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"LET THEfighting cease," the Lord of the Vampaneze said in a low, unmelodramatic voice "There’s no need for it now"

It was the first time I’d seen the Vampaneze Lord’s face and I was surprised by how ordinary he looked I’d built up a picture in aze could turn water to steam But this was just a ht brown hair and rather sad eyes The wound he’d received to his shoulder was nored it as he spoke

"I knew this was co his head to gaze at Mr Crepsley "Des Tiny predicted it He said I’d have to fight one of the hunters here, above the flames, and that it would most likely be Larten Crepsley We tried to turn his prophecy on its head and lure the boy up instead For a while I thought we’d succeeded But in my heart I kneas you I’d have to face"

Mr Crepsley raised a sceptical eyebrow "Did Mr Tiny say which of us would triumph?" he asked

A thin smile broke across the Va either way"

"That is encouraging," Mr Crepsley said dryly

Mr Crepsley held one of his knives up to catch the light of the chandelier high above his head, studying the blade The instant he did that, Gannen Harst stepped in front of his Lord, defensively

"The deal’s off," Harst said gruffly "The two to one ratio no longer applies If you’d sent Darren Shan as agreed, we’d have kept our side of the bargain Since you’ve coenerous odds"

"I expect nothing ofthe vampaneze and vampets in the cavern to mutter darkly

"Take heed," Gannen Harst snarled, "or I’ll?"

"Peace, Gannen," said the Lord of the Vampaneze "The time for threats has passed Let us lock weapons and ithout any further rancour"

The Vampaneze Lord stepped out from behind Gannen Harst and produced a barbed short sword Harst drew a longer, straight sword, while Steve whistled th of spiked chain

"Are you ready, Larten Crepsley?" the Vaods?"

"I did that long ago," Mr Crepsley said, both knives in his hands, his eyes alert "But, before we begin, I would like to knohat happens after If I ill ains!" the Lord of the Vampaneze snapped "We’re not here to ht The fate of the others - my people and yours - can be settled after we lock blades Only we less"

"Very well," Mr Crepsley grunted, then stepped away froed towards his foes

On the ground, nobody ess and I had lowered our weapons and were oblivious to all around us It would have been a simple task for the vampaneze to capture us, but they were as captivated by events on the platform as ere

As Mr Crepsley advanced, the three vampaneze assumed a ’V’ formation and shuffled forward a few metres The Vampaneze Lord was in the middle, Gannen Harst a metre ahead of him on his left, Steve Leopard the saht It was a cautiously effective strategy Mr Crepsley would have to attack through the centre - he had to kill the Vampaneze Lord; the others didn’t matter When he attacked, Harst and Steve would be able to strike from both sides at once

Mr Crepsley stopped short of the three, ar attacks from either side His eyes were focused on the Va