From: kellym@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (marian kelly)
Subject: CASTLE: Joining the Defenders
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 21:59:39 GMT

The Feral Knight lagged further and further behind the retreating
defenders, his wounds dramatically slowing his normally quick stride.
He could have called out to them and they would immediately have
returned to help, but he had taken the task of guarding their backs
on himself, and he would not abandon that duty.  So he limped on,
hearing the rumble and crash behind him as the Horde worked at
breaking through the rock fall caused by the Dark Knight.
   A movement to his right, someone where no one ought to be, grabbed
his immediate attention as he responded to the danger.  He attacked
the figure, who could only be an enemy.  Twice he swung his sword and
twice the blow was deflected, thoug he could see neither sword nor
shield in the dark hiding the other.  No thrusts came out of the
darkness in return.  It seemed his opponent was content merely to
parry his attacks.  After turning aside the second strike, the black
clad figure stepped closer, allowing the Feral Knight to see this
stranger, no enemy at all, for the first time.
   "Phantom!"  He exclaimed in surprise, recognizing the young woman
who had first appeared out of the night shortly before the arrival of
the Horde, though all he could really see of her was her glittering
blue eyes staring up at him.  He seemed to remember that she was short,
with brown hair, a nondescript face, and rather reticent about joining
large gatherings of people.  "Where have you been?  What are you doing
here?"  
   She didn't answer immediately, but sheathed the long dagger she'd
used to deflect his blade.  Then she stepped forward to take his left
arm in a gentle, but firm, grasp.  Without a word she led him down the
tunnel, away from danger, toward his friends.  Her touch felt exception-
ally warm, and the Feral Knight followed without demur, rather surprised
at himself.                     
   "We haven't time to stand around talking,"  Phantom finally told him,
"they are almost through."  She paused and sighed.  "I know you don't     
know me very well, and have no real reason to trust me.  I would be
surprised if you even remembered me; I was, after all, unfortunately
spirited away on the very eve of the onset of this evil.  It took me
a while to escape again from an old foe,"  she paused as they were 
forced to scramble over an old fall of rocks, but didn't release his
arm.  The Feral Knight was beginning to feel warmth and strength
spread through his body from the contact.  How, in the dark, Phantom
recognized his curiosity about this enemy, he couldn't guess, but she
laughed softly.  "That is a story for another time.  In any case, since
I found my way back to ARC I've been fighting the Horde in my own way,
but finally this attack called for my personal involvement.  All I ask
is that you trust me a little."  She halted for a moment and the Feral
Knight felt a sudden rush of almost burning heat.  His wounds no longer
hurt; in fact, they barely entered his consciousness at all.
   "I didn't know you were a healer,"  he half-remarked, half-asked,
subtly implying his acceptance of the necessity of trusting her in his
comment.
   "I'm not.  Your wounds aren't healing.  All I am doing is taking the
pain away and replacing it with strength.  I'm afraid the effect drains
rapidly away if I'm not touching you."  She took her hand from his arm
in demonstration, and he felt an immediate resurge of the fatigue and
discomfort.  Phantom allowed only a moment of this before she took his
arm again to lead him forward once more.  The warmth and strength
resumed, as if they had never been cut off.
   "This is curious.  I sense neither power from within you or from
the land.  What is the source of this enchantment?"
   "There are more powers than that of the land or the individual.  The
night, for example.  It is much more than merely the absence of light.
The night has a power all its own, to be drawn on by those with need and
understanding."
   "Fascinating."  The Feral Knight broke off as he heard a sudden 
crashing behind.  The Horde, or part of it, had broken through.  "You
shouldn't be back here with me.  Go forward and join the Dark Knight
and the others.  You'll probably do more good there than here, and you'll
be safer."
   "No.  My purpose here is only with you."  Her tone was implacable.
"If you allow me, I will keep up your ability to fight for as long as it
remains necessary.  If not, I will fight the Horde myself .  But I will go
nowhere else.  It is as simple as that.  So - do I help or not?"

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