Chapter 27

Hera was sleeping when they arrived. Gregor really thought she had been exaggerating her well-being, because she had been in pain the whole trip. When she slept she moaned, and when she was awake, she groaned. Gregor worried about her, but Howard and Luxa kept insisting that it was nothing the Regalian doctors couldn't handle.

They stopped at the drop, and after Gregor dismounted Nyx, he helped Lizzie and Boots off Daedalus. Howard, Luxa, and Ripred followed, and the seven fliers flew down the tunnel that led to Regalia.

"One, two, three, PUSH!" Gregor huffed, as they were trying to get Ripred through the turtle. He and Luxa were pushing; Howard was pulling from inside the nursery. They finally got him through, although they were exhausted after. They all ran down the corridors to the High Hall to meet the fliers, ignoring the cries of the guards and other Underlanders who saw them.

They arrived just as the fliers did, and Gregor helped Hera off of Apollo. Howard's family was there, and Howard rushed over to them. "Stellovet?" his mother asked him. Howard shook his head and said, "It could not be helped." They he called Nyx and Persephone over.

"This was her bond, Nyx." He introduced Nyx, who nervously bowed her head.

"I tried to save her." Nyx said sadly. "But a rat got her first."

Susannah went over to the bat and stroked her wing. "We do not blame you one bit." She said, and Nyx smiled. Then there was a small laugh. Chim, Howard's five year old sister, was giggling as she stoked Persephone, who was smiling. Chim got on Persephone's back and they flew around the High Hall.

Howard laughed. "Well, Nyx, it looks like my sister Chim has taken a liking to Persephone!" he said.

"Well, Persephone and I must return to the flier lands to see Astraea, but Chim is always welcome, and when Persephone is old enough to fly around on her own, she will find Chim." Nyx said cheerfully. She called Persephone in and Chim hopped off her back. They bid Howard and his family goodbye and fluttered over to Gregor and Hera.

"I would just like to say thank you, Overlander, for showing me the error of my ways." Nyx purred. "And you, Hera."

"Your welcome. And thank you, too." Gregor said. Hera extended her wing, and Nyx touched it with hers. Then she and Persephone took flight and flew off. Apollo bid them all goodbye and followed.

Then they saw Vikus standing in the doorway. He summoned Underlanders with stretchers, and Hera, Aurora, Nike, Gregor, Luxa, and Howard were loaded onto them. Gregor tried to object, but Vikus just stopped him.

"Gregor, you are in need of medical care and bed rest. You may tell me what happened when you awaken." He said. Gregor was whisked down to the hospital. He was given a sleeping medicine and that was the last thing he remembered before he fell unconscious.

When he awoke, Vikus was sitting beside him. Gregor sat up and began to tell him what happened, but Vikus stopped him. "First I would like to tell you that the Prophecy of Light has been fulfilled."

"What? But how? We didn't 'fight a bloodless fight.'" Gregor was confused.

"Ah, yes, but you have been asleep for three days. Just yesterday Clipclaw helped Ripred convince Gushgore's gnawers that the compromise was for the better. Amazingly, they did it bloodlessly, in a sane argument just as Nerissa said." Vikus said.

"Oh. How is Nerissa?" Gregor asked.

"She is still unwell, but she has regained most of her sanity." Vikus answered.

"Okay." Gregor still doubted she ever had all of her sanity, but he didn't want to argue with Vikus.

"Now, you may tell me what happened." said Vikus.

Gregor told him about flying down the tunnels, about Ripred killing Thrasher and Slashtail and meeting Apollo. He told him about how Boots showed up in the middle of the night and how she told them where she'd run from. He told him about meeting up with Henry again and about the fight with the gnawers, but it was hard telling him how Stellovet had died. Then it was even harder for him to tell how he'd thought Hera was gone, but he got it through. He told about Nyx's turn to good and how together, they had killed Henry. When he had finished, he took a deep breath. Vikus smiled.

"Well, you have had quite an ordeal. But tomorrow, Hera has said if it is okay with you, a bonding ceremony will be held." He said.

"Okay, but does it have to be as big as Howard and Nike's? Because me and Hera are both pretty beat up." Gregor asked.

"Not if you do not wish. But Luxa and Aurora have both awakened, and insist on being present, as well as Howard and Nike. If you wish, we can do a small one with just I, them, and your sisters. Oh yes, and Ripred and Clipclaw, of course. But I must invite some more of the council, as witnesses." answered Vikus.

"Okay." Gregor answered.

"And by the way, the doctors have permitted you to walk around. Luxa is down the hall." Vikus said, with a twinkle in his eye. Then he walked out.

Gregor decided he would see Luxa, but not before he checked on Hera. He found her room and saw she was lying down, but she hopped up when she saw Gregor.

"Hello!" she cried.

"Hey, Hera." Gregor smiled. "Ready for tomorrow?"

"Yes, I am." Hera said cheerfully. Gregor grasped her claw in his hand, and then left, because he could tell Hera was tired. He soon found Luxa's room not too far away.

"Hello, Gregor." Luxa greeted him. She was sitting up, eating. She patted a spot next to her, indicating a place for Gregor to sit. "Vikus says you must return home after your bonding. Your parents must be worried."

"Yeah, I bet they are." Gregor answered.

"I am so glad you came back." Luxa said.

"I couldn't stay away without thinking about all of you." Gregor answered. Luxa smiled.

"I hope you will be allowed to visit sometimes, but I will not hold it against you if you cannot." She said.

"I hope I can." Gregor replied.

"I will miss you." Luxa said.

"I'll miss you too." Gregor said. He kissed Luxa, and she put her arms around him. When they pulled away, her eyes were sparkling again. He waved goodbye and walked out. He was really tired, so he went back to his room to sleep.