Author Notes: Sorry, it's been a while but this year has been one for the record books on the number of things that have gone wrong.
You are all amazing people. Thank you for your reviews, comments, kudos and sticking with me.
I'm learning Trigedasleng and will use Trigedasleng for words and phrases I know, and are common, at least to me. English translations will be located at the end of every chapter. Please let me know if any of my Trigedasleng and my translations are wrong so that I can fix them.
I have a feeling that once you read the next few chapters you are all going to want to tie me to a tree and give me the death of a thousand cuts but all I can do is ask for you to be patient.
As always, if you see any inconsistencies, spelling and/or grammar issues please let me know.
Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Disclaimer: Characters and plot are properties of Kass Morgan and the CW. I own nothing except my own ideas.
Chapter 10:
Everyone in the room gasps as Roan revealed what they had hidden. Titus's expression hardens as he sees the red Commander's cape folded neatly under Lexa's shoulder guard both with traces of black blood on them. The room is still as everyone takes in what sat within Roans outreached hands. The Ambassadors look confused while Titus remained as emotionless as ever.
"What is the meaning of this, Titus?" The Floukru Ambassadors asked. Unable to answer the question Titus remains quiet.
"This means that the Fleimkepa has been lying to us in order delay the Conclave until they can figure out a way to prevent Ontari from participating."
"Let's not jump to anything. All we know is that the Commander has lost you shoulder guard during battle. She may only be injured."
"With the amount of blood my warriors found no one could have survived" King Roan answered.
"The Commander is not just anyone" Titus fought back.
"Fine, send out your search party, my warriors will even guild them to where they found the Commander's belongings and when that is all done we will prepare for the Conclave" King Roan announced passing the shoulder guard to Titus leaving the room followed by Ontari and a hand full of the other Ambassadors.
Titus remained standing with the Ambassadors of Floukru, Podakru and Trishanakru not believing their own eyes. It had to be a tick something Azedga had come up with in order to seize control. Nothing made sense. Murphy claimed to have searched the area and found nothing that would lead to the Commander whereabouts and if so Indra would have returned.
Titus walked slowly and placed the Commander's belonging gently on her throne before calling in the guards. "Send as many warriors as you can, search the village and all surrounding areas. Find the Commander" he ordered and with a blow the guard left. "Place extra guards to watch over the young Nabilitas. They go wherever the Nabilitas go and place warriors to stand guard while they sleep. I do not trust Azgeda to follow the rules of the Conclave, if it comes to that" Titus ordered never looking up from the black blood stained shoulder guard.
000~~~*~~~000
"We need to get outta here," Murphy said tossing a bag onto Clarke's bed and began filling it with clothes and supplies he had laid out on the mattress.
"What are you talking about, Murphy? Titus assured us that we would be safe" Kane questioned stepping away from the window that overlooked Polis, still in awe about how Polis looked even illuminated by candles.
"I know you want all this to work out but it's not. The Commander is still missing and thanks to Roan and that chick most of the other clans believe her to be dead which means the end of all this. Personally, I plan on being hundreds of miles from here when it all comes crashing down" Murphy answered.
"You're overreacting. The Coalition will hold and when Lexa returns Skaikru will become the 13th clan again and we will have peace."
"Haven't you been listening? The Coalition has been on the rocks since Clarke killed the Mountain Men and Clarke convincing the Commander to not destroy Arkadia after the massacre didn't help matters. So right now we need to focus on getting a message to Clarke and getting the hell out of here."
"What are you talking about?" Kane asked concern filling his voice.
"Clarke never told you?" Murphy asked finally stopping to look at Kane, who shook his head. 'Typical' "Why do you think she was shot?" Murphy questioned.
"Octavia told Abby that there was an assassination attempt on the Commander's life by people still loyal to Queen Nia. Clarke told us that the Commander understands that if we continued on the path we were on then we would eventually end up destroying the world once again."
"That was the cover story" Murphy informed him. "Long story short, after the massacre the people of the Coalition, including the Commander, wanted Skaikru to pay, the whole jus drein jus daun thing but Clarke convinced her otherwise. When the Commander learned about Pike's attack on that village she put up the blockade with the kill order which the village leader saw as weakness tried to kill her but failed. Titus, believing Clarke was the one making the Commander weak, had a plan to kill her and blame me hoping to force the Commander to attack Arkadia but luckily he's a crappy shot."
Kane stood there taking in everything Murphy had told him. He understood why Clarke had lied but not why she wouldn't have told him or her mother the truth, however, before he was about to ask the doors to Clarke's room flow open and Titus stormed in quickly closing the doors behind him.
"Put these on. You need to leave now" Titus instructed passing each of them a robe.
"Already ahead of you," Murphy said motioning to his packed back while he pulled the robe over his head.
Seeing the questions form on Kane's face, Titus shook his head, "I don't have time to explain but you need to find Clarke and the Commander, tell them what has happened and bring them back," Titus said in a hushed voice.
"Wait, what changed?" Kane asked still not putting on the robe.
"Clarke told me to somehow send her a signal if Polis was in danger before I took Emori and hightailed it out of here. something she could see no matter where she was, I was thinking about what to do when you walked in" Murphy said ignoring Kane's question and picking up his bag.
Titus took a moment "I'll handle that but you must go. Things are happening quickly and we don't have time. I can easily sneak you out through the tunnels under the cloud of night but it will not last much longer" Titus informed them gesturing them to follow.
Murphy stood there for a moment studying Titus, noticing that he has never been nerve before or showed any sort of worry and then the realization hit him like a ton of bricks, "The Conclave. That Ontari girl forced the Conclave" Murphy stated.
Titus took a deep breathe "The time of mourning has begun. The Conclave is to begin in 2 days. The Commander and Wanheda must return before it begins."
"I don't understand. When was this decided, the scouts only left last night? Why wasn't I informed that your scouts had returned already or that there was a meeting?" Kane injected.
Titus looked at him "Yes and a few hours ago I was informed of the scouts returned and ordered them to meet me in the throne room alone. However when I arrived the scouts were speaking with Roan and Ontari and the other Ambassadors were present. The scouts had returned without the Commander and no new information the Ambassadors quickly agreed with Roan and declared the Commander dead."
"How did they know?"
"That is still a mystery. The scouts weren't to be except untill tomorrow at the earliest. I can only assume that Roan called a meeting of the clans behind our back before their returned and must have managed to convince them of the Commander's death even those who had sided with us earlier. It is also possible they could have gotten to the scouts as well but their loyalist have always laid with the Commander. There was nothing either of us could have done. If Wanheda was here maybe this could have been prevented but..."
"If this was all decided this morning why wait until now to tell us?" Kane questioned cutting him off.
"There were more immediate situations that I needed to attend to in order to preserve the Commander's legacy" Titus answered. "Now come, you must get going."
'Something isn't right' Murphy thought and knew Titus felt the same as he walked out of Clarke's room eager to get out of Polis and find Emori and Clarke as fast as possible.
"How are you planning to get word to Clarke?" Murphy asked as they quickly made their way through the tower, Titus leading them down the maze of stairways and passageways.
"After the new Commander is chosen, the torch at the top of the Tower is used to burn the body the of previous Commander and a powder is added to change the smoke's color to inform the other clans. Wanheda will be able to see the smoke no matter where she is within the clans. I will light it after the both of you are safely through the tunnel."
"Wouldn't that escalate Azgeda's plan causing them to call for the conclave sooner?" Kane asked.
"The period of mourning is sacred. Not even Azgeda would deny the people the chance to honor their Heda" Titus said wholeheartedly.
They only had a few floors before they would be free of the Tower when a loud horn echoed through the walls breaking through the silence.
"No" Titus silently exclaimed horror covering his face as he quickly switched directions and headed towards the elevator followed by Kane and Murphy who gave each other questionable looks both hoping that what they all feared didn't come to pass.
Time slowed as the small grouped walked into the already crowded throne room and made their way to the front fearing what they were going to find when they got there. To their horror, it was what they had feared.
"I won," Ontari said sitting proudly on the Commander's throne covered in Nightblood once her eyes landed upon the Flamekeeper.
Translations:
Floukru – Boat People
Fleimkepa – Flame Keeper
Podakru – Lake People
Trishanakru – Glowing Forest