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THE VAMPANEZE took their ti me down They knew I couldn’t escape I was injured and tired, so all they had to do was stay close and slowly reel h the tunnels, the roar of thedirection, to outwit Kurda, but I’d lose my way if I did and never make it back to the Halls My only chance was to take the paths I was fa down the ceiling behind e and paused to catch my breath I could hear the sounds of the vampaneze behind They were far too close for co to my feet, I looked for the way out

At first the cave seemed unfamiliar, and I wondered if I’d possibly wandered into the wrong one by mistake Then it struck me that I was simply on the side of the streae of the bank, I looked across and saw the tunnel I needed to leave by I also saw a very pale-skinned person hite eyes and rags for clothes, sitting on a rock close to the wall - a Guardian of the Blood!

"Help," I shouted, startling the thin man, who leapt to his feet and squinted at me "Vampaneze!" I croaked "They’ve invaded the ot to warn the Generals!"

The Guardian’s eyes narrowed, and he shook his head, then said soe I didn’t understand I opened , but before I could, he ain, and slipped out of the cave, disappearing swiftly into the shadows of the tunnel beyond

I cursed - the Guardians of the Blood lanced down into the dark water at my feet and shivered The stream wasn’t particularly wide, and I could have ju, and desperate All I wanted to do was lie down and let the va on seemed pointless They were sure to catch me It would be a lot easier to surrender now and

"No!" I shouted aloud They killed Gavner, and they’d kill the rest of the vaet to the Halls first and stop the for the ju over my shoulder, I saw the first of the vampaneze enter the cave I backed up a few e of the bank and leapt

I knew i toinhold of the ledge, but fell several feet shy of safety and dropped into the freezing water of the streaht me instantly By the ti out of the cave and back underground was alht hold of a rock jutting out of the bank Using the last ofthe flow of the water, I half-flopped onto the rock and grabbed hold of some deep-rooted weeds

It was a perilous position, but I ht have been able to scrape my way out of it - if not for the dozen or so va overhead, ararette, then flicked his match at my face It missed, hit the water, quenched with a hiss, and disappeared at a frightening speed down the dark tunnel into theto the rock, frozen and soaking, wondering what to do, Kurda pushed his way through the vampaneze and dropped to his knees He extended a hand to help rab my ankles and lower me," he said

"Why?" the vampaneze named Glalda asked "Let him drown It’ll be easier"

"No!" Kurda barked "His death serves no purpose He’s young and open to new ideas We’ll need va to -"

"OK, OK," Glalda sighed, and signaled two of his e, so that he could rescue me

I stared at Kurda’s hands as they stretched towards my own, then at his face, mere inches away "You killed Gavner," I snarled