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They came down the cliff…hugging track from the castle； and not just four off them。 A flood of them； a wall of grey fur studded with yellow jewel eyes。 And they came at the lope； full of purpose。
〃A pack！〃 cried Thibor's friend。
〃Too many to fight off；〃 the Voevod shouted back。 Out of the corner of his eye he saw Arvos start forward； towards the oning wolves。 He reached out a leg； tripped the old gypsy。
〃Grab him！〃 Thibor manded； drawing his sword。
The squat Wallach lifted Arvos as easily as he would lift the dead； dry branch of a tree； swung him out over the abyss and held him there。 Arvos howled his terror。 The wolves； scant paces away； came to an uneasy halt。 Their leaders threw up pointed muzzles； howled mourn…fully。 It was for all the world as if they waited upon some mand。 But from whom？
Arvos stopped his yelling； turned his head and gazed wide…eyed at the distant castle。 His gullet bobbed spastically with his gulping。
The man who held him glanced from the wolves to Thibor。 〃What now？ Do I drop him？〃
The huge Wallach shook his head。 〃Only if they attack；〃 he answered。
〃You think the Ferenczy controls them； then？ But。。。 is it possible？〃
〃It seems our quarry has powers；〃 said Thibor。 〃Look at the gypsy's face。〃
Arvos'gaze had bee fixed。 Thibor had seen that look before； when the old man used the frying…pan mirror down in the village： as if a film of milk had been painted on each eyeball。
Then the Gypsy spoke： 〃Master？〃 Arvos' mouth scarce moved。 His words were the merest breath； vying with the mountain breeze at first but rapidly growing louder。 〃Master？ But Master； I have always been your faithful…〃 He paused suddenly； as if cut short； and his filmed eyes bulged。 〃No； master； no。r His voice was now a shriek； he clawed at the hands and brawny arms that alone sustained him against gravity； shifted his once more clear gaze to the ledge and the wolves where they gathered themselves。
Thibor had almost felt the surge of power emanating from the distant castle； had almost tasted the rejection which had surely doomed the Szgany to his death。 The Ferenczy was finished with him； so why delay it？
The leading pair of wolves； massive beasts； crept for…ward in unison； muscles bunching。
〃Drop him！〃 Thibor rasped。 Utterly pitiless； he urged； 〃Let him die…and then fight for your own life！ The ledge is narrow…side by side we've a chance。〃
His panion tried to shake the old man loose but couldn't。 The gypsy clung like thorns to his arms； fought desperately to swing his legs back onto the ledge。 But already it was too late for both men。 Heedless of their own lives； the pair of great grey wolves sprang as one creature； as if triggered。 Not at Thibor…not even looking at him…but directly at his squat rade where he tried to break Arvos' grip。 They struck together； dead weight against a lurching double…silhouette； and bore the apish Wallach； Arvos； and themselves out over the rim and down into darkness。
It was beyond Thibor。 He gave it only a moment's thought。 The pack leaders had sacrificed themselves in answer to a call he had not heard…or had he？ But in any case； they'd died willingly for a cause he could not possibly prehend。 He still lived； however； and he wouldn't sell his life cheaply。
〃All of you； then！〃 he howled at the pack； almost in its own tongue。 〃e on； who'll be first to taste my steel？〃 And for long moments not a beast of them moved。
Then…Then they did move； but not forward。 Instead they turned； slunk away； paused and looked back over lean shoulders。
〃Cowards！〃 Thibor raged。 He took a pace towards them； they slunk further away； looked back。 And the Wallach's jaw dropped。 He knew…suddenly knew…that they weren't here to harm him； only to ensure that he came on alone！
For the first time he began to understand something of the true power of the mysterious Boyar； knew why the Vlad wanted him dead。 And now； too； he wished he hadn't scoffed so much at the warnings of his court informant。 Of course； he could always go back to the village and bring up the rest of his men…couldn't he？ Behind him； pale tongues lolling； a crush of furry bodies crowded the track cut from the face of the cliff。
Thibor took a pace their way； they didn't move an inch； but their dog grins at once turned to snarls。 A pace in the other direction； and they crept after。 He had an escort。
〃My own free will； eh？〃 he muttered； and looked at the sword in his hand。 The sword of some warrior Varyagi…a good Viking sword…but useless if the pack should decide to attack in a body。 Or if that were decided for them。 Thibor knew it； and he suspected that they knew it； too。
He sheathed the weapon； found nerve to mand： 〃Lead on； then； my lads…but not too close or I'll have your paws for lucky charms！〃 And so they took him to the castle in the riven rock。。。
In his shallow grave； the old Thing in the ground shivered again； this time from fear。 However monstrous a man may bee in this world； when he dreams of his youth the things which frightened him then frighten him anew。 So it was with the Thibor…creature； and now his dream was carrying him to the edge of terror itself。
The sun was down； its rim forming the merest red blister on the hills； but still its rays lanced across the earth and gleamed fitfully on land where shadows visibly lengthened； quickly blotting out the sun's golden stains。 But even when the sun was fully down； burning on other lands； still Thibor might not 〃waken〃 in the sense that men waken； for he was one who might dream for many a year between bouts of that black hatred called waking。 It is not pleasant to be a Thing in the ground awake； alone； immobile； undead。
But the rich blood which soaked the earth would waken him； certainly； in that instant when it touched him。 Even now the nearness of that warm； precious liquid roused passions in him。 His nostrils gaped for its scent； his desiccated heart urged his own ancient blood faster in his veins； his vampire core moaned soundlessly in the sleep it shared with him。
Thibor's dream； however； was stronger。 It was a magnet of the mind； luring him to a conclusion he knew and dreaded of old but which he must always experience again。 And down in the cold earth in the glade of stirless trees； where the stones of his mausoleum lay broken and matted with lichens； the nightmare Thing dreamed on。。。
The way widened； grew into an avenue of tall dark pines atop a broad levelled rim of ages…impacted scree。 On Thibor's left hand； beyond the straight boles of the pines； smooth black rocks rose vertical through hundreds of feet to an indigo sky strewn with stars； on his right the trees massed； marched down the no longer sheer 〃V of the gorge and steeply up the other side。 At the bottom water gushed and gurgled； invisible beneath a night…black canopy。 The Vlad had been right： given a handful of men…or wolves…the Ferenczy could easily defend his castle against an army。 Inside the castle itself； however； things might be different。 Especially if the Boyar were indeed a man alone or nearly so。
Finally the ancient pile itself loomed。 Its stonework was massive； but pitted； rotten。 On both sides of the defile huge towers rose up eighty feet and more； square and v