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HE MADE GOOD TIME through the rest of the briar patch, taking no notice of the cutting thorns On the far side we stopped to get dressed, then hurried on without pause There was a way station nearby that Mr Crepsley was determined to reach before dawn The journey would normally have taken several hours, but we made it in two Once inside and secure, the vampires fell into a heated discussion They’d never encountered evidence of vampaneze activity in this part of the world before - there was a treaty between the two clans, preventing such acts of trespass

"Maybe it’s a ested

"Even the most insane vareed

"What other explanation could there be?" Gavner asked

Mr Crepsley considered the problem "He could be a spy"

"You think the vampaneze would risk war?" Gavner sounded doubtful "What could they learn that would justify such a gamble?"

"Maybe it’s us they’re after," I said quietly I didn’t want to interrupt but felt like I had to

"What do you mean?" Gavner asked

"Maybe they found out about Murlough"

Gavner’s face went pale and Mr Crepsley’s eyes narrowed "How could they have?" he snapped

"Mr Tiny knew," I reh?" Gavner hissed

Mr Crepsley nodded slowly "But even if he told the va this way? We could have chosen any number of paths They could not have predicted our route"

"Maybe they’re covering all the paths," Gavner said

"No," Mr Crepsley said confidently "It is too farfetched Whatever the va to do with us"