Blue Moon Rising (Darkwood) (15 page)

“Now that’s more like it,” said the Champion approvingly. His sword licked out to open a shallow cut on Rupert’s left cheek, and then the Champion had to jump back out of range as Rupert’s blade sheared through the chain mail over his ribs. The Champion glanced down, and saw blood seeping through his armor.

“Getting old, Champion,” said Rupert thickly. “There was a time you wouldn’t have given me a chance to recover.”

The Champion smiled. “I’m still good enough for you, boy. Come on; let’s see what you can do.”

Rupert moved cautiously forward, his sword sweeping back and forth before him. The two fighters circled each other warily, and then came together in a flurry of steel too fast for the eye to follow. They sprang apart and circled each other again, their steel-clad boots striking sparks from the bare stone. Blood rilled down from a wide cut on Rupert’s forehead, filling his eyes with crimson. The Champion had another bloody rent in his chain mail. Rupert wiped blood from his eyes with the back of his hand, and couldn’t parry the Champion’s attack in time. Fresh blood trickled down Rupert’s sword arm, making his grasp slippery. And so the fight went on. Rupert used every trick he knew, all his strength and skill coming together in an exhibition of swordsmanship that had the guardsmen crying aloud in appreciation. Again and again he threw himself at the Champion, his sword a bright blur on the still morning air as it rose and fell, rose and fell. Rupert gave everything he had, and it wasn’t enough.

He never stood a chance.

The Champion parried his every blow, allowed Rupert to tire himself out, and then moved in with a flurry of hammering blows that left Rupert lying battered and helpless facedown on the blood-smeared cobblestones. He was dimly aware of the Champion crouching before him, and then tears started from his eyes as a strong hand grabbed a handful of hair and lifted his head up.

“Sorry, Sire,” said the Champion quietly. “But you should have know better than to beat Harald in public. Next time, you will know better.” The hand released Rupert’s hair, and the cobblestones jumped up to meet his face. The Champion’s voice seemed to come from far away. “We ride in half an hour, Sire; I expect you to be in your saddle and ready to leave. If you’re not, I’ll have you strapped to the unicorn.”

He walked unhurriedly away, and one by one the guards followed him, leaving Rupert curled around his pain. The courtyard chatter slowly resumed. For a long while Rupert just lay there, and then there was the sound of running feet, and two gentle hands were holding his shoulders. He cried out wordlessly, and shrank away from the hands, afraid of more pain.

“Rupert, love; what have they done to you?” said Julia.

Rupert’s mind slowly cleared, and he became aware of Julia kneeling beside him.

“What happened, Rupert?”

“I wanted to win,” he said thickly, and spat blood onto the cobblestones. “Just once, I wanted to win. Help me up, will you?”

Slowly, leaning heavily on Julia’s supporting arm, he got to his feet, and she guided him over to the nearest wall so that he could lean against it. His head swam madly, and he stood quietly while Julia cleaned the worst of the blood from his face with a silk handkerchief.

“Waste of good silk, that,” he said, trying to smile.

“Who did this to you?” demanded Julia, her voice shaking with fury.

“The Champion,” said Rupert. “I shouldn’t have turned my back on him.”

“I’ll kill him!” said Julia, and Rupert quickly grabbed her wrist.

“No! Don’t even think it, Julia. He wouldn’t kill you, but he’d have no compunction about scarring you a little to teach you a lesson. You’re good with a sword, lass, but I’m better, and he walked all over me and didn’t even raise a sweat.” He realized he was still holding her wrist painfully tight, and let her go. “I’m not badly hurt, Julia, except in my pride. He was careful not to do any real damage. I should have known he wouldn’t let me get away with beating Harald.”

“You beat Harald?”

“Yeah.” Rupert grinned, wincing a little as fresh blood seeped into his mouth. “I beat him. I did everything but sign my initials on him.”

Julia laughed, and clapped her hands together. “Oh, I’d love to have seen that!”

“Bloodthirsty wench,” Rupert growled, and then laughed as she nodded demurely.

“Why did the Champion attack you?”

“Partly to keep me in my place. Partly to undermine my authority with the guards. And partly because he has to prove he’s still the best, even after all these years as Champion. As he’s got older, he’s needed to prove it more and more.”

Julia frowned thoughtfully. “I think I’ll have a word with the dragon about this.”

“Thanks for the thought, but no. I want to beat him myself.”

Rupert pushed himself away from the wall and breathed deeply until his head steadied. Pain still simmered in his muscles, flaring up if he moved too quickly, but it was bearable. He’d hurt worse in the Darkwood. He looked round for his sword, and Julia handed it to him without having to be asked. He smiled his thanks, slipped the blade into its scabbard, and then took his first good look at Julia.

Somebody had clearly decided to take the young Princess in hand. Julia now wore a long flowing gown of midnight blue, with gold and silver piping. Diamonds flashed from rings and bracelets and necklaces, and they’d taken away her sword. Her long blonde hair had been piled up on top of her head and carefully arranged in the latest High Society style. Expertly applied cosmetics softened the harsh planes of her face without disguising them. All in all, Rupert thought she’d never looked lovelier. Even though it was a totally unsuitable outfit for visiting a filthy courtyard at the break of dawn.

“I like the dress,” he said solemnly.

“I look like an idiot,” grumbled Julia. “All I need to finish the job is a cap and bells. The dress is too tight, my shoes are crippling me, and this damn hairdo is giving me a headache. What’s more, the thick wooly underwear they forced on me itches like crazy.” She went to scratch herself and only then realized she was still holding the bloodstained handkerchief she’d used to clean Rupert’s face. She sniffed, tucked it unconcernedly into her flared sleeve, and glared at the Prince accusingly. “You were going to sneak off without saying goodbye, weren’t you?”

Rupert shrugged awkwardly. “I don’t like goodbyes. They always seem so final.”

“Rupert,” said Julia slowly, “Just how dangerous is this High Warlock?”

“Very. The last messenger we sent him came back transformed.”

“Transformed? Into what?”

“We’re not actually sure. Remember the crocodiles that used to live in the moat?”

“You mean whatever ate them is …”

“We think so.”

Julia scowled thoughtfully. “And the High Warlock’s our only hope against the Darkwood?”

“Looks like it.”

“Than we’re in deep trouble.”

Rupert nodded solemnly, and Julia had to laugh. Rupert grinned, glad he’d finally broken her grim mood.

“Well, Julia; how are you getting on with Castle Society?”

“Settling in. Slowly.”

“Hit anybody recently?”

“No one important.”

Rupert laughed. “That’s all right, then.”

They stood together a while, neither of them sure what to say for the best, and then Julia leaned forward and kissed him. Rupert took her in his arms, and held her close. He could feel her heart beating against his. After a while, he pushed her gently away.

“It’s almost time to go, Julia.”

“Yes.”

“I’d take you with me if I could.”

“I understand.”

“Wait for me?”

“Of course. Do you still have my favor?”

Rupert reached inside his jerkin and pulled out a very battered and blood-stained handkerchief. “My lady’s favor. I wouldn’t be parted from it for all the Forest Kingdom.” He looked up and found there were tears in Julia’s eyes, too. He turned quickly away, and stared out across the packed courtyard as he put the handkerchief away again. He heard Julia move in close behind him, felt her breath warm the back of his neck as she spoke.

“No goodbyes, Rupert. Just … come back safely. Or I’ll never forgive you.”

There was a pause, and then he heard her turn and walk away. He wished there was something else to say, but there wasn’t. He put his hand over his heart, and felt the soft pressure of the handkerchief under his jerkin. It seemed the minstrels weren’t always wrong, after all. He grinned, and made his way across the courtyard to rejoin the unicorn.

“Are you all right now, Rupert? You look a bit flushed.”

“I’m fine. Fine.”

“Julia’s gone?”

“Yes.”

“I like her,” said the unicorn.

“So do I,” said Rupert.

“I had noticed,” said the unicorn, dryly.

Rupert laughed, and put his cloak back on. “Ready to move out?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be. Why isn’t the dragon coming with us? I’d just started to get used to him.”

“He’s resting. I think the demons hurt him more than he’ll admit. The Rainbow should have healed him, but I suppose he’s just … not as young as he was. Last night, it was all he could do to walk to the stables. I’ll miss him, but he’s not up to a long journey, let alone fighting off demons.”

“Demons?” said the unicorn sharply. “What demons?”

“Well, when we go back into the Darkwood …”

“The Darkwood? Nobody said anything to me about going back into the Darkwood! Right. That’s it. Get that saddle off me, I’m not moving.”

“We’re only going into it a little way …”

“So I’ll suppose we’ll only be killed a little bit. Forget it!”

“Look, unicorn, either we go and fetch the High Warlock, or the Darkwood will come looking for us. It’s that simple.”

“There has to be another alternative.”

“Like what?”

“Run away?”

Rupert laughed, and patted the unicorn’s neck. “Are all unicorns as chicken as you?”

“The ones with any sense are. The only reason unicorns are so rare is that most of us haven’t the sense to come in out of the rain. Or to stay clear of humans.”

Rupert studied the unicorn thoughtfully. “You’re my friend, aren’t you?”

The unicorn shifted his feet. “Yeah, I suppose so. I’ve got used to having you around.”

“I have to go back into the Darkwood again. It’s my duty.”

“I know,” sighed the unicorn resignedly. “And I have to go with you.”

Rupert patted the unicorn’s neck again. “Thanks. I’d hate to have to do it without you.” He frowned suddenly. “Unicorn …”

“Yes?”

“I just realized … all this time we’ve been together, and I don’t even know your name.”

The unicorn turned his head slowly, and fixed Rupert with a blood-red eye.

“My name? I’m a slave, Prince. Slaves don’t have names.”

The courtyard seemed suddenly colder, and Rupert looked away, unable to meet the unicorn’s steady gaze.

“You’re not a slave …”

“No? You think I wear this saddle and bridle by choice? I was taken from my herd by men with ropes and whips. They beat me till they broke my spirit, and then they sold me to you. That’s not slavery?” The unicorn laughed bitterly. “You’ve been good to me, Rupert. I’m fond of you, in my way. But I’m still a slave, and you’re still my master. And slaves don’t have names. I used to have a name. When I was free, I had a name.” The unicorn’s voice dropped to a whisper. “One day, I’ll have a name again.”

“I’m … sorry,” said Rupert lamely. “I just … never thought about it before.” He looked up to meet the unicorn’s gaze. “I led you into the Darkwood, and nearly got you killed. You could have run off and left me anytime, but you didn’t, because I needed you. You’re my friend, unicorn. If you don’t want to come with me, you don’t have to. But I wish you would.”

Man and unicorn stared at each other.

“Climb aboard,” said the unicorn finally. “We’ve a long ride ahead of us.”

Rupert nodded, set his foot in the stirrup, and swung up into the saddle. Not back twenty-four hours, and already on his way again.
Julia was right
, he thought suddenly.
We shouldn’t have come back to the Castle, We were happy together, out there in the Forest, We didn’t know about Harald’s marriage contract, or the spreading Darkwood. I could have loved you, Julia. I could have loved you, then.

He sighed and shook his head, and then looked up as the slow clatter of approaching hooves caught his attention. The Champion drew up beside him, astride an armored charger. The horse stood a good ten hands taller than the unicorn, and carried the heavy armor with nonchalant ease.
Impressive,
thought Rupert.
Great for jousting. But not a lot of use against a pack of demons.

“Expecting trouble, sir Champion?” he asked, solemnly.

“Always, Sire. I take it you’re ready to leave?”

“Of course. You did an excellent job, sir Champion. I’m hurt, but not actually damaged.”

“I try to be professional.”

“One of these days …”

“You’ll what, Sire? Slip poison in my cup, or a dagger in my back? I doubt it; that’s not your way. You want to beat me sword-to-sword, like you did Harald. And you’ll never be good enough to take me that way.”

“Don’t put money on it,” said Rupert calmly. “There was a time Harald thought the same.”

The Champion gave him a hard look, but said nothing. For a long moment the two men stared at each other, feeling the change in their relationship, and for the first time Rupert realized that he wasn’t afraid of the Champion any more. For as long as Rupert could remember, the Champion had seemed to him the personification of death; a cold-eyed killer with a bloody sword who would one day come for him as he had come for so many others. But not any more. Rupert had gone sword-to-sword with him under the worst possible conditions, and he’d drawn blood twice. He might have lost the fight, but nobody had let the Champion’s blood in over twenty years. The man was good, very good, but he wasn’t unbeatable.
And one day
, thought Rupert,
I’m going to prove it.
He grinned mockingly at the Champion, who studied him thoughtfully, and then turned his horse away.

“One moment, sir Champion.”

“I’m busy, Sire.”