For a second, Luxa and Howard were distracted by Mareth's recognition of the bat, and he managed to use that to his advantage. The second the two lowered their blades, he leaped up, now cowering on all four. Gregor was barely able to follow him with his eyes.

The rider mounted down and the bat – Thana-whatever his name had been, Gregor wasn't sure anymore, loomed ahead of them now, in between Luxa, Howard, and his rider.

Their blades were up again the next second, but Mareth was still staring at the bat unbelievingly – almost like he'd just seen a ghost.

"Who are you? Who gave you the right to land on our boat?" Luxa took a step forward but unintentionally drew back again when the bat growled at her. Howard stepped before her protectively "You have no right to be here!"

Now for the first time, the strange flier himself actually spoke. His tone was dismissive and cold. "Oh really. Is that how you treat someone who just saved the life of your warrior?"

Luxa and Howard were quiet at that. Instead, Mareth finally raised his voice. "I... We all thought you were –", he shook his head, as if to chase away unwanted thoughts, "You are right. Luxa, Howard – lower your blades."

The two stared at him in shock. "But Mareth, they are intruders!"

"They look like outcasts", Howard added, raising his sword even higher, "we should chase them off this moment before they can do any harm."

"No, stop." Mareth's tone was firm. He slowly approached the bat, still unbelieving – "Is that really you – how long has it been now? Seven, eight years? Where have you –?"

Luxa interrupted him, her tone was icy. "Do you know these people, Mareth?"

The soldier turned to her. "The flier I do, he is – someone I thought I'd never see again. We all did."

"And the human?" Howard's tone was equally cold.

"Him I do not – at least I think. With that mask I can not see his face well enough to judge", Mareth admitted.

The swords were pointed at the human now. Gregor saw him take a step back, not reaching for his own sword, that was fastened to a belt around his upper body and hung on his back, though.

The bat stepped in between him and Luxa and Howard protectively. "Leave him alone – he has done you nothing but good." He threw Gregor a dismissive glance, "It was he who suggested we save you and the rat. You should thank him, not threaten him."

"How do we know it's not a trap? And even if it isn't – how can we thank someone who wouldn't even show us his face?" Luxa argued, and though Gregor felt no immediate animosity for the strange flier-human duo, he saw her point. If they were friendly, why would he wear a mask?

"Exactly." Howard seemed to not care about what the human with the mask had done. "Who are you? Show us your good will by telling us – or leave!"

Gregor thought he saw the human turn his head to Howard in an almost annoyed fashion, as if he was insulted by the mere fact he had tried to give him an order. But before he could speak up, the bat with the skull mark on his face spoke for him.

"Who he is, doesn't concern you. All you need to know about us is, that I am Death – and he is my Rider."

Gregor's head jolted in their direction and he widened his eyes in surprise and shock. Did that bat just say –

His memory took him back to before he had left Regalia. The room of Prophecies – he had wanted to look for the Prophecy of Bane, and there he had met Nerissa. Gregor vaguely remembered talking to her about Henry, but that hadn't been the part of their conversation that stuck with him the most. Gregor automatically fumbled at his pocket and then remembered he had put the scroll in his backpack later.

"W... wait, did you just really say you are Death and he is your Rider? As in – you are the Death Rider?"

When Gregor spoke up, all eyes were suddenly on him. He shifted uncomfortably from the attention but fixated only the two strangers with his eyes.

He couldn't see his face well enough to be sure but he thought the stranger's eyes widened in surprise. He turned his head to the bat, that Gregor presumed was his bond, and then looked at Gregor again.

"Eh – what?" When he raised his voice for the first time it sounded a little muffled from behind the mask.

Then, after he seemed to have grasped the full meaning of Gregor's words, he firmly shook his head. "Oh, no – no, that's utterly impossible. Death – I mean, Thanatos didn't mean it like we were the –"

"Yes, what in the world are you talking about?" Luxa was staring at him as well now, but he ignored her.

The bat – Thanatos, Gregor could have sworn it was Thanatos – hit the stranger with his wing slightly, as if to scold him. "Hey, how about you listen to the kid first?"

"But I told you about the Death Rider, don't you remember? It's –" He looked around for a second, then continued by whispering to him.

"Hey, so what?" Thanatos finally spoke again, "that doesn't mean it can't actually be you."

The stranger still shook his head in disbelief, then turned back to Gregor. "Hey, why would you ask – and how does the Overland-warrior even know that name?"

For a second Gregor wanted to ask him how he knew he was the warrior when he realized his Overland-features were distinctive among a group of Underlanders. And there was but one Overlander who would team up with a bunch of people to go fulfill a prophecy. Apparently, even outcasts or loners or whatever these people were, knew that.

"I... I spoke to Neriss-, I mean, a girl who... well, she knows what she's talking about, back in Regalia." In the last second, he had remembered that the stranger would probably have no idea who Nerissa was.

"And she told me about you – I mean, the Death Rider. She said we would meet him during this journey, and that I should give him this –"

Gregor walked over to his backpack and fetched a small scroll of leather. It was rolled up now, but it read a prophecy, in Nerissa's pristine handwriting, that she had given him.

It is not meant for you, but for the one it is about, she had said. You will meet him on your journey, I am certain of it. Make sure he receives it, and may he find hope and strength in the words.

Nerissa hadn't mentioned who it was, but when Gregor had unrolled it and read the name "Death Rider", she had confirmed it was him who Gregor was looking for. At his question as to how he was supposed to recognize this Death Rider when he saw him, she had only smiled.

Do not worry about that, Overlander. You will most certainly know it when he stands before you, after all – he is the one who rides Death.

After that, she had lost interest in the conversation, though her eyes were sadder than before, and Gregor had decided to stop asking and put a little trust in her. Seems like it had paid out.

"Here", he stretched his hand out to the stranger, holding the prophecy. "Just take it. Even if you don't think it's you, it could be-"

But the stranger interrupted him. "Hey, kid – look, I'm not any Death Rider, there is no way I am. But if you say I should take this thing, I'll do. Maybe I'll meet the Death Rider someday. Maybe that's why I should have it. I don't know, but – it's not like it matters much."

Gregor was infinitely glad to have this off his chest when the stranger finally grasped the scroll and lazily stored it away in the side pocket of his backpack.

"Eh... this is all nice and well, but... what are we supposed to do with them now?" Howard suddenly raised his voice. "It is clear they can not stay. Isn't it?" He turned his head to Mareth, who was still deep in thought, presumably about the past.

"Hey, you can't chase us away now!" The stranger spoke suddenly, "We won't survive if you do."

"What are you talking about?" Luxa turned to him again, hand still firmly on her sword.

"We would plummet into the waterway and drown if you chase us off. Death doesn't have the energy to continue on, not after we flew all the way here from the northern coast, and he was forced to heave a fully-grown rat and a kid out of the water." He paused for a second, "Look, we know you don't trust us, but we promise to only stay for as long as he needs to rest. I think that's the least you owe us."

"Well, nobody asked you to rescue the rat and –", but before Luxa finished her sentence, Mareth spoke up again – "Hold on – did you just say you guys flew ALL THE WAY HERE from the northern coast? How in the world did you –"

Gregor listened up. He remembered his conversation with Ares from earlier, how no bat had ever crossed the waterway in one go before. Mareth had told him earlier that they were way past half-way there already. How were these two able to get this far?

"Oh, we did. We actually... didn't do what we wanted, you got in the way. Our plan was to cross the waterway. You know, first time and all that. But then we ran into you, and you obviously needed help, so we spontaneously canceled. Thanks for ruining the opportunity, by the way."

His hands were now to his hips, and something about that pose and the undisguised, nigh overzealous confidence almost seemed familiar to Gregor. He had no idea from where though. Maybe it was just a general association with a certain sort of people who enjoyed nothing more than showing off and talking big. As thankful as he was for them saving him, Gregor immediately found them – especially the human – less sympathetic.

"Well –" Mareth's voice was calm, he was still looking at Thanatos, "You can not deny that there is truth in his words."

Luxa and Howard looked at him, unbelievingly. "Mareth, you do not seriously consider granting them refuge? They are clearly outcasts! Who knows what they did to end up in that position. And he still didn't tell us who he is!" Howard's tone was hostile as he pointed at the stranger with his sword.

"Howard is right. It is madness." Luxa didn't sound any more friendly.

Mareth eyed Thanatos. "He wasn't cast out. He left on his own."

All eyes were on the bat now and Gregor listened up as well. He had never heard of such a thing as "leaving on one's own" before. Exile was considered a form of death sentence, only madmen would leave the shelter of society on their own accord... right?

Luxa's and Howard's faces mirrored his own thoughts when suddenly someone spoke up who hadn't raised his voice yet. "He is a friend, he is."

All eyes were on Temp, who was usually not much of a talker, especially in bigger groups.

"What say you?" Mareth eyed him curiously.

"You are who my kind speaks of, you are. Wielder of Light, they call you. You have saved many of our kind, you have."

"Wielder of... Light? What kind of name is that?" Howard mumbled, but Mareth silenced him with a gaze.

The stranger groaned a little. "That status as "Savior of the Crawlers" is ACTUALLY going to haunt my life now, isn't it? I'm forever going to be it. Even this one heard of me. You all have got to be kidding me."

Gregor asked himself why one would dislike being the savior of crawlers – and how in the world the stranger had earned the name "Wielder of Light", when Mareth spoke again, addressing the entire group this time. "Okay, once and for all – who is for chasing them off now?"

Luxa and Howard raised their hands immediately. The shiners, who had filled the bats in on what happened, while they were still carrying the boat, gave their vote too. "More uninvited passengers to feed our precious food to! No thanks", was Photos-Glow-Glow's only commentary.

Then, Mareth asked again – "And who is for letting them stay until the flier has regained his strength?"

He raised his own hand and Gregor realized he was doing the same. They had saved him, he wouldn't condemn them to death now. Twitchtip next to him signaled her approval too, she also had them to thank for her life. Temp did the same.

Together with the bats, of whom none objected – probably because they sympathized with Thanatos for having tried and almost achieved the impossible – they were a clear majority.

"This is not fair – I will order them as queen to leave!" Luxa was apparently not used to not getting her way.

"Except you aren't our queen", was all the stranger said, and that settled the matter.

The only one who didn't care about the vote was Boots. Gregor scanned the boat for her when he realized she was not on Temp's back anymore, and to his surprise found her sitting next to the strange bat – Thanatos. She was pointing at his face while giggling.

Gregor wanted to reach her before she would say something that made him mad, but Thanatos was apparently completely fine with the baby girl calling him names, or whatever she was doing. His eyes were almost closed and if bats could smile, Gregor had a feeling he would be right now.

A few hours later, it was probably in the middle of the night, the questors gathered to eat. The bats, who had lowered the boat back into the water shortly after it was decided to let the two strangers stay, for the time being, joined them.

They had caught fish for the others and Mareth disclosed they would need to eat it raw. Gregor and Luxa were disgusted, Howard told them they ate it like that sometimes where he lived, so he was mostly fine. The stranger seemed to have no problem with raw fish either. Well, Gregor thought, if he was an outcast, he'd probably been forced to eat far worse.

After the meal, Mareth told them to go to sleep. Gregor fetched Boots and curled up with her at the back end of the boat, Howard and Luxa close by. He heard them whisper to each other until he finally fell asleep.

"And I'm telling you, they KIDNAPPED HIM. Just like that! Thanatos told me he needed to "take care of some old business", turned out he had debts with the slimers – the SLIMERS, imagine! Ha!"

Gregor opened his eyes. The voice sounded cheerful but in the first moment, he didn't recognize it. Only when his gaze met the front of the boat, where most of the others had gathered up now, he saw it belonged to the stranger. He sat at the center of the group and was apparently in the middle of telling a story.

Around him, Gregor saw Mareth, who was navigating and listening at the same time, Luxa, who was now staring at the man she had voted to condemn to his death only hours ago with big, aw-filled eyes, all the bats except Ares who was still sleeping, and even Temp and the shiners. Twitchtip listened too, but she was a few feet away from the group, cowering close to the wall of the boat.

"He thought the slimers were too slow to ever catch up to him, but they sent the Jainex, an elite assassin team of spinners, to catch him for them. It is honestly hilarious, if it weren't kind of serious too, because –"

That moment a shadow dove down on them. "If you do not stop talking this instant I SWEAR I will toss you over the side of this boat, got it?" Thanatos landed directly between Luxa and the shiners, who jolted back and cried out in shock.

"Oh come on, relax, Death, it's just a few stories. What harm can they do?" Everyone now grinned at the bat for almost having died by the hands – or whatever they had instead – of the slimers, who growled in frustration.

"Hey, he's feeling better now, isn't he?" Howard suddenly approached them, he had also not been listening, Gregor realized now.

"Yes, but it's still dangerous to try and fly for shore now, he needs a little more time – eh... Horatius? Was it?"

Every single individual in the group broke into frantic laughter, even Gregor couldn't prevent a little giggle. Howard's face reddened in fury and he said with a firm voice "HOWARD. It is HOWARD."

"Ahh, right – all I remembered was that it was a name with "H", and that you weren't important enough to remember more than that."

Another wave of laughter broke out at the stranger's words and Howard crossed his arms and threw a death glance at him, but other than that remained silent.

"Okay, I think that's enough stories for now. Everyone get back to your business, breakfast will be held soon." Mareth called the rest to order.

The bats, Twitchtip and the shiners, as well as Temp, Howard, and Luxa, followed his request, only the strangers remained at the front with him. Mareth asked Howard to take over steering and went to sit with them at the back end of the boat. Andromeda soon joined them and from what Gregor heard she, Mareth and Thanatos started talking about old times.

The man with the skull mask – the Death Rider, of that Gregor was convinced, even if he denied it, soon left. Gregor thought he was too young to remember any of the things the three talked about.

He sat down somewhere in the middle of the boat and started digging through his backpack when a tiny voice suddenly interrupted him – "I like your boots!"

Gregor saw that his little sister had approached the stranger after he had left her with Temp to play. Now she tugged at the fur that enveloped the lower legs of the stranger and giggled.

Gregor took a step forward to intervene, but all the stranger did was chuckle a little. "They are nice, I know. You like fur?"

Boots giggled and continued to play with it. He just went back to digging through his backpack.

For the first time now Gregor had the opportunity to inspect the stranger closer. Zap was sitting nearby and her light illuminated the scene and the stranger. Gregor realized he had never seen anyone like him in the Underland before.

Every single of his clothing items was ragged and worn, the leather from his coat was rougher than anything Luxa or Howard wore. He had never seen anyone wear anything but sandals on their feet yet either. Suddenly Gregor realized that the fur around his boots and the collar of his coat must be rat fur. Probably even gathered and made himself.

Gregor saw a huge scar tearing his right shoulder and a smaller one on his cheek. It must be really rough living on your own, he thought. From what he saw of his face, the stranger didn't look that old – Howard's age, maybe a little older, but Gregor was certain he couldn't be older than twenty. But everything about him gave off a certain feeling of wildness and – right, the word Gregor had been looking for was veteran.

Someone who had been through a lot and seen a lot of bad things, and yet remained on top of everything. His father sometimes seemed like that too, on his good days, when he actually did remain on top of everything.

But this man, he was always like that, Gregor thought. And he also told himself it would be better to never give him a reason to view him as an enemy. Because most certainly he looked like he could kick his butt. And probably everyone's on this ship too, no matter what they said.

Henry sat on the floor of the ship and watched Thanatos, Mareth and Andromeda. Jealousy of how freely the flier could disclose his identity boiled up in him, he tried to suppress it, but in vain.

Well, there was one good thing about it – he could pretend to forget Howard's name as often as he liked. Henry smiled a little, but it was a sad smile. To this point, he still shook his head at Howard's presence here. The hell was he doing here – if someone would now dare to assume he was here to replace HIM, Henry would have thrown them overboard that instant. Or worse.

As if he could ever replace me... He thought and yet knew that Howard may be a lot of things, but at least he wasn't a traitor.

Annoyed at his own thoughts Henry started searching his backpack for his notebook again. He could have sworn it was here some–

"Looking for something?" Thanatos suddenly appeared before him, before lying down next to him and curling up in a ball.

"Eh, it's nothing."

"So... what in the world did the tall boy, Howard, ever do to you for you to hate him so ferociously?" Thanatos asked suddenly.

Henry scoffed. "Eh, it's just Howard. He was, you know, the kind of kid that would tell the adults every time you got into trouble, and scream "language" at every mention of a cussword. A party pooper at best. Never liked him, and it's not like I was the only one."

Henry remembered all too well how many times Howard had been responsible for him getting into trouble – not because he caused the trouble but because he had told on him. It had always been one of his favorite past-times telling on Henry, and his was teasing Howard and his sister Stellovet.

Though the only problem he had with Stellovet was that she was mean to Nerissa, while the thing with Howard was more of a boys-of-the-same-age-rivalry-thing, if Howard could even be considered a rival.

In fact, he remembered Luxa always teasing him by saying he would marry Stellovet one day because he was the only boy who could stand her presence and keep her temper in check. His response had always been that he would not marry a girl who was mean to his sister, and if Stellovet ever wanted a shot, she should remember that.

Henry chuckled at the memories and Thanatos was quiet for a while. Then he noticed Twitchtip suddenly creeping closer to them. Panic overcame him like it always did when he saw her, ever since they had landed. He remembered perfectly well that she had seen him before, and was constantly scared she might smell and give away his identity.

When she had reached them, she sat down and gave both of them a knowing look. She knows, Henry thought, and an arrow of fear pierced his heart.

"You need not be scared, prince of Regalia. Your secret is safe with me." Henry's head jolted around to her, and so did Thanatos' when she spoke at last, though it was barely more than a whisper.

"A life for a life", was the only thing she added, before getting up and creeping away again.

Thanatos and Henry exchanged glances. They had saved her – the exiled prince remembered. She knows I smell like Luxa probably, but she won't tell because we saved her from the whirlpool.

From the corner of his eye, he saw movement – a big, black shadow descending onto the deck. Another arrow pierced Henry's heart when for the first time since the fall he was faced with Ares again.

He didn't take any note of him, instead, he got caught up talking to Gregor. From the mess of an introduction that had followed his permission to stay last night, Henry suddenly remembered that they had spoken of Ares as Gregor's bond.

He had been carrying the boat, so he hadn't been there, and Henry hadn't thought about it before, but all of a sudden – there they were. The flier that had let him fall and the kid he had saved instead.

Thanatos noticed Henry's gaze and eyed Ares. "Who is he?"

The exiled prince sighed. "The past."

A surprised jolt went through Thanatos' body. "Wait – don't tell me that is your former bond, what was his name again?"

Henry nodded. "Ares. Yes, that's him." He sighed. "I mean, there is no use crying for the past now. I'm over it anyway." I have you now, he almost said, but barely stopped himself. In the end, Thanatos would misunderstand that as an invitation to bond or something.

He was lying – he was by far not over it, but what was he supposed to do Whine about it? What good would that do? Instead, he forcefully tore his eyes away from the two and focused on his notebook again.

The scroll with the prophecy that Gregor had given him came to view and Henry remained staring at it for a second. Hadn't the Overlander mentioned Nerissa wanted him to have it, he wouldn't have taken it at all.

There was no way he was the Death Rider – that fabled Grim Reaper-figure from his childhood play-pretends. It was simply impossible. But Nerissa knew what she was talking about, that much Henry knew, and if she wanted him to have this, he would take it.

How much he had wanted to ask Gregor or Luxa how she was doing, but of course he couldn't. She was lonely surely, but Henry also knew Nerissa was stronger than anyone gave her credit for If anyone could pull through this, it was her.

For a second he thought about whether she knew he was alive – that it was him Gregor was supposed to give the scroll too, Henry, her brother – the truth was, he didn't know. And there was no way he could find out at this moment in time.

A few hours of quiet travel passed, Henry and Thanatos eventually fell asleep in a single pile on the floor of the boat, exhausted as they were. Henry hadn't slept since the flight, and Thanatos needed all the rest he could get after his forty-hour-flight. The questors let them sleep, but the flier awoke anyway as soon as he smelled lunch.

They had talked to Mareth earlier about a proposition Henry had, and he was expecting him to bring it up during lunch. Henry cut his raw fish open with Mys when someone tapped his shoulder suddenly. "Hey... eh, I wanted to ask before, but I didn't get the chance. That... that dagger you have there, it looks incredible!"

Mareth had approached him from behind and Henry turned his head to him, grinning. "Oh, you mean Mys? Yes, the one who made it, called it the most remarkable weapon ever made. Like it?" He showed off the blade, and suddenly he was surrounded again.

Especially Luxa and Mareth were fascinated with the weapon. Howard was too, Henry saw that, but he had enough willpower not to show.

"Is that GOLD?" Luxa's eyes were big and round when she pointed at the frame.

"Yes, well, it's been mixed with something else to make it harder, but partially it is gold."

Henry was glad Mareth requested to hold it before Luxa could ask where he had gotten the gold from.

The soldier and the future queen passed it between them multiple times, clearly in awe. Henry grinned and knew that, if it was him, he would be as fascinated as they. He told them it was one of Gorger's teeth, that's when Gregor got interested too. He admitted it looked unique at least, though the Overlander was not much for weapons. Fine warrior, that – Henry thought.

Finally, Thanatos joined them too, after having been out at sea to fish and eat. "A fine weapon your new bond has, Thanatos", Mareth exclaimed at him, pointing back at Henry. The exiled prince froze, and Thanatos almost choked on the last bite of fish he hadn't swallowed yet.

"Ehh... EXCUSE ME but we are NOT bonds", he called, and Henry stepped forward too – "Why the hell does everyone take us for bonds?! Like I'd ever bond with YOU!" He pointed at Thanatos dismissively.

"OHHH you are one to talk, you useless brat", the flier fired back.

"Useless? Your ass would have died in a slime bath hadn't I tracked you down earlier!"

"And YOU would have been –"

"ENOUGH!" Mareth's loud call shut them both up. Only now Henry realized every single individual on the boat was now staring at them.

"Eh... well – just you know, we are NOT bonds." He said firmly, putting his hands to his hips.

"And never will be", Thanatos confirmed. Something about those words created a lump in his throat, though Mareth didn't let him dwell on it further.

"Anyway, if we can all behave like civilized adults again – the two strangers who saved Gregor and Twitchtip yesterday have a proposition for you." He took a deep breath and eyed the assembled cast.

"I talked to them earlier about our purpose here and they have offered us their help in killing the Bane."

An uproar went through the assembly, and Henry saw mostly hostile faces. They had let them stay because they didn't want to condemn them to death, but they would not have outcasts joining their cause, he realized.

"You have got to be kidding me – they have to leave, now!" Howard's voice sounded annoyed.

"Howard speaks the truth. We appreciate what they did for Gregor, but they must leave now." Luxa averted her eyes and Henry noticed how she had left out Twitchtip. It was harder for her sending them away, but she would nonetheless do it to appear loyal.

Henry sighed. "I thought you could use all the help you can get – especially if it is someone capable like us. But we will accept it if you decide to send us away."

He had had no choice but to offer. Last night had gone so well and he knew he would do anything to hold on to this feeling for as long as he could. He was determined to help, however possible, now more than ever.

There was another vote, and this time everyone except for Mareth, Temp, Gregor, and Twitchtip had voted against them.

"I'm sorry. They will regret having sent you away", Mareth said to Thanatos. Henry made a mental note to ask the flier how they knew each other and were so close later. Was it from before Thanatos had run away? Did Mareth perhaps know the reason?

"We will never be far off", was the last thing the exiled prince said to Mareth and received a grateful nod in return. When they were already packing their things to leave, Gregor suddenly approached them, and Henry felt something grabbing onto on his foot.

"Dun go", the tiny voice belonged to Boots, who was hugging the soft fur on Henry's leg.

"Hey, eh... all I wanted to say was..." Gregor scratched his head awkwardly, "I mean... thank you. You know, for saving me and Twitchtip. I know I could use your help in the Labyrinth, but... I can't do anything. They all don't want to seem disloyal, that's why they tell themselves they can't accept help from an outlaw – outcast – whatever you are."

Henry smiled a little. The boy had always known what he wanted at least, and he was refreshingly unbiased. "No problem. We help where we can."

Henry couldn't help but glance back when they, at last, took off and the boat grew smaller and smaller in the distance with the second.

And then he realized he knew something for certain – that he would rather jump into the waterway and drown than leave the people on the boat to fate at this moment in time.