From: wmcgillivray@OAVAX.CSUCHICO.EDU (Dark Knight)
Newsgroups: alt.romance.chat
Subject: Dark Knights return
Date: 6 Nov 1992 19:03:05 GMT
Organization: California State University, Chico
Reply-To: wmcgillivray@OAVAX.CSUCHICO.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: oavax.csuchico.edu

	The guard at the castle is gently dozin at his post.  Suddenly
he jerks upright.  His acute hearing has caught the sound of hoofbeats.
They are very slow and methodical so he knows whoever is approaching is
not in a great hurry.
	The sun is just beginning on its journey behind the hills when
the guard sees a shadows figure on a horse.  The fighre is upright in
the sadldle, but the figures head is bowed as if in sleep.  The horses
head is down as if he has traveled a great distance.
	The guard carefully watches the figure descend the road from the
hills.  He grips his pike firmly and saws his hands back and forth.  He
seems to be extremely nervous.  He does not recognize the figure who
is approaching and he does not know if he should call out the alarm.
	"It is but one person...I should be able to handle them.  Besides,
he appears to be completely done in.  This should not be difficult and
should pose no danger", he thinks to himself.
	As if a blanket of fog has descended, the guard suddenly feels
a chill.  Instantly his alertness goes to totally on guard.  He holds
his pike menacingly as the figure nears.  He is not sure why he feels
this way, but the non-danger that he previously felt seems to be 
changed completely to one of extreme alarm.
	The horse stops well beyond the range of the guards weapon.
The guard can see the figure clearly.  It is a big man on a black
horse.  The man is in black-colored armour but it is extremely dented
and dusty.  
	As if sensing that the horse has stopped his forward progress,
the figure raises his head.  He stares at the guard, looks at the castle
gate which the guard is before, and seems to smile a wry smile.  He
reaches forward and strokes the horses neck.  
	"Well, you have unerringly brought the both of us back to this
place.  I was not sure, but I thought that given your head you would
return here.  Thank you, my friend," the figure says to the horse.
	The horse nickers as if talking to the man.  The man then
lifts his gaze toward the guard once again.  
	"Who else is in residence at this place now?", commands the
figure of the guard.  
	"Sir, I know not of you, but you seem vaguely familiar.  I
still do not know you and so I shall not reply to your question,"
the guard replies.
	A dark cloud seems to gather over the facial features, and 
they soften as quickly as they had hardened.  A smile paints the
face of the figure before the guard.  "You are a brave fellow as
well as a dedicated person.  I salute you.  How long have you been
at your post?", asks the figure.
	"Sir, as I said I do not know you and I would feel uncomfortable
imparting knowledge of this place to you without that information,"
retorted the guard.
	"I am sorry.  I should have told you my name sooner. I am 
the Dark Knight.  I have returned after feeling a call to the 
castle residents.  I have been long gone.  The previous battle 
against the Dark One sickened my soul and I needed some time
away from here.  I asked you the question about the time at
your post because in my mind I see a crumpled figure lying at
the foot of the wall.  I know not that creature, but I sense no
evil.  I wondered if you had knowledge of that incidence."
	Before the last word was out of his mouth, he had urged his
horse on around the wall to what looked like a disheveled lump of
cloth.  Dismounting very stiffly he reached down and turned the 
seeming pile of clothes over.  It was a woman.  The guard watched
the goings on and did not want to leave his post.  He saw the
Dark Knight, with great gentleness, lift the bundle and begin to 
carry it toward the gate.  
	Leaning within the gate, he shouted to the Captain of the
Guard that someone was coming in with an injured person.  The Dark
Knight seeming very tired and extremely intent on getting the woman
within the castle almost walked over the guard, who swiftly stepped
out of the way as the man and his burden entered the gate.
	"I need a healer here immediately," boomed a voice into the
growing darkness.