Doyle laid on his side in bed watching Frost sleep.  It had only 
been a couple of hours since he had fell asleep himself, but dreams 
had woken him.  'Andias,' he thought.  'Did you hear me and Frost 
last night?  Is that what prompted you to want him back?  The attack 
was an excuse - if you were truely scared, you would have asked for 
me upfront.  Why did you agree to me, then, My Queen?  What game do 
you play?'  With these thoughts in his head, Doyle rolled over and 
fell asleep.



The three days passed without incident.  No one threatened Merry.  
The other guardsmen said nothing about Doyle leaving.  They simply 
took over his watches, and his chores.  After the second day, Doyle 
had confronted the other four.


 
"Why?" he asked.  He knew they would know what he was asking about.


 
"To give you a little bit of time to yourself, Doyle" Galen replied.
Doyle got a confused look on his face.


 
"Go see a movie, Doyle.  Let Merry take you out to eat.  Go listen 
to the symphony.  Within another two days, you will be back at 
Court.  Then, you can't."  Rhys expanded.



"You are handing yourself over to the Queen," Nicca said 
softly.  "To keep the rest of us safe.  We can never repay you for that."



"So go out and enjoy yourself before she controls your ever 
movement agian, Doyle."  Frost said from the corner of the room.  "It 
is the only thing we can do.  We have talked and talked, but none of 
us can come up with a way to keep you here.  None of us want you to 
go.  We also realize that you would never let any of us go in your 
place.  So let us do this.  Take Merry, and go out.  It is my night.  
I give it to you.  Tomorrow the Queen will be demanding your return.  
Go tonight, while you can."



Doyle looked at each of the guards.  "Thank you."  He turned and 
walked out onto the porch.  "Frost," he said as he walked out the 
door.


 
Quietly, Frost followed Doyle out, shutting the door behind him.


 
"I will take this night, Frost, but only if you come with us." 
Doyle stood on the steps to the porch, watching the sunset.  "You and 
I have withstood everything a thousand years of service as a guard 
could throw at us.  I will miss you."  Doyle turned and looked at 
Frost, a smile on his face.  "Go talk to Merry.  Make plans.  We 
will go out and do whatever she desires."



'It was a wonderful night,' Doyle thought to himself as he packed 
his clothes.  Queen Andias had spoken to Merry a few moments 
earlier.  The two new Ravens would be here within the hour.  Queen 
Andias had sent them in the Black Coach.


 
Frost walked into the room, followed by Merry.  "Doyle, don't do 
this.  There has to be a way to avoid this."


 
"No, Frost.  There isn't.  I won't hand any of you back to the 
Queen."  Doyle finished packing and turned to face the two.  "If I 
can find a way, I will come back.  No matter what, watch for the 
spiders."



"Spiders?"  Merry asked.


 
"I always knew Doyle was nearby when the spiders would come out 
instead of staying in their webs.  It's kind of like a calling 
card."  Frost explained.


 
"If I learn of anything that can hurt you, Princess, I will come 
back.  No matter what the consequences."  Doyle picked up his bag.  
He walked up to Merry and gently kissed her.  "Don't do anything 
foolish, Princess.  Keep yourself safe."


 
He turned to Frost.  "I set the mirror in here.  The companion is 
the small hand mirror I just packed.  The two will answer to each 
other only.  No other mirror.  Contact me if anything at all happens."



"Yes, Doyle."  Frost glanced at Merry.  She gave Doyle a hug, and  
then slipped out of the room.



"Use the mirrors yourself, Doyle.  I won't be there.  Don't forget 
I am here for you, though."



"I won't."


 
Frost pulled Doyle into a hug.  "Be careful, my friend."


 
"Be happy, Frost."  Doyle whispered back, then went out the door.


 
The other guards were on the porch, along with Kitto.  They were 
playing cards.  As Doyle walked out, they moved to stand up.


 
"Stay," he said.  "Frost is in command.  I have given you your 
orders.  If Meredith dies because of one of you, I will hunt you 
down.  It would be best if you faded before I found you."  With 
that, Doyle turned and walked away down the path to the house.  
Within moments, the night had swallowed him up.