Page 25 (1/2)

Chapter 25

"Death?" It took Gregor ato kill us for not killing the Bane?"

"If it is determined that it was a treasonous act," said Ares

"And who decides that?" Gregor asked, hoping it was Vikus

"A tribunal of judges The final sentence must be approved by the queen," said Ares

"Well, Luxa isn't going to let them --" he started Then he re what she would do "Would Nerissa let them kill us?"

"I do not know I have not seen her since I allowed her brother to fall to his death," said Ares "I could not face her"

Gregor slid down the wall and sat cluround, overwhelmed He had risked soto kill him?

"I aalia I should have foreseen this would be a possibility," said Ares "This is all or

"I thought there was a very good chance ould be banished, but then I could have flown you hoood as banished, anyway, so what matter? But treasonI did not think they would take it this far They have never put an Overlander on trial before, and certainly not one so young" Ares began to rock back and forth He seeor "I cannot let this happen! I have already lost one bond; whatever his intentions, it does not change the fact that I let Henry die I will not lose the Overlander, I will not let hior, his eyes darting around as the plan took shape "I will tell them that this was all my idea That I would not let you kill the Bane IIstole your swordyes! That ork because you came home without one And then I forced you to take the Bane to Ripred because I aue with the rats They will believe thisI am much hated and deeply distrusted here already!"

Gregor stared at Ares in disbelief Did Ares actually think he would agree to that? "I' to let you do that! I mean, just the opposite happened I'm the one ouldn't kill the Bane and I'm the one anted to take it to Ripred If anyone should be cleared, it's you"

"But it will not help me, Overlander I will die no matter what This is what they all want We may still be able to save you Think of your faor did, and it ful First Boots, now him But he couldn't throw Ares to the lions that way His faet Ares killed for soor

"But you --" Ares began

"No," said Gregor "I' it, Ares"

"Then ill both die!" Ares said angrily

"Then ill!" They sat there, both of theor

"You will not like it," said Ares

"Well, probably not But I'd rather know," said Gregor

"They will bind h cliff to the rocks below," said Ares

It was Gregor's recurring night as he could reh spaces Gorger's rats He had heard their screa open on the rocks

For a moment, he was tempted to take Ares up on his offer But he couldn't

A s open, and tls of food were pushed in The hatch slammed shut

It seeor's storowl at the smell of food "You want to eat?" he asked Ares

"I suppose we should to keep up our strength," said the bat "Some opportunity for escape may arise"

The bowls contained soe and a chunk of bread It wasn't thereat Gregor wolfed his down and felt a little better Just because they were accused of souilty Maybe when the tribunal heard his version of what had happened, they would understand And then there was Nerissa

"So no matter what the tribunal decides, Nerissa can keep us alive if she wants to?" asked Gregor

"Yes, she can spare our lives But Overlander, I let Henry die," said Ares

"Yeah, but you knohat she told ht it was best that he died Because if he hadn't, everybody else would have died, too," said Gregor

"Did she?" said Ares "It hts to cos? I or

"Yes, she does I have witnessed it But she is young, and her gift is a torture to her She sees hten her At tior didn't respond to that He wasn't convinced that she was sane, either

The door swung open, and the guards stepped in "It is tie

His hopes for escape dis were pinned against his body with a rope It was like they were already being prepared for the execution All they needed was the cliff

Several guards hoisted Ares onto their shoulders and or followed behind as they retraced their steps up several flights froeon and then veered off to another part of the palace

They entered a rooment This was not the room where the Underlanders had threatened to banish Ares It was , stone table with three chairs sat at the front "That's for the judges," Gregor thought Directly behind the center chair, elevated by a platforht, as you faced the table, was a stone cube with three steps going up to it It was positioned so that not only the judges but anyone sitting in the seven tiers of seats that rose to the high ceilings could get a good view of it The witness stand

Every seat in the house was filled with either a bat or a huuised hatred, but it was eerily quiet It had al stuff Gregor was directed to an open area in front of the table The guards set Ares down next to hi at the empty table before theor turned his head and found Howard and Androed

"What are you doing here?" Gregor exclaimed

"We, too, are on trial for treason," Howard said hoarsely

"For what?" said Gregor "You never even made it to the Bane!"

"That is precisely the reason," said Howard

Then Gregor realized what he meant Howard and Andromeda were on trial because they had not finished their alia with Mareth

"But," objected Gregor, "I ," said Howard "I came back of my own free will"

"Well, that's not what I'or He was suddenly overwhelmed by the way his decision had jeopardized the lives of those who had fought by his side He couldn't let this happen

A side door opened, and an old man and a decrepit white bat entered A moment later an elderly woman appeared with several scrolls All three took seats at the table The woe, took the center seat She glanced back at the throne and addressed a guard

"May we expect Queen Nerissa?" she asked

"They are checking now to see if she has regained consciousness, your honor," said the guard

The woor could hear people in the crowd , probably about the frailty of their new queen One glance froor had the feeling that whoever she was, his life was in her hands