27

After the failed coup, the city was put on lockdown. No one was allowed to leave or enter without permission directly from the queen. Though most of the traitors escaped, Luxa would not allow any others that remained in the city to get out.

Reports began streaming in, and Mareth had soldiers receive them at the city's edge. Apparently Stellovet's attempt to seize power was only a small part of the plan. Both the gnawer and flier communities also suffered from a coup. There were huge losses, but they were both able to maintain power and drive out the traitors. The Fount was spared as its leaders were in Regalia. Unfortunately, almost all of the spinners sided with the traitors. Their lands were now controlled by the traitors, and many spinners had to flee. Luxa was making arrangements to accommodate them.

Gregor wanted to know what Nerissa's words meant, but she retreated to her room and mumbled to herself. Wynnora tried to sit with her, but was not able to be of much help. Luxa, Vikus, and Ripred were so busy trying to maintain order that Gregor hardly saw them. Howard struggled to perform his duties after his family's loss, and Gregor knew he could not talk to him. Instead he found himself looking for Hippolyta. He found her by herself in the arena.

"Hey," Gregor said quietly. He sat next to her.

"Greetings, Gregor," she said back in little more than a whisper. Gregor wondered why no one was comforting her. She had lost her mate, Hector. Then he remembered that Hector was killed for failing his duties to the traitors. He was a traitor. Hippolyta was probably an outcast now, because she was so close to him. Suddenly Gregor did not know what to say, so he just sat with her for a few hours.

After a few days of wandering around doing nothing in the palace, Gregor grew tired. He was ready to return home, but he also wanted to be there for his friends in the Underland. He plopped on the sofa in his quarters, and let his thoughts wander. Strangely enough, they went to Whiptail. Was she fully willing to help the traitors, or did she help because they were threatening to hurt her family? How many Underlanders were being coerced into helping the traitor cause? He hoped the Regalians had some way of figuring out who the real enemies were.

Then he thought about Nerissa's words smeared on the wall in blood. Those words had been haunting his dreams since the night she wrote them. Gregor did not want to be the warrior again. He had ended all that. But maybe Nerissa was just overwhelmed and confused. She could have written anything. He decided not to pay it any mind until Nerissa made an official prophecy. He really hoped she would not.

"Gregor?"

Gregor jumped. Luxa startled him. He was tempted to tell her to knock, but stopped himself.

"Yeah?"

"I would like you to join me in a meeting," she said. "I want everyone who was present in the High Hall while we were being held to be present at the meeting." Gregor was too tired for this. They just wanted to use him again.

"Why do you need me? Is there another prophecy or something?" His tone was harsher than he intended. He glanced at Luxa, and saw the hurt on her face for a brief moment before she composed herself again.

"No, Overlander. Not for a prophecy. I merely wish to ensure we have all the details, and," she paused a moment as if the next words were difficult to say. "And I would appreciate your input on the situation." Gregor felt bad for snapping at her. He stood up and walked to her.

"Sorry," he whispered. She nodded, and he followed her out the room.

They walked through the palace in silence to the meeting room. Gregor was slightly surprised by how few people were there. The only one's remaining from Luxa's council were Vikus, Mareth, Ripred, and Howard. Howard's parents were there along with everyone's bonds and Lapblood, and that was it. No. His cousin was there. Gregor was relieved to have another Overlander around, and he sat between her and Ripred.

"Smaller crowd this time," Gregor whispered to Ripred.

"Well half of the queen's council betrayed her, two died including Roth, and she got rid of the rest," he explained. "I thought it was a smart move, though I didn't say so. That would have made her change her mind." He was probably right about that.

"So why are we here?"

"Well why do you think, boy?" Ripred looked at him. "We need to get everything in order. Honestly, Luxa's been dragging her feet with this one. Should have had it done already." He said the last part louder, but Luxa ignored him.

"We will begin by recounting the events of the attempted coup," Luxa began. The meeting started calmly. Everyone retold what happened, but Gregor was pretty sure everyone had heard it already. He looked at Susannah and York, who had lost so much in the last week. They both looked like they had not slept in days, and Gregor felt a pang of empathy for them. It made him feel sick. He realized he had not been paying attention, and some raised voices brought him back to the meeting.

"Of course we cannot ally ourselves with the gnawers," Mareth practically shouted. "They have been fighting amongst themselves for some time now. There is no doubt that this rebellion was a result of their meddling."

"How dare you accuse us," Lapblood yelled back. "Stellovet had more than enough soldiers willing to help her cause." Gregor saw Howard flinch at his sister's name.

"You question the integrity of the Regalian army?"

"Someone must question your people's loyalty," Lapblood spat back. "At least we were aware of our disunion."

"We must not fight amongst ourselves," Vikus cut in.

"That's right," Ripred said. "The fliers will no doubt side with the humans, and we will be left fighting on two fronts with no allies."

"Do not speak for the fliers," Nike said firmly.

"We are all divided into civil war," Howard said. "Let us not divide further."

"You already wish to divide further," Lapblood shouted. "You plan to use the warrior again. He is a symbol of war against the gnawers. You do not wish to side with us." Was that true? Was he really just a symbol of war? Of division?

"And why not use the Warrior?" York said.

"We do not need to ally ourselves with you after all," Mareth added. They were talking about Gregor as if he were a weapon. He could not take it anymore.

"Just be quiet!" he yelled. He decided he really needed to think of a better way to interrupt meetings. "No one is using the warrior." The humans all looked at him as if he had betrayed them. Ripred's face was unreadable. "I mean I don't know what I'm doing."

"What Gregor means to say is," Wynnora stepped in. "Is that you can't just use him like some weapon. To just swing at whomever you please." She looked around the room. "And he's not going to be seen as some symbol of hate and separation." Gregor looked at his cousin thankfully.

"I couldn't have put it better myself," he said. "If you want help from the warrior, which you may not because we don't know what Nerissa was talking about. If you want help, then you need to work together. And this would be a war to rebuild, not destroy."

"It really doesn't make sense to split up anyway," Wynnora cut in again. "It would only weaken you, and help them. You would be doing them a favor. And if you fight to completely obliterate the enemy, you'll only cause resentment. You have to approach this right." Gregor wanted to thank her for backing him up and clarifying what he said. The room was silent.

"What?" Ripred said. "No one is going to ask what Overlanders would know of our affairs." Silence. "No? Well then, I think we have some conditions to meet. Shall we begin with allying ourselves?" Luxa nodded.

"Yes, I think we shall. The gnawers can count of the support of Regalia." Apparently Luxa was done hearing people's opinions. Nike said she would speak with her mother, the queen of the fliers, before giving her final word; however, she said she did support the idea herself. Ripred and Lapblood agreed to be allies. Gregor was happy to see some kind of start to union.