Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

confrontation, denying him the comfort and release of action. He slammed his sword back into its scabbard, and led the company on into the endless night.
    Some time later they reached a small clearing, and stopped for a while to get what rest they could before continuing. Julia built a fire in the middle of the clearing while Rupert set torches to mark the perimeter.
    The need for caution was past; it was clear the demons could find the party whenever they chose. Rupert lit the last torch and retreated quickly to the blazing fire. The leaping flames threw back the dark, and the fire's warmth eased the chill in his bones. Rupert frowned as he wearily sank down beside Julia; he didn't remember the Darkwood being this cold on his first journey through. He didn't remember this clearing, either. He shrugged, added another branch to the crackling fire, and pulled his cloak tightly about him.
    On the other side of the fire, the unicorn lay dozing in the shadows. The dragon was off in the dark
    somewhere, probably frightening demons. Rupert glanced covertly at Julia. The Princess sat huddled under the only spare blanket, shivering and holding out her hands to the dancing flames.
    'Here,' said Rupert brusquely, taking off his cloak. 'You're cold.'
    'So are you,' said Julia. 'I'm all right.'
    'You sure?'
    'Really.'
    Rupert didn't press the point.
    'How much longer before we get out of the Darkwood?' asked Julia, as Rupert refastened his cloak.
    'I don't know,' he admitted. 'Time passes differently here. On my first trip it could have been days or weeks; you lose all track of time in the dark. At least this time we've food and water and firewood. That should make a difference.'
    'You crossed the Darkwood without light or provisions?' Julia looked at Rupert with something like respect, and then looked quickly away. When she spoke again, her voice was carefully neutral. 'What's your Castle like, Rupert?'
    'Old,' said Rupert, and smiled. 'You'll like it.'
    'Will I?'
    'Of course. Everyone'll make you very welcome.'
    'Why should they?' said Julia softly, staring into the fire. 'I'm just another Princess without a dowry.
    Seven sisters stand between me and the throne, even assuming the elders would have me back. And they won't.'
    'Why not?'
    'Because . . .'Julia looked at him sternly. 'You won't laugh?'
    'I promise.'
    'I ran away. They wanted me to marry some Prince I'd never met, for political reasons. You know.'
    'I know,' said Rupert. 'Bloodlines.'
    'So I ran away. I didn't even reach the frontier. They already had seven Princesses, and they didn't need an eighth, so they sent me to the dragon's cave.' Julia glared into the fire. 'My father signed the warrant.
    My own father.'
    Rupert put a comforting hand on her arm, but she jerked away.
    'Don't worry,' he said lamely. 'Everything'll work out. I'll find a way to get you home again.'
    'I don't want to go home; as far as they're concerned I'm dead! And sometimes I wish I was!'
    She jumped up and ran off into the darkness. Rupert got up to go after her.
    'Don't.'
    Rupert looked round to find the dragon watching from the shadows. 'Why not?'
    'She doesn't want you to see her crying,' said the dragon.
    'Oh.' Rupert shuffled uncertainly, and then sat down again.
    'She'll be back in a while,' said the dragon, moving forward to squat beside him.
    'Yes. I'd help her if I could.'
    'Of course you would. Julia's not a bad sort. For a human.'
    Rupert almost smiled. 'We all have our problems.'
    'You too?'
    'Of course; why do you think I came on this damn quest?'
    'Honour, glory, love of adventure?'
    Rupert just looked at him.
    'Sorry,' said the dragon.
    'I'm a second son,' said Rupert. 'I can't inherit as long as my brother's alive.'
    'And you didn't want to kill your own brother.' The dragon nodded understandingly.
    Rupert snorted. 'Can't stand the fellow. But if I declare against him, the Forest Land would be split by civil war. That's why my father sent me on this quest. You were supposed to kill me and rid him of a vexing problem.'
    'Your own father sent you out to die?'
    'Yes,' said Rupert softly. 'My own father. Officially, it was a quest to prove me worthy of the throne, but everyone knew. Including me.'
    'But then, why did you go through with it? You didn't have to face me.'
    'I'm a Prince of the Forest Kingdom,' said Rupert. 'I'd given my word. Besides . . .'
    'Yes?'
    Rupert shrugged. 'My family's other major problem is money. We're broke.'
    'Broke? But you rule the country! How can