The Banished
Chapter 7
Even though Luxa was worried about the attacks that had been happening around the Underland, that did not stop the flow of life in Regalia. Two days later had Gregor standing guard in the throne room, as it was judgment day.
There were few cases to try though and none were anything truly important. A thief or two and a guy that started a brawl. Nothing too serious. The whole time though, Luxa seemed distracted and unattached to what was going on. Gregor was just glad they didn't have any major hearings that day.
"Do you hunger, Overlander?"
It was after the trials and Gregor was following along behind her, out of the throne room.
"Not particularly, your grace."
"Good," she said. "Neither am I."
Well, if he was going to have to wait for her to eat, he would never get to. She only ate, like, once a day. Or at least that's all he ever noticed.
"Are we leaving the castle again today?" Gregor asked her. They had the day before and had to bring six other guards. Though she had not told him of such an event, he always liked to be prepared beforehand.
"No. You are all I need for now," she told him as they continued down the hall. "Unless you wish for-"
"I wish for nothing," he told her. "I want for nothing."
"That is good, Overlander, if it were true. But we all want something."
"Then what do you want, Queen Luxa?"
"Many things," she told him with a soft sigh. "Many un-accomplishable things."
"Lux-"
"Queen Luxa!"
Suddenly there was a person running down the hall, chasing her down while calling out her name. Everyone in the hall stopped as she turned to meet their approach. Gregor, as always, kept his hand on his sword, ready for anything.
"Yes?" Luxa just stared at the messenger who immediately fell to one knee before her. "What is it?"
"There is word that has arrived from the gnawers as well as a scout. Both are citing attacks in the-"
"Come." She turned quickly, no doubt not wanting him speaking in front of so many people. "This is best discussed in the tactics room." Then, turning, she looked to one of the people in the hall, calling the woman by name. "Go alert Perdita, Barrett, and Mareth of this development."
"Yes, your grace," the woman said, giving a bow.
"Come then, messenger," Luxa said, turning to walk once again, Gregor quickly following. "What is your name?"
"Maximus, your highness."
"It is a name I shall put to memory," she told him. "Have you ever been to a meeting before?"
"Not with nearly so many important people."
"Two important people," she corrected. "Perdita and myself. The men, well, they are allowed to intend, only. And then the Overlander is semi-important. And yourself, well, you are well on your way, Maximus."
"You are too kind, your grace."
"I do not understand why people insist on telling me this so often. I have been the cause of countless deaths over the years." Luxa glanced back at Gregor. "Am I any more kind than another woman?"
"If my job is in jeopardy, I would say you are the most kind, your grace."
"And if you spoke truthfully?"
He stared blankly at her. "You very well be the least kind…creature I've ever encountered. Hardly beating out Ripred."
The messenger gasped at that, but Luxa only let out a slight chuckle, turning forwards once more.
"So long as I beat out him, I believe I am good, Overlander."
"If you so believe."
The messenger, Maximus, glared at Gregor then before looking back at his queen. "I apologize for the Overlander's comments, your grace. He clearly is not-"
"It is quite alright, Maximus. I am not an old woman. My guard and I speak only in jest. I have had him serve under me since not a year after my coronation, you must understand. I am not a sour queen. Do I appear that way to you?"
Gregor grinned then as the messenger began to stammer.
"N-No, your grace, I only-"
"Good. I am not an old prude, am I, Overlander?"
"You are not old, no," he agreed. "Not old."
Still, the messenger with them was on high alert, as everyone typically was around Luxa. Gregor could tell though that her comedy was only to hide what she was truly thinking. Was Nerissa being truthful? And if so, what were these…these…banished going to bring to the Underland?
When they made it to the tactics room, Gregor went off on Luxa's command to locate other royal guard members to join them. When he returned with Matthias and Plesious, Perdita was already in the room as well as Mareth. The messenger was standing around the table with them, Mareth making small talk with him. It was only once Barrett joined them a few minutes later that they could start.
"My queen, might I say before we begin that you looked ravishing today in court," Barrett said, bowing before her as he made his way up to the table. "Your gown is just as stunning here as it was in the throne room."
"I was on my way to change when the messenger stopped me," Luxa said, glancing over her gown. "Do you mean to tell me then, Barrett, that it is the gown that gives me my beauty?"
"No, not at all, my queen. I only-"
"You can discuss this later," Perdita said then, looking only at the messenger. "Tell us then, of the news you bring."
"Of course." He nodded his head in respect to her. "A scout that was flying over the gnawer land as reported citing people there. A messages has been received as well from the king of the gnawers, who tells of many battles that-"
"The king of the gnawers," Mareth said slowly. "Remind me again of who that is this month, Perdita?"
"Gore slit Grayclaws throat only for Deathskull to kill him. So the last of my recollection, it is Deathskull."
Luxa only shook her head. "Then our fears are true."
"So there are people attacking the gnawers." Barrett shook his head. "Should they come here, they will surely be killed."
"They trouble the nibblers as well."
"So they attack from both ends, do they?" Mareth looked to Perdita. "We have soldiers to spare."
"Over abundantly," she agreed. "We do not have any deaths to spare, however."
"We never do," Barrett told her with a shake of his head.
Luxa took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. "We do not know where these people come from or if they even are from banishment."
"Who has spoken of banishment?" Mareth looked up at her. "Queen Luxa?"
"My cousin, before her coma, saw-"
"Your cousin sees many things, Queen Luxa," Perdita said softly.
"She told Gregor though that-" Luxa stopped herself then, pausing as she looked down. Shaking her head, she said, "Never mind."
"We do not even know if these people are from the Underland," Mareth spoke then, covering for his queen. "Perhaps they are from the Overland? Confused and scared. It would make sense, yes?"
"And where would they have come from, Mareth?"
"Many have spoken of how there might be entrances through the Uncharted Lands," Barrett said, nodding his head. "Perhaps that is the reason your cousin thinks they are from banishment."
"We will not speak anymore of the banished until we know for certain," Perdita told him harshly. "There is no reason to. For now all we know is that there are people masquerading themselves as us. We do not need more problems than are necessary between the gnawers. We should show a united front with them. Should they seek our help, we will gladly lend it."
"To the nibblers as well," Luxa said then, nodding her head. "Them above all. The gnawers can fend for themselves."
"As you say," Perdita agreed with a sigh. "Then we will send messages to them both, yes? We will work with anyone asking for it. We have no connection to these people and that is the only way to prove it."
"Barrett," Luxa spoke then. "You shall see to that these messages get out, yes?"
"Of course, your grace."
"Then, unless there is anything else to discuss, I suppose we are done here." Luxa nodded at each of her generals before looking at the messenger. "You can get back to your duties now, Maximus. Your words were greatly received."
"Thank you, your queen."
"Come then, Overlander," Luxa turned to walk away then, her gown stunning as ever as she made her exit. "Matthias, you as well."
"Of course, your grace," the young man said, quickly falling into step with his friend. Gregor only watched Luxa's back as she retreated, though he did give Matthias a grin when the boy kept staring at him. Every time he got chosen by Luxa to do something, the teen got overly excited. It was thrilling to him to work so closely with the queen.
"I shall change before we do anything else," Luxa told them both as she led them down the hall, towards her chambers. "Surely the two of you can wait for me."
"Of course, my queen."
"Nothing would please us more."
It was while they were standing guard outside her sleep quarters that Hazard showed up. He had been walking down the hall, probably to his own room, when he came to a stop.
"Hey, Gregor." He smiled as he paused in front of the two older men. "Is Luxa in there?"
"Changing," Gregor said with a nod of his head. "I did not see you at the trials today?"
"I was not there."
"Luxa wishes for you to-"
"And I wish for Luxa to leave me alone."
With that, the boy headed on down the hall. Matthias frowned, glancing at his older friend.
"Is he-"
"It is a complex relationship."
Matthias only had a second to nod before the queen appeared from behind the curtain, dressed in her usual attire.
"Come, Overlander, Matthias." Luxa walked between them before continuing away. "Our first stop will be the hospital. I have not checked in on my cousin as of late. I find it doubtful that she had awaken, but you never know."
Gregor bowed his head slightly. "I told you the chances that Ada gave her."
"I have been told many times that I may not even survive the night. I always have."
"We always survive, my queen, until the one time we do not."
"Keep that in mind, Overlander, for yourself. As for me, I will live forever."
"Tell me; why I do not doubt you?"
"I am your queen. You should never doubt me."
"And yet many do."
"And they shall perish for that reason alone."
"I thank you kindly, Aurora, for taking me."
"It makes no difference to me, Overlander, what I do with my day, just so long as I have something to do with it. In recent times, it seems Luxa and I have very few places to go."
"I prefer her in the capital," he told her.
"You always have," Aurora purred to him. "You forget at times, Overlander, that she can look out for herself. And when she cannot, I can."
"Perhaps," he said, shaking his head. "I just have trouble with, you know, letting her take care of herself."
"There are things she forgets about you too, Overlander," the flier assured him. "Over time, we all become forgetful."
"What has Luxa forgotten about me then?" Gregor asked her as they flew over the wall, high above all others. Aurora's fur was easily distinguishable, the rustic coloring letting everyone know it was her flying over, and giving other guards no worry. Who would stop the queen, after all?
"She has forgotten that you have a brain, that you have a mouth, and that you have a heart. You remind her occasionally, true enough, but for the most part, you allow her to treat you this way."
"And you do not?"
"I can on occasion fall into the same routine. It is easier than fighting with her, I suppose. She has been strong willed since I met her. It is a better attribute for when we are under attack, but a poor one for conversations."
"She has many redeeming qualities though."
"Of course," Aurora agreed. "Though I believe I can safely assume that we both differ on what those qualities are."
"Oh?"
"We love her in very different ways."
"At the root of it all though, we are the same," he assured her. "I would lay down my life for her, as would you."
"I would lay down my life for her because she is my bond. You would lay down your life for her because she is your bedmate."
He laughed at that, heartily. "Is that what I am?"
"That is what you are."
"Nothing more?"
"Nothing more."
"Surely I could find another bedmate, if she died, no? So why her?"
"I do not see through human eyes. Man eyes. Overland eyes. I do not know why you are so fixated on her. I do know, though, that you have outlasted any predictions. It has been, what? Ten years since you first arrived in the Underland? And you have come back every time. To Regalia. To her."
"You have always approved."
"And why should I not? Luxa is a queen, granted, but above all she is a woman. Though I do not see through Underland eyes either, I do see through womanly eyes. She finds you suitable. You do many things for her. You…protect her. When I cannot. Why would I ever find fault in that?"
"I wish others saw it that way."
"Others see a foreigner. A bloodthirsty foreigner."
"I am not-"
"That is what they see, Overlander. What others see. What Queen Athena sees. All fliers, gnawers, nibblers, and spinners. We see you kill. The humans see you kill. They also see you grow closer and closer to their queen. To becoming their king. They see you as something to fear. Useful in wartime, yet a liability when at peace. They fear what you would do to their kingdom."
"And you?"
"And I what? I fear nothing of you. I know you. You are nothing to fear. Not for me anyway." She angled her wings down then, as they began their descent. "Besides, Luxa will never marry. She is happy with you in her bed, gone by morning. And if she ever did decide to marry and should it be you, you would not control anything. Anything. Luxa would never allow a king to rule her. Luxa would never allow a man to control her. Luxa would never give up her kingdom."
"Luxa would never give up herself."
"That either," Aurora agreed, hovering above the ground then once she was close enough. "I shall be back for you then."
"We will meet in our usual spot," he agreed. "Much thanks, Aurora."
"As always, Overlander."
He preformed a dive off her then, tumbling to the ground and landing on his feet. It had taken much practice and instruction from Luxa to accomplish that one. To her, it was a child's trick, one that they show off to their parents for them to smile and pretend to be impressed. Gregor though was impressed with himself. Every time.
And so started his run through the fields surround the walls of Regalia. He had never taken to running around the city, as there were too many people. And laps around the arena only served to bore him. Out there though, in the fields, with only dim lighting, he could be alone. Occasionally, he would run into a farmer, but by this point, they were all used to him. If anything, he enjoyed them more than those that lived close to the palace, inside the walls of Regalia. They only cared about their crops and keeping them alive. He only cared about his queen and keeping her alive. They were quite alike, actually.
The time felt short though he knew it was long. The minutes escaped him as he ran, as it did when he was a boy. Everything was so simple when you were running. It was much like sword fighting. You lift one leg up, you drop the other down. Lift that leg, drop the opposite. You swing your sword this way, holding your dagger that way. Swing your sword that way, hold your dagger this way. Up, down. Up, down. That way, this way. This way, that way. Up, down. This way, that way. Up, down. Up, down. Up, down. Up, d-
Crying. He heard crying. He was far passed the kingdom walls now and the fields. He was nearing the waterway. The only light came from behind him, from the city that he was running from. Why would he hear crying all the way there?
Click.
It was loud crying too. Wailing. It sounded a lot like a cry Boots would have let out when she was young. Lizzie too, probably. Him as well. It was a cry that all children let out in the dark, up above. And Gregor was sure that it was let out much more often in the Underland. Dark was the absence of light. The absence of light was death in the Underland. Where was the child? In lost in the dark? Or lost in death?
Click. Click.
Dark no longer scared Gregor. He knew no dark. He knew not much light either, but darkness only gave him a chance to practice his skill.
Click. Click. Click.
The cries were almost deafening then. Wherever the child was, it was in horrible distress. All Gregor heard was fear, but there could be more. The cry was not of pain, but sometimes fear out weighed pain. A lot of times fear out weighted pain.
Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.
And there it was. A toddler, nothing more, huddled under a blanket in the grass, screaming his head off. When his rushing was finished, he slid to his knees, stopping at the child. It was an Underland child, his sliver hair hanging so long that at first, Gregor thought him a girl.
"Shhh," Gregor whispered, his heart racing as he lifted the child from the ground, running his fingers and hands over him slowly, looking for broken bones or lacerations. He found none, but he was not a medic. You could never be too certain. "Shhh."
Holding the child against his chest, Gregor slowly stood. Though his cries were still loud, they had calmed some, if only a little. His breath coming out in pants, Gregor slowly took a look around.
Click. Click. Click.
"Hello?" he called out then. "Is anyone there? I have your son. Answer me! I-I can help you. Are you injured? What were you doing out here? N-Never mind. It doesn't matter. Are you here? Please, I want to help you, but I have to take the child back. To the medics. I'll…return. With others. We'll search for you. I promise."
And with that he took off running. Back through the darkness and towards the light. He was always running towards the light. Maybe one day, he'll even make. Maybe.
"I hear you gave the guards quite a scare today."
Gregor nodded slightly, staring down at the cot in front of him. "The queen can tear herself away from such important things to check on the welfare of a single child?"
"I can tear myself away from anything when my knights welfare is in jeopardy. I have heard everything from the Overlander himself took on a whole army of rabid children to the Overlander is dead."
"The last is wishful thinking, perhaps."
"Perhaps."
Gregor looked up as he felt her hand on his shoulder. She was just staring into his eyes, awaiting an explanation.
"Aurora dropped me outside of the gates as usual," he said then. "I was running when I heard him crying. I could not leave him."
"I would not have wished for you to." Luxa stared down at the child as well. "Is she well?"
"He," Gregor told her. "Just long hair."
"Ah." She shook her head. "He looks unkempt."
"I think he was."
Reaching out, she laid a hand on the sleeping boy in front of her, stroking his arm gently. "Who could leave their child?"
"I dunno."
"Why does he sleep?"
"The doctors put him under." Gregor shook his head slightly. "He sleeps for now."
"Did they find anything wrong with him?"
"Ticks. He was covered in them. And he is malnourished."
"He will be taken to the orphanage. Surely-"
"He is not from Regalia."
"Did he tell you this?"
"No," Gregor said with a shake of his head. "His eyes did."
Glancing at him, she asked, "Meaning?"
"No one in the Underland I have ever seen has had any other iris other than purple. Except Hazard."
She frowned down at the child. "He is not a Halflander. His hair-"
"I know. His eyes, though, are blue. A bright blue."
"Hazard's are green."
"Hazard is the only Halflander you've seen," Gregor pointed out. "Their eyes can't all be green."
"Halflanders are rare, regardless. His parents cannot be off Regalia." She glanced at him. "Unless you have news for me."
"You're not funny."
She sighed then, shaking her head. "You will stay with him?"
"I found him," Gregor told her simply. "I feel like I should."
"As you were then. I only wished to know you were well. As you are, I must be of."
"You're not even concerned with-"
"I have Nerissa and those humans to worry about. Orphan children are not of my concern."
Still, she lingered in the doorway for a moment, staring over her shoulder at the child.
"He is quite young."
"His cries reminded me of Boots."
"She would be most remiss if she heard you say that. She is nearly an adult now."
"She'll never be an adult," he told her softly as she left the room. And she wouldn't. Not to him at least.
Gregor stayed in the hospital room with the boy for a long time, unbothered. He just stood at his bedside, watching him as he might his queen, guarding him. Who could leave their child alone like that? When Gregor returned to the palace, some other guards headed out to search for his parents, but he feared they would find no one. Someone had dropped the child there.
But why?
"I am glad to find you here, Overlander. I feared no one would be."
Gregor hardly looked up at the voice. "It's like you're on rounds constantly here, Howard."
"Feels that way at times," he told him as came over as well. "I was afraid that he would wake up alone. That would be most horrible."
"Why does he sleep for so long?"
"It was hard to sedate him," Howard said with a shrug. "I'm sure we are not as precise as your Overland doctors."
"I didn't mean it as a slight."
The older man just clapped him on the shoulder, staring down at the child as well. "I came to speak with you, actually."
"And for what reason?"
"Nerissa has taken a turn. We…lost her for a moment. She was revived, but I don't…"
"Has Queen Luxa been informed?"
Howard nodded slightly. "She took it as well as expected."
"Luxa has a lot on her plate currently."
"She always will unless she starts eating."
"I meant-"
"I know what you meant. And you know what I mean." Howard looked at Gregor then. "My cousin has not looked well as of late."
"Your cousin does not take well to advice."
"She has many troubles."
"She sleeps little and eats less." Gregor shook his head. "I cannot sedate her. I cannot give her a feeding tube."
"I only wish for you to look after her."
"Oh?" Gregor finally looked at him. "You want me, the Overlander, to look after your cousin? Alert the surrounding areas. The apocalypse is upon us."
"Do not act in such a way, Gregor. I only mean-"
"And now it is time for me to tell you I know what you mean. And I do." He shook his head. "I will look after her, Howard."
"Thank you."
"You need not thank me. I would do it regardless."
"I am sure you would."
"It is my job, after all." He patted the hilt of his sword. "Would you not save your worst enemy?"
"You compare my cousin to your worst enemy?"
Gregor shrugged. "It depends on the day."
Laughing slightly at that, Howard clapped him on the shoulder again before moving to leave the room. "I fear that is how many of her relationships work."
