Howdy guys. I am back again with another gripping chapter for you guys. This one was though to write because I was super busy over the last few days. I just didn't have the time to write for more than maybe an hour at a time. Nothing was ever much longer than that until I got a good spell and just wrote while I watched the MLB All Star Game. After the game ended I finished up the chapter with the last 1000 words and got on my way to posting this. So here we are for you guys to read.

Chapter 10

"Noooo!" Gregor yelled as he saw the squad of bats dive with Eisen at point. The swords glinted in the light from the fields. There was very little time for anyone to do anything. Eisen and his flier were diving quicker than any of the others and Gregor wasn't sure there was a way for him to stop. He wasn't even sure if Eisen had seen Luxa, Ripred, and himself. A gold blur zoomed overhead towards them, but Aurora was too late to prevent Eisen from coming straight down towards Truxin and his friends. Gregor glimpsed Ripred moving, but even with his speed he wouldn't reach Eisen. Only one person could.

Gregor released Luxa's arm and his right hand instinctively drew his sword as he spun. Without losing any momentum, he was off at a run, his feet again drumming against the ground, just this time it was the dirt of the Underland. Eisen was diving for the largest stinger who was in the middle of the pack. It was obviously the most dangerous looking. Gregor's feet were a blur as he pushed himself as fast as he could, the adrenaline pumping through his veins. It was a race to the finish and if Gregor lost he was sure he wouldn't like his prize.

He was feet away as Eisen started to draw his sword back. There was no chance he would make it in time to stop Eisen from plunging his sword into the stingers back. He had one chance to intercept him, but he had to get up and even with Eisen's sword. A new sensation quickly filled Gregor. The rager side of him started to buzz and an opportunity showed itself. Right next to Eisen's target was a smaller stinger. One Gregor could use to get some height.

Gregor leaped onto its back near its head, and continued up it to the tail. Right as he got to the back he pushed off timing himself as perfect as he could. Eisen's arm was at its peak as he started to swing his blade down towards the weak spot between segments of the tail. Gregor sailed in front of him and swung his sword as hard as he could to his right. He felt the solid contact as metal met metal, and the sound of Eisen's surprise and shock at the unexpected impact. Gregor was off balance from the swing and he hit the ground hard, landing on his side. No even a second later another thud sounded not far from Gregor.

Gregor pulled himself to his feet and saw Eisen lying on his back looking straight at the ceiling. Gregor's block had hit so hard and was such a surprise that Eisen had toppled from his flier and fallen the five or so feet to the ground. Eisen recomposed himself and jumped to his feet, sword in hand. By this time the stingers were well enough aware of what was transpiring, and Luxa, Ripred, and Truxin had joined Gregor.

"What did you just do!?" spat Eisen at Gregor, seeing him the only one with blade in hand, barely registering the others around them.

"I saved your life and all of Regalia's for that matter," replied Gregor rather matter of factly.

"You saved Regalia! How do you propose you did that when there are stingers all around us?"

"They are friends, Eisen, Th-" Gregor got cut off by Eisen's sudden outburst.

"Friends?! Do you know what they did to the Fount? How many people they killed? And yet you call them Friend!" Eisen raised his sword and paced himself toward Gregor, anger and hate in his eyes. Behind him, Gregor saw Mareth, Howard, and Perdita land and quickly clamber off their bats. It was too late for them to stop Eisen though.

Eisen was right on top of Gregor when he swung his sword down left handed. There was calculation or thought behind the swing, and Gregor blocked it with ease. He could almost feel the anger flowing out of his friend as the sword flashed down again. Again, Gregor easily blocked it, but this time, with the speed of only a rager, he quickly flipped the blade to the flat side and slapped it against Eisen's knuckles. The blow sent Eisen reeling in pain and his sword ended up on the ground. Without thinking, Gregor picked it up and slid it into his belt.

"Why do you support these creatures, Overlander? They slaughtered an entire population and yet you stand behind them?" Eisen's eyes would have had fire in them if it was possible. He regained himself and ran towards Gregor his good hand ready to land a blow.

"Enough!" came the shout from the loveliest voice in the Underland. Luxa's shout stopped Eisen in his track and brought him to attention. Eisen swung in his place and took in the others standing there almost as if for the first time. His eyes hit Luxa's and he held her stare for but a moment before he averted his gaze. Luxa was furious at how he was acting.

"Eisen, what is plaguing you? You attack blindly and for no reason without thinking. Endanger yourself along with Gregor and our new friends without even asking about it first. Perhaps Perdita and I should rethink naming you second in command if you think with your blade before your head."

Eisen's head dropped, his eyes staring at his feet. Gregor saw him take a deep breath before he turned towards Luxa. His face was different; the anger behind his eyes was gone and the fury that had etched his face was replaced by shame.

"Your Grace, I deeply apologize for my actions. There are no excuses for my actions and I will not make any," Eisen said before turning to Gregor. "Overlander, I also apologize to you. I did not listen or think and if not for your actions I may have doomed us all."

Gregor could tell it was a heartfelt apology. He held no grudge against the man who stood before him like a kid who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. This cookie jar however was filled with giant, poisonous scorpions. It seemed like a strange analogy to Gregor as he walked slowly to his friend.

"It's cool man," Gregor said as he clapped him on the back. "You four head back to the palace and Ripred, Luxa, and I will join you later. It looks like you guys could use a bit of a bath and maybe a small nap." It was settled then. Mareth, Perdita, Howard, and Eisen climbed back onto their fliers' back and were off to the palace before anyone could blink. Luxa was watching Gregor as he rejoined them. She had a smile on her face, which was a stark contrast to Ripred's face of boredom and that of Truxin's which couldn't even really be considered a face.

"You did well," she told Gregor as they started to walk back towards Regalia's city wall. "I am still amazed at how you were able to stop Eisen. I am not sure it could be replicated."

"I could have stopped him in my sleep," Ripred snapped at them from a few meters away. They had wandered into their own little world as they had talked that they didn't notice how far they had drifted from the group.

"Yea, you could have,Ripred. Your snoring would have sent him flying the other direction in a minute," Gregor replied with his own snarky sass. A smile barely showed across the rat's scared face. A rare smile at that.

"You did well beyond some fancy jump. You controlled the situation with Eisen. Almost like a king." and with that Ripred was gone, back to Truxin and the other Stingers. Gregor felt his cheeks grow hot as he blushed. Him a king? Ha. That was the most hilarious thing that Ripred had ever said. "No way I'm ever giving orders or handling stuff like that. Nope not me," thought Gregor.

"He is right, Gregor," Luxa said breaking Gregor from his stupor. He looked over and saw that she was looking right at him. "You did act like a king. Do not get any ideas, though," Luxa added with a small smile and a wink. Gregor laughed out loud and gave her a small shove. They looked like the little kids they never got to be, laughing and pushing at each other the entire way back to the wall.

It appeared before them in what felt like an instant. One minute the wall looked like a small line, miles away and then the next minute it rose up before them. Aurora swooped down from on high and landed next to the two of them. They climbed on and Aurora dropped them off on the top of the wall mere seconds later. Ripred joined them as well.

"Where are the stingers to stay, Luxa?" Ripred asked her as they looked down from on top of the wall.

"I think they can stay in the field for now. Truxin will come to the palace with us, so we can discuss strategy and plan with him," Luxa replied to the rat almost immediately. Gregor thought it made sense. The stingers were too big for them to be comfortable in the city and the empty fields allowed them much more room to live and maneuver.

A team of 3 fliers landed next to them on the wall. In their claws they carried what appeared to be leather straps. Gregor watched the stingers as they boosted Truxin up onto the wall. Not even a second after his legs had made contact with the stone of the wall, the bat team looped their straps over his body. He hung suspended from them as the bats pumped their wings and gained the momentum needed to carry the weight of Truxin, who had to weigh several tons. Aurora and Ripred's flier landed next to them again and they climbed on. All except Gregor.

"You guys fly ahead. I have some stuff on my mind that I just wanna think about." Ripred snarled and took off leaving Aurora and Luxa behind. Luxa gave Gregor a quick concerned glance before she told Aurora to go. The gold bat's wings spread and with one momentous flap was flying away back to the palace. Gregor stuck his hands in his pockets and skipped down the steps.

He and Luxa had been as happy as possible. Or at least that's how it had looked. Gregor had played along to seem happy and content. Yet, in his head there were things that were seriously bugging him. There were so many things pulsing through his head that he didn't even know where to start. His feet carried him between buildings and back onto a main street, nearly a mile from the palace. Gregor hadn't walked this far when he was in the city that morning.

He looked up at the palace and his thoughts drifted to his biggest stress and concern: being a king. The entire premise was eating into him. It had always been there as a worry, but now it came forward from deep inside his tumultuous brain. He was not built to be a king. His mindset, hell his own flesh and blood, were not for being a king. He couldn't provide the leadership that people would need in times of crisis and he was no diplomat. He was made to kill things.

And the whole reason for this worry was his love for Luxa. If he loved her, the ultimate act of love would be to marry her, which would make him a king with all a kings responsibilities. There was no rule to say he couldn't be the king; Luxa would say yes if he asked her. He was almost certain of that. Only almost certain though.

Ripred and Luxa had been joking about him acting kingly. That he was certain of. And yet, Luxa had told him to not get any ideas. As if she didn't want him to marry her. As if she didn't want to marry him. But she loved him. He could see that in her eyes all the time, every time they were alone, every time they were near each other. It was a troubling thought to Gregor, who would do anything for Luxa. But there was the chance she wouldn't want to marry him. All of this rushed through Gregor's head in a matter of seconds. "What am I thinking?" Gregor thought out loud. "Of course she'll marry me. She loves me."

People brushed past him in a hurry to get to their destinations. Some were carrying baskets of food, others had jugs of water, and yet others had bundles of fiber and clothes. The people barely noticed him as they hustled around in all directions. Some went into homes others pushed further through the crowd and down side streets to whatever lay behind. A familiar sign creaked to Gregor's left as he walked past. Ivan's shop was still busy, the pounding of hammer on metal rang out into the street and made sweet music to Gregor's ears. He pictured the sword in his head, with its tinted blue blade and the blue winged crossbar, the yellow gem sitting just below the blade, the weight and balance beyond perfect. But he was broke and the price tag was beyond perfect.

Gregor didn't know what they used as money down here. He had never seen a piece of it up close and had never seen anybody use it beyond this morning. It seemed to be a coin of some type, but that's about all he knew. "When I get a chance, I'll ask Luxa or Vikus about it and see if there is a way that I can make some money to buy myself that sword," Gregor thought as he got closer and closer to the palace. A purple streak blazed by overhead and circled above Gregor.

Artemese circled down to the street and sent people dodging out of the way of his wings. In just the short time Gregor had been back, Artemese seemed to have already grown; his wingspan had grown at least a foot if not more. He was starting to look stronger and bigger, perhaps almost reaching Ares's size sometime.

"Gregor, the Queen has sent me to bring you back to the palace. She needs your assistance with a situation." Gregor didn't question. He jumped up onto Artemese and settled in on his shoulders as the bat launched into the air. With a few quick flaps he was off towards the high hall. Before Gregor knew it he was jumping off Artemese's back as he zoomed into the high. His shoes slammed into the ground and headed right towards the obvious situation.

Luxa, Truxin, and Vikus stood before Mareth, Perdita, Howard, and Eisen. It seemed like a standoff in the old west. Nobody was talking and it was clear that it had been this way for a while. "I thought I solved this problem an hour ago," Gregor thought as he walked over to them.

"Okay what's going on here guys," Gregor said as he stood behind Vikus. All eyes turned to him and he could see the anger across many of them. Luxa's body language said it all. Her arms crossed across her chest and her body was tense. Her body was red and her eyes shown with anger. Across from her Eisen and Howard both were rigid and their eyes reflected Luxa's own.

"Well, It seems we have come to a disagreement, Gregor," Vikus said. He was the calmest person there. Mareth was his usual stony self when it came to disputes.

"What's the disagreement?"

"Whether or not the humans should trust us," Truxin spoke up. His calm, flat, scratchy voice caused Eisen to jump. It might have been the first time he heard the stingers voice. Gregor had to fight to hold back his laughter.

"We explained your logic to them, but they did not seem to understand," Luxa added, the anger evident in her voice.

"What is there to not understand? They didn't attack the most important humans in Regalia when they had us outnumbered and had the advantage of a surprise. If they wanted us dead we would be dead already." Gregor asked as his eyes drifted to Eisens.

"They could have waited so we could not send news back to the city. Our fliers can fly faster than they can run, so they would have the aspect of surprise if they were in the city." Eisen snapped back with work around logic. Gregor was about to reply when he heard something coming from behind him. His head spun and he saw a tiny figure come trotting towards him. Thomas ran right past him and to the giant scorpion. Dulcet came up and tried to squeeze past Gregor to grab the toddler, but he stopped her.

"Let's see what he does," Gregor whispered in the nannies ear. She nodded and stepped back just a bit. Thomas was looking right into Truxin's multiple beady black eyes. He fell onto his bottom never taking his eyes off of the scorpions. The two sat there, the room silent as everyone watched the little boy.

"You big," Thomas said. The room stayed quiet but a moment before Gregor started to laugh, quickly followed by Luxa. A small smile crossed Eisen's face and Mareth's stony face melted away into his smiling, happy self. Gregor walked over and picked the toddler up who also started to giggle.

"If Thomas can trust them, then I think we all can," Gregor said. His eyes bored into Eisen who tried to stare back at him, but gave in. He knew there was no point arguing it anymore.

"You are right. If a little boy can be so trustworthy of them then so can I," Eisen replied before turning away and walking from the group. Luxa was at Gregor's side before he knew it. She kissed him on the cheek and whispered in his ear, "Thank you."

"It's my job," Gregor replied as Thomas squirmed around in his arms. Luxa reached up and took the boy from his arms. She bounced him in her arms as she carried him away, Dulcet following several feet behind. There was only one person left in the room now: Vikus.

"You did well, Gregor. Luxa relies on you greatly," the old man said to Gregor.

"You aren't the first one to tell me that today," Gregor stated wryly. Vikus could only laugh at the answer.

"You would make a great leader. A wise leader. A good king." And with that Vikus slowly walked away. He seemed to be leaning more heavily on his cane and his right leg seemed to drag more than usual. This entire chain of events really appeared to be taking a toll on him. But now Gregor was alone and he felt the pangs of hunger in his stomach. He hadn't eaten since the morning and he had done more running than he had in months. It had to be at least late afternoon if not early evening by now. Was there a meal to go to? Gregor didn't know. But he needed to eat.

He left the high hall and went down the many flights of stairs, around the many twists and turns of the palace's corridors until he found a room he had seen maybe once or twice. The kitchen was far from empty. There were people preparing food and servants cleaning and scouring pots and pans. As soon as Gregor placed a foot in a wiry man popped up next to him. He looked almost like one of the waiters at a French restaurant that you would see in a movie.

"How may I assist you, Overlander?" he asked. Gregor had been waiting for a heavy French accent and was snapped out of his fantasy by the regular underland dialect the man spoke with.

"Uh, yea. Do you have any food I can eat? Just something simple." Gregor asked the man.

"Yes. Simple can be done." Before Gregor knew it the man was shouting orders and a meal started to feel the small table. A loaf of bread, some meat, a bit of cheese, and some veggies. It was far from the simple Gregor had wanted. He would have been content with a cold meal, but his meal was hot and ready when he sat down. The meat was fresh out of the fire and the veggies were steamed perfect. The bread was soft and warm on the inside with a hard crust on the outside. Almost like French bread. "Stop thinking the underland is France," Gregor thought as he ate what was before him. The veggies were delicious and the meat was tender. It was an almost perfect meal. Not long after he started the loaf of bread was down to just a small piece on the end. The cheese they had given him was gone and the meat soon followed. Gregor swallowed down the last bite of veggies and scooted his chair back.

"I am stuffed. Thanks for the food guys," Gregor said out loud for the whole kitchen to hear. He stood up from his chair and walked right out. Behind him were calls of thanks and the frantic whispers of the servants he had also thanked. Walking through the halls, a strange smell started to fill the air. Gregor sniffed and the slight odor seemed to be everywhere. He checked his breath. Fine. Smelt his shirt. Fine. Smelt himself. Not fine. He smelled of pure BO.

"I guess I'll just go take a bath," Gregor said as he changed direction. He wasn't sure where he was in the palace. But he listened for the sound of running water. The sound of water trickled past and he quickly found a bath not long after. He strode to found it completely empty. His clothes dropped to the floor, and Gregor danced to the water's edge. He sipped himself in and grabbed the soup. He covered his whole body in the stuff and he felt the smell leave him. While he had come to clean up, the water was calming and he let himself lay back. His head rested against the rounded edge of the tub and his eyes dropped shut. His breathing evened out as he fell into a deep sleep.

A city street stretched out before Gregor; empty and desolate. No cars drove by and there were no people at all. Buildings stretched down both sides, in front and behind him, never ending with not a break in the side. His feet started to move, but he didn't want them to. He didn't want to move at all. But he kept going, moving down the street, passed buildings that all looked the same. An endless wall of windows that looked in on nothing. What was the point of this? His body seemed to know as he strode further and further into the empty.

His feet carried him to the right, and through the front door of one of the buildings. The inside was unfurnished. In fact the only thing there was a giant pool. A pool so deep the bottom couldn't be seen. His feet carried him to the edge, teetering there off on and half off. And then he dropped forward. He impacted the water and it flooded into his nose. His mouth opened to scream, but no noise came out. Water instead flooded down his throat filling his lungs. He tried to force himself to swim to the surface, but his body wouldn't listen. His lungs were out of air and he could feel his body going limp. It started to become dark and he could feel himself slipping away.

And then his eyes shot open. His whole head was underwater and it was filling his nose. He brought his head back up, breaking the surface violently. He started coughing. Water shot out of his nose like a fountain and he could feel it in his throat. He coughed and coughed until he felt the water force itself out. Finally, he got himself back together and climbed out of the bath grabbing a towel. The dream was still clear in his mind. If he hadn't dreamed that he wasn't sure he would have woken up. He shuddered and then wrapped himself in the towel. The towel dried him without him even needing to move it. He shrugged into the new clothes they left him and darted out into the hall, just to get away from the water

His skin was pruney and he felt waterlogged. How long had he been in that bath? Torches still burned in their brackets and people still moved through the halls, so it couldn't have been terribly late. He still needed to talk to Luxa about making some money and he needed to do it today. The best place to start to look for her was the high hall. Everyone always seemed to be there in some capacity and there was a way to get from there to almost anywhere in the palace.

However, this time it was empty when Gregor walked in. The sitting area was empty, the dining room dark and empty, the balcony was empty. Or was it. He could hear soft murmurs coming from the shadows where the torches didn't reach. Gregor inched his way forwards, listening intently to what he was hearing. Was it clicking? Why would anyone be clicking in the palace? And then it hit him.

Gregor changed his stride and strode out onto the balcony. He walked right towards the source of the sound. Sitting on the stone floor were Hazard and Margaret, who both jumped when they saw Gregor. Hazard jumped to his feet and looked at the older boy with a strange look.

"Where have you been, Gregor? Luxa's worried because you were not at dinner." Hazard told him. Gregor looked at Margaret and saw worry on her face also.

"Oops. I ate early and went to take a bath because I smelled terrible. Problem was I fell asleep for who knows how long." Gregor replied. Hazard couldn't help but hold back a snicker at him falling asleep.

"Luxa said she hadn't seen you for over an hour at dinner. It's been another three or so since then," Margaret added from the ground. He could see relief in her eyes to realize that her brother had just fallen asleep in the tub.

"Yea. Sorry about that guys. Where's your cousin at now?" asked Gregor of Hazard.

"She should be in her apartment. Probably wondering where you ar-" Hazard didn't even finish before Gregor was zooming away across the high hall. He hit a flight of stairs and jumped down them. The royal apartments weren't far from the high hall and Gregor soon saw the two guards who guarded the entrance to the royal wing. He slowed to a walk and approached the two men.

"Hey guys. Is it okay if I go in?" Gregor asked. There was no response so he walked to enter the hallway when a pair of swords crossed in front of him.

"You may not enter unless you have an appointment with Queen Luxa or are with a member of her family." one of the guards said. Gregor humphed and stepped back, his brain already in overdrive to think of a way in.

"Gregor, where have you been?" came Luxa's gentle tone from in front of him. He brought his eyes up and saw her standing there in a tight fitting night gown and holding Thomas' hand. He couldn't help but letting a huge dorky smile cross his face when he saw her. And it got bigger when he saw Thomas. He hadn't expected him to be with Luxa at this time. Usually he slept with other orphans in the palace.

"Can we talk about this away from gruff and gruffer?" Gregor asked pointing in turn from one guard to the other. Luxa smiled and beckoned him in. The guards did nothing to stop him from entering now. As soon as they turned a corner and were away from the sight of anyone walking past the royal wing, Gregor grabbed Luxa's arm and spun her around. He kissed her and wrapped her in his arms. He felt her arms wrap around his neck. A pair of little arms wrapped around his leg as Thomas joined the love. They broke apart both a little flushed from their sudden outburst of love.

"I heard you were worried about me," said Gregor as an explanation for his spontaneous action.

"You smell clean," Luxa said rather nonchalantly. Gregor smiled, picked Thomas up and placed him on his shoulder, and grabbed Luxa's hand. He started to walk and she followed behind him, even though Gregor had no idea where her rooms were.

"I smell clean because I took a bath," Gregor started as he explained where and what he had been doing since they had last seen each other, even though it was only a few hours ago. His story carried on all the way until they reached the door to Luxa's rooms. Gregor pushed on the stone and it opened very easily. The room inside was a sitting area with plenty of chairs and couches. Gregor dragged Luxa to the couch before he finished his tale. "And that's how I ended up here."

He had skipped the dream and his near drowning. At the moment it seemed unimportant. Luxa rested her head on Gregor's shoulder as Thomas ran around playing with some toy. It was peaceful, perhaps something that could eventually happen. Gregor had no gripes to having kids, but that was uncharted territory in his relationship with Luxa. Something that shouldn't be touched upon for quite a while.

"Lux, can I ask you something?" Gregor said finally remembering what he had been so urgent on finding her for. Luxa looked at him as if he had something really important to say. "I was just wondering if there was a way for me to make any money. There is a really nice sword I want to buy, but obviously I can't."

"How much is it? I can give you the money to purchase it. Is it from Ivan's? He makes great weapons." Luxa said adding the last part in just a fit of wonder, before she rested her head on Gregor's shoulder again. But Gregor, didn't like her answer.

"No, Luxa. I don't just want you to give me the money. I was raised to work for what you get. So is there any place I can work to make some money. And yea the sword is from Ivan's." Gregor replied.

"I do not see why I cannot purchase it for you. As a gift perhaps. There is no problem in letting someone help you, Gregor." Gregor climbed off the couch and started to pace. He only did this when he was getting annoyed or angry. Right now it was a bit of both.

"Is it that hard to see Luxa. I never was given anything as a kid. My family had to work to get stuff we wanted. We had to work to get what we needed. If I want this blade I'm going to work for it. Now, can you please tell me some way to make money to buy it?" Gregor replied trying to keep his voice under control. He could feel the anger in his chest and his words seemed a little harsher than he wanted.

"Fine. I'll put you on a soldiers pay. But you will have to do everything a soldier does. You will train when they train and follow orders when they do. All orders. Now you will be sleeping here tonight."

Gregor kinda liked this already as he sat back down next to Luxa.

Lots of awesome deep thoughts in this chapter. Moved the plot along and everything seems to be falling right into place like I want it to. I'll see you guys next time.