The Banished

Chapter 19

The caves were cool and damp, only getting more so the deeper into the earth they went. It was always kind of a reality check for Gregor, to realize that he was always inside the earth, so long as he was in the Underland. It was really a shock to the system, you know?

They marched along, the captive only five or so steps ahead of Gregor, the Overland man's sword drawn and placed against the other man's back. If he so much as turned wrong, Gregor was ready to skewer him. He really was.

Aurora still fluttered up above, mostly ahead of them. She did at times fly back to Gregor, just to let him know that she was safe and he seen nothing. He was glad for this because, as much as he wanted to find Nike, he knew too that if he got back to Luxa without Aurora, there was no definition for the kind of trouble he would be in.

He worried about her a lot on their trek. Anger had consumed him when he first left, sure, but as with most emotions, it was fleeting. Now that it had dissipated, he was left with aching worry that only succeeded in making him slightly paranoid. What if this was all some kind of a trap? Aurora, Nike, Queen Athena. They could all be in on it. All of them. They could-

No! He could not doubt for a moment Aurora's loyalty. Nike's either. Neither had ever done him an ounce of wrong. And yes, Ripred was right, they had not flown out to his rescue when he got captured, but so what? What could two fliers have done? He, the warrior, the dead warrior,he could do a lot. He would do a lot. He would rescue Nike. He had to.

"How much further?" Gregor snapped then at the guy leading him. "Huh? How much further? And I swear if you are leading me into a trap, I'll-"

"It is not much further. And no, there is no trap. Most of our men have vacated the area, gone off to take Regalia, yes?"

"No." Gregor poked him slightly with the sword, causing the man to take a sharp intake of breath. "Wrong. You have taken nothing."

"And what do you know then? How many days have you been in the Dead Lands, Overlander?"

"How many more minutes do you think you will have left if you keep badgering me, Underlander?"

"I am merely making conversation."

"I would suggest you knock it off before I merely carve you up."

"You talk a good game," the man sneered, apparently finding his courage once more on the walk they were taking. "I have heard stories of you."

"And yet I have heard nothing of you. Maybe it is because you are nothing."

Ignoring him, the other man went on. "You could not even kill the Bane, they say. Not when he was a pup."

"And who can kill a child?"

"I could kill a child. Any man could kill a child."

"Only a monster can kill a child." Gregor poked him again. "And believe me, I don't like monsters."

"I believe you, Overlander," the man assured him after holding his breath for a moment, as if waiting for the final blow. "I believe in you."

That word play confused Gregor for a moment, but he let it go. Still, believe in? You believe in what was right, right? You believe in a hero. To believe in someone would imply that you have faith in that person. He figured it was just a language barrier or something. Semi-old English to American slang and all. A lot could get misconstrued, you know?

They walked in silence after that, all falling into their own thoughts once more. Gregor had gone back to focusing on his sister. He had no doubt that Luxa would save her at all costs, but also knew that Luxa currently still had a lot to look after. It would be very easy for Boots to fall through the cracks. Curse his mother for thinking then of all times was good to send the girl down. Seriously, curse her.

"We must make a turn up ahead," the man told Gregor then softly, his own mortality no doubt weighing heavily upon his shoulders. It wasn't hard to understand, the way he felt. A lot was going on with him, after all. He knew that he would only stay useful to Gregor for a small amount of time. And once he was no longer of any use, he no doubt thought that the man would kill him. And would Gregor? He thought that he might, but he wasn't sure. He had told him that he would not, but then, they all tell each other many things. Tides change faster down below than they do in the oceans during a typhoon up above.

"Which way?"

"To the right. Can you see it?"

Gregor clicked, as he had been the whole time, taking in his surroundings. He placed the small alcove well enough, but it only caused him to sigh.

"Aurora," eh called out softly. "Aurora. Come back. Come back to me, Aurora. Hurry. Please. You- Here you are."

Aurora came back then, flying at a fast clip. Though Gregor's tone had not given off any kind of problem, she was no doubt fearful of what had happened to cause him to need her assistance.

"What is it, Overlander?"

"We are to go in there." Gregor pointed to the tiny hole that was in one of the walls of the cave.

"How did they get Nike through there?"

Gregor poked him again with the point of his sword. "Answer her, captive."

The man cleared his throat. "We did not. They took her another way. There is a long way around that opens into a larger cave and from there you can-"

"I shall go with him through here," Gregor told Aurora. "You wait for me here, yes?"

"Gregor-"

"I know," he sighed. "But time is of the essence, yes? I do not wish to be separated either. In fact, it is almost a stereotype up above, getting separated only for bad things to happen. Still, I cannot let her wait any longer. Nike has awaited us long enough as it is, yes? You understand this."

Aurora paused. "I will await you, Gregor. And should you not return-"

"Do what you must," Gregor told her. "Give me no more than a few hours. If that. If you feel at all like we have walked into a trap, fly back to Regalia or the fliers lands. I care not. I only wish for you to be safe."

Aurora scoffed at that, Gregor could tell even in her normal tone. "If I ran at the first thought of this being a trap, Overlander, we would have never come to these lands."

"Fly you high, Aurora."

"And do not die on me, Gregor."

Gregor grinned at her then, that same grim one that he had been giving off as of late. It seemed that there were very few things to smile about anymore. Were there ever? It was like every day was a new tragedy in the Underland. Or perhaps it is that way everywhere; Gregor was just more immune to it up above.

"You two got a thing for each other or something?"

Gregor shoved the man down onto his knees before forcing him to crawl in front, through the hole. "Shut up."

"I am no judge. Weirder relationships have formed here, I am sure."

"You know what area of you is readily accessible to me here?"

"Thought you were with the queen," the man remarked. "Never crossed my mind that sodomy was your thing."

"It is not." Gregor got down on his knees as well. "However, my sword seems to have a mind of its own."

It was not like Gregor wished to crawl through that tiny tunnel with the other man. It's not like he wished to crawl through it at all! The rankness of the rest of the area seemed to intensify in that hole, though Gregor had to wonder if that was due to his close proximity to the other man…

When they came out on the other side, Gregor could only pray that the man did not take off. He didn't. He only got to his feet, panting slightly as he stood straight up and stared. Gregor got out as well, taking a moment to dust himself off. Then he saw what the man was staring at.

"There she is then," the banished man told Gregor, pointing at the bound bat in the corner, her the white stripes over the black tinted a dark crimson red, though parts were turning that dark black color that blood gets when it has had sufficient time to dry.

"Nike!" Gregor almost tripped in his haste to get over to him. All thoughts of what to do with the other man had left his head at that point. He was a twelve-year-old boy once more, seeing yet another atrocity that shocked his system to its very core. "What have they done to you?"

She had been left on her belly, ropes bound around her center, as to keep her wings down. Her eyes were shut and crusty, dirty and muck covering most all of her body. She was breathing shallow, shallow breaths. They were raspy little things, her breaths were. It made Gregor hate himself for taking so long. It truly did.

It was at the sound of his voice that she opened her eyes. And even then, it was slow. Still, Gregor just rushed to her side, withdrawing his sword once more to cut the binds that held her down before knocking them off.

Kill them. He would kill all of them. Any and all of them. His anger had found him once more after his shock was washed away. It was leaving him hot, white hot. He was liable to kill anyone at that moment. How could they do that? How could they treat Nike in such a way? It seemed unimaginable, truly.

"My eyes deceive me," the bat breathed out. "Either that or I am truly mad."

"You are not mad." Gregor moved then to stroke her head. She still did not lift it, but that was fine. He would have, in that moment, carried her all the way back to Regalia if she so asked, if he could. "I am here. I have come for you."

"Overlander-"

"Rest now," he told her. "I have nothing to give you. No food or water. And after seeing what exactly it is these monsters eat, I do not think that you wish for any of that."

Nike opened and closed her wings a few times, as if to test them out. Then, slowly, lifted her head.

"You are safe now," Gregor assured her softly as he gently stroked her head. "You are safe."

"Overlander, I do not-"

"What do you fear, Nike? They cannot harm you." He sheathed his sword before patting it. "I shall make sure of that."

"But my mother. They say-"

"Do not worry about any of it. Right now, I must get you somewhere safe." Gregor shook his head as he took a step back. Taking her to the flier's land was out of the question, if only because so many of the banished stayed there. They would surely see her and Gregor did not know if it was yet the time to announce her freedom. Likewise, he could not take her directly to Regalia, as there were banished there as well. If only…

"It is not far from here to the crawlers, no?" Gregor stared at Nike. "Do you believe that you can make it out of the Dead Lands and then there? If not-"

"How are you here, Overlander?"

"Aurora," eh told her. "Now stop worrying about me."

"But-"

"So that's it then?" the guy that had taken Gregor there asked. "I can leave then? That is it?"

Gregor turned from Nike for the first time. "Allow me your sword."

"What difference does it make? I will only get another-"

"Now. Before I gut you."

Gregor could tell that the guy was hesitant, no doubt weary of whether or not Gregor would truly harm him. It seemed unlikely to him, no doubt, as he had not as of yet, but still. The threat was there.

Slowly, the man unarmed himself. It was only once he was that Gregor allowed him to leave, making him crawl back through the tunnel by which they had come.

"He will tell," Nike shrieked then, fluttering her wings. "Overlander, he shall tell and then he shall-"

"Calm yourself," Gregor told her with a sigh. "You do not think that I do not already know this? And then do you think that I fear them? Because I do not. We must get back to Aurora. Can you fly or not? If not then I must think of a new plan."

Nike shook herself then, more than likely to free anything from her fur that she could. Then she moved to take the air, the cavern that they were in just big enough to allow this. Gregor watched, fearful that her malnutrition and confinement would weaken her, but she appeared fine.

"Take me the way that they took you in then," Gregor told her. Aurora is waiting for us on the other side of that tunnel area. And should we run into any trouble, take off. Leave me behind. Find Aurora and get out of here."

"Gregor," she called dwon to him finally. "You think that I could just leave you then? After what you have done for me?"

"I shall order you to," he told her. "I want you to. I can handle myself. You and Aurora though-"

"Do not let her hear you speak in such a way about her," Nike told him, trying to sound more jolly than she really was. He could tell from her tone that she was still in much pain, hunger also taking its toll.

"Believe me," Gregor sighed as they moved to exit the cavern through the big, cave like exit that Gregor was certain would take at least twice as long. "This is something that I have dealt with the whole trip."

There were guards at the end of that cave entrance, but they gave Gregor little trouble. They were frail old men that Gregor easily bound up, using the binds that the banished had used on Nike before. He was fearful of more, but he found none as Nike lead him through the tunnels.

"Aurora should be this way," Gregor told Nike as they went along. "Less there was trouble. And I do not believe there was any. I mean, if we are getting through so easily, there should not be any. Least that is what I think."

Aurora was about where Gregor left her. At the sight of her friend, she began to let out high pitch cries, but they knew they did not have time to stop and truly reunite. They were still in danger of being caught, after all.

They got a little lost during their trek out of the Dead Lands, but they never did run into someone again. Maybe that guy hadn't ratted on them. Maybe. Honestly, Gregor was more concerned with if he would see Ripred again. The old gnawer was none too pleased with him the last time they had spoken. And although Gregor thought that he was acting extremely immature and should grow the hell up, he also knew that it was thanks to the rat that he had been able to locate Nike. And for that, he would forgive almost any transgression.

It was only once they were in the open air again, free of any caves, that Gregor finally felt free. He knew that the journey was far from over and what awaited him at home would not be anything pleasurable, but still. The most important part of the mission was over. He had gotten Nike out alive.

Now all he had to do was keep her that way until the whole thing was over.

"Come, Overlander," Aurora landed next to him not soon after they made it out of the final cave. "Ride upon me. Nike tells me that we are headed for the crawlers?"

"It is my hope." Gregor looked up at Nike, having to click around some to find her. "Do you need not rest, Nike?"

"There shall be time for that later," she assured him. "I wish merely to get where we are going."

He nodded at that before moving to get back on Aurora's back. He hadn't noticed, but he had gotten slightly tired through the course of…of… How long had they been gone exactly? He had no way of knowing, but his stomach seemed to think it had been years. Still, he made no complaint about the fact he had not been fed even though he had one that battle against Ripred, knowing that the conditions under which Nike had been kept were far worse.

"What are you going to say once we make it to the crawlers?" Aurora asked.

"They owe us many favors," he said. "Luxa, me, even you. Nike as well. The banished will no doubt leave them alone. And they have access to a river, where she can fish. I shall ask for them to keep her, until I come back for her."

"And if they disagree?"

"The crawlers love me."

"A crawler loved you," Aurora corrected. Gregor took a moment to think before shaking his head. It was no time to mourn Temp, who had finally died in his old age about four years ago.

"There where shall we take her, Aurora?"

"I know a back way to the Fount. Once that they shall not see us take. Should Nike he be up for it, I believe that we should take her there, yes?"

"If you think so," Gregor said slowly.

"It is not that your plan was a bad one, Gregor," Aurora assured him. "It was quite wise, in fact. However, the crawlers will not wish to involve themselves. You know this. And if we go to the Fount, we can spend a night or day there. Rest up before we return to Luxa. Perhaps even send a message to her that we are there, in hopes she loses some steam before we get back to Regalia."

"Until I get back to Regalia," Gregor corrected. "You are not coming back with me. Are you?"

Aurora hesitated. "I shall see how Luxa fairs and then decide."

"No matter what, she shall say that she does not need you," Gregor told her. "You know this. You left her. She shall be extremely upset by this."

"Then let her be upset," Aurora said, her tone giving off the hesitance she still possessed. "Many bonds do not reside with one another. If when this is all over she does not wish for me to be at the palace, I shall live. I need her no more or no less than she needs me."

"But see, I need her," Gregor told Aurora. "So I am going to have to be extremely apologetic when I get back. Without her, most of the Underland would love to see me perish."

"No," Nike spoke up as she flew along beside them. "Not most of the Underland. Only the humans."

"And once you save them from this, they shall be just as in love with you as they were after any other war." Aurora sighed. "Honestly, Gregor, there must be a better place for you than Regalia."

"The people of the Fount love you. York speaks highly of you," Nike told him. "You shall see when we arrive, yes?"

"Can you make it that far?"

"You have already saved me, Overlander," Nike told him. "Your time for worry is over."

"Have you ever been the Fount, Gregor?" Aurora asked him. He felt like the two of them were being extremely talkative. Especially considering Nike had just been freed. No doubt she had already detailed everything to Aurora in their native tongue though. Not to mention, Nike loved to talk by nature. She probably hadn't been able to do much of it as of late.

"A few times," he told her. "You know this. I have never stayed for long though. Never over night. Luxa likes for me to stay in the capital."

"Luxa likes you to stay under her control," Aurora corrected, her bitter feelings still rearing their head. Gregor was no longer upset with the woman though and was having a hard time being angry with her. "If you lived with us, Queen Athena would take excellent care of you. Or even if you just lived with those who reside in the Fount. You are hated in Regalia because they fear your relationship with Luxa. In the Fount, they would merely treasure you. It would be something to hold over the heads of those in Regalia that think they're better than them, yes?"

"Stellovet resides in the Fount," Gregor reminded Aurora.

"It would merely be something to put up with," Aurora told him. "You put up with Luxa, after all."

"Aye," Gregor agreed slowly. "I do."

"How fares the queen then?" Nike asked then. "Is she alright?"

"Luxa was still Luxa the last time we saw her. Angry and unapologetic. Not much has changed." Gregor shook his head. "She did not know that you were being held captive though, I assure you. If she had-"

"I do not doubt that she would have arranged for my rescue," Nike told him. "I am in great debt to you now, Overlander. You as well, Aurora. I-"

"We were merely doing what friends do," Gregor told her. "You're one of us. And when once of us is in trouble, it's the job of the others to rescue them. Yeah?"

Aurora laughed then, which was rare for her. "Friends. Did Ripred not just warn you about that?"

"Family then," he told them both, not in the slightest embarrassed to say it. "No man gets left behind."

"No person gets left behind," Aurora corrected, taking place of her bond in that moment.

"No creature gets left behind," Nike finished for them all.

Then they all nodded and fell silent. There was truly nothing else to be said.