"Do you not have duties at the hospital, Cousin?" asked Luxa.
"I am free until the night shift," said Howard. "Surely you are planning to return by then."
What could they say? What could they possibly say to prevent him from coming along?
"Of course. But I am unable to invite you to join us, Howard," said Luxa. "Because ... because ..." She looked at Gregor for help.
Only one thing came to his mind. "Because this is kind of like a date," said Gregor.
"A date?" said Howard. The word was clearly unfamiliar to him.
"You know, when you hang out with just one girl. Not your friends," said Gregor. It was such an outrageous statement, he couldn't believe he had uttered it. With really just the right touch of embarrassment, too. The expression on Luxa's face was indescribable. He decided to go with it. "Okay, see, now Luxa's mad because I wasn't supposed to tell anyone."
Luxa flushed bright pink, but she had no choice but to go along with him. "Yes. Yes. I thought it was a private matter."
"Well, it is. But do you want Howard coming along on our date?" said Gregor. Like he knew anything about dates! Not only had Gregor never been on a date but his mother would probably never even let him ask a girl out until he had finished high school. Once he had gone to a party at his friend Angelina's home and he'd been too shy to ask anyone to dance. But here he was. The date guy.
For just a moment, Howard actually seemed like he might be buying it. Then his eyes rested on the hamper. "That seems like an awfully large hamper for one ... date."
It was ridiculously large. For two people. On a date.
"It is none of your business, Howard," said Luxa in a dangerous tone. "Go and let us be."
"I cannot. Though it be at the risk of intruding," said Howard. "You see, Nike and I, we know about the crown."
There was a pause.
"Hermes mentioned he delivered the crown to you in passing," said Nike. "And I told Howard its meaning. Of how you gave the crown to the nibblers in the jungle and instructed them to send it to you if they ever had need of your help."
"Oh!" Luxa literally stamped her foot on the ground. "You cannot come!"
"Let them come, Luxa," said Gregor. "We might need their help."
"Stay out of this!" said Luxa.
"I tried to, remember?" said Gregor.
"Here are your choices. You take Nike and me along on whatever mad scheme you have cooked up, or I go directly to Vikus," said Howard.
And as if on cue, Vikus appeared, an armful of scrolls rattling under his arm. "Did I hear my name? What is all this, then? A pleasure outing?"
"A picnic," said Gregor, Luxa, and Howard in unison.
"A picnic?" asked Vikus. "I wish I had time to join you. That's quite a basket. How many are you expecting?"
A flutter of peach-colored wings drew everyone's attention, and Thalia landed in the High Hall. That could only mean one thing. And there they were — Boots, decked out in her princess attire, and Hazard running in to meet the bat. Temp pattered along behind them.
"Hazard, I thought you and Boots were with the nibbler pups," said Luxa.
"We were. But it is time for flying at the arena," said Hazard. His face lit up as he spotted the basket. "Oh, are we going on a picnic? You didn't tell me."
"It was meant to be a surprise," said Luxa. "I was just about to send for you."
"Well, mount up, then," said Vikus. He lifted Boots up onto Ares behind Gregor.
"Now what?" thought Gregor. It was bad enough that they were sneaking off to the nibbler colony on their own, but if his mom found out he'd taken Boots along ... well, he'd rather face another round of snakes than that.
Temp skittered up next to Boots as Vikus settled Hazard on Thalia's back. "Enjoy yourselves and be home for supper," he said.