Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

exciting?'
    'Exciting,' said Rupert.
    'Does you good to feel the wind rushing past you,' said the dragon. 'Uh . . . you can let go of me and get down now, you know.'
    'We're getting used to the idea, slowly,' said Julia. 'My stomach still thinks it's up in the clouds somewhere.'
    She carefully unwrapped her arms from Rupert, and then the two of them helped each other down from the dragon's back. The solid earth beneath their feet had never seemed so welcome or so comforting.
    The dragon had brought them to the start of the mountain trail, and Rupert looked around him. As he'd expected, there was no sign of the unicorn.
    'Unicorn! If you're not back here by the time I count to ten I'll turn you over to the Royal Zoo to give rides to children!'
    'You wouldn't dare!' said a shocked voice from behind a nearby outcropping of rock.
    'Don't put money on it,' Rupert growled.
    There was a pause, and then the unicorn put his head round the rock and smiled ingratiatingly. 'Welcome back, Sire. Who are your friends?'
    'This is the Princess Julia. I rescued her.'
    'Ha!' said the Princess, loudly.
    'And this is a dragon. He's coming back with us to the Castle.'
    The unicorn disappeared behind the rock again.
    'Unicorn, either you come out or I'll send the dragon after you. Even worse, I might send the Princess after you.'
    Julia kicked him in the ankle. Rupert smiled determinedly, and vowed to do something unpleasant to the first minstrel he met singing of the joys of adventuring. The unicom trotted reluctantly into view, halting a safe distance away from the dragon.
    'Oh, you've decided to join us, have you?' asked Rupert.
    'Only under protest.'
    'He does everything under protest,' Rupert explained to the Princess.
    'I heard that!' The unicorn stared unhappily at the dragon. 'I don't suppose there's any chance that thing is a vegetarian?'
    The dragon smiled. His pointed teeth gleamed brightly in the sunlight.
    'I thought not,' said the unicorn.

    The Darkwood brooded before them, darkness enveloping rotting trees in a starless night that had never known a moon. The path Rupert had cut through the briar lay open before him, and he studied the narrow gap with horrid fascination, cold sweat beading his brow. Through all the many weeks it had taken him to reach Dragonslair Mountain and return, he'd been unable to shake off the gut-deep fear the darkness had imposed on him. He shivered suddenly as the chill breeze drifting from the decaying trees brought to him the familiar stench of corruption. His hand dropped to his swordhilt as though searching for some kind of comfort, or courage. His breathing grew harsh and unsteady as the horror mounted within him.
    Not again. Please, not again.
    'The Darkwood,' said Princess Julia, her voice tinged with awe. 'I thought it was just a legend, a tale to frighten children on dark nights. It smells like something died in there. Are you sure we have to pass through it to reach the Forest Kingdom?'
    Rupert nodded briefly, afraid that if he tried to speak his voice would betray how much the mere sight of the darkness unnerved him. They had to pass through the Darkwood. There was no other way. But still he hesitated, standing stiffly beside the unicorn, unable to make the slightest move towards entering the long night that had tested his soul and found it wanting.
    'I suppose I could fly you and Julia over,' said the dragon slowly, 'but that would mean abandoning the unicorn.'
    'No,' said Rupert immediately. 'I won't do that.'
    'Thanks,' said the unicorn.
    Rupert nodded curtly, his eyes fixed on the never-ending darkness.
    'Come on,' said the Princess finally. 'The sooner we start, the sooner we'll be out the other side.' She looked at Rupert expectantly.
    'I can't,' he said helplessly.
    'What's the matter?' snapped the Princess. 'Afraid of the dark?'
    'Yes,' said Rupert softly. 'Oh yes.'
    Julia stared at him in amazement, taking in his pale face and trembling hands.
    'You're kidding, right? You can't be serious. Afraid of the dark ?'
    'Shut up,' said the unicorn. 'You don't understand.'
    'I think perhaps I do,' said the dragon. His great golden eyes studied the darkness warily. 'The Darkwood was old when I was young, Julia. Legend claims it has always been here, and always will —
    darkness made manifest upon the earth. For any who dare to enter, there are dangers for both body and soul.' The dragon stared into the darkness a while, and then looked away uneasily. 'What happened to you in the