Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

healing job for the High Warlock. The thought reminded him of the way the supporting magic had suddenly stopped, and he twisted round in the saddle to look back at Forest Castle. The battlements were brightly lit with dozens of flaring torches, but there was no sign of any of the magicians. Rupert swore harshly, and then turned quickly back as the demons pressed forward again.
    Step by step he was forced back with the rest of the army, and yet although there were as many demons as ever, the press of battle was slowly easing, as the piled-up bodies of the dead and the dying now formed a high barricade between the army and its attackers. Rupert lookked vaguely around him, searching for familiar faces among the survivors, and frowned as he realised he couldn't see Julia any more.
    He sat up straight in the saddle, and then froze as he spotted Julia standing alone with her back to a tree, surrounded by demons, a good dozen yards outside the barricade.
    Rupert took a firm grip on his sword and urged the unicorn forward, but the animal only managed a few steps before he stumbled and almost fell. Rupert looked down and swallowed sickly as he saw the blood running thickly down the unicorn's heaving sides. He quickly dismounted, and checked the unicorn for other wounds. A demon came scrambling over the barricade. Rupert killed it before it hit the ground, and turned back to the unicorn.
    'What the hell do you think you're doing?' snapped the unicorn breathlessly. 'Get back in the saddle before the demons get you.'
    'Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?'
    'We're all hurt, Rupert.'
    'You're in no condition to carry me any further. Move back to the edge of the moat, and get yourself across the drawbridge the moment it's lowered. That shouldn't be long now.'
    'Forget it. You wouldn't last five minutes without me.'
    'Breeze . . .'
    'No. I'm not leaving you.'
    'I'm giving you an order!'
    'Stuff your order. You freed me, remember?'
    'Breeze, for once in your life will you please do as I ask? I've got to go and help Julia, she needs me.
    We'll both join you the moment my father calls the retreat, I promise. Now move yourself, while you've still got the strength.'
    'I hate it when you're right,' growled the unicorn. He started toward the rear of the embattled army, his head hanging limply down. Rupert watched him just long enough to be sure he'd get there all right, and then turned and headed for the barricade. He had to get to Julia . . .
    Harald and King John fought back to back, the two Infernal Devices keeping the demons at bay. Blood dripped steadily from their torn armour, not all of it demon blood. Rupert waited a moment to be sure their attention was fully on the demons, and then pulled himself up on to the barricade. He didn't think his father would try to stop him, but he couldn't take the risk. The piled-up bodies shifted and stirred under his weight, and Rupert froze where he was, crouched in shadows. Most of the demons seemed to be concentrating on breaking through the barrier, rather than looking for people coming out over it. Soon there was another lull in the fighting in his area, and choosing his moment carefully, Rupert scrambled down the other side of the barricade, wincing and cursing under his breath as every jolt or sudden movement shot pain through his injured arm. And then he was on the ground and running towards Julia, sword in hand.
    Julia kept her back pressed against the rotting tree, and swung Wolfsbane back and forth before her in wide, killing arcs. Decaying bodies lay piled around her, but still the demons came, leaping and clawing.
    Julia hacked viciously at the foul grinning creatures before her, knowing it was only a matter of time before she grew too tired or too slow, and then they would drag her down. She hoped it would be a quick death, but feared it wouldn't. Her blade faltered as her concentration slipped, and a demon ducked under the sword and lunged for her throat. A backhand slash cut the creature in two, but left Julia's defences wide open. The demons surged forward.
    Rupert slammed into them from behind, and the demons scattered as he fought his way through them to stand at Julia's side. For a long time there was nothing but flashing steel and flying blood, and then the demons suddenly retreated into the shadows, leaving Rupert and Julia standing alone before the rotting tree. They slowly lowered their swords and stared warily about them. The darkness still seethed with misshapen life,