Gregor the Overlander

Gregor’s decision to bond with Ares is the ultimate exemplar of equality in the series: “Ares the flier, I bond to you, our life and death are one. We two, in dark and flame, in war and strife, I save you as I save my life” (292). Gregor makes himself equal to one of the non-human creatures of the Underland and to the Underlanders as well. 

Here, the emotional bond that formed before the ceremonial bond is paramount. Ares and Gregor’s bond is an expression of moral fiber and individual personal choice. By choosing to save Gregor over Henry, Ares shows loyalty to Regalia and the bat kingdom. Though he and Henry swore to live and die together, when Henry betrays their joint kingdoms, Ares makes a decision as an individual to save Gregor. It is this choice that changes the course of the series. 

While Gregor bonds with Ares in a ceremony, on a stage, surrounded by hundreds of onlookers, Boots also is part of a meaningful ritual. The crawlers perform the sacred Ring Dance around her, which they had only before performed for Bartholomew of Sandwich. Gregor and Boots have very different arcs in Gregor the Overlander, but both forge emotional connections with non-humans and have those connections honored through ritual and ceremony.