Gregor tells the full story to Solovet, who takes him to the hospital wing of the palace to have his nose and legs tended. She then takes him to Boots, who is well on her way to recovery, and he sees his father resting peacefully. The Underlanders have trimmed his beard and given him fresh clothes. Gregor asks if his father will be okay. Solovet says: “No one who spends years with the rats can expect to be unchanged […] but will his mind and body heal? I believe so” (287). 

Mareth embraces Gregor and tells him that the rats have fallen into chaos since they received news of King Gorger’s death. Gregor heads back to his room, bathes, eats, and sleeps until Luxa bursts in and tells him the Council is going to banish Ares. She cries: “He did not know, Gregor! He did not know of Henry’s plot anymore than I” (289). She leads him to a small arena with bleachers, on which rest several hundred bats and humans around a central stage. On the stage, alone and ashamed, is Ares. Gregor and Luxa run onto the stage, and Gregor yells at everyone to stop.