Then, with a delay that was almost dramatically appropriate, the vampire's head toppled from his shoulders. Only now did Nadine notice the tiny droplets of blood on Benedicts leather jerkin.

"Perfect," she said.

"No," Benedict replied. "I took a slice off the fourth vertebra, while I should just have severed the nerves between the third and the fourth." Nadine realized that the man was actually annoyed: the detail would probably nag at him for years to come.

"Never mind. Anyone else want some?" she called out to the assembled undead.

The mighty vampires, who had in their time ruled as lords unopposed, now hesitated, torn between fear and the lust for blood and vengeance.

At that moment, the cavalry charged from behind the ruins.

Mighty warhorses galloped in, their riders clad in strong yet supple plate mail, brandishing swords and torches as they thundered closer. Leading them, grinning fiercely, was a knight clad all in black and silver, spurring his horse on with scaled silver gloves. Although he wore a black helmet, Nadine recognized Corwin immediately. Even though she had never seen him fight, his carefully measured recklessness, dirty tricks and backstabs seemed somehow familiar. The vampires hardly had time to turn around or bare their fangs as he cut into them, driving them before him with a large torch, then skewering them one-handed with a sword that was almost as long as Nadine. Smoke and the spicy smell of burnt flesh filled the air as several vampires ignited and rolled screaming over the ground, setting fire to their bone-dry comrades.

"Too low," Benedict muttered, apparently oblivious to the battle that raged all around him. Nadine felt the urge to pat his shoulder. He must really be annoyed.

The ancient vampires put up quite a fight, but they never recovered from their initial surprise, and were relentlessly cut down by some of the finest horseman Shadow had to offer. In the end, the last monsters, seeing that they were surrounded, dove into their old hiding places in the ground, frightened of the new world's legions and anxious to return to their slumber and dreams of times long gone. Within half an hour, Nadine was the only vampire left standing on the ruined market square of Ur.

Corwin rode up to her through the mass of blackened bodies, most of which had already turned into ash, and saluted her. While his gloves and black riding boots bore numerous rips and scratches, none of the vampires had managed to cling on long enough to drink his blood – the only possibility Nadine had actually feared.

"So, my lady Nadine," Corwin said, "your little favour has been repaid. Is everything according to your wishes now?"

"Quite," Nadine smiled. "Thank you."

"It was nothing," Corwin said. "Well," he mused as he dismounted, "of course it was a tough fight, testing both my skill and courage, but it was not really dangerous."

"Of course," Nadine said, and kissed him on the cheek. "What will you do now? Return to Amber?"

"Probably," Corwin said. "There's always a lot to do in Amber." He hesitated. "Say, you could join us if you like," he added. "Visit the castle, stay with us for a while..."

"Sticking my nose into that hornet's nest again?" Nadine laughed. "No, thank you: I've walked one pattern too many already!"