Chapter 28
Gregor awoke some hours later. He was alone, but found a note on the small table beside him.
Gregor,
Hera is already awake. She is with Aurora and Nike in Luxa's chambers. Dress and meet her there. You will get further instruction following. I have left your attire on the foot of your bed.
Vikus
Gregor put the note aside and looked to the foot of his bed. There were some fancier Underland clothes in the same dark green color he had worn to Howard and Nike's bonding. He dressed quickly and headed off to Luxa's room. Luxa, wearing a peach dress, pulled aside the curtain and greeted him.
"Hello, Gregor. Hera is just there, with Aurora." She said. "But I must be going now, Vikus wants me with the council." She added, and walked away. Gregor walked in and found the two bats talking and clicking.
"Greetings, Overlander!" Aurora greeted him. Hera fluttered over to him.
"Gregor!" she cried, and lower, so only he could hear, she muttered, "do you have any idea what we are supposed to be doing?"
Gregor laughed. "Vikus said we'd get further instruction here." He replied, and she bobbed her head up and down a few times.
"Okay." She smiled.
At that moment, an Underlander came in. She beckoned Aurora out, saying that Queen Athena and Nike were already there, and she was to join them. After Aurora fluttered out, the Underlander told Gregor and Hera to follow her.
It was a smaller courtroom than the place where Howard and Nike had bonded, and only Vikus, Luxa, Howard, Queen Athena, Aurora, Nike, Ripred, Clipclaw, and a few council members were in the seats. Luxa was holding a squirming Boots, but where was Lizzie? Gregor and Hera walked onto the stage on separate sides. Vikus said the greetings and Gregor began. He and Hera locked hand and claw. Every word reminded him of Ares.
Hera the flier, I bond to you
Our life and death are one, we two
In dark, in flame, in war, in strife
I save you as I save my life
When he had finished, Hera started.
Gregor the human, I bond to you
Our life and death are one, we two
In dark, in flame, in war, in strife
I save you as I save my life
Everyone clapped and Gregor let go of Hera's claw. Then Ripred spoke up as he had done in Howard's and Nike's ceremony. "Is it time to feast?" he cried. At his word, everyone stood up, but was stopped by a fluttering of wings in the room. A creamy white bat landed, Daedalus, and off him hopped Lizzie.
"Wait! Can me and Daedalus bond too?" she cried. Her outburst and request surprised everyone, and there was a long silence. A councilmember began to speak.
"Why, certainly not! You are much too youn…" she spoke, but Vikus stopped her.
"Yes, Lizzie, Daedalus, you have done much to help Regalia, breaking the Code of Claw, I believe they should be allowed to bond. Lizzie, do you know the vow?" he asked.
"Yeah!" She said, and rushed up to the stage with Daedalus. She took hold of his claw and spoke.
Daedalus the flier, I bond to you
Our life and death are one, we two
In dark, in flame, in war, in strife
I save you as I save my life
Then, before anyone could object, Daedalus spoke.
Lizzie the human, I bond to you
Our life and death are one, we two
In dark, in flame, in war, in strife
I save you as I save my life
They let go, and there was an awkward silence. Finally, Vikus got everyone to clap, and Gregor clapped along with all of them. Everyone filed out of the stands and Luxa handed Boots to Gregor.
"I want a bat, too!" she wailed, seeing Lizzie with Daedalus and Gregor with Hera.
"No, Boots, you are much too little. But perhaps there will be a flier for you if you return in some years." Luxa said, looking at Gregor with a twinkle in her eye. Gregor returned the look, and she gave a smile.
They all got on their fliers, Gregor held Boots with him on Hera, and flew to the High Hall.
The feast was huge; Gregor stuffed himself with grilled fish, rich stew, shrimp in cream sauce, egg and cheese pie, and a whole cake. Photos Glow-Glow and Zap had surprised them all by showing up to eat, insisting that they were "just flying by," But everyone knew they had come for the food.
Everyone was talking to someone or doing something. Luxa and Ripred were arguing about gnawers' rights now that the Prophecy of Light had been fulfilled, Lizzie and Daedalus were doing puzzles, food puzzles, Vikus was conversing with Howard about his hospital duties, the bats were talking among themselves, and Clipclaw was trying to teach Boots to squeak in Rat. Gregor was just…listening. Well, mostly he was looking around. Even though he had seen the High Hall many times before, he was looking at everything around him, thinking that this could very well be the last time he visited Regalia. When his mom heard about all of the battles he had fought in, she would definitely forbid him to visit again. Now he was having second thoughts about bonding with Hera. If he was never going to come back again, why hadn't he let Hera bond with someone else, who would be there permanently? Anyone would want to bond with a bat like her, she was skilled in battle, kind, happy, loving, and all of the perfect qualities for a bat like her. Wouldn't she just be really sad if her bond never returned?
Gregor was lost in thought throughout the whole feast. Finally he just got up and walked out onto the balcony, letting his feet dangle off the side. He looked out over Regalia, at the dark, war-torn city he had come to love, along with the people and creatures in it.
"Gregor," a voice said softly from above him. Luxa sat beside him. He turned his face to look at her, and found that she was already looking at him. "Gregor, you are always welcome back if you wish to come." She said, reading his thoughts.
"Yeah, well, Luxa, the problem is, I don't think I'm going to be allowed back." Gregor sighed.
"Well, I will always hope." Luxa sighed as well, and turned her head away. Gregor just nodded, to sad to speak. Finally, after a long silence, he spoke, and let out all of his thoughts.
"Luxa, I have no clue where I belong anymore! I mean, I feel more comfortable in the Underland, but everyone says the Overland is my home, and that's where my family is and everything, but I have so many secrets there, ones I don't have here! I really don't know where I'm supposed to be." He said, summing everything up with that last sentence. He looked at Luxa, sort of expecting an answer.
"I really do not think I should speak my thoughts, because I assume you would know what I would say. Other than that, I am truly sorry to say, I have no other solution for you." She said apologetically. Gregor sighed, but nodded. "You know, I do have something that will make you feel better, at least for the time being." Luxa smiled. She stepped into the High Hall, and a second later, came flying out of the top on Aurora, Hera following. "Let us go on one last ride through the city."
And Gregor tossed himself over the side of the balcony, for Hera to catch him. When she did, they soared through the air, and Gregor let his spirits soar with him, for one last time.