Forest Kingdom Trilogy 1 - Blue Moon Rising

and Julia felt her interest reviving as it became obvious that nobody had walked this corridor in years. The wood-panelled walls were dull and unpolished, and thick cobwebs shrouded the empty lamps and wall brackets. The Seneschal called a halt while two of the guards lit the lanterns they'd brought with them, and then he led the party on— down the corridor. Julia drew the dagger from her boot and carried it in her hand. The dim light and the quiet reminded her uncomfortably of the Darkwood.
    The corridor eventually branched in two, and the Seneschal stopped the party again while he consulted
    several maps. Julia moved cautiously forward and studied the two branches. The left-hand fork seemed to curve round and head back the way they'd come, while the right-hand fork led into an unrelieved darkness that raised the hackles on the back of her neck. Julia shook her head to clear it, and made herself breathe deeply. The Darkwood was miles away. A little darkness couldn't hurt her. Julia clutched tightly at the hilt of her dagger, as though for comfort, and smiled grimly. Even after all this time, she still needed a lighted candle in her room at night before she could sleep. Like Rupert before her, the long night had left its mark on Julia. Her heart jumped suddenly as she realised there was someone standing beside her, and then it steadied again when she recognised the Seneschal.
    'Which way?' she asked, and was relieved to find that her voice was still steady.
    'I'm not sure yet,' said the Seneschal testily. 'According to all the maps, we should take the left-hand branch, but that feels wrong. That feels very wrong. No, to hell with the maps, we have to go right. Into the darkness.'
    'I might have known,' muttered Julia.
    'What? What was that? I do wish you wouldn't mumble, Princess, it's a very annoying habit.'
    Julia shrugged, unoffended. The Seneschal's perpetual air of desperation made it impossible for anyone to take his remarks personally; he was so obviously mad at the world, rather than whoever he happened to be addressing at the time.
    'Why are we looking for the South Wing, sir Seneschal?'
    'Because, Princess, it has been lost for thirty-two years. That's lost, as in missing, unable to be found, vanished from human ken, absent without leave. It may not have been a particularly impressive Wing, as Wings go, but we were all rather fond of it, and we want it back. That's why we're out looking for it.
    What else should we do — throw a party to mark the thirty-second anniversary of its loss?'
    'No, sir Seneschal,' said Julia patiently. 'I meant, why are we looking for it now? You've managed without it all these years, why is it suddenly so important?'
    'Ah,' said the Seneschal, and peered dubiously at the Princess. 'I suppose if I don't tell you, you'll just make my life even more of a misery.'
    'Got it in one,' said Julia cheerfully.
    The Seneschal sighed, glanced furtively at the waiting guards, and then gestured for Julia to lean closer.
    'It's not exactly a secret, but I'd rather the guards didn't know what we're after until they have to. I'm sure they're all perfectly loyal to the King. . . but why take chances?'
    'Get on with it,' said Julia impatiently, intrigued by the Seneschal's uncharacteristic nervousness.
    'We're looking for the South Wing,' said the Seneschal quietly, 'because that's where the Old Armoury is.'
    Julia looked at him blankly. 'Is that supposed to mean something to me?'
    'The King intends to draw the Curtana,' said the Seneschal, 'and the Curtana is in the Old Armoury.'
    'Got it,' said Julia. 'I'm with you now.'
    'I'm so glad,' said the Seneschal. 'Anything else you'd like to know?'
    'Yes,' said Julia dryly. 'If this Curtana is as powerful as everyone makes out, how is it that no one's tried to find the Old Armoury before, and take the sword for themselves?'
    'Over the years, a great many people have tried.'
    'So what happened to them?'
    'We don't know. None of them has ever come back.'
    'Terrific,' said Julia. 'I notice you didn't tell me any of this before we set out.'
    'I thought you knew,' said the Seneschal.
    'Assuming we get to the Old Armoury,' said Julia, 'a prospect that seems increasingly unlikely the more I think about it, I take it you will be able to recognise the Curtana when you see it?'
    The Seneschal stared into the darkness of the right-hand corridor, and smiled grimly. 'The Curtana is a short sword, not more than three foot in length, and it has no point. Going back