From: ssalter@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (-=[SLS]=-)
Subject: To Ride a Nightmare (CASTLE)
Organization: OFSA
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 13:21:10 GMT

Synopsis: The Lady Brianna has been trapped in DreamWorld by an evil
wizard by the name of Dresher. Her body lies asleep in the Castle
while her mind is tormented with horrid nightmares. Kathrea had
verified that the only way to save her is to go into DreamWorld and
rescue her by defeating Dresher. She casts a spell on the Feral Knight
that consists of past experiences in DreamWorld...a sort of instant
learning spell that encompasses vision, hearing, touch and taste and
memories. Mikandric had inadvertantly caused this problem by
pickpocketing the Feral Knight when he arrived back at the Castle
after his long journeys and giving the item he had taken, an amulet,
to the Lady Brianna. Siobhan and Alwir are newcomers to the Land who
meet each other outside the Castle and fall into love rapidly. Alwir
comes into the Castle with FK and Mikandric and sees Brianna but runs
away, being the shy type, and ends up with Siobhan again. Then he
finds out she turns into the NightMare in the evening and that she is
drawn to the amulet that once belonged to her...yes, this is
confusing, bear with me. Siobhan's father gave the Feral Knight the
amulet when FK passed through that land. Siobhan followed FK since she
was a little smitten with him at the time...heck, he was a lot
different from the herdboys and such that populated her immediate
area! Nevertheless, the first night Siobhan was in the Land she turned
into NightMare, traveled to the amulet that now resided with Brianna
since Mikandric had picked the Feral Knight's pocket and given it to
her and she sent Brianna to DreamWorld by accident. whew! So, Alwir
and NightMare have now come to the Castle to Brianna's room and Alwir
has explained a few things to Feral Knight, Kathrea and Mikandric.
  ======================

*Mikandric looked at FK and Kathrea, feeling very satisfied with
*himself. Feral Knight nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face.
*FK looked at Kathrea and said, "Kathrea...a horse which enters a
*person's dreams? Could his be the way in we've been looking for?  A
*way to save my Brianna?"     


	Kathrea looks back at him and replies, "Yes, this would be the
best way to accomplish your goal, my friend. I can cast a spell to put
you to sleep and the NightMare can cause you to go to DreamWorld where
Brianna is trapped by orienting on the pull of the amulet."   

	"Does that sound reasonable to you, Alwir?" Feral Knight
inquired. 

	"I can't speak for the NightMare but I think it is
acceptable." he answered. 

	The Feral Knight looked around and then sat on the floor
beside Brianna's bed. He took her hand in his and looked over to
Kathrea.  

	"I am ready now, Kathrea." he stated.

	"Wait a minute! I will accompany you Feral Knight! After all I
was in some part responsible for this." Mikandric broke in.  

	The Feral Knight raised one eyebrow at Mikandric's speech and
then smiled.  

	"No, it is not necessary for you to come. I do not blame you
for this. If what Alwir says is correct and I still feel he is holding
something back, NightMare was as much to blame as you were. The
DreamWorld can be a perilous place. I, at least, have some bits of
experience with it through Kathrea's enchantment."     

	"Perhaps it would be as well for him to go." Kathrea said
slowly, her brow furrowed. "Two may be successful where one is hard
pressed to accomplish all facets of the quest."  

	"I too will come, with NightMare." Alwir said quietly. "The
lady must be rescued and that is as good a way as any for me to prove
my willingness and merit. I am unused to people and rarely trust them
but you seem to warrant my trust, Feral Knight".    

	Feral Knight frowned briefly and then shrugged. "Alright then,
it is best if we do this now. Mikandric, you had better get your body
comfortable. Alwir, I assume you are to ride the NightMare and will
not need to be enchanted?"   

	"Yes, I believe that will work" Alwir said.

	Kathrea closed her eyes and drew a slow, deep breath. Feral
Knight felt a prickling of energy as she focused her thoughts. At
last, he was going to be able to do something! Brianna, I am coming,
he thought.    

	"I will stay here with your bodies while you are in
DreamWorld" Kathrea said. "Are you two ready?" 

	They nodded assent and Feral Knight gripped Brianna's hand
tighter. Mikandric swallowed nervously and then winked irrepresibly at
Kathrea. "Beddy by time!" he quipped.  

	She shook her head in disbelief and raised her hands. The two
men slumped limply instantly! Alwir gazed at Kathrea and smiled
uncertainly. "It is time for us to go also" he said. He mounted
NightMare once again and they seemed to shimmer in the dim light of
the room. Kathrea saw their forms fade into invisibility and then took
a seat in the chair beside the bed.     

	"Good fortune, brave warriors" she whispered.

- FK


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