Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

cowardice in deserting the party to their fate, and took a firm grip on his sword. He hoped it would be a quick death.
    And then the dragon raised himself in all his ancient glory, and fire blazed on the night. Demons curled up and fell away like scorched leaves as the dragon's flaming breath washed over them. Others fell to roll on the ground in silent agony before lying still. The dragon's awesome head swayed back and forth, his fire scouring the clearing of demonkind, and then the flame flickered and went out.
    In the last of the light, Rupert watched the survivors fall back to join others of their kind, waiting in the darkness beyond the clearing. More demons. There were always more demons. Rupert slowly lowered his sword and leaned on it. He daren't sit down for fear he'd never get to his feet again. Hi s strength is as the strength of ten, because his heart is pure . Minstrels. Rupert sighed softly. Julia suddenly sat down beside him as her legs gave way. Her eyes were glazed with fatigue, but somehow she still found enough strength to hang on to her sword. Anger stirred in Rupert afresh as he realised not all the blood on Julia's dress came from demons. He stared horrified as he took in the terrible extent of her injuries, and swore silently. If he hadn't taken her from the dragon's cave; if he hadn't brought her into the Darkwood; if he hadn't left her to go chasing after a legend... If. You're a brave lass, Julia , Rupert thought wearily. You deserved better than me. He stared out into the darkness; looking at Julia hurt too much. He could hear the demons gathering. There seemed no end to their numbers. Rupert turned to the
    dragon, crouching exhausted by the fire. One wing hung limply, half torn away, and golden blood ran steadily down his heaving side. The dragon slowly raised his great head and studied the blood-spattered Prince.
    'Did you reach the Rainbow's End?'
    'Yes,' said Rupert. 'It was very beautiful.'
    'What did you find there?'
    'A sword. Just an ordinary sword.' Rupert couldn't keep the bitterness from his voice as he threw the sword on to the ground before him. The dragon studied the sword, and then looked away.
    'The Wild Magic is often . . . capricious.' He stared out into the darkness. 'The demons are almost ready. One last attack, and it will all be over.'
    'We can't just give up,' Rupert protested. 'We've beaten them off twice . . .'
    'I'm hurt, Rupert,' the dragon said simply. 'I'm too old for all this nonsense.'
    Rupert shook his head, searching for some kind of anger to hold back his growing despair. 'What happened to the unicorn?'
    'He's over there,' said the dragon.
    Rupert followed the dragon's gaze. Not a dozen feet from the fire, the unicorn lay stretched out and unmoving, half hidden under a pile of demon bodies.
    'Unicorn!' Rupert staggered over to his fallen steed and knelt beside him. The unicorn tried to raise his bloodied head, and couldn't.
    'Will you keep your voice down? My head hurts.'
    Bloody rents crawled along the unicorn's flanks, and his rib cage had been smashed in. His hom had been broken off at the base, leaving only a jagged stub.
    'I'm sorry,' said Rupert. 'I'm sorry.'
    'Not your fault,' said the unicorn. His voice broke, and he coughed a bloody foam.
    Rupert started to cry.
    'Stop that,' said the unicorn gruffly. 'You should see the other guy. Did you find the Rainbow's End?'
    Rupert nodded, unable to speak.
    'Well, how about that. Some quest, eh, lad? They'll sing songs about us for ever.'
    'And get it all wrong,' said Rupert.
    'Wouldn't surprise me,' said the unicorn. 'I think I'll take a little rest now, lad, I'm tired.'
    'Unicorn?'
    'I'm so tired.'
    'Unicorn.''
    After a while, Julia came and crouched beside him.
    'He lost his horn for me,' said Rupert bitterly. 'What did I ever do for him, except lead him into danger?'
    'He was your friend,' said Julia, gently.
    She couldn't have hurt him more if she'd tried.
    'Rupert!' cried the dragon. 'Demons!'
    'I brought your sword,' said Julia as they rose painfully to their feet, and she offered Rupert the sword he'd found at Rainbow's End. Rupert glared at the sword, and felt a slow, steady rage burn within him.
    All around him he could see demons spilling into the clearing, bringing the darkness with them. Firelight gleamed on fang and claw. The dragon stood ready to meet them, crippled but undefeated. Julia stood before him, bloodied but unbowed, waiting for him to take his sword and fight at her side. And the