Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

up!' yelled Rupert. A sudden silence fell across the Court as everyone looked at Rupert in surprise, having forgotten in the heat of the argument that he was still there.
    'Thank you, Rupert,' said King John. 'It was getting a little noisy. According to the Champion, you passed through the Darkwood on your quest.'
    'Twice,' said Rupert curtly.
    A ripple of barely suppressed laughter ran through the Court. The Minister for War sniggered openly, his dark little eyes sparkling with malicious glee.
    'Oh, come now, Rupert,' said Lord Darius, dropping a podgy hand on Rupert's arm. 'Surely you don't expect us to believe you passed through the Darkwood twice'. Even with a dragon in your party, the demons would have ripped you to pieces.'
    'They tried,' said Rupert evenly. 'We got lucky. Now get your hand off my arm, or I'll feed you your fingers.'
    The Minister removed his hand with exaggerated care, and bowed sarcastically.
    'And how many demons did you meet in the Darkwood, sir hero? Ten? Twenty?'
    Too many to count,' said Rupert angrily. 'Demons hunt in packs now.'
    'Nonsense,' snapped the Astrologer. 'Everyone knows demons haven't the intelligence to work together.
    They prey on each other when food grows scarce.'
    'I was there,' said Rupert grimly, struggling to remain calm. 'There were hundreds of the bloody creatures, fighting side by side.'
    'Hundreds?' sneered Darius, his gaze openly contemptuous. 'Don't waste our time with such obvious lies.
    You were never in the Darkwood. I've no doubt the Princess Julia was most impressed by your pretty stories, but don't think to deceive us as well. You're a coward and a failure, and everyone here knows it.
    Now run along, and tell your tales to the scullery maid. You've no business here.'
    Kupert drove his fist into the Minister's sneering mouth. The court gasped as Darius fell backwards into the crowd and lay still. A guardsman moved forward to restrain Rupert, and Julia kicked him between wind and water. The guard bent in two, and Julia rabbit-punched him. More guards came forward, and the Champion drew his sword. Rupert and Julia drew their swords and stood back to back. Por a long moment, nobody moved.
    Think you're up to it, lad?' said the Champion, softly.
    'Maybe,' said Rupert. 'You said yourself I'd improved, and Julia's pretty good with a sword too. Who knows, we might just get lucky.'
    'You'll never be that lucky,' grinned the Champion, moving forward. His eyes were cold and hard and full of death.
    'Enough!' roared the King, surging to his feet. 'Sir Champion, sheathe your sword. That's an order!
    Guards, return to your places; I'm in no danger.'
    The Champion looked at the King a moment, and then sheathed his sword, his face calm and expressionless. The guards moved reluctantly back to their positions, and the King sank back on to his throne.
    'Rupert, Julia; please put down your swords,' said King John evenly, his eyes darting from one to the other. 'You are under my protection in this Court, and you have my word you will come to no harm here.'
    Julia glanced at Rupert, who nodded slowly. They sheathed their swords, and everybody relaxed a little.
    A small knot of courtiers gathered around the feebly groaning Lord Darius.
    'Somebody help the Minister for War back to his chambers,' said the King, and two of the courtiers half led, half carried Darius away. The King hid a smile behind a raised hand, and leaned back in his throne.
    'Now, Rupert ...'
    'No, no, and no,' said Rupert firmly. 'No, I will not lead an army into the Darkwood to fight the demons.
    No, I will not lead a diplomatic party to talk to the demons. And no, I don't have any sense of duty or honour. I think that covers everything.'
    Julia nodded solemnly.
    'Rupert, I assure you—' King John began, but Rupert cut in quickly, knowing that if he started being reasonable now, he was lost.
    'Forget it. I don't care what you've got lined up for me, the answer's no. I've done my bit; let somebody else put their head on the block for a change.'
    'Rupert, if there was anybody else ...'
    There is — Harald.'
    His brother looked up from idly buffing his nails, and shook his head amiably. 'Afraid not, dear boy; I'm needed here. Sorry.'
    'Blow it out your ear, Harald.'
    There was a slight pause, as everyone pretended not to have heard that.
    'Rupert,' said King John firmly, 'I quite agree that you've earned a rest. Unfortunately, the task I have for you is both urgent and vital, and it cannot wait. Tomorrow