"...and as the Bane sank his giant teeth into the flier's neck, the Warrior thrust his blade through the rat's chest. As a final act, the Bane raked his claws down the Overlander's chest, tearing aside his armor and leaving horrific wounds. He would be the only one in the cavern to survive, as he was rescued by a pair of Shiners who discovered him shortly after the horrific fight. They brought him to Regalia, where he awakened two weeks later. "Several weeks after that, the rats gathered for the official surrender. Just as the gnawers were about to speak, the Peacemaker emerged from a digger tunnel. Of course, there was not going to be peace at first; both sides were talking of another war. Both sides were trying to recruit the Warior to fight for them, as both sides had aided him in the past, but he refused. Taking his sword in both hands, he broke it into two halves on his leg. "' "After that, there was no choice but to come up with some form of treaty. However, the Queen was not interested in one. She knew that treaties were always abandoned quickly and rarely had a positive effect.
"Instead of a treaty, the Queen and the Peacemaker bonded, creating the first-ever Gnawer-Human bond. The Warrior went back to the Overland, and there have been no wars between humans and gnawers since. And all of Regalia lived happily ever after."
"Is that a true story, Mother?" the little girl asked, green eyes wide in curiosity. It was obvious that the story had intrigued her, and she desperately needed to know if it had happened. Even the five-year-old could hear her mother's voice was choked as she read the last sentence.
"Yes." The Queen's eyes seemed distant, as if in bittersweet memory. "Yes," she repeated, kissing her daughter on the forehead. "It is true."
