Rory, Barinthus and Frost ran quickly down the
halls of the Court.  "If anyone sees us with the Queen, 
we will never make it!"  Rory hissed.  "Leave her here."  
He shifted Doyle across to his other shoulder.  Doyle 
was still unconscious, which worried Frost.

"No."  Barinthus said sharply.  "Didn't you hear?
Kevames is in league with Cel.  She will be dead if we leave her
here."

"And Cel will be a puppet king with Kevames
pulling the strings...You're right, Barinthus."  Rory
replied.  "Turn here."
 
Frost and Barinthius stopped and stared at Rory. 
"This corrider leads to the kitchens."  Frost stated.  
"What trick are you playing here?"  He held the Queen 
cradled in one arm and his sword in the other.  He 
shifted her, and pulled his cloak around her.  Now it 
covered her completely.  No one would know at
first glance he carried her.
 
"The servants have a way in and out,"  Rory replied.  
"That's how they get the food stuff in here.  The Sidhe 
don't tend to use it though."

Frost nodded, and they went down the corrider. 
Rory opened a door into a dark storeroom.  They stepped 
through quietly, and closed the door.

"I thought you'd try to rescue Doyle,"  a voice
said in the darkness.  There was the sound of chain armor
shifting, and then the torches in the room flared with 
fire.  There stood Cel, armed for combat.  "You will not 
leave unless you kill me.  And to kill me is an automatic 
death sentence."
 
Barinthus silently took Doyle from Rory.  The sea
god was unarmed, so he turned to releive Frost of his 
burden as well.  That way, the two could fight unhindered.
 
Frost shook his head at Barinthus.  His cloak was
still pinned to him.  To hand Barinthius the Queen would 
be to show Cel exactly who he carried.  
 
Rory moved towards his friend.  "The little mortal
bitch has corrupted you too?"  Cel said venomously.  "I
would have never thought you could be a traitor, Rory."
 
"Cel?  I think that Kevames has bewitched you
somehow.  Some of the things you have done since he came 
here you would have never done before.  I want you to be 
king, Cel.  You.  Not Kevames through you."
 
Frost and Barinthus backed towards the other door
in the room.  Frost could tell it was the way out. 
 
Cel laughed.  "He has simply made me realize that
I am Prince, Rory.  I have the right to do what ever I 
want to who ever I want.  None of the women have the right 
to say no to me.  After the example I made of Laurella, 
none will."
 
Frost froze.  "What did you do to Laurella, Cel?" 
Frost asked.  His tone literally left icicles hanging 
from the ceiling.
 
"She just might be lucky enough to become my
Queen, Frost.  Actually, if she is fertile, then I 
don't see how she will be able to avoid it.  Wouldn't 
Doyle love that?"
 
'That is why Laurella didn't hesitate to go for
help.  I can't let her come back here.  This is going 
to tear Doyle up.  What if she is pregnant?'
 
Barinthus was out the door.  Frost held it,
waiting for Rory.
 
"How could you, Cel?"  Rory whispered.  "Rape? 
That is the one thing we both swore we would never do.  
What have you become?"
 
"How dare you judge the Crown Prince!"  Cel shouted in 
anger.  He raised his sword and swung at Rory's neck.  
 
'It's Mortal Death,'  Frost thought frantically. 
Rory never moved.  Frost watched the blade cut through 
Rory's neck, and saw Cel look at the head in shock as it 
bounced.  
 
He looked at the blade in his hands, and then up at Frost.  
Tears streamed down his face.  "It's Mortal Death. 
Kevames just handed me a sword, told me you had escaped...  
I can't wield Mortal Death...Rory?  Oh, Goddess, what have 
I done?"  He walked towards Frost.  "Rory was right.  
Kevames is using me, using us.  That's the Queen you are 
hiding under there, isn't it?"
 
Frost stood tense, watching the sword.  "Yes. 
Kevames is slowly poisoning her."
 
Cel knelt and layed the blade on the ground.  He
kicked it the rest of the way to Frost.  "Take it,"  
he said softly.  "Leave my mother.  She has a condo in 
St Louis.  Only she and I and Doyle know about it.  We use 
to go there sometimes, she and I, to get away from the 
pressures of the court.  I will take her there."
 
Frost nodded, and gently layed his burden down next to 
Mortal Death.  He picked it up, and put it in Winter Kiss'
sheath.  
 
"I will be in touch."  He said.  He stepped out
the door.
 
"Save them, Frost,"  he heard Cel whisper as he
closed it.