7
Gregor began preparing for the meeting. The ball had been a success. Gregor had offended Roth into going, Wynnora had flirted with Rodrith until he agreed to go, and apparently Howard's parents had no problem with Janor who had been so drunk she agreed to anything. The rest of the council, seven members not including Ripred, Mareth, Vikus, or Howard, followed suit and would be there today.
Gregor thought about something he noticed from the ball. Stellovet had also spoken with the three council members. Honestly, it had been fairly easy to get them to go. Perhaps she helped. He wondered if there was a bit more to her than just a rude sister of his friend. Maybe she had also helped turn them in favor of the mission. He made a point to try to be nicer to Stellovet.
Gregor walked to the council room with his cousin, and just as promised, she took a seat next to Rodrith. Gregor sat on the other side of her, then prepared for a long meeting of Underlanders yelling at each other. Though they kept their expressions collected like true royals, Gregor could tell Luxa and her cousin were do the same as him. Ripred made no effort to hide his distaste for being there. Vikus opened the meeting to discussion, and all hell broke loose about everything from to who would go on the mission to planting for next season.
Gregor found it hard to concentrate; it was all so boring. What he was able to pick up was some of the objections. The prophecy involved several species, and many of the Underlanders did not trust the gnawers or respect the crawlers. Gregor suspected that they would rather toss the two species in a river rather than make peace and team up with them. Of course Luxa would not hear any of that as she was working very hard on maintaining peace with all Underland creatures. This mission could help bring the races together.
Of course the other issue was allowing Luxa to go. The prophecy mentioned the queen specifically, and Gregor knew full well that was a main reason she was using it. She would not miss out on this mission. However, that would put Regalia in a tricky situation again with a queen at risk and the next in line (Nerissa) not fit to rule.
Then a turn of events occurred. It started with Janor proposing a possible team for the mission. Then Roth and Rodrith joined in. Gregor was shocked. They went from not wanting to hear any part of the mission, to actually making positive contributions. It all seemed a bit too easy, but Gregor thought it would be better to just roll with it. Apparently Luxa did too, and soon the entire council was on board.
The mission would include Luxa and Howard for the Underlanders as Luxa fully trusted her cousin. Gregor and Wynnora were the Overlanders (his cousin seemed a bit hesitant, but agreed to go in the end). Ripred would not attend as he had some other secret matter to attend to, but he would choose two gnawers for the mission. Vikus would choose two crawlers. Aurora and Nike would go of course, and Mareth would find two more fliers. Luxa dismissed the council, and only she and her cousin stayed along with the Overlanders.
"Did that not seem too easy to you, Luxa?" Howard asked. So Gregor was not the only one to think so.
"I will not complain about the ease of the decision," she replied. "It has already taken months to get this far. Perhaps they spontaneously came to their senses."
"I am uncertain. To start with not wanting to join forces with other species and keep the queen in the city, and end with throwing the queen on a multi-species mission seems a stretch."
"And what would you have me do, cousin? Object? I could not. I have fought too hard for this."
"Maybe you could just keep an eye on you council," Gregor said.
"Perhaps. I will remain cautious if it pleases you, Howard." He just shrugged.
"Monitoring them could break trust. Don't do anything too conspicuous, Luxa," Wynnora put in. The queen seemed to appreciate the advice. "Why don't you show me around the city, Howard? I need a tour guide." He agreed, and they got up to leave. Before she left the room, she whispered in Gregor's ear, "I'm trusting you alone. Don't do anything stupid." Gregor just shoved her off, and she stuck her tongue out at him playfully.
"How are your sword skills? Perhaps we should train," Luxa suggested.
"That would be great," Gregor replied.