Trigger warnings for the usual violence, torture and an extremely violent killing with an ax, rape, child abuse and threats of violence.
Azgeda Chronicles
Chapter 28:
The beginning: The Milgreds and the bandits
Milgreds' territory
Kneeling before the queens of the Milgred territory of the Ice Nation, Razeeta and her to be wives, Jorsua and Dasha, Clarke and her companions, including her son, Farron, stayed where they were and waited.
Razeeta rose up from her throne, her smile never leaving her face as her eyes never moved from Clarke's kneeling form.
Razeeta walked, moving down the steps to the floor, slowly kneeling down in front of Clarke and her hands reaching out, causing all of the warriors behind Clarke to tense, but Razeeta just cupped Clarke's chin in her right hand, her left hand going to Clarke's right shoulder and slowly raising them both up off of the floor.
"Klark," Razeeta said softly her blue eyes staring into Clarke's, with an emotion that Clarke knew she'd be called "stupid and naïve" for thinking was love, but she was almost certain that was the emotion directed at her from this terrifying, cannibalistic woman, "You must never bow to us. Ever. You are not our servant, nor our inferior in any way. You are equal to us, sweet girl. Jilina."
Clarke smiled, feeling warmth becoming almost overwhelming in her chest. Jilina meant "daughter" in Azgedasleng.
Clarke knew that she was supposed to remain cold and stoic in front of her warriors at her back, however, she felt herself lean into Razeeta's hand, feeling a near unbearable joy at feeling affection from someone who treated her as a mother would treat her daughter, something which her birth mother had not done in a long, long time.
Farron rose up from the floor, cautiously.
Razeeta tilted her head to look down at Farron. "Hello, Farrun," she said calmly.
Clarke was alerted to this, reminding herself that Razeeta was dangerous, and for some reason, had wanted her to bring her son, Farron here-why?
She pulled away from Razeeta, causing Razeeta to look at her.
Clarke asked, trying to ignore her heart clenching at Razeeta's sad look, "Why did you want Farron to come here?"
Razeeta nodded, smiling. "Klark," she started again, "There's something you should know, about Farrun. His parentage is not what you think it is. The man loyal to kwin Nia, Tenmar, is not Farrun's blood father. Farrun's blood mother was already pregnant with Farrun, by the time Tenmar abducted her and raped her."
Clarke gasped, staring at Razeeta, both at the revelation of what Tenmar had done to Farron's mother, and to what Razeeta said about Tenmar not being his biological father. She looked down at Farron, fearing the worst.
She tried to ignore the gasps from her siblings behind her.
Farron looked at Razeeta, startled, confused.
He blinked a few times, then to Clarke's shock, he said, voice harder than Clarke had ever heard him speak, "What do you mean? The mother I had before Klark, was my mother. And as much as I loathe him, Tenmar is my blood father."
"No, he is not," Jorsua said, getting up from her throne and walking down to join Razeeta, Clarke and Farron, "Your father was one of us, as was your birth mother. They were both Milgred. Your blood father was killed in an attack from some of the main Azgeda, one of which was Tenmar. He then stole your blood mother from her home. She was with child. You, of course."
Farron gawked at Jorsua, but Jorsua ignored him and she made her way over to Clarke, her hands raising up and gently cupping Clarke's face in her hands.
"Klark," she said softly, "Our jilina. Our dear one, we are so pleased you came back to us."
Again, Clarke tried to ignore the warmth in her heart. She loved these women. She was certain of it. And certain that they loved her too.
But she couldn't let that distract her.
She didn't think they meant to hurt her son, but if they did?
She would have to be prepared for the worst. And to protect Farron.
She pulled out of Jorsua's grasp and Jorsua let her, chuckling slightly as Clarke did this.
"Answer the question," Clarke said, "Why did you tell me to bring Farron here?"
"Like we said," Jorsua answered, lowering her arms, "Farrun's birth mother and blood father, were part of the Milgreds. Which means that Farrun is one of us, as well. He is a Milgred, by blood."
Clarke felt like someone had dropped a very large grand piano on her, like in the cartoons.
Farron was a Milgred?
Razeeta could see Clarke's shock and took advantage. She pressed, "Klark, Farrun is one of us. So, it's only right that you bring him back here. Occasionally. So, that he can see where his birth mother and his blood father grew up."
Clarke's realization hit then.
There it was. That was what Razeeta's plan was. That was why she had wanted Clarke to bring Farron here.
She had wondered why Razeeta had wanted her to bring Farron, because as far as she could tell, they didn't care about him, and they didn't, just as she suspected. But she understood now.
Farron was a means to an end.
If Razeeta and Jorsua and Dasha provided a place for Farron to feel safe, then Clarke might bring him more often, and if she did that? Then the queens would get to see Clarke more often.
In other words, telling Farron that he was Milgred, was just an incentive for Clarke to come to the Milgred land, and while Farron was seeing where his birth parents had grown up, Razeeta and Jorsua and Dasha would get to see her.
Clarke wished she could feel angry at her Milgred mothers, with this realization. But she didn't.
All relationships, she understood, were transactional. The difference between these relationships she was making in the Ice Nation, and the relationships she'd had before with the rest of the Ark and the 100-save for Wells, Finn, Raven and Lincoln? (Unfortunately, she couldn't include Bellamy or Octavia in that list. Even Bellamy would take more than he gave, and even as Clarke tried to tell herself that he was a good person, she knew that.). And the relationship she'd had with Anya and Lexa? There was so much being offered to her, as well as a good deal being asked.
The "take" part of the relationship, where she was the one taking, was evened out with the "giving" part.
Could Anya and Lexa say the same? When all they had done was continue to demand that Clarke just give and give and give?
Clarke had cured the Reapers after what the Mountain Men did to them, had been willing to hand over Jasper after he killed some civilians, looking for Monty, she had been happy to marry Anya and Lexa, especially if it meant keeping her people safe, and if that meant that the 100 and the rest of the Ark had to become part of the coalition? So be it. She had been willing to do so much.
And what had Anya or Lexa given back?
The Ark and most of the 100? While Clarke was giving and giving and giving, healing them and making sure they survived every second, what exactly had they offered back?
Here, she was being given back perhaps so much more than she herself was giving, and that was a startling thing.
Razeeta, Jorsua and Dasha didn't want her to give them everything and give nothing back.
They wanted to be her mothers, they wanted to provide her with love and protection and the entirety of the Milgred army.
Clarke slowly looked down at Farron and observed how he was taking all of this.
Farron stared at the queens, then said, "If I do, will you protect my kosena?" He looked up at Clarke, protectiveness all over his face, so much so that it made Clarke's heart hurt to watch.
There were chuckles next to Clarke and Farron and Clarke looked to Razeeta and Jorsua.
Razeeta smiled at Farron as she said, "Yes, Farrun, of course. That's absolutely what we intend to do."
Clarke saw the look on Jorsua's face, as well. Jorsua had the absolute stereotypical expression that said, "This is all going according to plan."
Clarke sighed. She supposed she should have realized what the Milgred queens' intention was, ages ago, as soon as Shehen had told her that they requested Farron's presence.
Her new mothers, they may be protective of her, but they were still Azgeda. And they were willing to do anything to get their way.
And in this particular case, their way, was wishing for Clarke to be their daughter. So, they would use bribery to do it.
Clarke knew that when the time came, she would need to inform them that they had no need of doing something like that. That she would have come back to see them multiple times, anyway.
But that could wait later.
Clarke looked down at Farron, deciding to pretend that she didn't know what the queens had pulled and asked, "How about it, Farron? Do you want to see your birth parents' home?"
Farron looked startlingly more guarded than he usually did, but nodded. "Okay," he said, "If kwin Razeeta means what she says."
Clarke then looked to Razeeta and said calmly, "I suppose I should lead him on the grand tour?"
Razeeta nodded, smiling, "If you'd like," she answered, "Eko and the children are eager to see you, in any case."
Clarke's eyes widened.
Echo.
Echo, who had made her romantic and sexual interest in Clarke abundantly clear. Echo, who knew that Clarke was going to be married soon, but hunted for her anyway, which anyone who knew anything about Grounder tribe courting methods, knew that that was a sure way to know that Echo was trying to gain Clarke's affections. Echo, who loathed Sky People normally. Echo, who liked Bellamy, at least, because he protected her in the mountain when Bellamy had snuck into Mount Weather. Echo, who was more than rough around the edges. Echo, who Clarke admittedly was attracted to and honestly could say that were she not being married, she might contemplate a relationship with.
And the children? Well, that was going to be both exciting and difficult. Difficult, because she wouldn't be able to stay here, like the children likely would want her to.
She missed the kids here. And yes, she knew that they ate human meat, like all the Milgred residents did.
That didn't matter to her. They were all sweet children who couldn't helped who they were raised by.
There was a startling hissing and growling from behind Razeeta and Jorsua and Clarke lifted her head, looking, smiling then, when she saw what came running over.
Three animals that she recognized.
"Wha-?" She heard Mario say, startled.
"What the-?" Kristin demanded.
"The hell is that-is that a possum?" Cody asked, confused.
Clarke was unable to hold back a chuckle. Right, she probably should have warned her siblings and son about the…other thing they'd find in the court of the Milgred queens. Besides meeting with three cannibalistic women? There were also the queens' pets.
Pets that Clarke had met before.
Cody asked if what she was seeing running over was a possum. And sure enough, it was indeed a possum, and a cat and an arctic fox.
Clarke knew these three animals well. They were Razeeta's personal pets.
Farron's surge of courage was now forgotten, as soon as the possum stopped in front of them and he backed away from it, gasping, gripping Clarke's right arm, "Kosena, what is that?"
"It's alright, Farron," Clarke said softly to her son, smiling, "That's just kwin Razeeta's pet possum. His name's Koro. And the cat is named Lanu. And the arctic fox is named Docima."
Farron nodded, but still stared at the possum, Koro, as if he was terrified the curious creature might try to bite his hands off if he tried to pet it.
Clarke chuckled, "I know he looks strange. But he's not dangerous, honest. Lanu and Docima are more likely to bite you, but they wouldn't."
The arctic fox and the cat in question, raced over to Clarke, the cat, Lanu, leaping up along Clarke's body, onto Clarke's shoulders, her body just resting there as the cat nuzzled its head against Clarke's, making Clarke chuckle.
The arctic fox, Docima, reached Clarke and crouched down, tail wagging as it started making that odd sound that foxes made. Made that "eek-eek-eek-eek" sound, indicating that she was excited.
"Hi, Docima," Clarke said, slowly and carefully, so that Lanu didn't fall off of her shoulders, lowered herself down to Docima, reached for Docima's face and began rubbing behind the fox's ears as the fox continued making that content sound.
Razeeta and Jorsua both watched this display, smiling, pleased. They were happy that Klark was here, and that her son was here and that those from the group that was the twenty-six, were here, too.
Because now they could all see that Klark had a home here. They could see that it was a good thing for Klark to be here. To be with her mothers, and other people here that loved her.
Razeeta raised her head slightly, to get a look at those from the twenty-six, who were behind Klark and watching Klark interact with Lanu and Docima.
Razeeta wasn't going to pretend that she knew all of Klark's new siblings' names. She knew a few of the names, but certainly didn't know whose name belonged to who.
A few of the names she recalled, "Dayvid," "Bobi," "Kaysi," "Kristofa," "Edmond," and a few others, but that was the extent of her knowledge of their names.
Her smile became a pleased smirk, when she saw the stunned looks on those of the twenty-six present.
They looked at Klark with realization, as they observed Klark not just enjoying being here, but letting her guard down completely around the cannibalistic queens of the Milgred.
Did they understand now? That Klark might as well be Milgred, even if she hadn't tasted so much as a drop of human blood or didn't have a drop of Milgred blood in her veins?
Did they understand now that Klark belonged here with them, as much as Farron did?
Farron timidly reached his hand out for Koro to sniff his hand. Koro made a sound that made him gulp, but Koro sniffed at Farron's hand and nuzzled against it.
The queens smirked. They would take Klark and the others to see Eko and the children here. After Klark was finished greeting her three little furry friends.
It would be good for the small children here to see Klark, and for Klark to see them. Many of the Milgred children adored Klark, after all.
(Page break)
The bandits' lair
Dallas, Parker, Jesse, David, Christopher, Finley and West and the few warriors they had, reached the lair of the bandits; which to be completely honest, wasn't much of a lair. It was a tall and wide, but practically barren of any true possessions.
At the most it was a place for the bandits to meet and plan their next move.
So, when the seven of the twenty-six arrived with their warriors, there wasn't really much blocking their way.
And when they all brought their horses to a stop, Dallas, Finley, Jesse, Parker, Christopher, David and West got off of their horses and ordered their guards to watch their horses, and began walking to the actual building that was the bandits' lair, almost no one interfered.
And there were guards at the door there.
But despite the seven of the twenty-six looking like members of the main guard of the queen of the Ice Nation, their rough looks and the deadly expressions on their faces, must have spoken of just how dangerously serious they were.
Because no one got in their way.
The seven of the twenty-six? They had discussed who should be the person speaking on all of their behalf.
They were dealing with bandits, so, some rude and threatening behavior wasn't just expected, but it was demanded.
So, the person speaking on the behalf of all of them? Would need to be rough and ready to threaten peoples' lives.
So, that technically meant all seven of them.
But at least one of them needed to be reasonable enough to point important facts out to the bandits.
So, on their way here? They had made the decision. The person who would be the "spokesperson" amongst them, would be Dallas and West.
The rest would have to be ready to kill just on Dallas and West's signal.
Which meant that all five Finley, Jesse, Christopher, Parker and David kept their hands close to the handles of their weapons.
They entered the building, armed and at the ready, their eyes traveled over the many turns in the halls of the building, spotting the occasional bandit staying there, peeking out from where they were keeping themselves, the bandits all likely heavily armed, as well.
They moved through the large hall, keeping their eyes on the many bandits around. Some staying shivved off to the halls, some staying in the rafters, peeking out, holding bows, with quivers of arrows strapped to their backs.
As they reached the center of the building, they saw a crowd of bandits standing around, turning to face the approaching group.
One of the bandits, whom either held a great deal of clout, or had been designated as the bandits' own spokesperson, came forward, dressed in light brown furs, with two knives tied to her belt on each side, with long, dark brown hair light copper skin and brown eyes.
She regarded the group as they came forward. Dallas and West stepped forward more than the other five.
The bandit woman held her head up, looking at Dallas and West coldly, speaking in Azgedasleng, "You came to see us? What does the kwin's dogs want with us?"
"Nothing," Dallas said in Azgedasleng, "Just wished to offer you something that would benefit all bandits in the Ice Nation, a great deal. If you would be interested."
The woman tilted her head, eyeing Dallas. "Your names," she said.
While Dallas and West both had learned to not answer to anyone who demanded anything of them, unless it was from a superior in the main part of the Ice Nation. This was just the way they had learned to act, around anyone that dared to demand anything of them. However, they knew that if they wanted any leeway whatsoever with the bandits, they would need to answer their questions.
"Dallas," Dallas answered.
"West," West told the bandits.
The bandits, thankfully, didn't seem to be interested in the five people behind West and Dallas.
"And your name," Dallas said, "Is?"
The woman glanced at Dallas cautiously, then answered, "Ratra kom Azgeda. What is it you want, Dalas and West kom Azgeda?"
Dallas spoke as carefully as she could, feeling the eyes of many of the bandits on her, aware that she had faced off against many of these people, when they had tried to steal supplies from the main part of the Ice Nation, and she had likely killed many of their friends, "I know that we don't have a good history, however, our general, Wanheda herself, Klark, has developed an idea that will benefit everyone in this room, including all of you. Allying together. Against the rest of the tribes."
The idea had been simple. They couldn't trust the bandits. For all they knew? The bandits would turn around and blab to the queen what the twenty-six and Clarke were planning.
So, they needed to come up with a different story to give to the bandits-lie, in other words.
Dallas's words caught the bandits' attention.
Ratra asked, her eyes narrowed, "Going against all the tribes?" She asked, as many of the bandits chattered in surprise, "Are you insane?"
Dallas chuckled, smirking, "I understand why you'd ask that. But think about this, how many people are there in Azgeda? Not in the main kingdom, but in the entirety of the Ice Nation's territory?"
Ratra visibly seemed to consider this.
She clearly was trying to calculate.
Calculate all the people in the main kingdom of the Ice Nation, and all the people in the Sowlas' territory and all the people in the Milgred territory, not to mention contemplating all the people in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and in most of the places that were considered in the old world, as "Slavic" areas, not to mention the many people of the Ice Nation who lived in the places that had been considered "Baltic" in the old world.
The rest of Europe, like France, Spain and the rest, was considered a bit of a "grey area," in that it was neutral ground. So, there weren't any Ice Nation members there.
One of the more prominent areas that was considered a "grey area," was Greenland. It was one of those things where, like the rest of Europe, no one was sure who had the right to call it their territory, so, they left it alone, so as to avoid any further conflict.
But there was the rest of the Ice Nation land, which was filled with far more members of the Azgeda, than any other tribal land was covered with tribe members.
Dallas watched as Ratra's eyes widened in understanding and she looked at Dallas as she said, "There are more tribe members in the Azgeda, all together from all the territories, next to the rest of the tribes."
"That's right," Dallas said, nodding, "And if all of the Azgeda is united? What will that mean for us?" She turned her head to look at the many different bandits around them, "For all of us?"
She turned then to Ratra as she continued, "I know that we have harmed your number in the past, but think about the circumstances as to why. The current commander, and all the commanders before her? They considered the Ice Nation to be full of nothing but rabid dogs. They never gave even a bit of respect to the Azgeda, like they did with all the other tribes. The Ingrarona, the Boudalan, the San, the Flou, and especially the Tri-they all have practically been treated like royalty, by all of the commanders, compared to how they have treated us Azgeda."
Dallas took a breath and added as Ratra appeared to think about this, "But if all of the Ice Nation united together as one? Then the commander will have to respect the Azgeda. Because she will have no other choice. If she doesn't? She will have an army that will outnumber every single tribe in the coalition. She will be forced to respect us."
Ratra's eyes widened. Dallas knew that this perhaps was asking a lot.
Because the Ice Nation never necessarily had been united before.
Then again, most tribes in the coalition had never been united, either.
Even the smallest of the tribes; the San, the Poda and the Tri, had splintered off into different groups.
When the tribes had formed, after the world almost ended, they had decided that they'd be in those tribes, but it had been sort of as if forming cities and towns. There would be some communities in the tribe, but they'd be separate, in certain areas. Some areas would be more united than others, even if they were all in the same tribe.
It just happened that the Ice Nation was the largest of the twelve tribes.
Even if all of the other tribes came together, and worked together, they wouldn't be big enough to face off against the Ice Nation.
"A united Ice Nation?" Ratra asked, sounding like she didn't entirely believe what Dallas was suggesting.
A voice laughed from behind Dallas, West, Jesse, David, Finley, Parker and Christopher and their guards.
They turned around as another bandit emerged from behind a large bookcase, causing some of the guards to keep their hands on their weapons.
The bandit that had emerged, a white man with very short black hair, and loose fitting light brown leather over him, grinned and laughed, "A united Ice Nation? You must be trying to fool us, Dalas! And the kwin would never agree to working with us bandits!"
"And you are?" West asked the man approaching, sounding cautious.
The man smirked at West as he said, nodding to her, "Jivorko kom Azgeda. And you seven, are part of a group that doesn't belong here."
West nodded. She said, "I know that we have come to this territory where only bandits go, but we still would like you to hear us out."
"Oh, I don't mean this territory," Jivorko said, sneering now, "I mean the Ice Nation as a whole. You are Skai People and have no place here."
As soon as Jivorko said this, the air changed.
All seven of the members of the twenty-six, including Dallas and West, stiffened, their jaws clenching and their eyes darkening.
Clarke and all of the twenty-six had fought and bled for the Ice Nation. For someone to say that they didn't belong in it?
That was going too far.
Jivorko either didn't care about how angry he had gotten the seven young people in front of him, or he was too much on a roll to even bother trying to notice their moods changing.
He kept talking, "Skai People, always sticking their noses where they don't belong. You seven are no different. The Ice Nation is not your home! It never has been and never will be-"
This was one insult too far.
Because David was on Jivorko in a second, pulling his ax out and descending it down onto Jivorko, the blade slicing into the man's right shoulder hard, sending the man down, screaming.
Jivorko called for help, but David pulled the ax back and swung it down again and again.
The rest of the bandits and the guards and the other six of the twenty-six, didn't respond, as they heard Jivorko's screaming, then the screaming stop, as David kept hacking at the now very dead man.
David huffed, stepping back, body shaking, his legs splashed with blood and there were flecks of blood on his face and neck, even through the small slits in his mask.
There was silence, and no one regarded the sliced apart, bloody heap on the floor, that now was missing its head, the head a foot from the body.
Jivorko might have been a bandit like the rest of the people that Dallas and West were trying to reason with, but clearly, everyone was hesitant to try to say anything against the seven members of the twenty-six now, after that…demonstration.
In the Ice Nation, acts of savagery were considered strength.
While in the other tribes, mercy generally tended to be frowned upon, pure savagery was praised here in the Ice Nation.
Dallas sighed and looked at Ratra, wanting to see her reaction in response to David's action.
Ratra eyed David, in surprise, then turned her attention to Dallas. She said, "I see it would be a mistake to even suggest that you twenty-six and Wanheda, do not belong in the Ice Nation. Very well. Dalas kom Azgeda, then. Let us say that we take you up on this offer. What then? The Commander will learn to respect us, as will the rest of the coalition? But what then? As I recall, the rest of the tribes don't take well to being threatened, much less by Azgeda."
Dallas took a breath, then answered, not being bothered by the shredded corpse on the floor-it wouldn't exactly be the first time she had been around completely sliced apart bodies, "You are not wrong about that. But what choice will they have? The Commander would want to avoid war. Even if the twenty-six of us and Wanheda originally come from the sky? We are valuable to the queen of the Ice Nation. And as I'm sure everyone here knows, Wanheda is soon to marry the heir to the queen's throne. Ontari kom Azgeda. Which means we all will be officially Azgeda, even if you try to deny it. So, even if the Commander doesn't wish to acknowledge us as Azgeda, we will be Azgeda, and she will not wish to risk war. That was the whole point of her creating the coalition, right? So, that the tribes would be united against the Mountain Men."
Ratra paused, appearing to think. She frowned, and thought about it.
She then said, "No, I suppose that the current commander would not wish war. Even if it was with the Ice Nation."
"That's right," Dallas said, nodding, "And I'm sure everyone remembers what the queen had done to the current commander's homon, Costia, right? And yet, still, the commander didn't go to war with the Ice Nation. That should tell you, that she won't wage war against the Azgeda, even if we all are united and are forcing her to respect us."
Ratra's eyes widened and Dallas fought a smile, positive that they had a deal, or something like one.
Ratra, after a moment, nodded to Dallas as she said, "I perhaps will consider speaking with the others and potentially taking you up on this offer. But what will we get out of it? And how can we trust that us bandits will be given what you promise us, after all, we are nothing but lowly bandits."
Dallas said calmly, having expected this, "Wanheda intends to give the bandits this land."
This caused even more startled murmuring and caused Ratra to stare at Dallas in confusion. "This land?" She repeated.
"Exactly," West said, "The main part of the Ice Nation, is as everyone knows only the property of the Ice Queen, but Wanheda has spoken with the queen and they came to an agreement, that if the bandits contributed to the uniting of the Azgeda, then the bandits would have this part of the Ice Nation's land. Or any part of land that they wish."
Bandits in general, were considered a nomadic bunch, but the Ice Nation bandits tended to stay near the same area.
This particular part of land, while not necessarily "free territory," was considered not part of the main Ice Nation. If one wanted to have an idea of where the ice queen ruled, it ran from one vertical end of Norway, almost to the end-barring the Milgreds' territory, and most of the land horizontally, basically taking up most of Sweden, save for this part of the land and where the Sowlas' territory began, which leaked into Finland.
In other words, most of Norway and Sweden was ruled by Nia, however, the Milgreds, the bandits and other fringe groups took up other areas in Norway and Sweden. And the Sowlas and all the other groups, were on the edge of Sweden and leaked into Finland.
Not to mention all the other territories where the Ice Nation were.
"You know….," Ratra began, "That this part of the land, the kwin will never give to us."
"Maybe not," Dallas said, "But any other part of the land you want? You will have if you desire, as long as it isn't currently owned by another group."
Ratra considered this a moment, then sighed, "I perhaps am mad for even pondering this, but the others and I will need to speak."
Both West and Dallas nodded as Ratra took a step back and she and some of the other bandits moved closer, speaking quietly.
Dallas and West turned to the others, both of them with concerned expressions on their faces as they looked at David.
David glanced down at the dead body at his feet. Well, that sure as hell was a gamble, wasn't it? But it looked like they might just have succeeded in gaining more allies.
This was not the entirety of the bandits in the Ice Nation, of course. After this got out, if indeed, they had the loyalty of the bandits, word would be sent through letters to various other small communities of the bandits that lived throughout the Ice Nation.
(Page break)
Main Ice Nation
Word came into the main part of the Ice Nation, its main kingdom, that a ship was arriving. On this ship, there would be a prisoner, which the ice queen wished to see Clarke torture to death.
A Sky man named Thelonius Jaha.
Many of the twenty-six, Bailey, Simone, Casey and Frank, reached the docks first, seeing the ship come in.
The ship was one of the Ice Nation ships that had a motor in it that powered the ship to move faster.
Which was why it had reached Azgeda shores so quickly, most likely.
They watched as the wooden behemoth towered over them and as large ropes were cast down, and many Azgeda warriors on the ground secured the ropes around the wooden masts.
The wooden walkway was pushed down and the other end hit the mounds of snow, steady for the moment, as the people onboard the ship began to descend.
The members of the twenty-six near the ship, watched as the warriors walking off of the ship, carried down not one, but three people, all three people bound and with cloth sacks over their heads.
Casey's eyebrows narrowed. "Weren't they only bringing Thelonius Jaha?" She asked, confused.
"Yeah," Frank said, "Who are the other two?"
The others said nothing as the three prisoners were brought all the way down to the ground.
The figures were struggling, but it was no good.
The warriors brought the three prisoners onto the ground and in the direction of the building where the queen was.
Casey, Bailey, Simone and Frank looked at each other, and followed.
As they got closer to the main building, hearing the cheering of the warriors' return, and as they got closer, Casey noticed that one of the three figures had a deformed arm. Not deformed as in too badly injured to use, but deformed as in born with a serious disability.
They then heard several grumbles from one of the smaller figures that were prisoners, one of the prisoners without the severely disabled arm, start to snap in a very snide and snippy, annoying voice, "Look, unless someone's gonna tell me this is some kinky fucking sex game, you let us go. And don't fucking touch Emori!"
Casey glanced at Bailey and she shrugged. Who the hell was Mr. Big Talker here?
Simone chuckled, "I see someone doesn't understand the situation he's in."
They moved along after the warriors, following them into the building and watching as the warriors dragged the three prisoners to the thrones of the Ice Nation.
The warriors threw the three prisoners to the floor in front of queen Nia and her daughter, Ontari.
All four Casey, Simone, Frank and Bailey, went to join their brothers and sisters, the other twenty-six at where they were standing and they could watch the outcome.
The three prisoners were forced to kneel before Nia and Ontari, and hands grabbed the cloth over the prisoners' heads, and pulled off, revealing the prisoners' faces.
As soon as the twenty-six saw the largest of the three prisoners, they recognized him. That was Thelonius Jaha, alright, looking sweaty and paler than usual, but staring arrogantly, nonetheless, up at the queen.
The other two?
None of the twenty-six recognized.
"Who the hell are those two?" Casey asked.
"Don't have a clue," Paul said, sounding as confused as Casey did.
From the looks of one of the other two? A woman? She was of the tribes. She had tribal tattoos on her.
Tattoos that told them she was originally from the San tribe, before being cast out for her disability.
She was the one with the heavily disabled arm.
The other one? The other prisoner that the twenty-six didn't recognize? The boy? They had no idea where he had come from.
He had extremely untidy brown hair, a large nose and was wearing messy dark clothing.
He easily have come from anywhere, given that he didn't have any tattoos or marks that they could see.
"Thelownyus Jaha," Nia said to Thelonius, looking right down at him, obviously having had him described to her in the past by Clarke and the twenty-six, "We were wondering when we would get to see the man who I have heard so much about. I should perhaps tell you," Nia got up from her throne, smirking, "That you're going to die. I think I might as well jus tell you that."
Thelonius Jaha kept his head up high, not truly understanding the danger he was in.
The boy next to Thelonius snorted, "Oh, someone else who's threatening us? Well, that's fucking new," the boy snorted again for emphasis.
Nia turned her head to look at the boy. "And who are you, boy? A nomad?" She gestured to the woman with the disabled arm, "Like her?"
The boy glanced at the woman next to him and shrugged. "Yeah," he said, "I guess."
Nia nodded, "And your names?"
The boy just shrugged, looking at the queen nonchalantly. But the woman with the disabled arm said quickly, clearly aware of the danger she and the other two were in, "My name is Emori, kwin Nia." She nodded to the boy next to her, "This is Mofi. He's of no importance. I swear I will tell you anything you want. Just don't harm him."
"Well, I already know everything I need to," Nia said, gesturing to Thelonius, "All I wanted was Thelownyus Jaha as my prisoner so that my greatest general, Wanheda, could kill him. I actually don't need your Mofi. So," she nodded to a guard, who nodded back and pulled out a short sword, coming closer to the boy, "Mofi" and about to decapitate the boy, when Emori lunged forward, covering the boy's body with her own.
"Emori, no!" The boy cried, panic all over his face.
Emori looked around frantically, as if looking for help, then her eyes fell on the twenty-six, and her eyes saw the wristbands that some of them still had. Her eyes widened.
"Wait!" She exclaimed, "Are those Skaikru?!" She looked up at queen Nia and asked desperately, "You allow Skaikru to stay here?!" She then looked at the boy next to her, "Please, Mofi's Skaikru! Spare him, please! He's Skaikru!"
This caused almost everyone in the room to stop everything. Nia's eyes widened and she held up a hand, keeping the approaching soldier back. The man who had been going to decapitate "Mofi," stepped back.
Hearing Emori's exclamation, all of the remaining twenty-six froze.
That boy was a "Skaikru?" And his name was "Mofi?" "Mofi" when translated into English, was "Murphy."
The remaining twenty-six looked at each other, now alert.
It couldn't be…could it?
Nia asked, staring at Emori, "That boy with you, he is Skaikru? You do not lie to me, nomad?"
Emori shook her head.
"Of course, not," Emori said urgently, "I wouldn't dare lie to you, great ice kwin."
Nia held up her head and asked coldly, "Do you have any idea what I would do to you if you were lying?"
Emori nodded, lowering her head. "Yes, kwin Nia," she said, I know."
This boy, Murphy, glared in rage at Nia, but Nia was unaffected.
Nia then ordered, "Guards, throw Thelownyus Jaha into one of the more secure cells."
The guards barked to her, answering and marched over to Thelonius, grabbing him, picking him up roughly and dragging him off down to the dungeons.
Ontari was now staring at the twenty-six, curious.
When they disappeared around the corner, Nia looked at the twenty-six and asked, "Do any of you recognize this boy?" She nodded to Murphy.
"No, your majesty," Casey said honestly, "We don't recognize him. We've never met him before. But we remember Clarke telling us about a member of the one hundred, named Murphy."
The others of the twenty-six present, watched Murphy's reaction carefully, when Casey mentioned Clarke and the one hundred.
And to their surprise-or perhaps not, Murphy looked at them, startled, and they could see the recognition all over his face from where they were standing.
"If it is in any way convenient to you, your majesty," Casey continued, "And you have no need of Murphy or of Emori? Then we can decide what to do with them. But of course, only with your permission."
Simone, Frank, Bailey, Blair and the others, looked at Casey, startled. What was she doing?
Casey didn't seem to notice them staring and she waited for the queen's response.
Nia said, after several moments, "Very well. You may do as you wish with Mofi and Emori. Should you find they will be of use to us? Then train them. But if not, dispose of them."
Casey nodded. Everyone in the twenty-six knew what "dispose of them," meant. They had done it enough times to soldiers that the queen didn't deem worth her time.
Murphy looked up at the queen, troubled.
Nia then waved her hand, dismissing both the twenty-six and Murphy and Emori.
The twenty-six moved forward, reaching for Emori and Murphy.
They would ask Finley when she got back, how much she wanted to be involved with helping Clarke kill Thelonius. Because the last of Finley's family had been killed by Thelonius, to conserve oxygen.
Three hundred had been killed in the execution.
Casey and the others ignored Murphy's grumblings that he could walk and they dragged Murphy and Emori down to the other part of the dungeons, where there was no one else.
They felt Ontari's eyes on them as they went to the other dungeons, but ignored her stare.
Simone looked to Casey, mouthing, "What are we doing exactly?"
Casey nodded to Simone, indicating that Simone should trust her, which of course, Simone did.
And they knew that they didn't need to worry about any potential weapons. Thelonius, Murphy and Emori would have had any weapons taken from them upon being captured.
When they reached a relatively small cell, Casey kicked the metal door open, and tossed Murphy inside. Emori was thrown inside next to him."
"Casey?" Blair asked, confused.
"Just watch me," Casey said, reaching for her belt and with her right hand, pulled out one of her longer and more vicious looking daggers.
She turned to Bailey and Frank, nodding to Murphy, "Hold him down."
Bailey and Frank, understanding that this was some new twisted game of theirs, snickered and went to Murphy, grabbing him and holding him against the wall of bars behind him as he struggled, securing his arms, so he couldn't grab at them.
"What the fuck is wrong with all of you?!" Murphy demanded, "What's happening?!"
Casey nodded to Simone as she said, "With me," and she walked over to Emori.
Emori gasped and backed away as Murphy cried out, "No, stay away from her!"
Casey and Simone grabbed Emori and pinned her to the wall of bars behind her, opposite of Murphy, making her face him, and Casey lowered her arm, holding the dagger, to Emori's face, and she looked right at Murphy, smirking.
"Now," Casey said, "Murphy, you're going to tell us everything we want to know. Or we start cutting pieces of your girlfriend off."
Murphy's eyes became huge, and he was pale.
"Good," Casey nodded, as she stepped on Emori's left leg, holding it down, "I see we have your attention. Now, when we mentioned Clarke? You reacted. You know Clarke. Wanheda. And guess what? We want information."
Murphy asked, as the other twenty-six, Blair, Avery, Martin, Paul, Bobbi, Edmund, Hodge, Glenn, Lorena, and Cameron, guarded him and the door, eyeing him, all keeping their hands on their weapons, "You want to know about Griffin? Why? What the hell does that bitch have to do with anything?"
All of the twenty-six present looked ready to murder Murphy at his words, and Casey almost thrust the blade of the knife into Emori's neck, just for Murphy's words, but stopped herself. They had leverage over Murphy right now.
They didn't want to lose that leverage.
Casey saw both Frank and Bailey about to move their arms to choke Murphy but she snapped their names and they stopped instantly, going back to holding him against the bars.
"I warn you," Casey said, tone harder than before, "Unless you want us to cut your girlfriend's face right off? Then you will not talk about Clarke in that way again. Now, what we want, is information. Not about Clarke. But about the one hundred. Specifically, about Bellamy."
Murphy stared up at Casey, startled by the new, familiar name.
At the other startled looks that Casey received from her siblings, she explained in Azgedasleng, hoping that Emori didn't understand that language and hoping that Emori hadn't taught Murphy that language, "Clarke, as I'm sure everyone knows, has been keeping things about the one hundred from us, secret. She has told us a good lot about them, yes, but I think there are things she's hiding about them. Why is she trying to protect them? We can find out what else the one hundred did wrong, under Bellamy's orders, and we can find them out from him," she nodded to Murphy.
Casey glanced at Emori, then at Murphy. Neither of them seemed to understand what it was that Casey had just said.
They had heard "Clarke," and the name "Bellamy," but nothing that they could understand beyond that.
Casey then looked to her siblings and smirked, watching the understanding fill their eyes as they grinned.
Casey knew that her siblings agreed that Clarke had been keeping things secret about the one hundred and about Bellamy. But what, they just didn't know.
Again, she told them a lot about what happened before she had been brought her. But…something just didn't add up.
Casey continued in Azgedasleng, "And after we don't need them anymore? Well, Murphy, as we know, threatened Clarke with a knife and tried to kill her multiple times. And tried to kill her brother." Everyone knew that when Casey referred to Clarke's "brother," during her time with the one hundred, Casey meant Wells Jaha. "So," Casey ended, "After we don't need them anymore, we kill the girl quickly, then torture Murphy to death."
Bailey all but cackled, looking to the others at the doorway, "Get the chains!"
Hodge and Paul ran to get the chains, grabbing them and carrying them over, locking a pair of cuffs above Murphy, and securing them, then bringing the rest of the chains down. They, Bailey and Frank cuffed Murphy's wrists and ankles as he struggled and spat, "What is this, foreplay?!"
Casey snorted. Had they really had any doubts that this had been Murphy from the one hundred?
After Paul and Hodge had chained Murphy up, they went to get some more chains, grabbed the chains and went in, chaining Emori up, ignoring her struggles and Murphy's curses.
When both Murphy and Emori were fully chained up, Casey said, placing the tip of the dagger's blade to Emori's left cheek, making Murphy freeze and Casey watched as the blood left his face.
"Now, then, Murphy," Casey said, smiling in what she knew was a disturbing way, "You are going to tell us everything you know about the one hundred and about Bellamy, and about their interactions with Clarke. Tell us, and we won't cut Emori to pieces. We promise."
No, they wouldn't cut Emori to pieces, but as Casey had told the others, after they didn't need Murphy, they'd just kill Emori quickly, then torture Murphy slowly to death.
Why shouldn't they? Murphy had threatened their sister, Clarke, had mistreated her, and all around was just a huge, stinking sack of manure.
All of them wanted Murphy dead. So, when he was done with the story, they were going to hack him to pieces. Slowly.
Before anyone spoke, a new set of footsteps resounded through the stone hallway.
They looked down the hall and saw Ontari, making her way over to the cell where they had Murphy and Emori.
Ontari came to a stop at the doorway, looking at each of the twenty-six, then looking at Murphy and Emori.
Ontari asked, sounding deeply confused, "Kaysi, may I ask why you have a knife to that nomad's face?"
"Yes, Ontari," Casey nodded to her, "You may. And I will explain everything." She told Ontari everything she had suggested to her siblings, also in Azgedasleng.
When she was finished, Ontari's eyes widened. She looked from Murphy to Emori again, then turned to Casey as she asked, "Are you sure?"
Casey nodded and spoke in Azgedasleng, "More than sure. Ontari, Murphy put a knife to Clarke's throat."
Ontari's eyes widneed again, and she was about to turn on Murphy, hand going for her knife, but Casey snapped, "Don't!" In Azgedasleng. Ontari paused, turning to Casey. Casey explained in Azgedasleng, "We need him to give us information. Afterwards, we can do whatever we want to him, agreed?"
Ontari hesitated, sending a look of pure murder to Murphy, but nodded.
"Alright," Casey said, then in Gonasleng, said to Murphy as she looked at him, "Now, Murphy, answers. Just like we talked about."
Murphy understandably and rightly, stared in distrust at Casey.
He whispered, "How do I know you won't cut her up, anyway?"
Casey snickered. "Alright, then," she lowered the dagger then, beginning to cut the blade into Emori's face.
Emori winced, but didn't cry out.
But Murphy did.
"Wait!" Murphy cried, making Casey stop, "I'll tell you. I'll tell you, alright?! Just fucking stop!"
Casey grinned and looked at Murphy. "See?" She mocked, "I knew you could do it."
Frank, Bailey, Hodge, Paul and Simone all chuckled as they stepped back.
"Now," Casey said, keeping the tip of the blade of her dagger against Emori's face, "Murphy, you are going to tell us everything about the one hundred. And Bellamy. Now."
Murphy nodded, glaring at Casey with all the resentment he could, but began to talk.
And what Murphy told them about Bellamy and how he had treated Clarke and Wells? Made the blood of the twenty-six and Ontari, boil.
Author's note
Before I hear any delusional person say anything, be realistic, what the fuck do you actually think is going to happen to Murphy? Being in the hands of a group that hates him and knows that he threatened their darling sister and leader and Ontari's beloved intended?
Be honest, on a scale of one to ten, how royally in deep shit do you think Murphy is? I'll give you a hint, he's buried in shit. He's not going to get out of this one. Oh well, no real loss there.
So, anyone who's hoping Murphy will survive…might just want to take a hike.
Honestly, anyone who thinks this is going to end in any way that might count as "good" for Murphy, Bellamy or for any of the people I've made clear I consider wastes of life...you might want to just stop taking whatever drugs you've been taking.
And no rape. Ontari and no one else is going to force anything like that on Murphy or on Emori. Torture with knives for Murphy, yes. But no rape.
