Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

unicorn lay dying at his feet.
    He was your friend.
    Rupert reached out and took the sword. Anger and sorrow surged through him as he realised there was nothing left for him to do except die bravely, and take as many of his enemies with him as he could. He raised the sword above his head, and then all his rage, all his anguish, all his determination seemed to flow up into the blade and out, out into the long night and beyond, like a great shout of defiance against the dark. Light burst from the blade, filling the clearing. The demons cowered and fell back, and then turned to flee as with the thunder of a great waterfall, the Rainbow slammed down into the Darkwood.
    Time seemed to slow and stop. Brilliant colours scorched back the night, scything through the demonkind, who fell to the blood-soaked ground and did not rise again. And still the shimmering light poured over them, until their misshapen forms melted and flowed into the broken earth and were gone.
    And then the Rainbow was gone, and once again night held sway over the Darkwood.
    In the sudden silence, the crackling of the campfire seemed very loud. Moonlight filled the clearing, falling through wide holes in the overhead canopy, and the surrounding trees stood straight and whole where the Rainbow's light had touched them. Rupert slowly lowered the sword and studied it, but it was just a sword again. Well , he thought finally, it seems some legends are true . . .
    'Can anyone explain to me why I'm not dead?' asked the unicorn.
    'Unicorn!' Rupert turned quickly to find the animal climbing shakily to his feet. His wounds had healed, leaving only faint scars, and blood no longer ran from his mouth and nostrils. Rupert gaped at the unicorn, and then quickly checked his own wounds. He had an interesting collection of scars, but he didn't hurt any more. He felt great.
    'I'm fine too,' said an amused voice behind him, and before Rupert could turn round, Julia gave him one
    of her best bear hugs to prove it. She put an arm across his shoulders while he got his breath back, and then ran over to hug the dragon, who was flexing his healed wing experimentally.
    'Will somebody please tell me what's going on?' demanded the unicorn.
    'I called down a Rainbow and saved your life,' said Rupert, grinning from ear to ear.
    'Ah,' said the unicorn. 'I always knew you'd come in handy for something.'
    Rupert laughed, and carefully sheathed the rainbow sword. Joy bubbled up in him like water from a long-forgotten well. And then his laughter slowly died as he studied the unicorn more carefully.
    'What's the matter?' asked the animal, frowning.
    'There's something different about you,' said the Prince thoughtfully.
    'I feel fine,' said the unicorn, twisting his head round to study himself as best he could.
    'Oh dear,' said Rupert, as he finally realised.
    'What is it?'
    'Uh,' said Rupert, searching frantically for a tactful way to approach the subject.
    'Hey,' said Julia, as she and the dragon came over to join them. 'What's happened to the unicorn's horn?'
    'My what?' The unicorn went cross-eyed trying to find it, but all that remained was a nub of bone in the centre of his forehead.
    'The demons broke it off when you were injured,' Rupert explained. 'Apparently the Rainbow only heals wounds; it doesn't regrow things you've lost.'
    'My horn!' shrieked the unicorn. 'Everyone'll think I'm a horse!'
    'Never in a million years,' Rupert assured him.
    'In the meantime,' said the dragon, 'may I suggest we get the hell out of here? We're a long way from the Darkwood boundary, and no doubt there are still demons to be found in the dark.'
    'Right,' said Julia. 'The nightmare's over, but the night goes on for ever.'
    'Not for ever,' said Rupert softly, and his hand dropped to the pommel of the rainbow sword. 'Every night comes to an end eventually.'

Chapter 2
    HOMECOMING
    Some two months later, Rupert, Julia, the dragon and the unicorn were travelling wearily down the long, winding road that led to Rupert's Castle. Rupert rode his unicorn, while Julia rode on the dragon's shoulders. The Prince and the Princess both wore leather jerkin and trousers, topped by a thick fur cloak. The weather had turned cold, and a chill wind blew constantly through the Forest.
    'Home is the hero,' said Julia. 'Shouldn't there be a band playing, or something?'
    'The first minstrel I see had better start running,' said Rupert. 'I've gone off minstrels.'
    The dragon coughed tactfully. 'I hate to bring this up,