Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

mockingly at the Champion, who studied him thoughtfully, and then turned his horse away.
    'One moment, sir Champion.'
    'I'm busy, Sire.'
    'I don't give a sweet damn how busy you are, sir Champion — you turn your back on me again and I'll have your head.'
    The Champion turned his horse back, and then dropped his reins to leave his sword hand free. A slight smile jerked at his mouth. 'I think you forget your place, Rupert.'
    'Do I? Last evening, my father ordered you to accept my authority during the journey to the Dark Tower. Are you going to break your word to your King?'
    The Champion sat very still, and Rupert sensed wheels turning behind the impassive face. Then the Champion looked down, and took up his reins again, and Rupert knew that he'd won.
    'My word is my bond, Sire,' said the Champion slowly. 'On this journey, you command.'
    'Good,' said Rupert, trying to keep the relief out of his voice. 'Because if you try to undermine my authority over the guards again, I'll cut your throat while you're sleeping.'
    'Threats aren't necessary, Sire. I gave my word.'
    Rupert nodded ungraciously. 'Have you told the men we'll have to pass through the Darkwood to reach the Warlock's Tower?'
    'Aye,' said the Champion. 'I've never actually travelled through the long night, Sire. What's it like?'
    Rupert let his mind drift back. He remembered fear and pain that weighed on him still, like chains wrapped around his soul. 'It's dark,' he said finally. 'Dark enough to break anyone.'
    The Champion waited a while, and then realised Rupert wasn't going to say any more.
    'I'll assemble the men, Sire. You'll want to address them before we set out.'
    'Do I have to?'
    The Champion raised an eyebrow. 'It is customary to brief the men on what dangers they'll be facing, Sire.'
    'Oh, yeah. All right, line them up, sir Champion.'
    'Right away, Sire.'
    The Champion rode off. Rupert watched him bark orders to the aimlessly milling guards, and strove to collect his thoughts. How the hell was he supposed to explain the dangers of the Darkwood to men who'd never even seen it? Most Forestmen never set foot in the long night; the Tanglewood saw to that.
    Rupert scowled thoughtfully; according to the Champion, the Tanglewood had fallen to the darkness, and demons roamed the Forest Land at will. Rupert shrugged, and let his hand drop to the pommel of the rainbow sword. If all else failed, he'd just have to summon another Rainbow.
    The guardsmen slowly assembled before him in ones and twos, their horses stamping and whinnying in their eagerness to be off. Breath steamed on the chill morning air, and the odd shaft of sunlight gleamed golden on shining chain-mail. The guards looked hard and competent, and Rupert knew they'd never understand the true horror of the Darkwood until they met it face to face. It was too personal a horror to bear explanation. But he had to try.
    'The Darkwood,'he said finally, 'is dangerous. Always. Even when you can't see the demons, be sure they're watching you. There's no light, except what we take in. There's no usable food or water, except what we collect beforehand. I've passed through the Darkwood twice, and each time it came close to killing me. I had a dragon with me on the second journey, and it didn't make a blind bit of difference.'
    He paused and looked about him, the echoes of his voice dying quickly away in the courtyard's silence.
    The guards stared impassively back, their eyes wary, but perhaps just a little respectful. In all Forest history, no man had passed through the Darkwood twice and survived. And I'm going to try it again , thought Rupert sourly. I must be mad. He smiled grimly at the guards before him.
    'It's a hard, bloody journey to the Dark Tower, my friends, and you'll be facing the worst odds of your career. Most of you won't be coming back. But we have to go, the Forest is depending on us to bring back the High Warlock. If we fail, darkness will spread over all the Land, and there'll be nothing left to come back to. If we make it, they'll sing songs about us for ever.
    'Anyone who wants, can back out now. The Darkwood's no place for unwilling heroes. But for once in your life, you have a chance to make a difference — the Forest Land needs you. And I need you.'
    He looked around, his breath caught in his throat as he waited for their answer. And one by one, the guards drew their swords and held them aloft in the ancient warrior's oath of fealty. Rupert slowly nodded his acceptance, unable to