Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

fought the Darkwood before.
    Swords aren't the answer, and neither is magic, but put them both together and we're in with a chance.
    So, first we put together the biggest army we can — anyone who can still stand and wield a sword.
    Second, we back them up with spells from the High Warlock and the Astrologer, plus any other sorcerers and magicians we can find. Then, we attack the demons outside our walls and hit them with everything we've got. If we can drive back the darkness just this once, we can turn the tide. The demons aren't unbeatable: kill enough of them and they'll retreat. And without the demons to lead the way, the long night can't advance. If we make a stand, here and now, there's a chance we can throw back the night. It's not much of a chance . . . hut . . . well, what have we got to lose?'
    There was a pause.
    'That's not really much of a plan,' said the King, tactfully.
    'It's a bloody awful plan,' said Rupert, 'but it's the best chance we've got. The demons aren't going to get
    any weaker. But hit them hard enough and often enough, and you'll find they die just as easily as any other creature.'
    The King nodded reluctantly. 'Unless anyone has anything constructive to add . . . constructive, Harald .
    . . very well. In just over three hours from now, the clocks say it will be dawn. Half an hour before that time, I want to see all able-bodied men assembled in the courtyard. With luck we'll have found somewhere to put the refugee families by then. Don't anyone be late; if you're not there we'll start without you. The gates will open at dawn. And then we'll show the demons a fight they'll never forget. That's all.
    Court is dismissed. Rupert, Harald, join me in my private chambers, please. Now.'
    The King rose from his throne, nodded curtly to the bowing courtiers, and strode briskly off to his private quarters, followed at a respectful distance by his guardsmen. The Court buzzed for a while in it subdued fashion, and then broke up into its various factions, and left. The High Warlock and the Astrologer went off together, calmly discussing magical tactics. The courtiers filed out in their little cliques, heading back to their quarters to ready their swords and their urmour and their courage, knowing that in a few short hours they would have to go out and face the demons and, most probably, die. For all his contempt of the courtiers in general, Rupert was quietly impressed by the way they took it. For once in their life, they didn't whine and they didn't argue. They were clearly scared spitless, but when the time came, Rupert had no doubt most of them would be waiting in the courtyard, sword in hand. And those few too scared to turn up probably wouldn't have been much use in a battle anyway.
    He looked over to where Julia stood talking with Harald. They both seemed very interested in each other, and not at all in him. Hupert wanted to look away, and couldn't. At first, he'd thought Julia was just playing up to Harald to make him jealous, and that deep down she still cared for him. But now he knew better. For the first time, he realised how natural Julia looked in her formal gown and cloak. She looked somehow right beside Harald, as though she belonged there. Rupert glanced down at his own torn and bloodstained clothes, and the thought of that tall, stately Princess on his arm was totally ridiculous.
    I'm a second son,he thought bitterly, and that's all I'll ever be. It didn't take Julia long to discover where the real power is in this family. He took one last look at the gorgeous blonde Princess laughing with Prince Harald, and turned away. That's not the woman I knew, he thought tiredly. That's not the woman I fought beside in the Darkwood . . . the woman I came to love. That Julia was just an illusion, a dream born of need and shared danger . . . and loneliness. I should have known better.
    He strode stiffly past the empty throne towards the King's private chambers, and his duty lay heavy on his shoulders. He didn't care. It was all he had left.

    Julia watched him go, and bit her lip. She wanted to call after him, but her pride wouldn't let her. It was his place to come to her; she was damned if she'd give him the satisfaction of seeing her crawl. After all she'd been through, after all the months of believing him dead and gone, when word had reached her that Rupert had finally turned up safe and sound, she'd been so filled with joy and disbelief she hadn't known whether to laugh or cry or jump up and