Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

blood and kin, by Blood and Stone, I hereby free the unicorn named Breeze from any and all obligations to me, and to my family. Okay, Breeze, that's it. You are now a one hundred per cent independent individual. Or as near as any of us ever get to it.'
    'Is that all there is to it?'
    'What did you expect — a fanfare of trumpets? Or isn't my word good enough for you?'
    'Your word has always been good with me, Rupert. But is it legal?'
    'Of course. I am a Prince, after all.'
    'I had noticed,' said the unicorn dryly. 'Free. Free. I always thought I'd feel different.'
    'How do you feel?'
    'Strange. Naked. I don't know yet.'
    'Well, if nothing else, you don't have to go back into the Darkwood again. I freed you from all obligations, remember?'
    'You wouldn't last five minutes without me.'
    That's not the point, Breeze.'
    'Yes it is,' said the unicorn firmly. 'I could have left you any time in the past. You gave me enough chances. When all is said and done, I stayed with you because you were my friend, and you needed me.
    No other reason. So let's have no more nonsense about you going back into the Darkwood without me.
    We're a team, and don't you forget it.'
    'Still,' said Rupert. 'You are officially free now. I've said the words.'
    'Don't we need a witness?'
    'You have one,' said the Champion.
    Rupert and the unicorn looked quickly round, to find the Champion standing in the stable doorway. He inclined his head slightly toi Rupert, who bowed warily in return. The Champion was wearing full plate armour. The burnished steel gleamed coldly under the lanternlight, its entire surface etched and engraved with heraldic signs and ancient magical wards. He carried a featureless steel helm under his arm, and his huge hands were sheathed in massive steel gauntlets. He looked impressive, menacing and totally unstoppable. 'Sir Champion,' said Rupert steadily. 'Is it time to go?'
    'Soon, Sire. The King tells me you refused to bear one of the Infernal Devices when it was offered to you.'
    'That's right.'
    'It was your duty to take the sword.'
    'My duty is to the Land, sir Champion. And those cursed swords are as much a threat to the Forest as the Darkwood itself.'
    The Champion nodded slowly. 'You may well be right, Sire. But , then, I've never had much use for magic, myself.'
    Rupert looked sharply at the Champion. He seemed almost on the point of telling Rupert something, something important.
    'Have you seen the Warlock?' asked the Champion suddenly.
    'Yes,' said Rupert. 'We talked awhile.'
    'He's drunk again.'
    'I've never known him when he wasn't.'
    'I have,' said the Champion. 'But that was a long time ago.' He leaned back against the stable wall, his cold dark eyes staring past Rupert and into memory. 'He was impressive, then. Could have been a Sorcerer Supreme. Could have been the legend everybody said he was. He could have been the greatest hero this Land has ever known.'
    Rupert listened carefully. There was hatred and bitterness in the Champion's voice, but underlying all of that . . . something else. Something that might have been betrayal.
    'Sir Champion, why did the High Warlock leave the Castle after my mother died?'
    'He could have saved her. If he'd been sober. If he'd been there.'
    Rage twisted the Champion's face, and Rupert wanted to look away. It seemed almost indecent to see such naked emotions in the face of a man who normally showed such control. 'The Warlock was why I came to Forest Castle, Rupert. He was famous, and I wanted to be part of that fame, that legend. And so I came to serve your father, as his Champion. That's when I learned the truth about the legendary High Warlock. Your mother was a great beauty, Rupert. Everybody said so. When she fell ill that summer, all the Land prayed for her recovery. The Warlock was supposed to be with her, that afternoon. Instead, he left her by herself, and went off somewhere, drinking. By the time we found him and dragged him back, it was too late.
    'And then, he ran away. He ran away! I all but worshipped that man, Rupert, I believed in him. And he turned out to be nothing but a drunk and a coward. I could have forgiven him many things, but not that.
    Never that. He let your mother die, and then he ran away rather than face what he'd done.
    'And now he's back, and once again all our fates rest in his stumbling hands. After all these years, despite everything I've believed as Champion, the Land's destiny will be decided not by heroes and warriors and cold clean steel,