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Gregor and Boots were taken to the bathroo wouy escorted Gregor to his side

He caused a scene by running out of the bathroouy not to burn their clothes Ares was right, turning their clothes to ashes was standard, but Gregor kneould cost a lot to replace them And he really didn't want to lose his boots

"Butyour clothes carry uy said uncertainly

"Oh, that's okay I mean, they already know I'or "So, could you justI don't know,That's all Overlander stuff, right?"

Relieved at the suggestion, the guy went off to ask Vikus

They were fed a big s that reor of sweet potatoes but weren't, and sousto, which reminded him she'd had little more than a bowl of oatmeal and a peanut butter sandwich that day At least the rest of his family would have the scalloped potatoes for dinner If anyone could eat

Oh, this whole thing was his fault! If only he'd kept an eye on Boots, the roaches never would have run off with her But then, the rats could have reached her first He guessed he ought to feel grateful to everybody here for rescuing her, and he did, on one level But on another, he resented the him back into their troubled world What was it Vikus had said? "as our destinies are intertwined, blah, blah, blah, blah" He wanted no part of it, but here he was Again

Boots conked out the or felt restless and anxious He couldn't sleep thinking about his faiant white rat out there soave up and decided to take a walk around the palace It should be fine; he wasn't trying to escape or anything this time

The doorways he passed see quarters The co rooor's floor, curtains blocked most of the rooms from view Stone doors must not have been practical, and the only wooden door he'd ever seen in the Underland led to the rooor had been walking about tenfrom one of the rooms They were somewhat muffled by the curtain, but still audible because the people were arguing It was Vikus

"You should have toldI should have had a say in it!"

And as he talking to?

"Yes, yes, we could have gone round and round while you tried to think of some way to protect him, but it is not possible No matter what you want"

It sounded like Solovet She was Vikus's wife, Luxa's grandalia's entle, stately voice But Gregor had heard her barking orders in coracious lady and soldier unnerved him because he never knehich one to expect She sounded or didn't want to eavesdrop, so he turned to slip away But then he heard his na

"And what of what Gregor wants? Does he have no say in this? He pushed away the sword, Solovet He does not wish to fight," Said Vikus

"None of us wish to fight, Vikus," said Solovet

Vikus ht

"None of us wish to fight," Solovet repeated in a steely voice, "but we all do And the prophecy calls Gregor 'the warrior,' after all Not 'the peace He is called a warrior, but perhaps his weapons are not the ones we are familiar with He did very well last ti you he pushed away Sandwich's sword!"

"Yes, when he was safe and he thought everything was over But I remember he asked for a sword on the quest," shot back Solovet

"But he had no need of it He was better off without it, I think," said Vikus

"And I think that if you send hiuarantee his death," said Solovet

Then there was silence

Gregor retreated from the doorway as quickly as possible and somehow made it back to his rooht was filled with disturbing dreams