Clarke was immediately overcome with shock and fury. Glaring at each of the ambassadors, her fist closed in on itself, palm almost itching for the feel of her gun.

"You already held a vote. It failed. Even if the Commander had not established her right to lead in the trial by combat, she has proven time and time again that the strength of the Coalition brings peace and justice to your people." Clarke appealed to reason, hoping to sway some of them.

The Yujleda ambassador, Uzac, waved his hands, a dismissive gesture. "Jus nou drein jus daun violates the order of our clans. No, Heda's law is used only to change our ways, to inflict suffering on our people so that those she favors might benefit." He glanced pointedly at Clarke, the undertones in his voice carrying an insult that Clarke could clearly understand. "But enough! Nou Heda noumou!" The ambassadors behind him nodded in fervent agreement, and the warriors behind them shifted hungrily, spoiling for a fight. Buoyed by their approval, he turned back to Clarke. "Support the vote, Clarke kom Skaikru, and your people will be spared. To object would be…unwise…for both you and your clan. The Floudoun ambassador was unwise in his decision earlier. I hope you would not make the same mistake he did." His gaze slid to the blood-spattered warriors surrounding them.

"Why even bother with the vote," Clarke asked, her gaze shifting angrily between the Yujleda ambassador and Titus, "if you could just kill Lexa and be done with it?"

"Our traditions have been bastardized enough for one day. You can hear the fighting in the streets, Ambassador. The people have had enough and demand we give them justice. There will be no peace until the old ways have been restored, and justice is served to those who would lead us astray. The vote of no confidence will avoid a war, restore our peoples' legacy, and renew our vow of peace with the Twelve Clans."

Clarke's voice dripped with fury and scorn. "And this is how you try to win peace and deliver justice? With rebellion and threats? By murdering ambassadors and betraying your Commander?"

Titus, who had remained silent from his place a few feet behind her, interjected quickly. "Wanheda, I would suggest-"

"Talk, talk, talk. I've grown tired of these games, Ambassadors."

Stepping out from the shadows, her face smeared with red blood, Ontari moved from behind a trio of hulking Azgeda warriors in the corner of the room where she had been observing the entire scene. Her gaze traveled up and down Clarke, sizing her up with naked distaste as she walked into the center of the room, standing before the throne. She cast a cutting glance at the Yujleda ambassador, waving her blood-streaked hand in irritation.

"We have tried to do things your way, Uzac. Now we do them my way." Clarke watched in confusion as Ontari nodded to the guards she had been standing behind and they walked forward, carrying the post to which Emerson had been chained to not many days past, dropping it into its niche in the floor. Ontari's eyes glittered coldly as she barked out a command to the warriors closest to the entrance doors. "Lid em in."

With a slight nod of his head, Titus turned on his heel, closing the distance to the large double doors. Grasping a handle in each hand, he threw them open widely before stepping aside for the pair of guards that marched into the room. The moment she saw the burden they were roughly dragging between them, terror seized Clarke's heart.

Lexa dangled between the Azgeda warriors, who dragged her half upright by her arms, the toes of her boots trailing limply along the ground. She was unarmored, and covered in wounds and blood from both herself and others. Blood as black as midnight flowed sluggishly from her mouth and nose, spattering wetly onto the concrete floor beneath her as they hauled her forward. Her head lolled as the guards dragged her past Clarke, and for an instant their gazes locked.

Lexa's green eyes were hazy with pain, yet Clarke could see a spark of rage simmering beneath, broken only by anguished recognition when they focused on her lover. At the sight of Clarke, Lexa struggled weakly, trying to fight her captors, who only gripped her arms harder, pushing her away from Clarke and against the post in the center of the room. Rough hands fastened the metal straps and chains around the Commander, binding her tightly.

"Natrona!" Lexa shouted at Ontari through the blood in her mouth, "You will not-"

The closest warrior's fist lashed out and connected with Lexa's temple with a crack, and she slumped down against her bindings, on the razor's edge of consciousness.

Ontari turned her attention from the wounded Commander to Clarke, and her voice dripped with malice. "Now, Clarke kom Skaikru. You asked why I did not just kill Heda Leksa and be done with it? Do you really wish to test my resolve, or will you vote for no confidence and save your clan?"

The room was silent, so quiet Clarke swore she could hear the soft tapping of Lexa's blood dripping onto the floor. Time seemed to slow as her thoughts raced, difficult through the panic thrumming within her. Death loomed at every decision, and her mouth went dry in fear. There was no way out of this unscathed. Not for everyone she loved.

Clarke drew in a shaky breath, her eyes locked on the limp form before her before they rose to lock with Ontari's.

"I vote no confidence. Nou Heda noumou," Clarke exhaled, dropping her chin to her chest in defeat, unwilling to watch Ontari gloat.

"I knew you could be reasonable," Ontari exulted. Turning to the Ambassadors, her tone hardened to iron. "Now you may have your justice. The judgement is Wamplei kom Thauz Kodon; you each shall deliver the cut for your clan. Jus drein jus daun."

Clarke snapped her head up, reeling at Ontari's betrayal, and a scream tore from her lips as the Azgeda woman's hand fell to the dagger at her belt.

Next week, in Chapter Two:
"Support the vote, Clarke kom Skaikru, and your people will be spared. To object would be…unwise…for both you and your clan..."

Trigedasleng:

"Leidon, Heda" = "Goodbye, Commander."
"Leidon, Bandrona" = "Goodbye, Ambassador."
Yujleda= Broadleaf
"Oso edei nou na swich op nowe. Heda nou get daun-de in." = "Our ways can never change. The Commander does not understand this."
"Ai gaf seigeda klin hashta nou wichnes." = "I call for a vote of no confidence."

Cover art by Foomatic.