Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

him. He fought it down, using all his old habits of self-control. Lose his head now, even for a moment, and he'd live just long enough to regret it.
    He glanced to his right, and saw Rupert slowly retreating on his unicorn. Rupert's sword was a silver gleam against the darkness, cutting through the demons like a scythe through wheat. Harald looked away.
    He already knew his brother was good with a sword. He still had some of the scars to remind him.
    You could be the better swordsman, whispered a quiet voice in his mind. All you have to do is draw Flarebright.
    Harald shuddered, and hacked savagely at the nearest demon. He'd draw Flarebright when he had to,
    and not before.

    King John fought to stay in the saddle as his mount plunged this way and that, half out of its mind with fear and pain. He lashed about him with his sword, missing as often as not, but somehow still managing to keep the demons at bay. The sword grew heavier and more awkward with every blow. His breath was getting short, and his heart hammered painfully against his breastbone. Sweat ran down into his eyes, and he had neither the time nor the energy to wipe it away. Too old , thought John bitterly. Too damn old.
    Rockbreaker slapped at his back with every movement, as though reminding him it was still there. King John ignored it. He wasn't ready to draw the Infernal Device yet. Not quite yet.

    Princess Julia looped her reins around her arm and swung her sword with both hands, holding back the demons by sheer ferocity. Her fighting women were scattered among the army, but Julia had already seen most of them fall to the demons. They'd fought well and died bravely, but they never had a chance against so many demons. If only I'd had more time, thought Julia. What an army I could have made of you .
    Her horse suddenly lurched beneath her, and screamed shrilly. Julia kicked free of her stirrups and threw herself clear as the horse collapsed. It kicked briefly as the demons tore its throat out, and then lay still.
    Some demons were already feeding at the great rip they'd torn in the horse's belly. Julia was quickly on her feet and fighting, but the fall had shaken her. Everything was happening so fast. She backed quickly away as the demons moved to surround her, cutting her off from the main bulk of the army. Julia set her back against the trunk of a decaying tree, and glared desperately about her. The army was being forced further away with every movement, and there was no way she could rejoin them. The demons moved slowly forward, taking their time, enjoying her fear. Julia swept her sword back and forth, her breathing coming short and hurried. Alone and on foot, all her strength and skill with a sword wasn't going to be enough to save her, and she knew it. She swore harshly, sheathed her sword, and drew Wolfsbane.
    The sword seemed almost to leap into her hand, clearing the long silver scabbard with ease. The wide steel blade gleamed dully before her, and then pulsed with a sudden sickly yellow light. The demons froze in their tracks, staring at the glowing sword as though mesmerised. The hilt was unpleasantly warm in Julia's hands, and there was a new feeling in the night as something stirred, something that had slept for centuries and was now awake, and aware . . .
    A demon leapt for Julia's throat, and she cut it in two with one easy sweep of the blade. The huge sword weighed almost nothing in her hands, and its edge didn't even grate on the demon's bones. Julia grinned harshly as the demon fell, and then her grin disappeared as the two halves of the demon's body rotted and decayed and fell apart, all in a few seconds. More demons threw themselves forward, only to collapse into putrid decay when the sword bit into them. The Infernal Device glowed with an unhealthy yellow light, like a corpse fire on a cairn. The demons fell back uneasily, but something made Julia pursue them, cutting viciously at anything that moved. The demons died screaming silently as corruption took them.
    Wolfsbane, thought Julia. Bane , that which causes death, ruin, destruction or decay.
    She swung the blade in wide, eager arcs, killing all in her reach. The demons did not die cleanly, and yet Julia found nothing of mercy in her. The creatures of the night fell beneath her sword in evergrowing numbers, and a bleak, savage grin slowly fixed itself to her face. There was no humour in that smile, and only a distant coldness in her eyes. It felt good, killing demons, hurting