Blue Moon Rising (Darkwood) Read Online Free PDF Page B

finished. Is that clear?”
    Rupert laughed. “Sure. You go ahead; the sun’s high in the sky, and I’ve an awful lot of sleep to catch up on. Afterwards … I think I’ll show you how to tickle trout.”
    “Why should I wish to amuse a fish?” asked the unicorn, but Rupert was already fast asleep.
    It took Rupert and the unicorn almost a month to reach Dragonslair mountain. Regular meals and fresh water did much to restore their health and spirits, but the Darkwood had left its mark on Rupert. Every evening, as the sun dipped redly below the horizon, Rupert would build a large fire, even though the nights were warm and there were no dangerous beasts in the area. And every night, before he finally allowed himself to sleep, he carefully banked the fire so that there was sure to be light if he woke before the dawn. His sleep was restless, and plagued by nightmares he chose not to recall. For the first time since he was a child, Rupert was afraid of the dark. Each morning he woke ashamed, and cursed his weakness, and swore silently to himself that he’d not give in to his fear again. And every evening, as the sun went down, he built another fire.
    Dragonslair drew steadily closer and more imposing as the days passed, and Rupert became increasingly uncertain as to what he was going to do when he reached the mountain’s base. According to the Night Witch’s map, somewhere near the summit he’d find a dragon’s cave, but the closer he drew the more impossible it seemed that any man could climb the towering basalt wall that loomed darkly before him, filling the horizon. Yet, despite all his doubts, despite the unreasoning fear that tormented his nights, Rupert never considered turning back. He’d come too far and been through too much to give up now that his goal was finally in sight.
    Go forth and slay a dragon, my son. Prove yourself worthy to the throne.
    The early morning air was still cold from the night’s chill when Rupert rode into the foothills. Thinning grass and stunted shrubbery soon gave way to bare rock, pitted and eroded by long exposure to wind and rain. A pathway cut into the mountainside itself led steeply upwards, and the unicorn cursed steadily under his breath as he picked his way carefully along the uneven path. Rupert kept his eyes fixed firmly on the path ahead, and tried not to think about the growing drop behind him. The trail grew steadily narrower and more treacherous as they ascended, and was finally interrupted by a wide patch of shifting scree. The unicorn took one look at the gently sliding stones that blocked the path, and dug his hooves in.
    “Forget it. I’m a unicorn, not a mountain goat.”
    “But it’s the only way up; it’ll be easy going after this.”
    “It’s not the going up that worries me, it’s the coming down. Probably at great speed, with the wind rushing past me.
    Rupert sighed, and swung down out of the saddle. “All right. You go on back, and wait for me by the foothills. Give me two days. If I’m not back by then …”
    “Rupert,” said the unicorn slowly, “You don’t have to do this. We could always go back, and tell the Court we couldn’t find a dragon. No one would know.”
    “I’d know,” said Rupert.
    Their eyes met, and the unicorn bowed his head to the Prince.
    “Good luck, Sire.”
    “Thank you,” said Rupert, and turned quickly away.
    “You be careful,” muttered the unicorn. “I’d hate to have to break in another rider.” He turned carefully around on the narrow path, and cautiously headed back down the mountainside.
    Rupert stood a moment, listening to the slowly departing hoofbeats. The unicorn would be safe enough in the foot-hills. If scree hadn’t blocked the trail, he would have found some other excuse to send the unicorn back; what remained of the quest was Rupert’s responsibility, and his alone. There was no need for both of them to risk their lives. Rupert shook himself briskly, and studied the vast patch of scree