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IT WAS great to be back on the road Weinto the heart of an inferno, and our companions would suffer immeasurably if we failed, but those orries for the future In those first feeeks all I could think about was how refreshing it was to stretch ed in with dozens of sweaty, sh spirits as we cut a path through the ht Harkat was very quiet and spent a lot of ti over what Mr Tiny had said Mr Crepsley seeloomy facade he was as pleased to be out in the open as I was

We struck a firdeeply by day beneath trees and bushes, or in caves The cold was fierce e set off, but as ound our way down through thechill lessened By the time we reached the lowlands ere as comfortable as a human would have been on a blustery autumn day

We carried spare bottles of hu tiot back into the swing of it

"This is the life, isn’t it?" I noted oneas we chewed on the roasted carcass of a deer We didn’t light a fire most days - we ate ourlogs every once in a while

"It is," Mr Crepsley agreed

"I e could go on like this forever"

The vampire smiled "You are not in a hurry to return to Vareat honour, but it’s not h initiation," he said sympathetically "Were we not at war, there would have been time for adventure Most Princes wander the world for decades before settling down to royal duty Your ti was unfortunate"

"Still, I can’t complain," I said cheerfully "I’ed closer towards us He hadn’t said a lot since leaving Vampire Mountain, but now he lowered his mask and spoke "I loved Vampire Mountain It felt like home I never felt so at ease before, even when I ith the Cirque Du Freak When this is over, if I have the choice, I’ll return"

"There is va, but Harkat took the stateht be," he said "I’ve often wondered if I was a vaht explain why I was sent to Vampire Mountain and why I fitted in so well It could also explain the stakes in round would give way in his nightmares and he’d fall into a pit of stakes, or be chased by shadow h his heart

"Any fresh clues as to who youyour memory?"

Harkat shook his chunky, neckless head "No further insights," he sighed

"Why did Mr Tiny not tell you the truth about yourself if it was time for you to learn?" Mr Crepsley asked

"I don’t think it’s as simple as that," Harkat said "I have to earn the truth It’s part of the deal we made"

"Wouldn’t it be weird if Harkat had been a vampire?" I remarked "What if he’d been a Prince - would he still be able to open the doors of the Hall of Princes?"

"I don’t think I was a Prince," Harkat chuckled, the corners of his widesmile

"Hey," I said, "if I can become a Prince, anyone can"

"True," Mr Crepsleyof deer at him

Once clear of the mountains, we headed south-east and soon reached the outskirts of civilization It was strange to see electric lights, cars and planes again I felt as though I’d been living in the past and had stepped out of a tiht as we passed through a busy town We’d entered it to draw blood fro a s the cuts with Mr Crepsley’s healing spit, leaving them oblivious to the fact that they’d been fed upon "Sofrom the noise

"Humans always chatter like monkeys," Mr Crepsley said "It is their way"

I used to object when he said things like that, but not any more When I beca to the hope of returning tohoer My years in Vampire Mountain had rid ht now - and content to be so