A savage jab from a booted foot jerked the Doctor from his drugged sleep.  He looked up to see a uniformed figure looming over him.  The Doctor groaned, and shook his aching head.  'So much for the local brew.'

His vision cleared and he saw without much surprise that it was Farrah who was kicking him.  'Wake up, traitor!  I want you to be quite conscious when I kill you!'

The Doctor struggled slowly to his feet.  Farrah drew his sword.  'Oh, go away,' said the Doctor wearily.  'Haven't you got anything better to do?'

'Only one thing's stopping me from running you through right now!'

'And what's that?'

'I want to know where he is.'

The Doctor collased into a chair.  'Where who is?  What the devil are you talking about?'

Farrah raised his sword.

A voice snapped.  'That's enough, Farrah!'  Zadek came down the steps from the rear balcony.  His tunic collar was unbuttoned and his hair dishevelled; it was obvious that he'd been splashing water on his face.  'The Prince has gone, Doctor.  Vanished.  He's been kidnapped.'

'Who by?  Sorry, I mean, by whom?'

It was Farrah who answered.  'By your master, Count Grendel.  Who else?'

'Look, I realise this is going to come as an awful shock to you, but I don't even know the Count.'

'I'm inclined to believe you, Doctor,' said Zadek.

'Thank you.'

'But Swordmaster ---' protested Farrah.

'Oh, use your intelligence, Farrah.  If the Doctor was involved, why would he remain behind once the Prince had been taken?  It doesn't make sense.'

The Doctor got up and went into the bedroom.  A moment later he was back, carrying the android.  He dumped it in a chair.  'At least they didn't take George.'

'They took the real Prince,' said Zadek bitterly.  'What use is the copy now?'

The Doctor looked thoughtfully at him.  'It depends what you're going to do.'

'We shall do what honour demands.'

'What's that?'

'Swordsman Farrah and I will take our swords and do battle with the Count's men.'

'Just the two of you?'

'Us and a handful of others.  The Prince has first claim to the throne, but his house is old and impoverished.  We cannot hire mercenaries like Grendel.  Besides, Castle Gracht is almost impregnable...'

'So you'll probably all get killed?'