There was a small path, worn by the mice traveling to the spring, but it quickly became overgrown, so that soon they were wading through dense jungle again. It was harder here. The vines grew more thickly so that in places they had to separate them with their hands to get through. The stems snapped shut behind them instantly.
At times, Gregor couldn't even see most of his fellow travelers. He stayed right on top of Temp and Boots, making sure they didn't get lost in the foliage.
Only ten minutes into their trek Hamnet had them stop and gather up to assign each of them a number, one through thirteen. Proceeding forward everyone had to sound theirs off periodically.
He called his designated "nine!" off for the fourth time when Gregor noticed Luxa had fallen back, to walk just ahead of him. It took him some five minutes to find words to address her, and when he then did he asked about how she and Aurora were doing.
Afterward, she wanted to know more about Hazard and he willingly answered her questions. When she understood he was her cousin her brows furrowed and Gregor attempted an encouraging smile. "I think he'll be a good one. Like Nerissa or Howard", but all she did was avert her gaze.
Gregor asked himself if he had said something wrong, but moments later Luxa changed the subject and continued talking, about how Nerissa was queen now, so he decided to leave it alone.
When he ran out of news from Regalia Gregor asked what he would have asked, after telling his own story about what had happened in the Labyrinth, hadn't Hamnet interrupted. He wanted to hear Luxa's own tale, as to what had happened to her and Aurora after they had been separated.
She willingly talked, of hours of floating in chilly water before Twitchtip had found them and offered to lead them to safety. Then Gregor stiffened as she described how dozens of rats had launched a seemingly coordinated attack. She had told Temp to carry Boots to safety while she, Aurora, and Twitchtip had held them off. "Twitchtip told me to run after we had won Temp a considerable headstart", she finally mumbled. "She directed Aurora and I into a network of tunnels that led us to the jungle."
Gregor hesitated before he dared ask for Twitchtip's fate. Judging by the shamed expression on Luxa's face it couldn't be anything good. "She... remained behind", Luxa confirmed his suspicion and swallowed. "I do not know what happened to her, Gregor. She was weakened from her injuries... I... I do not know."
He averted his gaze at once, for her not to see his dejected expression. He knew it wasn't her fault, that she must have done all she could, and he didn't want her to feel even worse about it, yet he could not conceal his own grief.
Before Gregor could dwell on Twitchtip longer, Luxa continued her tale. She spoke of hours of wading through dense foliage, then a surprise attack by a giant tree snake, during which Aurora's wing had dislocated. "We had barely escaped into a cave too narrow for the snake to follow when Cevian found us. She helped me carry Aurora to the colony. Had she not been there to save us, we would have both lost our light."
Gregor instinctively glanced back, in the direction of the colony, and spotted the Death Rider who had taken to walk last to ensure nobody was left behind instead. He had nearly caught up to them now. "Don't fall too far behind", he scolded, and Luxa nodded, then quickened her pace.
Gregor prepared to follow but hesitated, regarded Temp with Boots who now trotted beside Luxa, and remained behind with the Death Rider. He had nearly forgotten again, but Luxa's story had reminded Gregor he had wanted to talk to the outcast about something. Preferably when she wasn't listening.
He decided he would start with the easy part. "Hey, so, you don't deny you are the Death Rider anymore?"
The outcast grinned. "No... the prophecy convinced me. It was... weird, to have everything that had happened over the last months suddenly in form of a prophecy, but it was pretty obvious. And besides", he grinned somewhat crookedly, "it's a nice-sounding name."
Gregor returned his grin, yet on him, it looked somewhat pained. Of course, someone like the outcast would say that. He personally hated even "warrior". "Death Rider" sounded about a hundred times worse.
"I mean, as long as you're happy with – nine!", he interrupted himself to call his number as he heard Nike's "eight!" somewhere up ahead. The rest of the party quickly sounded off as well until the Death Rider concluded with his own – "Thirteen! All there!"
Gregor fervently tried to formulate words in his head for what else he wanted to say. "Hey, one more thing", he lowered his voice even more and didn't face the outcast to conceal his somewhat flushed face, "I... I wanted to thank you for saving Luxa and Aurora, back in the Tankard."
Boots had been on Aurora too. Hadn't he intervened, she would have died as well. At least that was what he told himself. Gregor's gaze darted ahead to where Luxa's shape had just disappeared between the dense vines. He was definitely glad she had survived as well.
"Don't mention it." The outcast eyed him somewhat knowingly and Gregor quickly averted his gaze. But what if... he wanted to mention it? "You... you lost your eye for that", he mumbled without looking at him. "And you did it after we sent you away, after SHE sent you away. Not everyone – actually, barely anyone would do that."
Luxa's words from last night flashed in Gregor's mind, about the outcast reminding her of someone, and he had to consciously prevent himself from looking back at him. If he was indeed a stranger, why would he have risked his life for her in such a manner?
"I also said I would help those who needed help. And Luxa sure did need help there. It's... it's honestly fine."
Gregor remained silent. It was evidently not fine, he had expressed that well enough back at the colony. He had nearly refused to lead them because it was not fine.
"Well, it made quite the impression on her", Gregor spoke again after a seeming eternity of silence. "I've not heard her apologize to anyone ever. Or ask for help in that manner."
To Gregor's surprise, the outcast laughed. "Oh, I can imagine that." Before Gregor could ask why he would say that, he spoke on. "You... Ripred said your bond had the plague, right?"
Gregor pressed his lips together and nodded. "He's... he's the first one who caught it. He's..." He could still not bring himself to say that Ares was most likely dead. "He, and Howard, and Andromeda", he instead went on listing the names of the plague victims the Death Rider knew.
"Howard?" The Death Rider turned his way, "Andromeda", he fumbled with the strap of his backpack. "The tall, grumpy boy and Mareth's flier?"
Gregor nodded. "They weren't as sick as Ares, I mean, my bond, when we left but who knows how things are now." He angrily brushed a large vine aside. "That's why we need the cure."
Only then he remembered the Death Rider was an outcast. Why would he give anything on whether the people Gregor cared about survived or not? He didn't live in Regalia, and whatever his history with them all was, they couldn't be extremely close, or someone would have recognized him.
For a second Luxa's uncertain face popped into his head but Gregor shook it. There was no way. If he was someone she had once known, she would have recognized him.
But in that case – Gregor opened his mouth to ask why he had so fervently insisted on helping them, if he indeed had no allegiance to Regalia, when a voice up ahead cried – "Here lies the Vineyard of Eyes!"
"Hey, I'll be in the front. Don't lose the group!" Gregor winced as the Death Rider brushed past him and forward. He barely managed an "uhu" before he had disappeared between the dense vines.
Moments later Gregor himself sped up and quickly caught up to Boots on Temp's back and Luxa. The four of them stepped through the last curtain of foliage together and came out along the stone rim of a valley.
Gregor flinched as Thanatos shot out of the vines behind them and soared over their heads for a moment, then landed beside Frill. The bat must have been flying above the dense vine network, yet his attention was instantly taken up by what lied ahead.
Gregor just about managed to close his agape-standing mouth as his gaze wandered over the valley before him. It was covered with vines too, but these were more slender and graceful with delicate blossoms of every shade. A light, sweet scent filled the air, which was the coolest they had encountered since they'd entered the Arch of Tantalus, and the normally relentless chatter of the jungle sounded more distant than even at the colony. Over the valley was a deafening hush.
Gregor blinked, attempting to wrap his head around what he was seeing. Was this the Vineyard? Why did everyone dread it so, then? He inspected the gorgeous scene. It was like a magnificent garden from a picture book, with those multicolored blossoms and that glorious smell and...
The smell. Gregor squinted as he suddenly saw Mange before his inner eye, and the plant that had killed him. It had smelled deliciously, but it had only brought death. Maybe... here in the jungle beauty was synonymous with danger. And in that case – he fixated the gorgeous scene ahead – what did the unrivaled beauty of this place mean for its danger level?
Frill was the first to set foot onto the smooth, wide stone path leading into the valley and the rest followed on her tail. Gregor raised his head to look up and saw the vines grew in a high arch above their heads as if they'd been planted and pruned by an expert gardener.
"Who made the path?" Gregor didn't know who exactly he had meant to ask, in the end, it was the Death Rider who responded. "The Vineyard made the path itself. To invite weary travelers in."
Gregor furrowed his brows and stopped so abruptly he nearly ran into Ripred who had taken to walking last. "The... Vineyard?" A terrible suspicion overcame Gregor and he instinctively ducked a little, eyeing the vines cautiously. Was this just a large-scale version of the plant that had eaten Mange? But instead of a single plant, a whole variety had worked out this enticing trap together?
Gregor felt like he had been walking in perfect, unblemished sunlight, yet now a cloud had suddenly drifted in front of the sun, throwing a dark, ghastly shade over the formerly welcoming scene.
Even though neither the lighting nor the temperature had changed, Gregor shivered. He quickly sped up to grab Boots' hand who still rode Temp. Gregor thought the cockroach knew not to stray from the path, yet he still felt safer when he could hold Boots himself.
Frill with Nike and Aurora on her back, the Death Rider, and Hamnet with Hazard by the hand, led the party down the path while Luxa covered them on the right and Lapblood on the left. Thanatos flew above their heads and the fact that he was there eased Gregor's mind considerably. The bat would certainly spot any upcoming danger. Gregor with Boots and Temp came next, Ripred, in the rear, walked alone.
He took a deep breath, attempting to assess how vulnerable they were at the moment. Ripred and Lapblood could fight, so could Gregor and Luxa. He instinctively placed a hand on the hilt of the sword he had put back into his belt. But other than that? The Death Rider had his sword not even readied, the children were definitely not fit for battle, Aurora and Nike were helplessly strapped to Frill's back, and Hamnet and Frill would probably not want to fight even if something attacked them.
His eyes darted up at Thanatos, could he fight? Bats normally didn't, not without the humans, but who knew. He was an outcast, he probably had to be able to at least defend himself.
Gregor sighed, then directed his gaze straight ahead again. He was only making himself more nervous, thinking about these things. Instead, he tried to think of how close the cure was, according to the Death Rider. It only helped a little.
Still, they made good time as the path continued to be smooth and straight, gently sloping downward. It was easy to travel but Gregor felt like they were descending down the throat of some horrible beast and his unease grew the further they went. This must be what the Death Rider had meant when he had described this place as "unsettling", Gregor thought and shuddered. He'd been perfectly contented not knowing.
They must have traveled for at least an hour when they came to a large clearing, shaped in a geometrically perfect circle. Across the way from which they had arrived, three smaller paths branched out from a single point, equal angles between them. Like they had been measured and drawn with the aid of a protractor.
It was truly a trap meticulously designed to convey perfect symmetry, Gregor thought, eyeing each tunnel opening with unease. Designed by someone. Or... something.
"We should camp here", the Death Rider had Hamnet's arm suddenly. "They should be rested for what lies ahead." He threw a somewhat nervous gaze backward and Gregor furrowed his brows. Why did what lied ahead require them to be more rested than what lied behind?
Yet Hamnet asked no questions. Like they had previously come to an agreement. He simply walked up to the middle of the circle to put his lantern down. "We shall eat and rest here", he announced and Gregor's unease rose. Did he and the Death Rider know something they others didn't?
The group had soon assembled around the light tightly and they ate in near unbroken silence. When they were done, Hamnet exchanged a glance with Ripred and rose. "Frill and I will go and scout the path. It will be good to know where we are going exactly and what we must prepare for."
"Wait", the Death Rider cut him off. "I should come with you, then. It's unwise to scout ahead without someone who's traveled the path before at least once."
"Then I will go." All heads darted in Thanatos' direction who had already spread his wings. "I have crossed it as many times as you, I will watch over him and show him what he must be careful of. You should stay with the party, just in case."
The Death Rider hesitated, then nodded. "That's fair. Have fun, you three." He audibly yawned and Gregor asked himself how used to this place he must be by this point.
"Fine", Ripred joined in his yawning. "The rest of us can take turns sleeping. And whoever expected me to take first watch can forget that. I'm spent."
The Death Rider raised an eyebrow when all gazes instantly darted to him. He looked around, and made a face when nobody else volunteered. "Fine", he groaned. "I'm taking watch. But only for half the night, you all!" He yawned again. "What the hell even am I, a babysitter?"
Ripred snarled – "Welcome to the club, lad", before plopping down and stretching his limbs in all directions.
From the corner of his eye, Gregor saw Luxa exchange glances with Aurora and he asked himself if she trusted the outcast enough to let him watch over their sleep. But he also saw her trying to suppress an obvious yawn.
Gregor sighed and thought he might as well try and get some rest, with how, apparently, he would need it. Yet before he had the chance to find somewhere to lie down he was interrupted by the determined voice of Hazard, who demanded Hamnet took him along as well.
The debate lasted a full five minutes, yet when it became apparent Hazard would attempt to sneak after them should they leave him behind, Hamnet begrudgingly agreed. He sat the boy on Thanatos' back, ordered him to stay put, and together with Frill, they made off down the middle path.
Gregor stared after them until they disappeared out of sight. "Will Hamnet be alright?"
"Oh, you must certainly not worry about Hamnet." Gregor's head darted to Ripred, only now realizing he had asked the question aloud.
"He can look after himself. And he has Thanatos with him too, who is about as good at taking care of himself as Hamnet." Ripred showed a toothy grin. "Survived – what, ten years? Has it truly been ten years already? Out here without any help from the rest of us, Hamnet, that is."
Gregor pressed his lips together yet before he could respond, Luxa broke the silence. "Why did he leave Regalia, Ripred?"
All heads darted to her, even Lapblood who had been in some conversation with the Death Rider turned her way. Both of them stared, yet while Lapblood's gaze was melancholy and dire, the outcast made no effort to hide his evident curiosity.
"They never told you? Not your mother? Or Vikus?" Ripred sat up again.
"No." Luxa inched closer to the lantern. Gregor thought in its light her eyes looked darker than ever. "Henry heard Hamnet had gone mad. But he could never find out the whole story, and Henry could find out anything. Well... almost."
"Oh is that so?" Ripred smirked, then his expression darkened again. He visibly pondered, then nodded, sliding closer to the lantern as well until he sat right across from Luxa. "You may as well know", he finally shrugged. "You all."
Ripred let his gaze wander until it met the Death Rider before it darted back to Luxa. "I expect Vikus is only waiting for you to be old enough to tell, but he would keep you young as long as possible. And it is hard for him to talk about Hamnet without weeping."
"Then you tell me. And Vikus and I will both be in your debt."
"You in my debt, Your Highness? Well, that's an opportunity I can scarcely let pass." Ripred slouched over on his side and stared into the lantern's flame. Only then Gregor noticed they all had drawn closer. Temp cowered at his side and Boots nudged her way onto his lap. He wrapped his arms around her as she gave a big yawn and leaned her head on his chest.
The Death Rider scooted over to sit between Gregor and Ripred, Lapblood found a spot on his other side. Aurora and Nike huddled next to Luxa who had pulled on her legs and stared at Ripred with wide, earnest eyes.
"Now where to begin?", the rat eyed the assembly. "You see, the thing is... the thing you have to understand is, that humans and rats were not always so consumed with hatred for each other. Or at least, the hatred has ebbed and flowed, so that there have been periods when one could hope for genuine peace. These times coincided with both the rats and the humans having leaders who placed a higher priority on harmony than gain. Several hundred years ago, they say, was such a time."
Boots tugged at his vest and Gregor began stroking her curls.
"As a token of goodwill" Ripred's tail twitched, "the humans of ancient gave a gift to the rats. A place the fliers had named the Garden of the Hesperides. Sandwich's own people had planted the garden soon after they had arrived in the Underland."
"I've heard that name before!", the Death Rider suddenly called, yet Ripred shot him a glare. "Be still or I am not telling you anything. Anyway, there was a small plain that flooded each year when the river was high. The humans had built a dike so that the plain would no longer flood, and when it dried, the land was very fertile. They had planted... apple trees." Ripred let out a delightful hum. "And what apple trees! Sure, they were small, by Overland standards, but sturdy and able to grow with just the light from the river. There were sluice gates along the dike that could be opened and shut to provide water. The trees flourished and soon their branches were heavy with golden apples."
Gregor's eyes widened. He opened his mouth to ask how that was possible, then shut it again as Boots sleepily murmured "A is for apple."
Ripred ignored her. "For the rats, it was a rare gift indeed. Unlike you humans, we can not grow crops on our own. But the trees required little care and produced fruit almost continually. When I was a pup, I remember it was a great treat to go to the garden", Ripred paused and stared into the flame intensely, "to eat the apples, to sleep in the caves surrounding it, which smelled as sweet as the fruit."
Gregor barely suppressed a laugh at the thought of Ripred ever being a pup, yet Lapblood cut him off. "What a remarkable treat indeed." She sighed, "I've always imagined taking my own pups there someday. I wish they could have seen it."
Ripred looked up. "We all did." He took a deep breath but before he could speak on, Luxa interrupted – "I have never even heard of this garden...", she furrowed her brows, clinging tightly to her legs.
"No, because if you had heard of it, you would also have heard the story of
why your uncle left."
"Not true", the outcast called, "I've heard of the Garden, yet I've not a clue as to what it has to do with Hamnet's disappearance. Sure, the time matches and...", he frowned, "wait... right, he was there, was he not?"
"If you all will at last shut your traps and listen, I am in the process of TELLING you", Ripred hissed and the outcast's mouth closed at once.
The rat glanced around like he did not trust the silence before he spoke on. "Well, ten or so years ago was not one of those fortunate, peaceful times. While your father was a decent enough king in some respects, Your Highness, he was too rigid in others. And, of course, King Gorger was a bloodthirsty monster from the get-go."
They all looked at the Death Rider as he sounded a silent scoff. "How you all even let that moron rule you is a mystery in itself", he mumbled and Ripred stared at him wide-eyed, then laughed. "Oh, oh there you go, lad, the fact that you're the first person I hear utter those words in ten years is a true shame."
The Death Rider shrugged. "It is what it is."
"It sure is." Wouldn't Gregor know better, he'd have thought Ripred's gaze was melancholy. "Anyway", he spoke on, "the humans decided they wanted the Garden back and Solovet sent an army under Hamnet's command to run out the rats." He paused and pondered, "Of course, you must know that Hamnet, at the time, was hands down the best warrior among the humans. Proclaimed Lord Deputy at the age of eighteen and selected to take control of the army after his mother, since he seemed just like her. But as it turned out, he was as much like Vikus as he was like Solovet. And so he was doomed."
Gregor began to get a sick feeling in his stomach. He had an impulse to tell Ripred to stop. He was not sure he wanted to hear the rest of the story. But, his gaze searched for her automatically, Luxa did. It was about her uncle, and he would not ruin this for her.
Yet when he made out her face, Gregor saw she had looked up. "Hamnet was... the next commander? Henry always said he would –" She cut herself off and averted her gaze.
Ripred tilted his head. "Henry? Oh is that so?", he grinned. "Interesting choice. Yet you must remember all this happened when Henry was six years old. They probably thought they could fill the position with someone they had nothing else to do with after Hamnet disappeared."
The Death Rider's gaze shot up and Gregor wondered what had startled him, then he remembered he had most likely no idea who Henry was. Before he could properly wonder why his gaze seemed offended, Ripred continued – "Under Hamnet, the humans and their fliers launched a surprise attack. The rats, most of whom were playing in the garden with their pups, were thrown into chaos. But Gorger wouldn't have it", he lowered his head. "Of course he wouldn't."
The rat narrowed his eyes and glared into the lantern, once more Gregor thought he spotted melancholy in his gaze. "Whitespur", he at last squeezed out the name, "who at the time was regarded his prime general, was sent to defend the garden. And so she did. Herded the pups into the surrounding caves and regrouped all who could fight."
Lapblood twitched at the name and Gregor's unease rose.
"Under her lead, they fought so viciously the tide began to turn in their favor. But Hamnet had a backup plan, provided by his mother."
For the second time now Gregor had an impulse to tell Ripred to stop. The more the rat talked, the less sure he became whether he wanted to hear the rest of the story. But a glimpse at Luxa with her widened, eager eyes sufficed to suppress it again.
"If the rats should prove too strong, he was to open the sluice gates and flood the field. Then the rats would have to swim, and the humans on their fliers would have a great advantage. So", Ripred raised his head to stare directly at Luxa, "Hamnet opened the gates."
Gregor could have heard a pin drop in the silence that followed. He consciously relaxed his jaw as Hamnet's words to Vikus flashed in his mind – I do no harm. I do no more harm. Was he about to find out what that harm had been?
"The river was high, the dike was centuries old. As the water burst through the sluice gates, the surrounding mortar and stone crumbled and the whole dike gave way – not merely flooding the plain, but reclaiming it under twenty feet of water. Hundreds of rats were drowned in the deluge, and many humans and fliers were caught as well. But the carnage didn't end there."
Gregor could barely steady the shaking of his hand.
"Having filled the plain, the water rushed into the caves, drowning the pups who had been hidden there for safety." Ripred squinted, "You could hear their shrieks for miles around."
Lapblood's paw twitched, her ears were put on and for a heartbeat, her eyes jolted shut. An icy shiver ran down Gregor's spine.
"What did Hamnet do?", Luxa asked. He had seldom heard her voice so numb.
"He began a desperate effort to rescue the drowning. Human, rat, bat, anyone he could get his hands on, but it was... useless. Hamnet's own flier, his bond, was dragged under by two rats trying to save themselves. She never resurfaced."
Gregor wrapped his arms tighter around Boots and saw Luxa glimpse at Aurora.
"Hamnet was pulled out by Mareth, who had to knock him senseless in order to keep him from diving back into what was by the time a lake of corpses."
A scene flashed before Gregor's inner eye, the crazed shape of Howard in Mareth's grip, after Pandora had been eaten, and had he not consciously stopped himself from biting his lip he would have tasted blood soon.
"When Hamnet regained consciousness in Regalia, he was, for all practical purposes, mad. For days, he recognized no one and spoke in strange, garbled sentences. Then his reason returned and he stopped speaking entirely. A few nights later he vanished. A year after his disappearance he was pronounced dead and all efforts to locate him ceased", Ripred concluded with a side glimpse at the Death Rider who had long turned to unmoving stone where he sat, before looking back at Luxa. "And that is the story of your uncle Hamnet."
Gregor thought the silence that followed could only have been a few seconds long yet to him it stretched into eternity. It was finally Aurora who broke it – "What... happened to the garden?"
"It lies underwater, since. And those golden apple trees will not grow anywhere else in the Underland. So they were lost along with it."
His last words were once more followed by deafening silence. All Gregor heard was the occasional crackle of the lantern and Boots' soft snoring as she slept on his lap. It was like they had all internally come to an agreement to hold a minute's silence in honor of the tragedy, and Gregor fought to keep himself from shaking. From waking Boots.
Everyone winced as a strained voice came from the middle path – "Telling tales out of school again, Ripred?"
Gregor didn't know how long Hamnet had sat there, on Thanatos' back, holding his sleeping son, with Frill beside them. Long enough, though.
"You know my theory on that, Hamnet", the rat regarded him with an unreadable gaze. "The more tales told, the less chance of repeating them. Maybe it will help the younger generation out one day."
Hamnet's gaze was on Luxa. "Maybe", he slowly slid off Thanatos' back, "Depending on whose ears they inherited."
Ripred didn't reply. "Any luck out there?", he asked instead.
"I think so", Hamnet lied Hazard on Frill's back, then approached. When he was properly illuminated by the lantern's light Gregor recognized he held up a handful of plants. The roots still dangled from the stems yet above his clenched fist was a cluster of star-shaped leaves.
ooo
"Hey, you awake?"
Thanatos' only response was an unidentifiable mix between a grunt and a hum yet Henry rose regardless, from where he had been lying with his head on the flier's back. "I can't sleep."
Thanatos didn't immediately respond and Henry sighed, attempting to make out the shapes of the rest of the party in the dim natural light. "It's just all so...", he cut himself off for all words escaped him, still.
It had been shocking enough to discover Hamnet was alive, yet the story Ripred had told, what must be four or five hours ago, had shaken him to his very core. His gaze darted to Luxa. How long had it now been, since he had given up on finding out what exactly had happened to Hamnet?
Henry squinted and dug in the deepest depths of his mind, for every tattered piece of memory he could find. Memories of Hamnet – younger, paler, skinnier, in a hospital bed. Of people clustered around it, then of slammed doors and screams, of stoic silence. Of desperate search parties, tears, questions, rumors, and hushed whispers. Of angry gazes and orders to be silent whenever his name was mentioned.
"You should try and go back to sleep. You know very well what awaits tomorrow."
Henry pressed his lips together. Of course, he knew what awaited. They would have to somehow move this mess of a randomly thrown-together party through the most dangerous part of the Vineyard of Eyes.
"You knew all that already, didn't you? Hamnet's story, I mean."
Thanatos raised his gaze. "I... I did."
"Because you were there too." Honoring Teslas' request to not disclose what he had told him about Thanatos was one thing, but Henry suddenly felt like he needed answers more than keeping that promise was worth.
The flier's eyes narrowed. "What... made you think that?"
Henry's eye darted at Frill who sat on the other side of the clearing, keeping watch, and he lowered his voice even further. "Teslas told me. Quite a long time ago, too. But what does it matter?"
Thanatos twitched. "What it... wait, what exactly did he tell you?"
Henry turned to sit right in front of him and crossed his arms. "A lot. Like how you moved to Regalia after the incident at the Garden. And that you ran away altogether, some three years later." He narrowed his eye. "But how is that an issue? The real issue is that he even had to tell me. That you didn't tell me yourself."
Thanatos stared at him with narrowed eyes and Henry thought he had never looked so much like he genuinely didn't know what to say. "I... I would have, but... what does it matter? What does any of this matter to you, it happened ten years ago. It has nothing to do with the here and now. Or...", he hesitated, glimpsing at Hamnet's sleeping figure, "so I thought, up until we met him."
Henry clenched his jaw. "What it matters?!" That you trust me, is what matters, he meant to scream yet only pressed his lips together even harder. An argument wouldn't get them anywhere right now. Henry frustratedly uncrossed his arms and lowered his gaze. "We are bonds, right?"
His head shot up as Thanatos didn't reply instantly. "We are –"
"Of course we are", the flier assured. "But... I don't... why is this so important to you?"
"It's not about what it is!", Henry shot back as anger boiled up in his gut. How did the flier not understand? "It's about the fact that we're not supposed to keep secrets like that from each other!" He remembered the last time he had asked Thanatos a personal question all too well, back before they had decided to follow the quest over the waterway. But this was not like last time. Last time, they had not been bonds.
"I..." For a second Henry thought something in Thanatos' amber stare wished to yell back, yet all the flier did was regard him for a moment before he lied back down.
Henry waited a full minute for a reply, but when it became apparent Thanatos would not answer he frustratedly sighed and turned away. Was he the only one of them who understood how a bond was supposed to work?
Our life and death are one, we two. If they didn't trust each other even with simple stuff like backstories – a sharp thorn of fear pierced his heart and for a moment Henry's gaze darted back at the flier before he realized his fear was stupid. His mouth curved into a smile and he shook his head. What was he scared of? The flier leaving? His grin widened. Yeah right, that one's ancient history, Henry thought and sighed, then lied down, curling into a tight ball.
Thanatos the flier I bound to you. The words repeated in his head over and over and Henry found they brought incredible comfort. For the first time since they had bonded he consciously made himself aware of the fact that he would never have to be scared of Thanatos leaving again.
He would never be alone again.
Hey, you can't just keep that a secret! We are bonds, we're not supposed to have secrets from each other! Henry's eyes jolted open as he heard his own voice, his own words, spoken... he squinted, what? A year ago? One and a half? He didn't exactly remember.
I did not... mean to offend you, it seemed meaningless at the time... Ares' reply had been hesitant, so much quieter than his own accusation. I would have told you had it been of any importance, I –
That's not how that works! He winced at the volume of his own voice in his head. Don't you get what being bonds means at all?!
Henry angrily shook his head to chase the memories. Sure, he probably shouldn't have screamed like that because of a nuisance. But what Thanatos had kept from him was not a nuisance, was it? It was proof of trust. Surely he had the right to expect at least that.
Five minutes of tossing and turning later it became clear Henry was not going to get any sleep anymore regardless so he rose back up. For a moment he looked at Thanatos, thinking he should maybe at least make sure the flier was not mad at him but his eyes were shut and his breaths seemed even.
Henry sighed and turned away, deciding he could just as well do that in the morning. He would not wake him if he was already asleep.
"You're up?" Henry winced as Hamnet tapped his shoulder. "I was about to wake them, actually."
He turned to face him and opened his mouth to offer his help, but then he regarded the middle path they would soon have to take and what lied beyond. His mouth shut and Henry stretched to reach his backpack. "Not yet. There's something we should do first."
"From this moment I hand over leadership to the Death Rider, he will tell you what I explored last night and what you are to do."
Henry eyed Hamnet who stepped back as soon as he had made his announcement, then the somewhat uncertain, visibly nervous, party in front of him.
He sighed, clutched his notebook tighter, and stepped forth. "I only discussed this with Ripred and Hamnet last night because I did not want you to lose any sleep, but this final part of the journey is the most dangerous. The field with the Starshade is near, but to get there, we must traverse the most treacherous part of the Vineyard. As a group this large, it won't be easy, but we must make an attempt to move with all possible speed."
Henry exchanged glances with Luxa's uncle and opened his sketchbook. "Hamnet and I spent some time last night coming up with a formation that should guarantee us the highest rate of survival. We will now show you, but you must do exactly as we say."
He looked over to Thanatos who sat at Frill's side, his gaze was unreadable. Henry attempted to shoot him an encouraging smile, see, he wanted to call, I did not forget what lies ahead. Instead, he eyed his notes one last time, then shut his notebook and began instructing the questers.
Henry left Frill at the front with Nike and Aurora on her back. Thanatos was to fly above her, carrying Hazard and Hamnet. He instructed Temp to crawl beneath Frill's back legs. Flanking the lizard to the right was Ripred, with Boots and Gregor riding on his back. Luxa was to travel with Lapblood on the left. Henry himself would run at the back.
"Why do YOU get to run and I have to ride? I can travel fast enough on my own legs", Luxa protested and threw Lapblood a somewhat dismissive glance, who returned it at once.
"Last time I checked, I was the only one who has crossed the Vineyard on foot – or at all", he shot at her. Luxa rolled her eyes and Henry sighed before putting his hands to his hips. "Look, just trust me when I say you will be grateful for Lapblood's speed later."
His cousin stared at him for a second, defiantly and challenging, like she had more times than he could count in the past. Before Henry could properly digest the bittersweet sting her gaze brought she reluctantly walked over to Lapblood and settled herself on her back, then reached for Frill to stroke Aurora's fur.
When he turned to Gregor he expected similar protests, but the Overlander followed Henry's instructions without complaining. He placed Boots up by Ripred's shoulder blades and sat behind her without saying a word.
Hamnet fetched Hazard and the two climbed on Thanatos' back, who cowered behind Frill. "You good?", Henry threw his way and the bat hesitated only for a split second, then nodded. "I'll be fine. You just remember your own senses as you run."
"Promise." Henry shot his bond a grin before raising his voice to address the group again. "Alright, the formation's a go. Now for the rest." He ignored the confused murmur his announcement brought and reached for his backpack, pulling out a couple loose pieces of fabric. "All who have something – anything – to cover your mouths and noses with, do it now."
A second wave of surprised murmur ran through the group yet Henry confidently held up the fabric, then tied it around his face to demonstrate what they should do. "Trust me and do it, especially those of you who run."
Henry had enough cloths for himself, the rats, and Thanatos. Hamnet had covers for himself and Hazard, but the two other bats, Frill, Temp, Luxa, Boots, and Gregor were left without anything.
"Use your shirt – your dirty napkins, for all I care! Try to breathe as little as possible during this next part, you hear?" He exchanged glances with Hamnet. "It won't be possible to hold your breath all the way, I mean, me and Thanatos once made it through in just over a minute, but I don't expect to break any speed records today. We are many, and most of you have never traversed here, so we will be at least three minutes."
Henry watched with satisfaction how, after all worried and uncertain looks had been exchanged, Gregor took off his and Boots' shirts to wrap them around their faces. Luxa watched and hesitated, tugging at her own shirt, and finally ripped off the seam to kit herself out.
"Alright", he looked around and smiled contently as everyone even remotely endangered had a cover. "I believe the fliers, Temp, and Frill should be fine." The lizard gave an approving hiss, and Aurora and Nike exchanged glances, then nodded, as they were tied on.
Henry took a deep breath, preparing to position himself at the back, when he heard the scraping of Lapblood's claws on the ground. Saw the agitated wringing of Gregor's hands. The tugging Luxa did at her ripped shirt.
"I know most of you are scared and confused", he exhaled and spoke, "but hear me – nothing will happen to you as long as you hold on. Whatever it is you do, do not let go of whoever you are riding, keep your heads up, and don't look back. Okay?"
"And under no circumstances attempt to fight the plants", Hamnet spoke from Thanatos' back and he twirled around to him. "Should we collect their swords?"
Luxa's hand darted to the handle of hers and Hamnet tilted his head. "Take hers, Gregor has his hands full with his sister. I trust he doesn't make any stupid decisions, like drawing a blade."
Luxa gritted her teeth as she was forced to hand her sword to Henry, who stored it in his backpack, together with his own. "Why can we not fight them?", she asked, still furrowing her brows.
"It would only do more harm", Hamnet replied. "The only thing I can somehow see working is fire, but it's best not to fight at all."
Henry froze with his backpack in hand. He stared at the handle of his own sword before reaching into the bag and fetching his ignifer-dispenser. The clasps shut around the blade at once.
"What are you doing?", Hamnet raised an eyebrow and Henry stood back up, shouldering his backpack. "Making sure that if someone does need our help, we have some fire to save them."
"Oh, I forgot, his sword lights on fire. Right, Gregor?" All gazes darted to Ripred who grinned at Henry, and the Overlander on his back shifted. "It did during the battle with the serpents, I saw it, and so did Luxa."
Hamnet's eyes grew wide and round. "Excuse me, his sword – what?"
"I'll show you if I ever need to ignite it. Let's hope I don't, though."
Hamnet looked like he wanted to ask more, even Hazard stared back at Henry with round eyes, but Lapblood spoke first. "Can we get going?" She shifted her weight from one leg to the other. "All this waiting is only making me more nervous."
Henry sighed and took his position at the back, then pulled the cloth on his face into place. "We will only travel a short while before I give the command to run. At that point, do not stop until you have reached the field of Starshade." Henry took a deep breath, "Let us go."
Frill instantly began moving and led the way down the middle path. Thanatos lifted off after her and took care to stay above her at all times.
The path was narrower although similar-looking to the one that had brought them this far. But as they turned a corner, Henry recognized the unreal beauty of the section he had prepared the group for.
Thanatos picked up speed and darted above their heads into the corridor, in the same moment Henry yelled "RUN!"