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THE HALLS and tunnels of Va with excitement - Mika Ver Leth had returned after an absence of five years, and the rumour was that he had news of the Va, ord broke Wasting no time, I pulled on my clothes and hurried to the Hall of Princes at the top of the mountain, to check if the stories were true

Mika was talking with Paris and Mr Crepsley when I arrived, surrounded by a pack of Generals eager for news He was clad entirely in black, as was his custoriloved hand in salute when he sawmy way forward I stood to attention and saluted back "How’s the cub Prince?" he asked with a quick, tight grin

"Not bad," I replied, studying hins of injury - many who returned to Vah Mika looked tired, he hadn’t been visibly wounded "What about the Vaossip, you knohere he is"

Mika gri around, he said, "Shall we assemble? I have news, but I’d rather announce it to the Hall in general" Everyone present ht for their seats Mika settled on his throne and sighed contentedly "It’s good to be back," he said, patting the arood care of my coffin?"

"To the vaetting his place "What news of the Vah his jet-black hair "First, let’s roan spread through the Hall "But I’ve had word of him," Mika added, and all ears pricked up at that

"Before I begin," Mika said, "do you know about the latest vampaneze recruits?" Everybody looked blank "The va to their ranks since the start of the war, blooding more humans than usual, to drive their numbers up"

"This is old news," Paris murmured "There are far fewer vampaneze than vampires in the world We expected the to worry about - we still outnureatly"

"Yes," Mika said "But now they’re also using unblooded humans They call them ’vampets’ Apparently the Vampaneze Lord hi the rules of va blooded He plans to build an army of human helpers"

"We can deal with hureereed "But we must be wary of these vampets While they lack the powers of the vaht like them Also, since they aren’t blooded, they don’t have to abide by the more restrictive vampaneze laws They aren’t honour bound to tell the truth, they don’t have to follow ancient customs - and they don’t have to liry h the Hall

"The vauns?" Paris asked, shocked The vampaneze were even stricter than vas and spears, but most vampaneze wouldn’t touch therunted "There’s no reason why a non-blooded vaun I don’t think all their masters approve, but under orders from their Lord, they allow it

"But the vaht," Mika continued "I only mention them now because it’s relevant to how I found out about their Lord A va his clan, but the vao and squeezed so details out of him Foremost of which is - the Va the world with a s units, keeping up reat excitehtly protected, he was more vulnerable to attack

"Did this vampet knohere the Vampaneze Lord was?" Mr Crepsley asked

"No," Mika said "He’d seen hio Only those who accompany him know of his travel patterns"

"What else did he tell you?" Paris enquired

"That their Lord still hasn’t been blooded And that despite his efforts, h, and many don’t believe they can win the war There has been talk of a peace treaty - even outright surrender"

Loud cheering broke out Soroup swept forward, picked hiing and shouting as they headed for the crates of ale and wine stored below The other, uidance

"Go on," the elderly Prince ser co Generals applauded the announce only a few Hall attendants, myself, Mr Crepsley and Paris behind

"This is foolish," Mr Crepsley gru surrender, we should push hard after them, not waste time-"