Every time his duty forced him back into the darkness, he hoped against hope it would be easier to deal with, but it ne ver was. Every time, it was worse. Fear and panic and mind-numbing despair sank into him like icy water in his soul, until all he wanted was to lie down, curl into a ball, and scream for it to go away. But he couldn't do that. He wouldn't do that. He hadn't brought his men this far just to give up on them when they were nearly home. Rupert stared at the Castle before him, drawing nearer with every step. Nearly there. Nearly home. So bloody near . . .
    The unicorn lurched tiredly beside him, and Rupert reached up and patted the animal's neck comfortingly.
    'Not much lunger now,' he muttered gruffly. 'One last stretch of the legs, and then we can all take a rest.'
    'You keep telling me that,' said the unicorn dourly. 'A nice long rest in a warm, dry stable . . . I'll believe it when I see it, and not before. I just hope they've got some decent food. I've had nothing but grass for weeks. I think I'd kill for some barley.'
    'When we're safely in the Castle, I'll bury you in barley.'
    'Given our present situation, I don't think that remark is in the best of taste.'
    Rupert and the unicorn shared a look, and then chuckled quietly together.
    'It's been a strange journey, all told,' said Rupert.
    'I wouldn't argue with that,' said the unicorn.
    'You know we're probably not going to make it.'
    'The thought had crossed my mind.'
    'I just want to say ... thanks. For being with me, when I needed you.'
    'Wouldn't have missed it for anything. You're not a bad sort, Rupert. For a human.'
    'Thanks, I think. Friends again?'
    'Sure, why not?'
    'Great.'
    'I still want that barley you promised me.'
    Rupert laughed aloud, and the Champion looked at him strangely. Rupert hefted his sword, and was
    pleased to discover that his hand was now a little steadier. In a way, he almost wished the demons would attack, and get it over with. When he was fighting, there wasn't time to be scared. He breathed deeply to calm himself, and then regretted it as the Darkwood's constant stench of decay was suddenly strong in his nostrils again. Rupert shook his head grimly, and glanced back over his shoulder. The guards were still moving silently along behind him, swords at the ready, but Rupert's heart missed a beat when he realised the High Warlock was no longer with them. For a moment panic froze him in place, and then he relaxed with a great sigh of pent-up breath as he looked up and saw that the Warlock had taken to the air, floating silently and serenely a good ten feet above the ground. The Warlock's eyes were closed, and a deep scowl furrowed his brow, as though he was concentrating on some problem not immediately apparent. His hands seemed to be glowing slightly, and for the first time Rupert realised that his party was moving in its own narrow pool of light. Rupert looked away. At least the Warlock's magic was good for something.
    The Castle drew steadily nearer, shimmering palely like a giant stone ghost in its own torchlight. There were no guards on the battlements, but the drawbridge was up. Rupert smiled dourly. If the demons ever decided to overrun the Castle, they wouldn't bother using the drawbridge, they'd just swarm right over the walls. He remembered the last time he'd ridden into the Castle courtyard, only to find it silent and deserted ... He shook his head angrily. He couldn't have come this far only to find he'd returned home too late, he just couldn't.
    Where the hell are the demons? What are they waiting for?
    The Castle was three hundred yards away. Two hundred. One hundred. And then the demons came for them.
    Rupert barely had time to raise his sword before the demons were all around him, and then there was only a confused melee of steel and blood and reaching clawed hands. He swung his sword in