Page 8 (1/2)

Chapter 8

The second they cut through the strap at his wrists, Gregor spun on his heels and stalked out of the door He was livid at Ripred and Mareth for revealing his feelings for Luxa to Solovet First of all, it was a personal thing No one's business but his own! Second, didn't they know Solovet would just use Luxa against him? Like she did everyone he cared about? Didn't they see hoould only give her more power to control him? And finally, what if Luxa found out? He had no idea how Luxa really felt about hi Now so He was ready to find Ares and head home and --

A form brushed by him as he reached the end of the hallway, and suddenly Ripred was blocking his way "Hold on, boy"

Gregor had his sword out of his belt so fast it was a blur "Move Now"

Ripred held up his paws in ht to the death? I didn't expect it so soon"

"Move, Ripred!" said Gregor, and swung at the rat, who dodged his blow but still lost a few inches of whiskers on one side

"Either I'ood deal," said Ripred "But I suggest you don't try that again"

Gregor lifted his sword to slice at the rat when a pair of strong arht his in soor! You do not understand what service he did you!" Mareth said

"Get offto free hih he was or could not have attacked him with his sword He was actually far or had coh So he kept fighting until Mareth flipped hiround Then Ripred clih about six hundred pounds! -- and exhaled shrimp breath in his face "Just let us knohen you're ready to listen"

It didn't take long for Gregor to give up since he could barely get any air in his lungs Plus Mareth and Nerissa were looking over Ripred's shoulder with such obvious concern that it was hard not to believe they were genuinely upset by his reaction He forced hissee to the surface at any provocation, and even though it came without effort, he could not turn it off at will "What? What?" he growled at the of a private nature back there But when Ripred opened that door, I followed him immediately," said Mareth "We did not want you back in that dungeon"

"I was doing all right," said Gregor sullenly

"After only two days But Solovet once locked Hamnet up in that very cell for a full month because he crossed her at a war council," said Nerissa "No light No human contact He was not the sa at the Fount The council was completely under her control There was no one of power to intercede for Hamnet To suffer this at his own mother's handsmany of us think it contributed to his insanity at the Garden of Hesperides," said Mareth

"And if she'd do that to Hamnet, do you think she'd be more lenient on some insubordinate Overlander?" said Ripred "He was the apple of her eye, and she doesn't even like you!"

"I would have said the sah to think of it," said Nerissa "Please, Gregor Know that we acted on your behalf"

Gregor thought of a month in that cell Even with his new echolocation skills, it would be unbearable Poor Hale when Luxa had suggested that his self-ialia had been excessive, that he could have returned at least to visit her Hamnet had said, "No, I could never have left twice You kno Solovet works She would have hadof that cell and how Solovet would have let him rot there until he was either co she said? Itmoments that he had no choice but to send his son, Hazard, back to Regalia to live Is that why he had extracted the promise from Luxa that she would never let Hazard be trained as a soldier? Gregor had always thought that Hamnet had made that request because he was so opposed to war in principle Noondered if he had also said it to keep Hazard as far out of Solovet's reach as possible

Gregor could feel the tension leaving his an to understand his friends' motives Still, what if Luxa found out what had happened?

"No one will utter a word of as said in that room, you may be sure of that," said Mareth "We will not speak and Solovet would not want it to be co favor Now let ruffly but he was not really angry any co a luxurious stretch that nearly crushed Gregor's ribs before he got off "Let's get down to the code room, before that sister of yours drives the finest minds of the Underland completely nuts"

Oh, yeah The code He kneas i to the hospital," protested Gregor

"Please, Gregor Luxa sleeps, so you would not be able to truly visit her And we have real need of your help," said Nerissa The exertion of the last hour had set her to tre

"All right, Nerissa I'll go there first," said Gregor

Mareth had to return to Solovet's side, but Nerissa and Ripred accoave him ten e of clothes, and then hurried hi, narrow corridor They walked in on quite a scene

Although he knew this was not its purpose, the rooon On one as the door through which Gregor had entered The one directly across fro table covered with scrolls, books, and long strips of white fabric was set up beneath the tree The rehts that led to private rooms Above each arch was the name of the creature that was meant to inhabit the room: Spinner, Crawler, Human, Flier, Gnawer, Nibbler Souests, and this hat had given Gregor the ireen spider rested on a web, a heavily bandaged white s lay on a nest of blankets, a bat with crea upside down from a perch, and a roach peered out of an archway that was only three feet off of the ground Every arch was equipped with a curtain that could be easily closed, but at the mo fixedly at Boots

She was standing on the back of her loyal cockroach friend, Te "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" at the top of her lungs The green spider, to who Boots was soor was pretty sure it was the loudness that wasthe arachnid hunch down and contract Spiders disliked any loud noises As she wound up the song, Boots turned to each door and gave a separate bow, saying, "Thank you! Thank you!" although no one had applauded Gregor knew she didn't care As long as she had an audience, Boots could go on like this for hours

"She has been going on like this for hours," whispered Nerissa

"Days, et her to focus on the Code of Claw before the entire tea one for you!" announced Boots, pointing at the bat, who actually flinched

"Boots! Hey, Boots, what's going on?" said Gregor, trying not to laugh as he crossed to her He thought it was funny, but it probably wasn't if you'd been in the audience for days