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"Nevertheless," Mr Crepsley insisted, "I do not want -"

"This is not an offer," Mr Tiny interrupted Although he spoke softly, thewith you End of story They’ll hunt for theements All you have to do is make sure you don’t ’lose’ theet there?" Mr Crepsley snapped "Do you expect me to take them inside? That is not permitted The Princes will not stand for it"

"Yes they will," Mr Tiny disagreed "Don’t forget by whose hands the Hall of Princes was built Paris Skyle and the rest knohich side their blood is buttered on They won’t object"

Mr Crepsley was furious - practically shaking with rage - but the anger seeped out of him as he stared into Mr Tiny’s eyes and realized there was no arguing with the little aze, asha man

"I knew you’d see it my way," Mr Tiny said, then turned his attention to rown," he noted "Inside, where it hened you"

"How do you know about that?" Mr Crepsley gasped It was coe that I had a run-in with the ht with Murlough If the vampaneze ever found out, they’d hunt us to the ends of the Earth and kill us

"I know everything" Mr Tiny cackled "This world holds no secrets froain, "but there’s a long way yet to go The path ahead isn’t easy, and I’ about the route to Va and keep faith in yourself Never admit defeat, even when it seems inevitable"

I hadn’t expected this kind of a speech, and I listened in a daze, nu these words withand rubbing his heart-shaped watch "Tiot places to be and deadlines to meet I’ll be on my way Hibernius, Larten, Darren" He bowed briefly to each of us in turn "We’ll ain, I’ed a look with the Little People, then let himself out In the silence that folloe stared at one another speechlessly, wondering what all that had been about

Mr Crepsley wasn’t happy, but he couldn’t postpone leaving -it to the Council on ti else, he toldoutside his van, I helped hi to ht pirate costume, which still fit , you would stand out like a peacock Here," he threw a bundle at ray sweatshirt and pants, plus a woolly hat

"How long have you been preparing for this?" I asked

"So on clothes with the same color as mine, in place of his usual red outfit

"Couldn’t you have told me about it earlier?"

"I could have," he replied in that infuriating way of his

I slipped into my new clothes, then looked for socks and shoes Mr Crepsley shook his head when he saw o barefoot"

"Over snow and ice?" I yelped

"Vampires have harder feet than humans," he said "You will barely feel the cold, especially e are walking"

"What about stones and thorns?" I grurinned, then took off his slippers "It is the same for all vampires The way to Vampire Mountain is not just a journey - it is a test Boots, jackets, ropes: Such itehed, but took the rope, spare clothes, and boots out ofWhen ere ready, Mr Crepsley asked where Madarumbled - I kneho’d have to look after her if she came, and it wouldn’t be Mr Crepsley!

"There is someone I wish to show her to," he said

"Sorabbed her from behind his coffin, where I kept her between shows She shuffled around while I lifted the cage and placed it in ain

Then it was ti part in that night’s show and had to prepare - and Mr Crepsley had said good-bye to Mr Tall Nobody else would hed

Leaving the safety of the van, we cleared the camp, let the two silent Little People fall into place behind us, and set off on ould prove to be a wild, danger-filled adventure into lands cold and foreign and steeped in blood