When he awoke the next morning, for an instant, he had no clue where he was. But then all that had happened so swiftly the day before came rushing back to him in a daze. The minute he climbed out of his bunk bed, he noticed that both Lizzie's and Boots's bed were empty. He decided to go look for them, and something to fill his growling stomach.
He wandered aimlessly around the palace, sucking in all the details he used to see before. Many Underlanders past him, some said hello while others just stared at him as they passed and said nothing. He saw that everyone seemed to be in a big hurry, rushing by him as if war was already on. He wanted to see what all the commotion was about, and jogged after the people. But as he went down two flights of stairs and rounded a corner to the level of the museum, a voice behind him made him turn: "Overlander! You are here!" It was Howard! Gregor was delighted to his friend.
"Hey Howard! How's it going?" He asked, grinning widely as he did so.
Howard laughed. "It goes well, it goes very well." Then his face became serious. "But the situation certainly isn't." Gregor noticed that Howard was now much stronger, with muscles on his arms and chest that were obvious, but not scary. In fact, Howard looked pretty much like that statue in Florence Museum. David, Gregor remembered.
"Vikus sent me to inform you that you ought to meet him and the council members in the court room in exactly half an hour's time." Howard extended a hand, in it, was a clunkily made sandwich. "And I brought you this," he said with a grin, "Luxa says that you used to make this on the journeys during your previous prophecies."
"Thanks Howard." Gregor took the sandwich, and took a bite. The taste of thickly roasted beef filled his mouth.
"Oh," Howard said suddenly, "follow me. I have something to show you." Gregor followed Howard down another few flights of stairs, until they reached a dimly lit corridor. Along the way, they talked, and Howard filled Gregor in on what had happened during the years. After he'd left, Luxa and Ripred and all the other chosen representatives of each species decided upon the specifics of the land arrangements. Things went remarkably smoothly, probably because the war had tired everyone of fighting. By the end of the first year, everything was in order, and all species were living in harmony. The rats' and the humans' lands were separated by a thin border, located on the southern end of the water way. Most creatures had lands connecting to the humans and rats, except the Nibblers, who still weren't very comfortable around the rats. The borders were always the relatively dangerous places for creatures on both sides, so Luxa and Vikus agreed on the policy of mixed scouts, so that different creatures can guard the border together. The gnawers and humans had become friendly to one another, and there have even been reports of humans and gnawers bonding with each other. It seemed like a new golden era between all creatures similar to the one the garden of the Hesperides brought. Gregor couldn't help thinking of how that golden era had ended, in decades worth of war.
They now reached the place where Howard was aiming for. By the cooled temperature, Gregor assumed they were now underground.
"Where are we going?" He asked, looking around the corridor. It didn't look like the palace floors above in the main part, where intricate carvings were on each wall, and smoothly carved marble bricks lined the walls. This corridor was crude, almost ugly, with black stone jutting unevenly outwards, and a faint smell of metal in the air.
"This is the Smithing Corridor," Howard said, "this is where Regalia manufactures its weaponry. It has been not of much use in the past 3 years, since we do not have wars anymore."
"But why are we here?" Gregor asked.
Howard turned to look at him. "To retrieve your reforged sword." He said simply.
YOU ARE READING
Gregor And The Prophecy Of Doom (Book VI)
مغامرةIt is 2 and a half years after Gregor and Lizzie have returned from the underland, but their family is still in New York City. Dreams of giant rats and falling to his death still bothers Gregor from time to time, and he isn't improving as a student...
