After a short breakfast the next day, Howard disrupted Henry's plans to talk to Gregor by insisting that Henry should lie down. Like this, there was only room for one other person to ride with him. In the end, Howard arranged for Gregor, Temp, and Boots to switch places with Henry so that they rode with Thanatos and the supplies, while Henry took their place on Aurora—with Luxa.

"Mind you?" Henry glanced at Luxa as he lethargically nibbled on a piece of raw fish. His appetite was non-existent, as his head still throbbed when he moved too suddenly. However, Howard had been correct—the pain had significantly eased this morning.

"Not at all," said Luxa with a smile. "How are you doing? When we attempted to bring you and Thanatos down, we had fear that you would never wake."

"Because his beloved saddle betrayed him," Thanatos chimed in from behind, and Henry flinched.

"I wouldn't say treason," he retorted.

"I would."

"No one is asking you."

Luxa laughed, and Thanatos rolled his eyes but smiled nonetheless. Their carefree moment was cut short when Howard approached to conduct the uncomfortable process of switching Henry's bandage. He turned from the group before he let Howard anywhere near his face and his scar, but at least Howard did him the favor of not asking questions.

"I suppose I ought to give this back," said Howard after he had finished tightening the fresh bandage, holding out Henry's eyepatch.

Henry snatched it out of his hand, then hesitated. "Thank you. For leading and caring for the children in my place as well," he added.

"Someone must do it," replied Howard. "And I will not let Luxa burden herself with leadership yet." They exchanged one meaningful look before Henry mounted Aurora after Luxa. "The currents are down," said Howard, waving. "We fly."

And so they flew. The spot on Aurora was even decently comfortable. First, Henry and Luxa passed the time storytelling; Henry shared more about his time in the uncharted lands, while Luxa recounted a few of her own adventures—episodes from quests he had missed and events from before his exile. He felt a twinge when she described the pincher prank they had pulled on the Fount and had to stop himself from calling: I have been there!

When she finished the tale, he instead asked her something else that had reentered his mind last night: "We must talk about Hazard and Hamnet, and how it might be prudent for you to cease glorifying the latter so much."

Luxa's head pivoted toward him. "What?"

"For one, there is the issue with Hazard and fighting," said Henry with a sour face. "I have spoken with him, and know you what he asked me? Whether you would love him any less if he ever got into a fight."

Luxa stilled to stone, with her mouth dropped open. Henry could not bring himself to care how much he was shocking her or how much guilt she felt. He recounted to her all the issues that had crossed his mind when he had spoken to Hazard, and Luxa did not respond for a long while.

"I have brought up something similar to her a while ago," said Aurora unexpectedly. "But she refused to listen. She said that it is prudent to honor Hamnet's wish for his son."

"His wish was foolish," said Henry plainly. "It puts your beloved Hazard at great risk and disadvantage. I implore you to reconsider this choice, Your Highness." He put sarcastic emphasis on the title, and Luxa winced.

"Hamnet may have spoken rashly," said Aurora. "He was dying. He did not consider the consequences of his words."

"That, or he may have been willing to take the risk for Hazard in order to impose upon him his values," said Henry dismissively. At this point, he had so little respect for Hamnet remaining that he almost believed it too.

"Hamnet would not," hissed Luxa finally. "I . . . understand what you are saying, but Hamnet would never—"

"Hamnet would do many things . . . such as imply to Gregor that what he does best is killing, as he revealed to me last night. Were you aware of that?"

"I—" Luxa winced again. "W-Well . . . he is a rager."

"That does not give anyone the right to convey to him that he has no choice but to be a killer!" snapped Henry. "Gregor is one of the most genuinely pacifistic people I know, and Hamnet took a talent that he has been born with and used it to judge him, as though it stole away his choice. As though it has any correlation to his character." Luxa said nothing, but Henry sensed her shame anyway. Just this once, he thought it served her right. "He is only a child, just as you are," he said in a mellower voice when she proceeded to remain quiet. "He is a child who has done nothing wrong."

"You're right," mumbled Luxa after a while. "Did Hamnet really say that?"

"Ask Gregor."

"Perhaps . . . I have been viewing him with some . . . bias," admitted Luxa finally.

"Perhaps," concurred Henry, then intook her slumped shoulders and suddenly wondered if he had been too harsh. She was only a child as well, after all. "But you can do better from now on. I'm not saying that Hamnet was vile or that you may not remember him fondly," he forced himself to say. "Just be more mindful about questioning the things he said. The things anyone says, for that matter. Especially as queen, you must never take anything that others tell you and follow it blindly."

Luxa nodded. "How come you are so wise?" she asked after a while. "You are not much older than Howard."

"A few months younger, actually," said Henry with a grin. "But I have experience beyond my years at this point."

"I bet it has taken much pain to obtain this experience."

"Much pain," concurred Henry. "But let us not speak about my pain. Let us speak about how you are feeling."

She tensed. "Under the given circumstances, I could be . . . worse."

"Blame yourself not for what is happening."

Luxa said nothing, but her silence spoke volumes.

"That conversation I had with Gregor last night," said Henry, rising a little. "I wish to tell you what I told him: Blame yourself not for things that—"

"No!" A dreadful scream cut him off, and Henry jerked up, recognizing the voice of Thanatos in an instant. He disregarded the sting in his skull to peer over Luxa's shoulder and found his bond touching down. The tunnel curved, widening the path, yet to their left, where Thanatos crouched, he spotted a tight niche.

Aurora descended and landed, followed by Nike and Ares. Henry dismounted and leaned on Luxa to stand as they made their way over, step by step. When they finally got close enough to peek into the niche, Henry's head began spinning again, and he nearly collapsed where he stood. Luxa's grip around his arm became painful.

"No . . ." He staggered forward, beholding in the niche, curled tightly against the wall, the motionless, black body of a nibbler.

Henry's head throbbed and spun, and he felt nauseous. Howard rushed past him, toward . . . "I recognize those gauntlets," mumbled Luxa, her voice as dread-filled as his mind. "It is Teslas."

And it was. Henry reached forward to grasp him and check whether he lived himself, but he wasn't close enough, and not yet strong enough to draw closer. Thanatos caught him in the last moment, and all Henry could do was lay, hunched over the neck of his bond, and watch Howard and Nike retrieve Teslas' body from the niche.

I should help, he thought. I should be there with Howard to help. But he couldn't stand. He couldn't even move.

A sickening dread hung over the questers. No one moved; no one spoke. They all watched Howard, hunched over Teslas' unmoving body, waiting, and only came to life when he finally shredded the tensed air, calling, "He lives!"

***

Howard spent over an hour tending to Teslas' wounds. There were multiple cuts, some of which appeared to be self-inflicted. His paws were raw and grated, the skin torn and bloody from excessive walking on rough stone without protection. The bone in his left front paw was shattered, and his tail severely fractured, as if it had been trapped under a large rock. Howard had to amputate about a third of it.

Teslas remained unresponsive throughout the entire procedure, and even when Howard attempted to wake him afterward, all he achieved was that Teslas began to twine and groan, but he did not wake. Eventually, Howard left him alone, laying him by Cartesian's side and turning to the others. "He will live," he assured Henry over and over. "His wounds are numerous, but not life-threatening."

"We must fly on," said Luxa in a grave voice. "We must find out what he was chasing that compelled him to push himself this far."

"We should not move him yet," replied Howard. "Let us eat and then figure out how to lift him onto a flier's back with minimal intervention."

No one wanted to rest, but when the currents picked up shortly, they had no choice. Howard directed them into a secluded cavern, some fifty feet ahead, and dished out food.

Henry observed them all as they sat there, huddled together and visibly shaken, but not speaking or smiling, and attempted to transition back into the spirited, level-headed leader they needed. To find within himself words of encouragement. But at that moment, he didn't feel like a leader. His mind was void. He had no thoughts that did not revolve around Teslas and what had happened to him. He could not even tell them all that it would be fine any longer. All he craved was to sit by Teslas' side and attempt to wake him himself, but if even Howard hadn't succeeded, how much of a chance did he stand?

Just this once, Henry sat curled against Thanatos, hurting and despairing like they all.

"Is he your friend? Will he be fine?" Thalia approached them suddenly, poking Thanatos.

Henry's bond nodded. "Howard says so, and he is knowledgeable in this field. You should sleep." He nudged Thalia. "If you mean to fly with us again tomorrow, you should be rested."

"Yes! Yes!" called Thalia excitedly. "I must fly with you. I will be strong like you one day. You promised that I would."

"You will." He pushed her toward Nike, who waited for her to join them, and Thalia fell flat on her face, breaking into giggles.

Nike picked her up from the floor, laughing along. "Of course, you will." She soothed.

Suddenly, Gregor appeared to their right. "Hey, you're really great with kids, aren't you?" he asked Thanatos, and Henry was delighted that he could sense the Overlander again. His echolocation was almost back to normal, even if the images received were still a little blurry, and focusing was difficult. "Thanks," said Gregor, sitting beside them. "I had trouble calming her earlier. She's scared of the currents."

"He could never resist children yet," said Henry with a tentative grin.

"And the day I discovered that "children" included "spoiled, defiant, and temperamental teenage princes", my fate was sealed," said Thanatos with a mellow smile.

"I said we do not talk about that time," snapped Henry, elbowing him. "Hey, little lady, how did you like flying with him today? Aren't you a little brat for him to tame as well?" he called out to Boots, who ran past with a portion of food intended for Temp.

"Bat is nice!" she called, nearly tripping as she halted in front of Henry and Thanatos. "Bat tells great stories. I like flying with bat." She reached out and patted Thanatos' face. "But I liked it more when you made me fly," she said to Henry, reaching up and poking his cheek. "Make me fly! Me fly!"

"When next we are in the flier's land, remind me," whispered Henry to her, and Boots giggled, whereas Gregor's eyebrow shot up.

"She recognized you first," the Overlander mumbled.

"My heart nearly stopped," said Henry. "I feared that you might catch on. But then you told her, "That's the Death Rider, not Henry"." He snorted with laughter.

"I feel a bit stupid for that now, yeah." Gregor sighed. "By the way, I just wanted to say . . . Uh, thanks again for yesterday." He wrung his hands, staring at the ground. "I guess I never thought that I should bother anyone with all of that, but . . ." He broke off, shrugging.

"You are never bothering me." Henry patted his back.

"That thing you said about being a child?" Gregor began again. "I . . . haven't really felt like a child in ages. See, I'm used to handling things alone. My family has enough problems as is. I had to be a grown-up for my sisters, and then I'm the warrior, and . . . I guess what I'm trying to say is thanks for . . . for . . ."

"I will remind you as many times as I need that you are a child," said Henry with a smile, feeling an ounce of his inspirational spirit return. "Many have to grow up young, but even grown-ups should not shoulder problems all by themselves."

"No one should battle fears or problems by themselves," added Thanatos.

"Lay your fears on me if you want," offered Henry. "Lay them on Ares, or even on your family. They are your family. Were I them, I would want to help you battle them. Battling fears that you cannot conquer on your own without help only leads to making errors in judgment and sinking into despair," he mumbled.

"You want someone by your side to dissipate your fears if you cannot do it yourself," concurred Thanatos.

"But I don't want to bother anyone." Gregor wrung his hands.

"It is not a bother to be there for someone you cherish," replied Henry. "Or would you be bothered if they laid their fears on you?"

Gregor vehemently shook his head, then froze. "Oh . . ."

"See?" Henry nudged his arm. "And this is why—"

A sudden sound from the corner where the nibblers lay cut Henry off mid-sentence: "Mm . . ."

All heads immediately flew around to the nibblers, and despite the sting in his skull, Henry pulled himself to his feet. Gregor caught and supported him as they made their way over to the nibblers together.

"M . . . must follow . . . follow . . ."

Henry dropped by Teslas' side, as did Luxa and Gregor. The rest of the questers assembled behind them, and Howard pushed through to the front, feeling his paw to ascertain if his fever had risen.

"Teslas?" urged Henry. "Teslas, hear you?" Teslas groaned, the stump of his tail twitching when Henry pressed his hands into his clumped, black fur. "It is I, the Death Rider. Teslas, hear you? Whom must you follow? Where . . . where are the others?"

"Do not overburden him," heeded Howard, whipping out his medical kit. "His fever has gone up. If he is delirious, I must sedate him."

"Not yet," urged Luxa. "Let him speak. Please, Howard, let him first speak."

As if Teslas had understood her, his eyes suddenly snapped open. But the look he gave them was misted, far away.

"Teslas, it is the Death Rider," said Henry. "The Death Rider and the Queen. The Overland warrior." Despite everything, he suddenly felt a swell of fear that Teslas may call him by name in his current state.

But then Teslas' vision cleared and he took them all in. "He . . . Death Rider," he breathed. "You followed me."

"I followed you," said Henry. "Your trail of scythes."

"Mouse is hurt?" asked Boots, but Gregor caught her in his arms before she could come any closer.

"He's very hurt," mumbled Gregor.

"I know you," said Teslas, gazing around. "The Overlander. Queen Luxa. Did you speak to my daughter? My Cevian!" he wailed. "Tell her that she must help. Must help . . . You must help us."

"I . . . heard what Cevian had to say," said Luxa in a stale voice. "I will help you, and so will we all."

Upon that, his expression eased a little. "They did not want to listen," mumbled Teslas, his tail twitching erratically. "They wanted to move where the gnawers led them . . . madness! It is madness, I say!"

"Yes, madness! Madness is what I said!" A second voice suddenly cut the air, and all heads turned to Cartesian, who had sat up behind Teslas, staring at him incredulously. "You! I recall you! You came from the jungle to warn of the gnawers!"

Teslas met his gaze, and the two nibblers exchanged a meaningful look. Then Cartesian curled up on his side, cradling his splinted paw against his chest. "Had they only listened!" he wailed. "After you had to leave, I know I promised that I would convince them to follow, but I could not. Forgive me! Forgive me, I failed!" he screamed. "And now, the others . . . the others . . . Where are the others? Where are the others?" His whimpers began anew, drowning the cave in sorrow, and a part of Henry felt an odd discomfort when Howard shortly thereafter sedated him.

But perhaps it was better, he thought, turning to Teslas again. Perhaps, like this, they were saving him from feeling pain for a little while longer.

"He . . . Death Rider, you must follow them, hear you?" urged Teslas, tugging at his sleeve so hard that he almost toppled. "Queen Luxa, you must follow them. I tried, we tried, I . . ." He inhaled sharply. "I traversed all tunnels. I hid, and I ran, and I followed, and you must always do the same. You must do the same!"

A cold shiver coursed through Henry, and he clung to Teslas' arm with more force. How much suffering did he have to face to be here now, alive?

"I followed them. I did not follow the others down the cliff, no . . ." mumbled Teslas. "The gnawers would have wanted me to, but I did not. I knew I could not. I had to find my own colony. They said . . . that they had them here, and I had to find them!" He heaved. "I followed them, always followed, followed . . . And then I . . . saw them. They . . . chased them down this way. Only a few more corners, Teslas, then you can warn them, then . . . then . . . must follow, must—"

Teslas suddenly emitted a high-pitched howl, startling Henry so that he fell back in shock. Howard rushed over with the painkiller at once.

"Did you hear?" Luxa latched onto Howard's arm before he could sedate Teslas. "He said that they chased the other colony down this path."

"Walked an awfully long distance," said Ripred behind them. "Mighty determined, isn't he?"

"Always has been," mumbled Henry.

"He was there . . . He said he saw the other mice," whispered Gregor. "He . . . saw them die. By the cliff."

"We must be close. We must fly on," urged Luxa. "Please, let us fly on!"

"Something dreadful is ahead, something dreadful is. Difficult to make peace now, it will be difficult."

"Don't say that!" Henry hissed in Temp's direction, who had risen to his hinds beside Gregor. "It's not over yet. Not for Teslas' colony. Not until I see their lifeless bodies with my own eye will I give up hope."

"We must fly on," mumbled Thanatos. "We must finish what Teslas started." And although Temp's antennas twitched with apprehension, he said nothing anymore.

A dire silence descended upon them, disrupted only by the nibblers' laborious breaths. "He came so far," Luxa spoke up first. "We are here because of him. He led you, and you led us."

"He might have saved them all. His entire species," said Ripred.

"And his effort shall not be in vain," added Aurora.

"We must not allow it." Despite his aching head, Henry pulled himself to his feet, meeting Luxa's resolved gaze. "Let us not let the Bane win. Let us go save them. Those we still can save." From the way she looked back at him, Henry thought Luxa had understood his silent "as we vowed to".

When the currents allowed it, they pressed on. Some seating had to be rearranged; Teslas went on Thanatos with Gregor and Boots, while Aurora carried Luxa and Henry. Howard stayed on Nike with Cartesian, Ripred, and Temp on Ares, and Hazard with Thalia.

The wounded remained wounded, but even Howard didn't protest when they reloaded the fliers in grim silence. Now, they once again had a lead, and so they could only afford so much caution.