Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods-3 by Suzanne Collins Page B

grow a new one."

    "Yeah," said Gregor weakly. "That's a neat trick." The cockroach had lost two legs in a squid attack, but Ripred said he had grown them back in the Dead Land.

    "They could not save it. The infection spread too deep. But what need have I for a leg when I have Andromeda to ride upon?" said Mareth. As if he had suddenly remembered about his bat, Mareth passed a hand across his eyes.

    "She's going to be okay, Mareth," said Gregor. "The meeting's going to start any minute.
    There's got to be a cure. They'll find it."

    "This is what I believe," said Mareth, pulling himself together. "They tested you? Your blood is clear?"

    "I'm fine. So is Boots. And I guess you're okay, too, since you're not behind glass," said Gregor.

    "Yes, somehow. It does not entirely make sense to me," said Mareth. "How some of us escaped it."

    "I know. It's weird," said Gregor.

    "Everyone was so afraid you would not come. But I knew you would," said Mareth.

    "Of course I came. I mean, it's only for a few hours," said Gregor.

    Mareth looked confused. "A few hours? Did Vikus tell you this?" he asked.

    "Yeah, he said you guys just needed us for the meeting. Then we can go home," said Gregor. "Someone else is going to find the cure."

    "Vikus said this? That you are not to go on a quest to find the cure with the gnawers?
    You are certain?" said Mareth.

    "That's what he said." Gregor thought for a moment, and hesitated. "Well...no, I guess Vikus didn't tell me that himself. He sent Ripred to tell me," said Gregor. "But Ripred wouldn't lie about..."

    A terrible realization came over Gregor. Yes, Ripred would. He would lie. If he thought it was the only way to get Gregor and Boots to the Underland, Ripred would lie in a second.

    ***

CHAPTER 8
    Gregor hurried back up through the palace and ran into Vikus, his mom, and Boots outside the luxury room. He needed to talk to Vikus about this whole cure thing, but he couldn't do it in front of his mom. Maybe Mareth was wrong and Ripred was right. Maybe they were supposed to find the cure in a lab, not on some dangerous quest somewhere. Maybe it was all a misunderstanding.

    "Where on earth have you been?" said his mother. "I thought you just went to the bathroom."

    "I did but...I threw up," said Gregor. "And it took some time for my stomach to settle."

    "You sick?" His mom's hand was instantly on his forehead.

    "No, Mom, I feel fine now," said Gregor.

    "Well, that stew was pretty rich. And then all this flying around. You never did have a strong stomach," she said. "He gets carsick on long trips, too," she told Vikus. "We have to travel with a plastic bag."

    Okay, this was one of those mom-things Gregor had been worried about. His dad would never tell people how the warrior had to travel with a plastic bag. And she didn't even know what she was talking about because flying on bats didn't upset his stomach. Still, this was better than telling her about seeing Ares. "I'm fine, Mom. So, is it time for the meeting?"

    "Yes, let us proceed to the arena," said Vikus.

    Nike and Euripedes, Vikus's big gray bat, flew them all to the oval-shaped arena used for sports events and military training. The playing field was covered in a soft, springy moss and seating for a large crowd topped the high walls. The arena was on the edge of Regalia and shut off from the city by towering, stone doors. Across the field from the doors were a few tunnels, some flush with the ground, others high in the air, which led away from the city.

    When they flew into the arena, the stands were empty. Most of the creatures attending the meeting were down on the field. All three species — the bats, the cockroaches, and the rats —
    stood in their own clump. There was no interaction between them. It reminded Gregor of the beginning of a track meet, when the teams were assembled around the field warming up, each in a different-colored jersey.

    "Ready to make some new friends?" Gregor said to his mom, trying to sound