From: "-=[SLS]=-" <ssalter@silver.ucs.indiana.edu>
Subject: The Dark Knight Returns [CASTLE]
Content-Type: text
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 13:45:18 GMT
X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL0]
Content-Length: 4227      

Posted by S.Salter for W. McGillivray, the Dark Knight!, the author.

| 	The guard at the castle is gently dozing 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.
| 

DK