From: m_twist@csd.brispoly.ac.uk (SALCAD... Bard God of Love)
Newsgroups: alt.romance.chat
Subject: [CASTLE] New commer fights
Date: 13 Apr 92 21:33:12 GMT
Organization: Bristol Polytechnic, England


	The battle at the glade grows in intensity as casualties build up on 
both sides of the war. Then high above the battle can be seen the movement of 
a small part of the dark armys flying forces. These strange mutated creatures
could easily rain terror on to the army below, but for those who notice the 
squadron of creatures seem otherwise occupied. Not with the battle but with 
getting past the army perhaps tring to get behind to cut of a retreat. No wait
their far to high for that, their going to the castle, going to destroy it now 
that it is so lightly defended. 

	*>!!!!!NYRAK!!!!!!*

Miles away back at the castle Nyrak reacts. Brianna was calling him

	*ARE YOU IN DANGER* His thoughts carried at the speed of light.
	*>No not yet, But danger is coming your way in the form of great
	beasts of the night. FLYING......
	*Thanks for the warning dear heart, You be careful. OK!

The splatered thought conversation broken with panic and fear still rang clear
in Nyraks mind as he entered the great hall. He found Arik playing with the 
children of the village. Since that first day when the castle seemed empty and
alone, Nyrak had decided to let the children play in the great halls that built
up this fortress. Now it seemed full of life once more.

	"Arik, your help is required. The dark ones intend to destroy this
	castle. We must stop them."
	
Arik, bent down and quietly said something to the children who scurried away.
Then he stood up right and looked towards Nyrak.

	>I am ready, but I have never killed before.>
	"Do not worry, I have encountered this like before and I have found
	that they are all but dead already. Do you know where Mastax can be
	found?"
	>I belive he is with his books once again.>
	"Could you inform him of the state of battle. His help will be needed.
	I shale be on the battlements preparing for battle."
	>I shall go at once.>

And with that Arik left the room.

	A short run and steep climb brought Nyrak to the top of the 
battlements. He opened his mind to the distance, searching for a sign of the
approaching danger. The only thing he could make out was the emotions of battle
running hard and fast. Every now and then the sudden bolt of shear emotion 
came from the crowd. Shadow was doing his job well. Other than that the world
was silent. Good that meant they where still far away, and when they got here
we would be ready. 
	Nyrak looked amongst the weapons of war that decorated the wall. Arik
had a look at them and had decided that slight adjustments would make the 
weapons better. He had been correct, After a few hours he was able to modify
the catapults to fire at a greater range and hit targets with more accuracy.
These would be useful in the battle ahead. But Nyrak was no longer alone on 
the wall. Mastax stood next to him looking towards the horizion. He had ways
of moving with great speed if the need existed. Without facing Nyrak he 
asked....
	
	|How far?|

Nyrak focused his mind on the approacing beasts. 

	'60..... maybe 65 miles. We have about 20 minutes before they will
	be apon us'
	|Good, we will be ready|
	'Maybe we will be but is the wall?.....'

Mastax turned and faced at Nyrak, the darkness of concern filling his eyes,

	|I don't know........ I really don't know|

Panting Arik got to the top of the wall, At the same instant the alarm that
sounds 'to arms' rang out. Moments later the court yard filled with a small 
group of guards and soldiers, 30 men at most. The alarm was silent once more.
Mastax took a stand and faced the men. 

	|I can not over emphasize the need for success in this battle, If we
	fail and the castle falls then the dark one will not give in until
	the whole of this land is his. Enough of speeches for time is short.
	Five of you men, Go and take the villagers into the cellers beneath
	the castle. The rest of you man the catapults. And wait for further
	orders.|

As the men took their place at the catapults moral ran low, The enemy was
flying in and in the castle they would, from above, be picked off with ease.
Then Nyrak said almost to himself,

	'What if they can't see the castle'

Then again only this time to Mastax,
 
	'What if they can not see the castle? What if this area looked like
	trees?. They know of the place but only vaguely of the location'

Nyrak sent a request to all in the castle, straight into the minds of the
warriors, guards and villagers.

	*Stay Quite, very, very quite, should you want to live that is*

The silence that followed was sudden and complete. Nyrak stood on the wall, 
looking towards the sky, his hands high above his head. Slowly a soft warm 
glow filled the air between his hands, the glow intensifying until, looking 
into the light hurt. Nyraks arms bent, bringing the light closer to his chest 
then 'snap' his arms pointed straight to the horizion throwing the arc of 
light to the distance. And in this position he froze.


Moments later the horde appeared their misshapend forms flying ungainly over
the distant hills. Moving just above the hight of the trees the evil hoard
swiftly glided towards the castle.

Words stuck in Nyraks throat....

	'Tel.....l themmm not to........ fire unt... past'

Mastax issued the comand to the nearest soldier who relayed it to the rest of 
the group.
	The hoard was close now. So close that their crys of war could be 
heard. The sound of the wings ripping the air and cliping the tops of the 
taller trees, close enough now to smell the stench of evil. Then in seconds
they had passed over head, nearly a hundred strong......   and they past the 
castle by. 

	"""""""FIRE>>>>>>> FIRE>>>>>>"""""""

A hail of rocks flew from the castle, many missing the hoard but most hitting
and knocking the beasts out of the air. But now the hoard had relised their 
mistake and turned to face thier assailents. Over half the hoard was down but
was that enough as nearly 40 of the beasts headed back towards the now exposed
troop. The rocks still fired towards the hoard only now they where ready and
dodged in and out of the path of fire. 
	Mastax now stood facing the monsters, a word from him brought the 
leading few down. The other monsters desiding and arial assult was not a good 
idea landed on the opposite walls and started ripping in to the warriors. 
Nyrak was up to his old tricks again. The wall seemed to be filled with 
warriors running around the creatures stabbing them then moving before the
demons could retaliate.
	But suddenly the battle was over. The attacking hoard retreated,
a hundread had attacked, but only 6 were in a fit enough state to leave, to
go back to their master and face what fate they may be given for defeat. The 
remainder of the hoard lay dead or dying but were mercifully killed to put
them out of their pain.

The wall had barely been hit but Mastax looked at it with concern.

	|This would not do, I would not hold against another attack, I must
	do something|

and with that he returned to his study to read his books.

The casulties where light, Only two deaths at the castle and eight wounded.
Not bad concidering how lethal the situation could have been. Looking towards
the distant horizion Nyrak open his mind once more.

	*Bria..........
	"NOOOOO!!!!!!!........ Noooo."
	>What is wrong my Friend? Why do you morn?>

Arik's voice whispered in Nyraks ear, the man bending low to do so.

	"Brianna has been hit...... hard enough to stun her into a dreamless
	sleep"
	>Can you not reach someone there, Someone to tell of the injury?>
	"I could but all are busy. The Feral knight fights for his life against
	a rock troll, to disturb him now would be fatal. Dark Knight and Eowyn
	are also in the heat of battle. I shall wait until they call me once
	more."
	>She will be alright.>
	"I hope so............ I hope so"



Nyrak.

-- 
When you say I miss the thing you do,
I just want to get back close again to you.        SALCAD.....BARD GOD OF LOVE
But for now your voice is near enough,
How I miss you, How I miss your love.