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"But I also agree with Mika Ver Leth - Darren must prove himself All of us have had to endure the Trials They help ainst me, but I overcame them and took my place in this Hall as an equal There ht is of no use to us We have no place for children who need to be wet-nursed and tucked into their coffins at daybreak

"Having said that," she concluded, "I don’t think Darren will let us down I believe he will pass the Trials and prove himself I have every confidence in hilared at Kurda "And those who say otherwise - those who’d wrap hiht of Trials would be to shame him"

"Noble words," Kurda sneered "Will you repeat them at his funeral?"

"Better to die with pride than live in shame," Arra retorted

Kurda cursed quietly to himself "How about it, Darren?" he asked "Will you face death just to prove yourself to these fools?"

"No," I said, and saw a pained look cross Mr Crepsley’s face "But I’ll face death to prove myself to me," I added When the red-cloaked vampire heard that, he beamed proudly and raised a clenched fist in salute

"Let us put it to the Hall," Paris said "How many think Darren should undertake the Trials of Initiation?" Every arust "Darren? You are willing to proceed?"

I looked up at Mr Crepsley and n for him to bend down In a whisper, I asked hiraced and sent from Vampire Mountain in shame," he said sole how hed "In the eyes of the Princes I would not be, but inchosen and blooded you, I feel any shaave that careful consideration I’d learned a lot about Mr Crepsley, how he thought and lived, during the eight years I’d served as his assistant "You couldn’t bear such shame, could you?" I asked

His expression softened "No," he said quietly

"You’d go and chase an early death Hunt wild aniht vampaneze, and push yourself until one of thereed with a quick nod

I couldn’t let that happen Six years ago, e’d gone after Murlough, the mad vampaneze had kidnapped Evra, and Mr Crepsley had offered to trade his life for the snake-boy’s He’d have done the same for me if I’d fallen into the killer’s hands I didn’t like the sound of these Trials, but if undertaking them meant Mr Crepsley could carry on without sha line

Facing the Princes, I stood up straight and said solidly, "I agree to the Trials"

"Then it is decided," Paris Skyle said, sly "Return tomorrow and we shall draw the first Trial YouI left the Hall with Gavner, Harkat, and Kurda Mr Crepsley stayed to discuss business with the Princes - I think it had to do with Mr Tiny, Harkat’s e, and the dead vampaneze and valad to leave at last," Harkat said as webored of salanced at Gavner worriedly "How tough are these Trials?" I asked

"Very," he sighed

"Try tough as the walls of the Hall of Princes," Kurda growled

"They’re not that difficult," Gavner said "Don’t exaggerate the dangers, Kurda - you’ll frighten hi I want to do," Kurda said, sly at rown va for theh"

"Darren will be okay," Gavner insisted, though the doubt in his voice was only barely concealed

"Besides," I said, trying to cheer Kurda up, "I can always drop out if I get in over my head"

Kurda stared hard at ? Didn’t you understand?"

"What do you mean?" I asked

"Nobody walks away froht fail, but you can’t quit - the Generals won’t let you"

"So I’ll fail" I shrugged "I’ll throw in the towel if things get hairy - pretend I’ve got a twisted ankle or soroaned "We should have explained it fully before we let hioing back Black blood of Harnon Oan!"

"What don’t I understand?" I asked, confused

"In the Trials, failure entails one fate only - death!" Kurda told rimly I stared at him wordlessly "Most who fail, die in the attempt But should you fail and not die, you will be taken to the Hall of Death, strapped into a cage, hoisted above the pit, and -" he gulped, averted his eyes, and finished in a terrible whisper, "dropped on the stakes until you are dead!"