Chapter 20: Building a Future, Burning the Evil Queen
Chapter Summary
Ontari takes note of what she needs to do for the future of the Thirteen Clans.
Chapter Notes
Whew, three weeks of pounding and editing on these three chapters to get them done and uploaded says a lot.
Hope that you enjoy.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Ontari sat working on the list that would be making up the lot of the 100 Azgeda that would be in the bunker. So far, she had come up with 20 names, but out of those names 5 were not going to be in Polis. Clarke had looked like a wreck after she had put Skaikru's Together. now with this rough list before her she now understood why.
How do you pick a hundred people to help keep your society alive?
What skills do you keep?
What knowledge is necessary?
Do you pick the Strongest?
Do you pick the wisest?
Do you pick of the most noble families?
Do you pick the richest?
Do you pick the most powerful?
Or do you just chuck it up to chance?
Ontari leaned back and looked up at the clouds gathering in the sky.
Ontari had learned a lot about the Hundred and their ways, mostly they followed the rules that to survive you must pull your weight.
They valued life and freedom above all else and despise those who would deprive other of them. Neutral good characters sometimes find themselves forced to work beyond the law. Yet for the Law, and the greater good of the people. They are not vicious or vindictive. But are people drive to right the injustice. However. Neutral good characters always attempt to work within the law whenever possible.
Ontari understood why Lexa was so attracted to them.
For Jasper, she saw that sometimes that breaking the rules was needed make things work.
She had attempted to swoon him with her body when they had shared warmth.
Gods...
What had started out as a means for her to gain power had resulted in her finding some peace.
Jasper had still seen her as being that girl in the coffee shop.
He wanted to connect with her. Not as a Nightblood or as a Commander. Just Ontari herself.
Those memories of her time in the City of Light- shit-
Without all of that Pain Nia had done to her, she had become kinder.
Now, as she looked over the list of the Hundred Skaikru that Clarke had selected to be placed into the bunker made her think of those who would also be going in there with her from her own Kru.
Several of the names on this list were of the "Need to survive" lot. Those with knowledge of technology or social customs that Skairku was going to need in the future. Ontari took note of where those hundred names were currently on the shelter list and where they were at in setting up or working at getting other shelters going.
Ontari drew out a sheet of paper and wrote a few names down from her own people.
The first few names were easy: Roan, Clovis, but as she came up with another name, she stopped. The more she tried to get another name down, she just stopped.
How do you judge who is to stay in the bunker?
Ontari looked not so much at the names, but as she moved to look at Clarke's list, she took note that she had not so much picked these people for their family or personal connections to her.
She had picked them because of their skills or their ability to at least learn new ones within the bunker.
Skills. And a background of doing hard work without question.
Ontari started to explore the jobs that Clarke had chosen.
Most of this information seemed to be fairly over her head, but for Bekka who was looking at it as well with her several skills started to emerge.
Most of the skills Clarke had chosen had to do with what they needed to keep the Ark going. But others were based on skills like farming and Hunting.
Realizing that She had the same decisions to make, she started to write up skills of various trades she had known growing up.
There were over a hundred jobs, most of which she had to rack her brain to remember.
100 slots.
Hundred roles.
She copied the list eleven more times leaving space for each kru to be added.
It wasn't much but... it would be a start.
She started out with the Azgeda first and put down the names of those who had been part of the Azgeda delegation that had come to Polis with herself and Nia and later Roan.
Not a lot of spots had been filled, but it was a beginning.
Getting up she walked and started to listen to the window and looked out upon the city.
She needed a way to sort this out.
Census.
A voice in her head called out
"Bekka." Ontari spoke out.
"No..." The voice was different. "Ory..." The woman's voice was calm.
"I was hoping for Bekka." Ontari stated.
"Yeah- well Bekka and Lexa are a little busy sorting out the folks on the Other Side and getting folks housed."
"Well, I am in the same place here."
"Mind that I look through your memories for a bit."
"Sure... But stay away from what me and Jasper-"
"Avoiding images your nightly carnal snugglefest. Understood."
Ontari glared as Ory moved into Ontari's more recent memories.
"Okay... You have a good start. Good questions. Your demographics and what Clarke looked for in her settlement are a good start." That was when Ory took control of Ontari's hand.
What flowed out was a set of set of over a hundred jobs.
"These are-"
"Jobs, but If you think of what you need to do and what whom has the skills, it helps cut down the crap. Though it doesn't help on the heartbreak as... it might look good on paper, but it comes down whom you would trust in getting the job right. There is some work from an apprentice I trust better than one who has been doing it for ages." Ory's words sounded very professional.
Ory wasn't talking down to Ontari, but more acting as an advisor who had been through the doldrums of paperwork.
"Okay... now comes the hard part of going through the damn census and finding those skills that will fit the bunker. Now Clarke has a good list of names. I need to see if there are any youth who might make good apprentices."
"Wait... you want to-."
"Well, Apprentice's work as a way to keep the peace. If they are respected by most of the clans for doing a good job... folks cut them slack. Plains riders like Delphi Blacksmiths as their Farriers because they know how to make a decent horseshoe. The Shallow Valley have this weakness for a type of fruit drink and making sure that their crops are good as farmers."
After a while Ontari felt Ory walk through the paperwork and she forced herself to relax and listen to the lessons at hand. Ory seemed to almost relish at the administrative stuff and knowledge of how their society had emerged after the time Great Burning of the lands. Apprenticeship from the SCA Society that Bekka had befriended during her early years had been the godsend to help society back onto its feet.
Getting up, Ontari grabbed a piece of chalk and a ladder and placed it against the wall and started to write out the job titles in twenty columns across the old concrete surface. Then she split the each of the sections into five rows. At the top of Each column, she placed a job title there before repeating the process down each of the five rows.
Ontari didn't need the best of each Clan.
She needed the best teacher from Each clan to help get things going and keep them going.
At the top of the cell that had the word Healer she placed Abbi Kon Skaikru's name there. Then she placed her name under it.
At that moment Ontari realized what she had done, but before she could erase it a comfort set in for her.
Being Heda was one thing, but if she truly needed to be there for her people, she needed to pull her weight.
Lexa had been trained as a fighter, but she had the gift as being an excellent tutor and educator. Lexa's hand touched Ontari's shoulder and Ontari felt the late Commander's understanding as she looked at the block that held a vacancy for the names for Tutors.
"Lexa... I will find a name of someone that you will feel comfortable with in that position." Ontari spoke as she put the words "For honoring Lexa's role in education" in the box.
The more Ontari worked putting names into the boxes, there were moments she needed to cry. Times she needed to scream. Other times she headed out of the room and grabbed on guard, or a servant and just talked to them about their lives. Something just to feel connected to the world. The small things that just held the world together.
"LaRue." Ontari called out to the Female Guard in the room. "Gather..." she needed to state this right. "Go and start gathering the records from Lexa's census. Also grab..." She needed to state this with some understanding. "Anyone who knows how to read... fuck knows how to read these reports. I have a lot of work to get done."
"Understood Heda." LaRue stated as she was about to leave. "Should I grab Azgeda..."
"Grab anyone of any Kru you can find." Then Ontari added. "While you are out, find some serious ale and lots, and I do mean Lots of Claw."
"Claw as in-"
"The Morning Brew Tea. We are going to need it for what we have to do."
"Oh, it is going to be one of those nights." LaRue stated as she left the room. "And I thought when Roan was culling through his War Chiefs was ugly."
Ontari looked at the initial lists of names that Clarke, had created. If the look of tears and emotional guilt had been the price for this first list then Her's was done with the lessons learned from its creation.
It wasn't seen as a weakness, but given that these individuals looked at the names she was placing down the realization started to sink in that their Commander was asking for some insight.
Ontari was doing her best to gain the knowledge she so needed of whom was going to be in the bunker.
Ontari wasn't going to be picking the strongest or the wisest. She was picking those who could grow into those roles.
The ones who could learn and teach those to come.
Families were good.
But also, the skills to make those families flourish in the years to come.
Clan politics was one thing, but that would be dealt with in time. Azgeda and the Rockline had good treaties, so she needed to ensure that she was on good terms with Trikru. Skaikru... well, they had helped save her life and they had allies with Trikru- Pike had caused harm to those relationships, but those who actually knew the Skaikru knew it was the work of only a few and not the entire clan. Ontari would need every ounce of help from them to keep the peace. Right now, her goal was to save the lives of the people. She had bled for these people. Now...
Shit was getting tired.
Well, she wasn't getting an alert buzz from the Flame to tell her to eat.
With that Ontari walked over to the couch and promptly fell asleep.
She didn't stir even when Jasper came and placed a blanket over her. Though she did shift when he kissed her on the forehead, right on her flame glyph when she sensed that it was Jasper. Then she relaxed and slept so hard that she snored.
For those who knew her that was a good sign as she had worked the problem to its conclusion or to the start of its resolution.
The work on the wall pointed to what Ontari was aiming for and it looked nice.
In the tavern called the Boar's Nest, a good pair of brothers and their cousin sat at a table. Johnny, Ashton and Wolf sat looking at large dark-skinned woman in the Flamekeeper robe. She was reading over a scroll and shaking her head. She rubbed at her left arm where she had the tattoo of her order in an attempt to force the sacred glyphs deeper into her skin.
"Damn you Titus... you and the others fucked up the Flamekeepers. We were supposed to guide the knowledge of the flame for future generations, not become queen and king makers. We were supposed to only be their advisors."
She pulled her long dyed blonde locks of braided hair out of the way as they tried to snake their way over her shoulder.
Johnny got up and walked over with a pitcher of Mudder's milk to her.
"You are the Flamekeeper that was with Ontari when she found the bunker here in the city?"
The woman looked up as her body looked tired.
"I am..."
"I heard the bit about what you said about Titus." Johnny pointed over to the scrolls that were around her. "Are those the scrolls that the Skaikru Flamekeeper found on what Titus did?" The woman nodded.
"They are!" She looked like crap. "Figures that you and the rest of your order are doing your best to clean up the mess that Titus left in-"
"He... destroyed the trust of the Commanders in us. He... He murdered Lexa when she was shifting towards polices that would have-"
"Then the story is true that he killed Heda Lexa." she nodded.
"Murphy kom Skaikru, though not a member of our order, learned the secrets of Bekka during his quests to find inner peace."
"I heard of the Skaikru ritual- Walk-about." The woman nodded.
"Yes... Wanheda herself was on it when she captured and brought here under Lexa's orders. Though Murphy's quest seemed to have led him to learn about the secrets of Bekka and the truth behind it."
"What did he learn?"
"That Bekka, though not Skaikru, had traveled to one of their sky settlements to work on some projects of Her's away from prying eyes. When the Great Fires came, she was stuck in their settlement. After much wok and effort, she was able to steal one of their drop craft to return to the ground, like the one that brought Wanheda and her warriors to our lands. Murphy and his group were looking for those drop craft for the logs and information and materials that they might hold given that they lost one of their settlements just after Primfyre."
"Then what did they find?"
"Well, they tracked the emissions of the signals coming from Bekka's Island Home. They didn't know Alie had taken up residence there and started to use it as her base of operations. But she tried to turn them. Murphy due to him being such a rebel against the cause he had been dragged into went and started to dig into the records of the bunker there where he had been imprisoned. There he started to learn part of the secrets that Alie was searching for."
"As in-" one of the brothers stated.
"As in Alie was searching for Bekka's research material. She knew that it might be with her. Given that Alie knew that Bekka had been on one of the Skaikru settlements then the information might be there. So, she got her followers to head to Arkadia. During the Move Murphy escaped and started to make his way to Polis. When Murphy was caught, he was found with the symbol of the Heda on him. Thus, he was brought to Titus and interrogated. Titus wasn't pleased that this lone Skaikru had learned the secrets that Titus and his brethren had been keeping secret from the Heda. Additionally, Wanheda was in the process of integrating her people into the Collation. So, what would happen if Skaikru started to tell their stories of their ancestors? What if they dragged one of their salvaged drop ships into their settlement and the Heda was there?"
"She would ask where the ships came from."
"And one being located in our temple that Primheda Bekka came down in."
"By the Commanders... The Flamekeepers would-"
"Titus and his lot wouldn't have liked the result."
"Skaikru's lost station becomes more important in stating that they would have more influence. The Heda would have access to their forces right off. That was even before Wanheda offered Lexa a position as an equal among her warriors."
"Shit."
"But in an attempt of cover it us and accidentally killing Lexa, Titus brought about the fall of his and his predecessors' conspiracy when Ontari came to power. Being unstable as she was at the time, and how violent she was."
"Gaia." A voice called out as a tall Skaikru approached.
"Uh... Jasper kon-"
"Here." The young man handed Gaia a book. "'Tari told me to give you this." The female Flamekeeper looked down at the book she had been given and flipped through it.
"This is-"
"A copy of Bekka's journal. Yeah- One of several." the young Skaikru looked like there was some effort put into its creation. "It took longer to get the paper books to be made with the same number of sheets so that we could print copies of the text."
The Flamekeeper flipped through the book again.
"The text looks to be..."
"Bekka's... yeah... Amazing what you can do with a camera, and a C and C plotter that Raven put together out of some old Dee Vee Dee Drives that Emori had scored during her scavenging runs."
"Emori?"
"Murphy's girlfriend... well, fiancée."
"I heard that he had a woman he was..." The female Flamekeeper realized that her fellow Flamekeeper had a life outside of his life of being Ontari's aide.
"Yeah... Ontari had the Nightbloods work on keeping the pens filled with ink and turning pages as the plotter ran printing these out."
"Plotter?"
"A device. we use them to trace out duplicate parts that we need to mill. Sometimes you can run them by hand. Other times you use a camera to catch an image and tell it to follow all of the dark spots in the image. Takes forty forever's to do a complex page or item, but it is perfectly done."
"So, this page, this writing is a-"
"Line by line, page by page perfect transcription of and image plot of everything old Bekka wrote and sketched down." The Skaikru sighed. "I read some of it and- well Ontari is a lot like Bekka... Minus the crap Nia did to her, but... the subtitle things are there. The personality quirks, the guilt when crap went wrong, and most of all, the grit of put things right. Trust me when the two of then talk..." There was a sigh, "I swear, I am only getting half of the conversation, but she calms down and understands that the way she is... all of her quirks, comes from Bekka being a member of her family."
"She is a complicated individual."
"Not so much, but I sense that she is doing her best given the mess she got dropped into. I am just glad that she has people around her to help advise and guide her. Both in and out of her head. Bekka misses her friend Kalliope, but she is glad that there are those who wish to return the people back to the ideals it your society was founded upon."
"I am glad that she has been communing with the Flame." Gaia stated.
"About that." Jasper stated, "I checked up on Ontari a little while ago and I think that she needs a little insight on some subjects."
The Flamekeeper looked concerned.
"What does she need?"
"You are a Flamekeeper Searcher, right?"
The Flamekeeper nodded.
"Okay... Ontari is sorting through folks she needs for the civic side of who is going in the bunker. It's not the full list yet, but she needs some information about some of the leaders she is going to be putting in to keep the culture stable in there." Jasper moved and flipped open the book that he had given Gaia and looked at a page.
"Kalliope kom Trikru."
"Yeah... She was-"
"Pramfleimkepa. What about it?"
"Well, that wasn't her only role. She was also the head of... Well, she was your guy's teacher. She sort of founded your cultural stuff."
"And...
"Well... How about taking the job of lead educator? Ethan said that you were knowledgeable and given that you are a decedent of the Polaris station got some folks among the Arkers willing to listen to you. Plus being Indra's daughter is the frosting on top that we know where you are coming from."
"My mother..."
"Is a pain in the ass, but a pain in the ass that the leaders of two clans respect. That and Kane wants to help the two of you reconcile."
"I..."
"The Hundred will back you on any decision you make. Plus... Murphy said that people need faith, not blind faith. And given that you are pissed about this bullshit that... Pardon my language, was used to screw things up for all of the Nightbloods. It is time to do some housecleaning and help revive some of the history of what was lost. So, what about job?"
That was when a young boy came in alongside another Skaikru warrior.
"Hi Gaia."
"Ethan..." The Flamekeeper spoke as she young child approached. Then moved to hug her.
"Ethan wanted to talk with you. Guess between Karina and Ontari, You two are the closest to friends he has-"
"I heard about his father." Gaia stated.
"The Delinquents took him in." the Skaikru with the boy stated.
"What happened to the boy's father?" Johnny stated.
"The Rains." Johnny winced at the statement. "His Mother died in Arkfall." The child was an orphan.
"Gaia... I want to help you put things right with your mom."
"There is-"
"You are scared... I'll be there with you." that was when you boy whispered. "She can be really scary when she looks at you. she backs down when there is more and one person there."
"She doesn't back down."
"Well, she adjusts how mean she wants to be to you."
"She is at that."
"Then will you talk... I'll bring Ontari, Bound... Karina, a few others if it helps you."
"I..." Gaia realized that her role in things to come was going to be far larger than she had expected. That and her history was going to be reconciled with her mother and her adopted sister: Octavia. "I accept your offer."
"That's good to hear."
Several days had passed for Ontari. There were things that needed to be done.
Somethings more painful than others.
Shit... She hated this Black Rain.
It was as if the Gods wanted her to suffer. But in Bekka's name... The Gods were now getting her message.
Ontari sat under the edge of the hatch of the Skaikru transport known as Rover One. Jasper's Jacket felt good against her naked flesh. The blanket covering the rest of her naked form. The rain was pouring and the body of Nia of Azgeda was currently burning.
"You seem calmer since the crazy meltdown." Jasper stated as he moved and hand her a bottle of warmed Mudder's Milk. The chemical heaters were putting out exothermic heat from the moisture in the air. She didn't understand the process, but Jasper... He did. It was like the potion that he had given her in that strange gooey ball that she had tossed against Nia's pickled rotting corpse.
The Thermos full of that warm meal drink sludge wasn't Azgeda Sweet Milk, but right now it was what she needed.
The Cinnamon, Vanilla, and peanut butter combined with milk and yogurt and a shot or three of bourbon that Murphy had been able to procure through a coven of witches via Raven. It was some damn good shit, and soothing. She needed soothing.
"Nia... made may lay in hell... now... seeing-"
"The floating bitch burn." Jasper interlaced his fingers with her's.
"Feels good." Ontari watched the flames chew through the flesh of Nia's pickled flesh. "Jasper, thanks for making that potion to keep her body burning."
"Hey... I made it work on the damn pickle juice that she was preserved in. I guess the reaction is a little stronger than I liked."
Ontari pulled closer to Jasper.
"Well, your experience as a chemist will be known now. Shit... A few of the Trikru took a dump in their pants thinking that you were going to burn them like their lot when they attacked your fort during the Skaikru Trikru conflict."
"I wasn't, but- given that Nia was pickled in all that wine and vinegar to keep her body intact till the-"
"Internal Crap with your Kru was resolved." Ontari leaned back and pulled her feet under her. "Do you think that I am-"
"Weak... No." Jasper stated. "Desperate... Scared. Wanting this chapter of your life to be closed and go away. Yeah."
"But I..."
"You wanted that damn fire to keep burning. Ripping your clothes off. Tossing them on the fire and ranting about all of the shit that Nia did to you."
"I must have-"
"You were a victim of Nia." Jasper moved to pull her close. "That bitch did stuff to you that would give anyone nightmares." That was when Jasper stoked her cheek. Her recent face tattoos showed her growth. Jasper looked at his own pile of clothes that were soaked from the Black Rain and the clean water being dumped onto them. "Tari... When Alie offered to take your pain away and let you lose in the City of Light, you jumped at it."
"I was weak." Ontari's shoulders sagged.
"You were in pain. Traumatized by years of abuse, manipulation and daily torture. Alie offered a way for you to escape. I was in pain too."
Jasper moved and stared to rub her cheek. The laser scar removal that Clarke and Abby had used had removed the "N" from Ontari's cheek. It was a little red from the laser pulsing used to smooth out the damage, but the Tattoos were Ontari's way of getting some peace. The fact that the Tattoos had been done by a member of Trikru clan showed that she wanted to just move on. Everyone knew that she had been a wounded a animal. But know they were getting the chance to see the woman and leader she could be.
"I lost Maya. The girl I loved. I watched her die in a way that no one... No one should ever see. But many now have because of the rains." Jasper took Ontari's hand and stroked her fingers.
"In the City of Light... I loved the library there. I just... I just would pick a few books off of the shelf and just read. I learned to read in there. Alie's instructional program gave me a crash course in how to read and..." Ontari looked up at the ceiling of the Rover. "I felt free."
"No responsibilities as Heda or as Nia's servant. You just dove into a book and- read."
"Yeah."
"Jasper... Ontari are you there?" The radio cracked with Monty's voice. Jasper moved over and picked up the radio.
"Yeah, we are here." Japser stated.
"Is Heda-" A male voice spoke.
"I am here." Ontari reached over and spoke. "I am a little better after-. After my grief." Ontari looked out at a blaring fire outside. "Is everyone alright?"
Ontari was entering into Heda Mode.
"We have a few injuries. A couple of folks have some burns that are being treated. Everyone found shelter where they could find it. Even in the outer buildings, and Skaikru is getting messages from them by their torch lights." Jasper moved to look up in the side panel of the Rover.
"Yeah... one of the folks is signaling that they are alright, just need a clean dry diaper for a baby." Jasper stated. "The rest are talking about some scared kids. And... One is stating that they need a few blankets."
"Jasper is interpreting a few of the messages we can see from here." Ontari stated into the radio. The brick-like device contained technology that she barely understood, but she knew enough that it took the vibrations through the air that contained the sound of her voice tapped them against a magnet. That magnet turned it into a type of electrical wave that was sent to a device that was sent to a device that converted it to a type of energy wave. That wave was moved to different part of the EM spectrum that light was part of, but close enough to it that it shared the same speed. The wave was sent out in all directions till it hit a corresponding device that could read the wave, and run the sequence in reverse and send it out to the speaker where it could be heard.
In terms of her mind. Her voice went from ice, to water, to vapor, that went through the air then back to water then to ice.
Science and its secrets would be one of the things that Ontari would start getting the various clans up to speed on.
"Understood." There as a long pause from the voice on the other side. "Heda... Many of the people are talking about what Queen Nia."
A long pause again.
"Heda... The Trikru knew of her crulity, but you bore it first hand at the pain she unleashed upon you."
"They think I am weak?" Ontari's voice spoke of her concern.
"No... Far from that." The voice seemed to take note from the voice in the background. "That you understand the suffering of what Queen Nia did to so many over the years like no one else. That you are doing your best to undo the damage she did."
"They think that I am-."
"Beyond being a survivor. Only one who has felt such pain at the hurt and loss one had endured at that woman. You are not the only one who is feeling safe since that monster of a woman is being burned."
"Oh..."
"That and seeing why you and the Skaikru boy are so close."
"What?"
"The people saw the scars on both you and that boy's chests where Wanheda dragged the both of you back from the realm of the dead."
"Ah Crap." Jasper stated. "How freaked are they?"
"Is that they the..." Jasper moved and answered the radio.
"Listen... I respect the sprits of the dead. The Commanders are the Commanders. Yes, they show up and talk with her. Lexa took over Tari's body." Ontari hit at him but he stopped her blows. "Lexa asked me to help Ontari here get what she needs done. I was going to do it even without them ordering me." Ontari stopped. Jasper never really told her what happened during that night when Lexa took her body out. But hearing it now, Lexa seemed to have had the blessing of at least one of the Commanders maybe more.
"Jasper?"
"There are things that they asked me to do." Jasper raised his hand.
Ontari fell back on the floor.
"Like what?"
"Be there when you need someone. That, you have a lot of training to make up for given what Nia did. That today is going to be the hardest day that you are going to have to endure. That there are some wounds that will scar over time and others that I have been asked to help heal."
"I..."
"You are not the only victim of Nia's actions. You know the crap she did. You saw her do it. You know what needs to be done to help those in need. There are at least several families who are inside Arkadia who are now going to have some peace tonight knowing that the person that was behind the attack that killed their loved ones has been punished. That those who had been tricked into starting a war with countless other clans have been dealt with."
Jasper paused.
"You shoved that shock rod into Echo and Bellamy enough times that I doubt that either is going to forget their actions."
"Many wanted their deaths."
"But they are people. People with families that were put into impossible situations and decisions that no one should make."
"Seeing them live with the people whose families they harmed seems weak to many, given how piss they are at those people. If they make it through it, then they may have earned some forgiveness for their actions."
"Well Kore, Echo's sister is in your camp for compassion."
"She is Azgeda."
"Yeah... an." Jasper stopped cold as he took note of something outside.
Ontari turned and saw the bloodied form of a man who looked to be more dead than alive approach the fire. After a moment more came.
That was when Lexa spoke.
"Nia's victims have come for her from the other side."
That was when the flames of the fire started to burn brighter.
Jasper and Ontari moved to look through the window of the rover and looked out.
The semi-transparent ghosts of the dead from very clan that Nia had harmed had come for her. Among the dead were Skaikru.
"Gina?" Jasper recognized one of the figures.
"You know her?"
"Yeah... she was Bellamy's girlfriend."
Ontari watched as the spirits went into the fire and dragged-out Nia's ghost and-
Well, what happened next didn't need to be seen as the shriek of the wood echoed in their ears as the dead turned into shadows and dragged her into the darkness.
"Okay... I say that Nia is gone."
"Yeah..." Ontari stated as she pulled the blanket closer around her.
That was when one of the Spirits returned.
It was a young girl who looked to be in her early teens in traditional Archer garments.
"Heda…" The girl knelt before Ontari. The accent was clearly Azgeda and the girl's mannerisms only highlighted that. "I E'ko kom Azgeda am glad that the person that ordered my death by the hand of my friend now is among those she had also wronged. She will be punished for her crimes."
The girl looked towards Jasper.
"Potion Maker. You serve the Heda well." This is when the girl paused. "You are Jasper, correct?"
Jasper nodded.
"Maya… Doesn't blame you nor Shay. They want you to be happy. But they ask that…" This is when E'ko looked at Ontari. "She asks that your first daughter to be named after them."
"Okay." Jasper stated.
"E'ko…" Ontari moved to speak up.
"Yes Heda…" The ghost looked at the Commander.
"Do…"
"The Dead of Azgeda and the other lands will watch over the living to ensure that they get through the long winter ahead. It is the least we can do since we can have some peace."
Then a worried look appeared on the girl's face.
"There are great trials ahead for all the clans. Even the ones of the far off lands. Be ready. The Sora will be the key to turn the judge from foe to ally. To help mentor what needs to come to pass. Before this the Four and the Three will return after the great dig and the great build takes place. There will be secrets learned and lies exposed to help those who need them. Because of this those yet to be born will be saved."
"What does that mean?" Ontari stated.
"I cannot say more, but be ready for the spring to come. The true work will begin."
"Understood." Jasper stated.
Ontari looked at him angerly.
"She…"
"She is limited by what she can tell us 'Tari." Jasper stated. "She is giving us a heads up. Cryptic is better than no intel, and most of it is code."
The ghost girl nodded at this.
"So, take note of what you have said. Understand that the words have a double meaning. Understood."
"Yes." That was when the ghost hugged Ontari. "Thank you."
Ontari realized that she had been given a message from beyond and whatever it meant. The message was clear. Her rule as Heda was going to be in for some challenges.
"I will do my best to navigate the challenges ahead."
"We know." The girl stated as she moved to fade from view as she placed her fingers to her lips and placed her fingers on Ontari's flame glyph on her forehead.
Ontari leaned back and felt that she had been blessed.
"I guess that you have the approval of the dead, that convincing the living is going to be a whole lot easier for you after this."
"Yeah…" Ontari was processing the events that were yet to come.
The Four and the Three will return after the great dig and the great build takes place.
The great dig, the great build. Who were the Four and the Three?
That was when Octavia's voice came over the radio.
"Jasper, Ontari you there?"
Jasper moved to the radio.
"Yeah." Jasper called out.
"Listen… I think me and Ontari have a story that will beat everyone's socks off at the next Harvest Festival. But. Uh… we are going to need some shoes for Ontari. Her's got melted from the Rain."
"Understood."
Yeah… this was story worthy of around the fire of a Harvest Festival.
"Rest E'ko… I'll take your message to heart."
With that Ontari wrote down the words the Azgeda messenger from the other side had sent her.
If this was a map of the future. There were people and places that she needed to be ready for. But if the Long Winter was a prep time, she needed to get the bunkers ready more than ever for the challenges to come.
"Looks like your list of skills just become more important than ever." Jasper stated as he pulled Ontari close.
"Thanks." Ontari stated as she realized that she needed some clothes.
That was when Jasper unzipped a bag and handed her a shirt and some leggings. Ontari looked at them and realized that the shirt had the symbol of the Heda on it.
"Where did you find this?"
"Miller brought it back from Bekka's island." Ontari embraced him as the rain started to hit harder.
For once Ontari felt at peace and realized that her future was before her.
Yes, Challenges, but a path forward away from Nia had her pain.
"Jasper I want to have children."
"Okay." Jasper stated as he kissed her.
"Yeah…. So-" Ontari's hand pulled off the blanket and she sat topless in front of Jasper.
"Here! Now!"
"No," she gestured to the scar on her chest. The image of what she had done with Murphy must have been echoing throughout Jasper's mind minus the chain. "I want you to place your hand on my scar."
"Oh- OH!" Jasper realized at what she wanted to do. "Okay."
Jasper pulled his shirt off and sat near her and let her touch his own scar. The double spear wound that like her connected him to the next world.
"Jasper. I- I'm glad that you are connected to the next world like me," she was jittery but this kept her calm. Jasper turned and looked at her with a gentle caring look in his eyes.
"Hey, if seeing ghosts walking around me and wanting to talk to me. I would feel safer knowing that there was someone who could see and hear them too."
Ontari nodded at this.
"Thanks Jasper." The warmth of his hand over her heart took away some of her fears.
"I am glad to do so." Jasper spoke the words in Tri.
"Jasper?"
"Sorry, I figured that speaking in.-" Ontari leaned in to kiss him before she pulled back. "Oh."
"No, it alright." Ontari blushed as she bit her lip. "You see me not as a Commander, but as a leader."
"One that is far from weak. A bit out of her element. But I see the strength that you have. That you work harder than anyone thinks to make up for your lack of training that Nia denied you. That you are open to do what it takes to get things done, even if it goes against tradition. And the fact that you have some of Klark's blood in you and the fact that she has been training you to use her power to aid those you rule shows the strength that you have gained."
Ontari tilted her head to the side. A mannerism that was well becoming known as her way of showing that was interested in what you were talking about. That and many took as a sign that she wasn't going to kill you for saying she was wrong about something.
For those who knew her as her friend. It was the right wolf who was now in charge and she was liking the conversation.
For Jasper, it was he was of knowing that Onari was just being Ontari. Not Heda, Not the ruler of some people. But just plain old Ontari.
Now as the rain continued on for the next hour, the two lovers worked on their next moves on what needed to be done to move through this crisis till its resolution.
After the rain stopped. Ontari left the Rover wearing the clean clothing that Jasper had stashed for her. Other than a few burns on her back and arms that had been bandaged, she walked back into the Skairku settlement with less emotional pain on her shoulders.
With each building she checked on her way back to the Skaikru Long House, there was a protective look in her eyes. She checked every building on the path into the settlement and treated those in need. When she finally walked thorough those doors, the Ice Wolf of Azgeda had decided that she would honor the spirit of her ancestor and protect those under her charge.
Off in the distance in a field of wheat that the residents of Arkadia had planted, several spirits stood watch before walking through and joining their loved ones on the other side.
Chapter End Notes
Thank you for enjoying the chapter. I have another chapter that's gonna be up as soon as I finish getting ready I have about a good 90% of it all the way.
Please leave a like, kudos, and a review below. The new software I am using is helping me move all these story segments into a coherent storyline so stay tuned for another update.
Hearns
End Notes
Please Review
Please drop by and comment to let the author know if you enjoyed their work!