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"The top" He s cererimaced "It’ll be a dull affair, I’m afraid, but there’s no way around it Centuries of tradition, standards to uphold, et cetera"

"You should not speak disrowled "It is a great honor"

"I know" Kurda sighed "I just wish people wouldn’tdeal of it It’s not like I’ve done anything wondrous"

"How do you become a Vampire Prince?" I asked

"Why?" Kurda replied, a twinkle in his eye "Thinking of applying for the job?"

"No" I chuckled "Just curious"

"There’s no fixed way," he said "To becoular tests Princes, on the other hand, are elected sporadically and for different reasons

"Usually a Prince is so the trust and adues One of the established Princes noree, he’s automatically elevated up the ranks If one objects, the Generals vote and the majority decision decides his fate If two or more Princes object, the motion’s rejected

"I squeezed in by the vote," he said with a grin "Fifty-four percent of the Generals think I’ll h one in two think I won’t!"

"It was the tightest vote ever," Mr Crepsley said "Kurda is only a hundred and twenty earth years old, est Princes ever, andto command their respect They will follow him once he is elected - there is no question of that - but they are not happy about it"

"Come now," Kurda said "Don’t cover up for e they object to Here, Darren" When I was standing beside hi "What do you think?"

"They’re not very big," I answered truthfully

Kurda howled gleefully "May the gods of the vaht - they’re not big Every other Prince hasballs The Princes have always been the biggest, toughest, bravest vampires I’m the first to be nominated because of this" He tapped his head "My brain"

"You mean you’re smarter than everybody else?"

"Way shed "I just use my brains more than most I don’t believe vaidly as they do I think we should move forward and adapt to life in the twenty-first century More than anything else, I believe we should strive to ed brothers - the va of the peace treaty to consort with the varuffly

"Consort?" I asked uncertainly

"I’ve beenwith them," Kurda explained "I’ve spenttheot ree to let themyself at their mercy"

Now I knehy the scars looked familiar - I’d seen sih had targeted six years earlier! Vampaneze were traditionalists and marked their prey before a kill, always the same three scratches on the left cheek

"The vampaneze aren’t as different from us as most vampires believe," Kurda continued "Many would jump at the chance to return to the fold Compromises will have to be made - both sides must back down on certain issues - but I’ain, as one"

"That is why he is being invested," Mr Crepsley said "A lot of the Generals - fifty-four percent, in any case - think it is time ere reunited with the vampaneze The vaotiations with other Generals When Kurda is a Prince, he will have total control over the Generals, and the vampaneze know no General would disobey the order of a Prince So if he sends a va to discuss terms, the vampaneze will trust hioes"

"You don’t agree with it, Larten?" Kurda asked

Mr Crepsley looked troubled "There is much about the vampaneze that I ade the gap between us But I would not be so quick to give theht use me to force ested

"So to create a tribe of equals I won’t force any changes through that the other Princes and Generals don’t agree with"

"If that is so, luck to you But things are happening too fast for ned as hard as I could against you"

"I hope I live long enough to prove your distrust of hed, then turned to e?"

I hesitated before answering "I don’t know enough about the vampires or vampaneze to offer an opinion," I said

"Nonsense," Kurda huffed "Everyone’s entitled to an opinion Go on, Darren, tell me what you think I like to knohat’s on people’s minds The world would be a sihts"

"Well," I said slowly, "I’ a deal with the va to kill humans when you drink fro, it "

"This boy has brains," Kurda said, winking at u of humans is deplorable and it’s one of the concessions the vaed But unless we draw them into talks and earn their trust, they’ll never stop Wouldn’t it be worth giving up a few of our ways if we could stop the bloody runted, and wouldn’t talk anymore about the subject

"Anyway," Kurda said, "I can’t stay hidden forever Time to return and fend offyou can tell e?"

"Afraid not," Mr Crepsley said curtly

"Oh, well I suppose I’ll find out when I report to the Hall of Princes and see him myself I hope you enjoy your stay in Vaether once the chaos has died down and have a proper chat"

"I’d like that," I said

"Larten" He saluted Mr Crepsley

"Kurda"

He let himself out

"Kurda’s nice," I relanced at azed thoughtfully at the door Kurda had left by, and again went, "Hurm!"