Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

Castle would have been overrun by now. He saved us all. And he died out there, alone in the darkness, not even knowing whether he'd succeeded or failed. I miss him, Thomas. It feels strange, not having him at my side. He had his faults, but he was brave and loyal, and even honourable, in his way. In all the Kingdom, he was perhaps the only man I ever really trusted.'
    The Astrologer raised an eyebrow. 'The only one, John?'
    The King laughed suddenly, and clapped the Astrologer on the back. 'And you, of course, Thomas. I'd trust you with my life.'
    'I saw you talking to Rupert,' said the Astrologer. 'Have you told him we're going with him into the Darkwood?'
    'Not yet,' said the King. 'He's going to take a lot of persuading. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I think we should tell him the truth. All of it.'
    The Astrologer stiffened, and looked at him sharply. 'Do you think that's wise, John?'
    'I don't know, Thomas. But I do think it's necessary.'
    Rupert watched curiously as King John left the Astrologer and started back towards him. He saw the Astrologer reach out as though to stop the King, and his arm slowly drop as he changed his mind. And in that brief moment Rupert saw that the Astrologer was wearing a sword on his hip, carefully hidden out of sight under his cloak. Rupert grinned harshly. It would appear the Astrologer wasn't as confident in his sorcery as he liked to pretend, if he needed a sword on his hip to back him up. He quickly wiped the smile from his face as the King drew near. He felt Julia slip her arm through his, and he squeezed it gently against his side. Right now, he could use a little moral support. The King stopped before him, and then hesitated, as though unsure how best to proceed.
    'You don't have to go back into the Darkwood, Rupert. You've gone through it so many times now ...'
    'That's why I have to do it again. No one else has the experience I have.'
    'And I'm going with him,' said Julia firmly. 'He needs someone to guard his back. Someone he can trust.'
    The King frowned. 'How many people can the dragon carry, altogether?'
    'Four, at most,' said Rupert. 'So far there's us, and the High Warlock—'
    'No,' said the Warlock, coming over from where he'd been talking with the dragon. Rupert noted absently that the Warlock's hair was almost entirely white.
    'What do you mean, no?' said Julia. 'We need you!'
    'I'm sorry, Julia,' said the Warlock quietly, 'but waking the dragon took practically everything I had. With
    so much Wild Magic loose in the world, it's all I can do to control what little magic I have left. Take the Astrologer instead, he still has some magic. I'll stay here, and give the castle what protection I can. My power will return in time. If the demons would just hold off for twenty-four hours, I could still give them a run for their money.'
    'The Astrologer?' said Julia incredulously. 'You've got to be joking! We need a real sorcerer. Look, the Castle can't stand against the demons no matter what you do, but you're the only one of us who stands any chance against the Demon Prince!'
    'No, Julia,' said the Warlock. 'There's nothing more I can do for you.'
    'Thomas Grey is a fine sorcerer,' said the King. 'And he has a way to lead us directly to the Demon Prince.'
    Rupert looked at him quickly. 'Us? What do you mean, us?'
    The King met his gaze squarely. 'I mean, I'm going with you.'
    'You can't,' said Rupert flatly. 'You're needed here.'
    'As Julia has just pointed out, the Castle will fall anyway if the Demon Prince isn't stopped,' said the King evenly. 'I have to go with you, Rupert, because without me, you don't have a hope in hell of destroying the Demon Prince.'
    'Why? Because you're carrying Rockbreaker?' said Rupert, eyeing the long swordhilt standing up behind the King's shoulder.
    'Partly,' said the King. 'But there is another reason.'
    'Let me tell them, John,' said the Astrologer, moving quickly forward to stand beside the King. His face was pinched and drawn, and his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. He looked quickly about him, almost angrily, and when he spoke his voice was flat and harsh. 'John and I have to go with you. We were there at the beginning of this evil, we have no choice but to be there at its ending.'
    'I don't understand,' said Rupert, looking from the Astrologer to King John and seeing something in their faces he couldn't quite put a name to.
    'It's all our fault,' said the King quietly. 'All the deaths, all the destruction.