Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane - 2 by Suzanne Collins

who's in trouble," Gregor croaked with a smile.

    "Much trouble," he heard Mareth say behind him. Gregor didn't have to turn his head to see the soldier's expression. He was angry.

    "I cannot go back," Luxa said with satisfaction. "It is too far now, and Aurora and I would most surely perish in the deep."

    "Yes, you timed that nicely," said Mareth.

    "I know," said Luxa.

    "I know you know. Everyone will know you knew if you ever arrive home in one piece to tell the tale," said Mareth. Gregor had never thought much about Mareth's relationship with Luxa. She was his queen, or would be when she turned sixteen, but there was another side to it he recognized after the day of training. Mareth was her coach, and he wasn't afraid to chew her out.

    "Oh, Mareth, how long are you to stay angry with me?" said Luxa. "It has been at least a day already. No one will blame you for my disobedience."

    "That is much beside the point, Luxa!" barked Mareth. "This venture is extremely dangerous, and what if you die? You leave Regalia with Nerissa as a leader, and she is of age.
    Can you imagine what will happen then? To Regalia? To Nerissa?"

    "She will have to abdicate," Howard said from somewhere in the other boat.

    "She will do no such thing. She will rule if I die and not Vikus, and never you and your wretched sister!" said Luxa.

    There was a shocked silence. Then Howard spoke. "Is this what you think? That I want to be king? I believe you have me confused with another cousin."

    Ouch. It was another allusion to Henry. But this time, Gregor thought Luxa might have had it coming.

    "And do not judge me by Stellovet. She is wretched. I admit it. But I can no more control her than you could control Henry!" Howard spat out.

    "If you think I will believe you innocent, I will not. I have seen you torment Nerissa,"
    said Luxa.

    "When? When did I do this? I have barely spent five minutes with her altogether!" said Howard.

    "At the festival. When you set that lizard at her!" said Luxa.

    "Set it? I did not set it! That was a rare color changer, and I thought it would amuse her to see it!" said Howard.

    "But Henry said he saw you — !" began Luxa.

    "Henry said? Henry said? I cannot believe that even now you do not question things that Henry said, Luxa! Is he the one who told you I was after your crown?" Howard's voice rose in frustration. "Henry said!"

    "Shh. Too loud. You like Fo-Fo," he heard Boots say.

    "It is Photos Glow-Glow!" said an offended voice in the next boat.

    "Oh, be quiet, Fo-Fo," said Twitchtip, and Gregor had to pretend to cough to conceal he was laughing.

    Boots's feet pattered up by Gregor's head. She leaned over, looking upside down at him.

    "Hi, you!"

    "Hi, you," said Gregor. "What's going on, Boots?"

    "I do toes. Whew! I do bekfast. Two times," Boots said, holding up four fingers. She squatted down and pressed her nose into his forehead so their eyes were blinking at each other upside down. "I see you," she said.

    "I see you, too," said Gregor.

    "Bye," Boots said, and trotted off to the other end of the boat.

    Gregor struggled to a sitting position. His whole body ached like he had the flu. He leaned against the side of the boat and looked at his bandaged arm. "So, what's it look like under the bandage?"

    "It is not for the faint of heart," said Mareth. "You may thank Howard for saving your arm."

    "Saving it? You were going to cut it off?" Gregor asked, instinctively pulling it closer.

    "We would have had no choice if the venom spread further, but Howard was able to suck it from the wounds," said Mareth.

    "Ugh. Thanks, Howard," Gregor said, gingerly flexing his fingers. Luxa scowled at him.
    "What? He sucked venom from my arm! I can't say thank you?"

    "I am trained in water aid. I have sworn to save anyone in peril related to the water," said Howard.

    "If my cousin had been paying attention that night, there would be no need to be so grateful," said Luxa.

    Gregor remembered waking, seeing the