Chapter 17

Luxa looked around to make sure nobody was listening. She then beckoned Gregor, Clipclaw, Hera, and Aurora to a deserted room so they could talk in private. Once they were surely alone, she spoke. "Clipclaw, what have you discovered?" She asked the young rat.

"Well, I was supposed to be asleep, Ripred made a nest for me, but I wasn't totally tired. When he left the room, I started prowling around, looking for things. What I found will not be wonderful news to you Luxa. You are related to a traitor." said Clipclaw.

There was silence for a moment. Then Luxa spoke up. "Yes, Clipclaw, we have known that for over a year. My cousin, Henry, betrayed us all to the gnawers during Gregor's first visit. He then fell to his death." Gregor was surprised she had the courage to say so much about Henry. For the past year, her cousin's betrayal had haunted her in and out, and it seemed to pain her to even think about it.

Clipclaw looked confused. "Henry? I've never heard of a Henry. Besides, the one I am speaking of is a girl. I don't know her name, only that she is related to you." She said to Luxa.

Luxa eyes looked surprised, but her face showed only a blank expression. Gregor put his arms around her, not caring that everyone was there. It must really hurt her to know that another one of her family members was a traitor. She laid her head on Gregor's shoulder, totally oblivious to the rest of them. Gregor just held her, not caring about the surprised and confused expressions on the other's faces.

Gregor felt a brush on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Aurora. He let go of Luxa and let Aurora embrace her. Luxa buried her head in the golden fur of her bat. Gregor walked over to Hera, who placed her wing on his shoulder. He stroked her white and gold speckled fur until finally he couldn't take it anymore and hugged the bat. "Maybe," Gregor thought, "Maybe I will bond with her." Hera was really nice and she really was fun to be around. She would make a great bond, but he just didn't want Ares to think he was betraying him. But maybe, just maybe, Ares would be happy that he was happy with Hera.

After what seemed like ages, Gregor and Hera separated. So did Luxa and Aurora. Luxa's sorrow was wiped from her face, replaced with anger and rage. Now she was angry with her traitor relatives. "Clipclaw, I would like to know exactly where and when you found this out. I must know which relation it was." She said viciously.

"Well, I was listening in some whole in the wall. Apparently, it goes through the walls to another place. I heard a girl speaking to someone, and she mentioned her relative, Luxa. She said something about joining with the gnawers, because she, too, hated this compromise. Actually, I'm not sure she was talking to someone, she might have just been talking too herself. Anyhow, I know it's not something that I was meant to hear. I heard it last night. The only thing I'm sure of is that it was a girl, definitely. Her stench was too mixed in with the others in the palace for me to distinguish it; after all, I'm not a scent-seer." Clipclaw said this all in one breath. Gregor couldn't help thinking of the only other scent-seer he knew, or had known, Twitchtip. She had been imprisoned by gnawers who hated her, and died there.

Where is the hole, Clipclaw?" asked Luxa, bringing Gregor back to reality.

"I will show you. It's hidden in my room." Clipclaw peered out the door. After determining that everyone was still at the feast, they followed her to the room. It was in a distant corner of the palace; Gregor guessed Ripred preferred it that way.

Clipclaw led them to an alcove in the corner of the room. There were a ton of blankets piled up; that was Clipclaw's nest. She pulled away some blankets and revealed a small hole, only big enough to stick her snout through. Luxa held her ear up to it, listening. After about five minutes, she pulled away.

"There is faint muttering. I can not detect who it is. She is talking so low that I am sure she is alone, just talking to herself. Anyhow, we will most certainly have to go closer in order to completely understand her and determine which of my relatives she is." She reported.

"May I try, Luxa?" Aurora spoke up and asked. It would probably be better, because bats had wonderful ears.

"Yes, Aurora, you should be able to tell better than I." said Luxa. Aurora stuck her very large ear up to the hole and listened. It only took two minutes for her to come up with a decision.

"I am almost positive I know, but I am not completely sure." She whispered something in Luxa's ear. Luxa's eyebrows rose, but she didn't look overly surprised.

"Yes, Aurora, I would not be overly surprised if you are right. But still, I don't think it is right of her." Luxa said.

"Who is it?" asked Gregor.

But Luxa would not tell. Aurora and Hera determined that the voice was coming from the walls itself. Luxa and Gregor exchanged a glance. They both knew where she was hiding, even if Gregor didn't know who she was.

"Clipclaw, you stay here, in case she says more. Gregor, Hera, Aurora, and I will go see if we cannot locate her. We already have a good idea of where she is." said Luxa. Clipclaw agreed, and settled herself with a small stone in her nest. She began listening while they walked out. "Go to the spout. She is on the staircase, and if she sees us, we may have to make a quick escape." Luxa said to Aurora and Hera. The bats raced off. Gregor assumed they would be using the door or something, since the High Hall was full of people, rats, and bats. He and Luxa raced to the old nursery, which was surprisingly close.

After being sure that nobody was there, they stepped inside. Luxa reached into the turtle's mouth and pulled a lever. The shell popped open, and they descended the stairs.

Their swords were still at the top of the staircase from when they found Clipclaw, which was good because they had forgotten to stop at the armory. After arranging them in their belts, they continued down the stairs.

When they got to the second turtle, the one who was freakily laughing, they stopped. The voice was clearly heard beyond the turtle. Gregor recognized the voice, and he turned to Luxa in surprise. She nodded. "Yes, it is she. But she is the most expected to do something like this." She whispered. "Ready your sword, for I think we were wrong, she is not alone."

Gregor had his hand on the hilt of his sword. He listened closer and heard more mumbling and a flutter of wings. So there was a flier too. Was that who she had been talking to? A bat? "Okay, let's go." He whispered. Luxa repeated the same procedure with this turtle. They stepped through, and when he saw her, Gregor knew he had been right. There was no mistaking that smug look. Stellovet.

But she was not alone. There was a man, well sort of a man; he still looked a little young. He was standing beside a big black and gray speckled flier. His hair was messy, knotted and long, and his clothes were ragged. He seemed to be growing facial hair. Despite all these different qualities, Gregor still recognized that face, even after many months. There was no mistaking that look. Apparently Luxa recognized him too.

"Henry…" she said.