4

Gregor began preparing for the meeting. The ball had been a success. Gregor had offended Roth into going, Wynn had flirted with Rodrith until he agreed to go, and apparently Howard's parents had no problem with Janor who had been so drunk she agreed to anything. The rest of the council, seven members not including Ripred, Mareth, Vikus, or Howard, followed suit so that they wouldn't miss out on important business with the powerful members of the council.

Gregor thought about something he noticed from the ball. Stellovet had also spoken with the three council members. Honestly, it had been fairly easy to get them to go. Perhaps she helped. He wondered if there was a bit more to her than just a rude sister of his friend. Maybe she had also helped turn them in favor of the mission. He made a point to try to be nicer to Stellovet.

Gregor walked to the council room with his cousin, and just as promised, she took a seat next to Rodrith. Gregor sat on the other side of her, then settled in for a long meeting of Underlanders yelling at each other. Though they kept their expressions collected like true royals, Gregor could tell Luxa and her cousin were doing the same as him. Ripred made no effort to hide his distaste for being there. Vikus opened the meeting to discussion, and all hell broke loose about everything from to who would go on the mission to planting for next season.

Gregor found it hard to concentrate; it was all so boring. What he was able to pick up were some of the objections. The prophecy involved several species, and many of the Underlanders didn't trust the gnawers or respect the crawlers. Gregor suspected that they would rather toss the two species in a river rather than make peace and team up with them. Of course Luxa wouldn't hear any of that as she was working very hard on maintaining peace with all Underland races. This mission could help bring the races together.

Of course the other issue was allowing Luxa to go. The prophecy mentioned the queen specifically, and Gregor knew full well that was a main reason she was using it. Gregor knew Luxa, like Vikus, truly believed in the prophecies, but, like Ripred, she wasn't opposed to manipulating other events to suit her needs. She wouldn't miss out on this mission. However, that would put Regalia in a tricky situation again with a queen at risk and the next in line (Nerissa) not fit to rule.

Then an abrupt turn of events occurred. It started with Janor proposing a possible team for the mission. Then Roth and Rodrith joined in. Gregor was shocked. They went from not wanting to hear any part of the mission, to actually making positive contributions. It all seemed a bit too easy, but Gregor thought it would be better to just roll with it. Apparently Luxa did too, and soon the entire council was on board.

The mission would include Luxa and Howard for the Underlanders as Luxa fully trusted her cousin. Gregor and Wynn were the Overlanders. Ripred wouldn't attend as he had some other secret matter to attend to, but he would choose two gnawers for the mission. Vikus would choose two crawlers. Aurora and Nike would go of course, and Mareth would find two more fliers. Everything was going smoothly until Wynn spoke up.

"So Gregor and I have to go? We don't get a choice?" Everyone in the room looked at her. Even Gregor was caught unaware as he thought she wanted to go.

"I was under the impression that both Overlanders agreed to the mission already," Roth said to Vikus, completely ignoring Wynn. She rolled her eyes, and spoke again.

"We agreed to help, like it says in the prophecy. Haven't we already helped though?"

"You have not yet assisted in the expedition, which is what the prophecy actually discusses," Luxa said. "Our interpretation is that you must be on the journey as well."

"Maybe you interpretation is wrong," Wynn said cautiously. Several Overlanders gasped in shock, as if it were a great insult to have their opinion questioned.

"You question the intelligence of our prophecy interpreters, Overlander?" York said. Gregor had noticed him eying his cousin suspiciously the whole meeting. "Just what authority do you have? What do you do in the Overland that makes you more qualified than Vikus?" The challenge seemed to animate Wynn, and she gave York a mocking smile.

"I'm a student," she answered simply. The meeting room broke out in argument again, and Gregor rubbed the back of his neck as he watched the mess his cousin made.

"And a student has the audacity to challenge the queen's council!" York shouted at Wynn above the other fighting.

"Your son is just a student, but I didn't see anyone here question him today!"

"How dare you compare yourself to my son? You are nothing co-" Sushannah put her hand on his arm to calm him, while Howard looked like he wanted to disappear. Gregor had no idea what the other council members could be fighting about, but he was really tired of all this. He was so mad at his cousin for starting this, he was tempted to yell at her too.

"Quiet!" Ripred yelled above the chaos. His voice sent a hush over the entire room.

"Thank you, Ripred," Gregor and Luxa said in unison. They looked at each other in surprise for a moment, then nodded, and Luxa carried on.

"Overlanders, do you agree to go on this mission?" she asked.

"Yes," Gregor answered simply. Wynn bit her lip, and appeared to be weighing her options. After a moment, she finally nodded.

"Ok," she said, though she sounded very uncertain.

"Then it is settled, are there any further objections?" There were several shakes of the head and no's from the council members. Then what were you all yelling about? This council confused Gregor beyond belief. Luxa really needed a new one. Who knew what trouble they would get her into in the future.

Luxa dismissed the council, and only she and her cousin stayed along with the Overlanders. Gregor turned to his cousin.

"Why did you have to start all that," he hissed.

"I'm not sure I want to go," she whispered back.

"Then why would you agree to all this?"

"I thought you wanted me to." Gregor rubbed his eyes in frustration. He didn't force her to do anything. "Besides, I'd rather be with you than just let you run off on your own." He just shook his head, and turned back to the Underlanders.

"Did that not seem too easy to you, Luxa?" Howard asked. So Gregor wasn't the only one to think so.

"I recall it not being very simple, especially with Wynnora causing trouble," Luxa answered, sending Wynn a dirty look.

"That was all nonsense. The actual approval for the mission was very easy to gain."

"I will not complain about the ease of the decision," she replied. "It has already taken months to get this far. Perhaps they spontaneously came to their senses."

"I am uncertain. To start with not wanting to join forces with other species and keep the queen in the city, and end with throwing the queen on a multi-species mission seems a stretch."

"And what would you have me do, cousin? Object? I could not. I have fought too hard for this."

"Maybe you could just keep an eye on you council," Gregor suggested. "If this all seems suspicious, it's probably safer to be cautious."

"Perhaps. I will remain cautious if it pleases you, Howard." He just shrugged.

"Monitoring them could break trust. Don't do anything too conspicuous, Luxa," Wynn put in. The queen seemed to appreciate the advice. Howard left, and a short time late, Wynn followed. Before she left the room, she hissed in Gregor's ear, "I'm trusting you to be alone. Don't do anything stupid." Gregor just shoved her off, and she stuck her tongue out at him.

"How are your sword skills? Perhaps we should train," Luxa suggested.

"That would be great," Gregor replied. Apparently it wouldn't be at all difficult to not "do anything stupid" since Luxa planned to swing a sword at him.

It took several days to get everyone needed for the mission together. In the meantime, Gregor kept busy. He made sure to write to his family that everything was safe in the Underland, and that visiting wouldn't be a bad idea. He really hoped his sisters would be able to come for a visit. Luxa seemed set on testing his fighting skills. Most of the time she asked Mareth to watch them fight so he may critique them. Gregor didn't mind; he could use the practice, and fighting against her was a fun challenge.

Mareth had Wynn work with Nike so that she could learn to shoot arrows while flying. She was definitely better with two feet on the ground as she still didn't fully enjoy flying, but her aim was still deadly while on Nike. The pair of them worked very well together, and they would tease Howard about leaving him. Mareth also had her try to learn to use a sword. Wynn was pretty terrible with the weapon though. Gregor tried to show her, but she was always playing too much.

"Could you take this seriously for five minutes?" he asked her.

"Sorry. Sorry. I'm serious," she said through laughter. "Really, I am."

"It will not be humorous in battle," Luxa cut in. Gregor had to agree with her.

"We're not in battle, and you said this mission shouldn't be dangerous in terms of fighting scary things."

"You never know what could happen, Wynn," Gregor sighed, starting to get embarrassed by her.

"May I oversee her training?" Howard asked. "Perhaps standing against someone she wishes to kill will raise her maturity levels." Wynn cursed under her breath, and Gregor was happy it wasn't in English. The Underlanders didn't seem to like bad language.

"Alright. Let's play," Wynn said. Gregor was relieved, and went to practice with Luxa again. He much preferred that. She was very good, and he knew she was even better with Aurora. He wished he had a flier, so the two of them could practice. He settled for sword play on the ground. It took a few tries, but he was finally able to find a technique to use against her and win consistently. Then something distracted him, and Luxa knocked him flat on his back.

"What commands you attention, Gregor? I should be your only focus," she said with a grin. Gregor pointed over at their cousins.

"I think we should keep them separated." They were both fighting on the ground, and looked to be actually trying to kill each other. Gregor's cousin seemed to bring out the worst in Howard, who was usually calm and well behaved. He pinned her to the ground for a second before Wynn's knee shot up and the man rolled over in pain.

"There goes Susannah's wish for grandchildren," Luxa said unable to hold back laughter.

"She has five more kids. She doesn't need him," Gregor said, though he couldn't help flinching. That was just something you did not do to a guy. He heard Wynn say it was an accident through her laughter, but Howard just called her a liar.

The next day, Ripred and Vikus returned to the city with the members for the mission. Gregor was playing a game with Luxa and Hazard in their quarters when Vikus led the group in. Gregor looked them over. There were two crawlers, and Gregor felt slightly guilty thinking he had no idea if he had seen them before or if this was their first meeting. Honestly, the giant bugs all looked the same to him. Ripred had with him two gnawers. Gregor recognized Lapblood, but he didn't recognize the other. She was a small (small for a gnawer), pale grey rat who seemed rather shy. Gregor glanced at Luxa, and saw her sizing up the group with her analytical eyes. Hazard just shyly glanced about.

Vikus introduced the crawlers Kik and Kot. The two crawlers greeted them politely, and Luxa gave a formal and respectful welcome. Though Gregor liked the crawlers, he had to admit they were not much of conversationalists. After the greeting, the two bugs just sort of waited until it was time to leave again. The one thing they did make a point of mentioning, was that the crawlers hoped to see the princess (Maggie) again. Gregor said he wished the same.

Ripred reintroduced Lapblood, who Gregor was pretty happy to see again. The other gnawer's name was Whiptail, and neither Ripred nor Lapblood appeared to think much of her.

"I certainly hope you pups are ready to go. We gnawers don't have the rest of our lives to waste on you," Ripred said gruffly. Whiptail laughed, then quieted down in what Gregor thought might be embarrassment.

"You were the one to take several days to find gnawer representatives," Luxa replied dryly.

"Ripred is crude, but correct. We wish to make this a quick journey," Lapblood said. "It is afterward that will be difficult."

"Oh, we are ready, and will leave tomorrow."

"Are you certain that everything is prepared?" Vikus asked.

"Of course." Luxa looked annoyed that he questioned her, but Vikus just turned to Gregor.

"Are both you and your cousin prepared? Are you both certain you wish to go on this journey?" he asked.

"Luxa has made sure we are," Gregor replied, earning a dirty look from the queen. He hid his smile.

"You make it seem as though I am forcing both of you to go," Luxa said accusingly.

"I thought you were forcing them," Ripred cut in, feigning confusion.

"Me too," Gregor added, acting the same. Vikus just shook his head, and apologized to the group for the banter. The old man led the representatives out of Luxa's quarters to show them where they would be staying.

"Come with me, pup," Ripred ordered Gregor. Luxa just stared as if waiting for him to leave, so he dug his hands into his pockets and followed the gnawer. When they got to an empty part of the corridor, Ripred began.

"I did not pick Whiptail to join this mission," he said.

"Ok. Why are you telling me this?"

"You don't think, do you?" Gregor fought the urge to glare at Ripred. "I am telling you this so you keep an eye on her. I do not think she's tough enough to be a spy or threat in that way, but she may just cause trouble. Maybe that is why the others chose her. Sabotage. Anyway, you ought to know about that, you've caused enough accidents yourself." Well, he wasn't wrong about that, but Gregor didn't appreciate the reminder.

"I'm sure she'll be fine, but I'll make sure she doesn't get put anywhere she may cause damage." As an afterthought, Gregor decided to ask a question. "Why aren't you the one going? You're Luxa's bond, shouldn't you be there with her?"

"Our bond is more symbolic than anything else. I don't need to be beside her all the time." He looked up at Gregor. "You know she's a tough girl. Like a gnawer." A rare compliment. Gregor nodded in agreement. That was kind of true. "And don't bring this up to her. She will just obsess on it. Also, I have to go talk some sense into the gnawers. It's what Luxa should be doing with her humans."

"Talk about what?"

"Things are not all peace and happiness in the Underland just because the gnawers and humans aren't fighting anymore. There are those opposed to the fragile arrangements and minimal teamwork we have set up. I, as peacemaker," Ripred grinned to reveal all his teeth, "plan to put an end to all the nay saying."

Gregor didn't know about any tensions between the races. He knew people were still prejudiced, but he didn't know there were those openly opposed to peace. That seemed kind of stupid to him. And insulting. He gave up the 11th and 12th years of his life to help them end a war, and they were just going to throw that away because they were racist? Screw that, Gregor thought to himself, trying to push aside his annoyance.

"Why doesn't Luxa talk to the Regalians about all that? They all seemed to think pretty much the same thing," Gregor asked. Ripred laughed ruefully.

"Have you ever seen those humans admit their own prejudices? They won't admit there is a problem until it's too late. And Luxa is no exception. She can go on ignoring the problems, but I will have a word with my gnawers."

"Well, good luck with that. I'm sure you'll have no problem convincing them to be quiet," was all he said.