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I DIDN’T knohere I hen I awoke I opened h above me, with lots of panels ripped out of it, three chandeliers burning dimly now that their candles were ht be I sat up, groaning, and looked for Mr Crepsley, to ask hi on

That’s when I re as the painful memories returned, I clambered to my feet and looked around in desperation The fire in the pit of stakes had almost burnt itself out Mr Crepsley and the half-vanizable collections of brittle, blackened bones Vancha and Harkat were sitting by the edge of the pit, faces glu was I out?" I shouted, lurching towards the tunnel leading out of the cavern, falling clumsily to my knees inme back to my feet

I swiped his hands away and spun fiercely on hi?" I roared

Vancha eyeballed ed "Three hours, maybe more"

My eyelids closed hopelessly and I letThey’d be halfway to the other side of the world by now

"What happened?" I asked "The gas should have only knocked me out for fifteen or twenty minutes"

"You were exhausted," Vancha said "It’s been a long night I’m surprised you woke this soon It’s dawn outside We didn’t expect you to stir until dusk"

I shook usted

"Are you OK, Darren?" Harkat asked, hobbling over to join us

"No!" I snapped "I’, I brushed past the puzzled-looking pair, and azed onceremains of my dearest friend and mentor

"He’s in a state of shock," I heard Vancha mutter softly to Harkat "Go easy on him It’ll take hi down and laughing maniacally

Vancha and Harkat sat beside ht Each laid a hand on ht and I thought I was going to cry at last But after a few seconds the tears still wouldn’t cohts returned to Steve’s chilling revelation

The flareer and the cavern cooled It also darkened, as the candles overhead quenched theet up there and - relight the candles," Harkat said, "or else on’t be able to - see clearly e go down to - collect Mr Crepsley’s bones"

"Leave hi place as any"

Harkat and Vancha stared at me uncertainly

"But you were the one anted to bury him," Vancha rehed "It doesn’tmatters any rily "We won, Darren! We killed the Lord of the Vah, but it orth it"

"You think so?" I asked bitterly