Page 26 (1/2)

Chapter 26

She sat on the floor rocking back and forth laughing, the very picture of irl," thought Gregor

Vikus came up and crouched beside her on the floor "Nerissa, perhaps you should rest longer Are you feeling ill?"

"Oh, no, I aled Nerissa "The warrior has fulfilled the prophecy"

"No, Nerissa, he did not succeed in killing the Bane," Vikus said gently

"Vikus," said Nerissa "The baby lives So lives the warrior's heart The gnawers do not have their key to power" Vikus looked like a lightning bolt had hit him He plunked down on the floor next to her "This is what Sandwich meant?" he said "We never considered it"

"What?" said Gregor He wasn't sure as going on

"The baby in the prophecy was never your sister, Gregor It was the Bane," said Vikus

"The Bane? Why would it kill or

"Why did you not drain its light?" asked Vikus

"Because it's a baby It's just wrong," said Gregor "It's the II mean, if you can kill a baby, what can't you do?"

"So says your heart So says your or took a few steps back and sat on the cube Nerissa'son him

DIE the baby, die his heart, Die his most essential part

His most essential part was the part that had spared the Bane If he had killed it, he would have never been the same He would have lost himself forever

"You know," Vikus said to Nerissa, as if they were the only two in the room, "I am continually amazed by how badly we can interpret one of Sandwich's prophecies Then theis as clear as water," agreed Nerissa

Vikus quoted a section from the prophecy:

What could turn the warrior weak? What do burning gnawers seek?

Just a barely speaking pup Who holds the land of Under up

"The gnawers have always sought the Bane," said Vikus

"Who is just a barely speaking pup Sandwich even went so far as to use the word 'pup' The gnawers' oord for baby," said Nerissa

"And the Bane holds the land of Under up," nodded Vikus

"Because if Gregor had killed it," continued Nerissa

"Total war," said Vikus "Its death would have been enough to rally theor Oh, they will not kno to parry that move"

"Queen Nerissa, are we to continue this trial?" asked the head judge

Nerissa looked up, as if she was surprised at her surroundings "Trial? For the warrior? Of course there will be no trial! He has saved the Underland" She got to her feet, using Vikus for support, and saw the other defendants staring at her She gave them a small smile, but directed her next line to Ares "And all who helped hiard"

Ares ducked his head Maybe it was a bow or maybe he couldn't look at her

"Will you dine with me, you four? You look half-starved," said Nerissa It was kind of ironic co from her, but a welcome invitation

Soor, Ares, Howard, and Androled out of the courtroo room The table could seat no more than six In one corner, water trickled in a fountain Old tapestries hung on the walls Gregor guessed the first Underlanders ht them from above, because they depicted scenes fro place

"It's nice in here," said Gregor

"Yes," said Nerissa "This is where I often take ht in platters of elegant food Large fish stuffed with grain and herbs, tiny vegetables arranged in geo braided bread studded with fruit, paper-thin piles of roast beef, and Ripred's favorite, that shri plates were placed in front of each of them

"Do not suppose I always dine so sumptuously," said Nerissa "This food was prepared for the coronation Please, begin"

Gregor lifted his bread, dipped it in the crea bite

For a while, they all concentrated on the food Except Nerissa, who see hers

"I am afraid I am a poor conversationalist," said Nerissa "Even at rief for ht venture to say"

"It is the same for all of us," Howard said sadly

"Yes, no one here has been spared," said Nerissa

It was true The journey to the Labyrinth had given thelad that Nerissa acknowledged it and that they could continue in silence

After days of insufficient food, Gregor's stomach was soon heavy with the rich dishes before hi as well You would think they'd all be shoveling down seven or eight helpings, but it didn't work that way

Nerissa then sent the four of them down to the hospital Andromeda and Howard hadn't received medical care or been allowed a bath, either

"When did you guys get back?" asked Gregor