Prologue

Kurda and me retreated slowly and joined Gavner in the smaller cave. We sat next to him and nobody said anything for a while. Finally Gavner spoke in a dull, distracted tone, "I counted thirty-four of them."

"There was thirty-five when we looked." Kurda said.

"What are they doing here?" I asked in a whisper.

"Why do you think they're here?" Gavner asked.

I licked my lips nervously, "To attack us?" I guessed.

"You got it," Gavner said grimly.

"Not necessarily," Kurda said. "They might have come to discuss a treaty."

"You think so?" Gavner sneered.

"No," Kurda signed. "Not really."

"We have to warn the vampires." I said.

Kurda nodded, "But what about your escape? One of us can lead you to-"

"Forget it," I interrupted. "I'm not running away from something like this."

"Come on then," Kurda said, getting to his feet and making for the tunnel under the stream. "The quicker we tell the others, the quicker we can return and-" He was bending down to enter the tunnel but stopped suddenly and spun to the side, "Somebody's coming!"

"Vampire or vampaneze?" Gavner asked.

"Think we can afford to wait and find out?"

"No." Gavner said. "We've got to get out of here." He studied the three exit tunnels. "We can get back to the Halls via the middle tunnel but it'll take a lot of time. If they spot Darren's trail of blood and come after as…"

"We'll take the left tunnel, according to my maps there's a very small connecting tunnel, easy to miss." Kurda said. "I only found it by chance."

"Then lets go," Gavner decided and off we dashed.

When we reached Kurda's tunnel, it was only to discover a cave-in.

Kurda swore and kicked angrily at the blockage.

"I'm sorry." He signed.

"It's not your fault," Gavner told him.

"Were do we go now?" I asked.

"There's another tunnel we can use. It'll link us up with the tunnels leading to the Halls." Kurda said.

We followed Kurda as he led us through the dark.

After a while Kurda halted and whispered to us, "We're right behind the cave where the vampaneze are. Move slowly and carefully. If they spot us, fight for your lives…then run like hell!"

"Wait," I said. "I don't have a weapon. I'll need one if we're attacked."

"I've only got one knife…Gavner?"

"I've two but I'll need them both. Anyway, no offence Darren, but if Kurda and I can't fend them off, I don't think you'll make much of a difference. If we run into trouble, grab Kurda's maps and head for the Halls while we stay and fight."

"I couldn't do that," I gasped.

"You'll as you're told." Gavner growled, leaving no room for argument.

We started forward softer then ever. Sounds from the cave reached our ears- vampaneze laughing and talking quietly.

Our luck held until we turned into a long tunnel and ran into a lone vampaneze, who yelled for help.

Gavner groaned desolately. "So much for stealth," he muttered as vampaneze poured through from the cavern. He took a firm stand in the middle of the tunnel, checked the walls either side, then spoke over his shoulder, "You two get out of here. I'll delay them as long as I can."

"I won't leave you to face them alone." Kurda said.

"You will if you have brains." Gavner snarled.

Kurda nodded sadly. "Luck, Gavner Purl." He said.

"Luck," Gavner grunted as he parried an attack.

Kurda turned to lead me away, then stopped and dug out a map. "Do you remember the old burial chamber we visited?" he asked. "The Hall of Final Voyage?"

"Yes." I said.

Kurda nodded and said. "Go to the end of this tunnel, take a right, another right, then four lefts. That'll bring you to the chamber. Wait a few minutes in case one of us comes. Get your breath back. Try re-bandaging yourself so that you stop dripping blood. Then go."

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

"Help Gavner."

"But he said-"

"I know what he said!" Kurda snapped then gripped my shoulders and squeezed tightly. "Luck, Darren Shan."

"Luck," I replied miserably.

"Don't stay and watch," he said. "Leave immediately."

"Ok."