An hour before the audience with the emperor, Alexander found a way to get into the dungeion where the young captive prince was being held. Alexander knew he didn't have much time to talk, so he tried to make his words count. The young prince, still nude, was standing by the wall, his wrists freshly bound for his presentation to the emperor. Alexander walked over to him and spoke. "I don't know how you feel, so don't please don't interrupt what I have to say. I am about to go out into combat with the palace guard. He is quite a bit bigger and stronger than me. I believe I can make up for his advantages with my speed and agility. Anyway, I just had to get in to see you in case I do fail. I am afraid this will be a duel for the death, since the emperor favors that type of competition. I just have to tell you, whether you want to hear it or not, that my heart leapt out of me the first time I saw you. Some mystics say that everyone has a soulmate and that if one is lucky enough, they will find their soulmate while on this earthly plain. I know from the depths of my being, you are my mate, whether you realize it now or not. I feel your confusion and I realize you have been raised differently than I. You have probably been conditioned to think only the love between a man and a woman is the acceptable norm. But I know, deep within you are feelings you can't ignore, the feelings that are coursing through your body at this moment. I can feel your pulse racing. Your skin is getting hotter to the touch. You have been promised to me as my slave if I win this duel. When I win, I will give you any wish you desire. I won't treat you like a slave, nor do I want you to be one. Before I leave you, I just want to give you one little kiss on the cheek for good luck." The captive prince was stunned into silence. He almost passed out from all the emotions he was feeling. Never in his wildest imaginings had he ever thought his life would take this kind of turn. But Alexander was right about one thing, he did feel something for Alexander. Whether he could ever bring himself to accept it was an unknown. When Alexander's hot, moist lips touched his left cheek, the young prince did faint. Alexander had to hold on to him to keep him from falling to the floor. Alexander slowly and tenderly lowered the young prince to the floor and let himself out of the dungeon cell. As the young prince gradually regained his senses, he couldn't help thinking how much he would like to get to know this Alexander better. "Good luck, my new friend", he whispered to himself, as he caught a last glimpse of Alexander disappearing down the dark dungeon hallway. David 3 characters, rendered in Poser 6. Postwork in PS7. Fractal background created with the help of PS7.