CHAPTER 15

Lexa felt that it was just as hard to wake the next morning as it had been when she'd only gotten one or two hours of sleep. Costia's body was so warm and comforting that Lexa felt that she would need to be physically dragged from bed.

As Costia slowly woke she looked at the Commander. "Did that help you sleep?" She said nuzzling herself tighter into the other woman.

Lexa laughed slightly feeling her face muscles strain to make the smile, it had been too long.

"I need to go." Lexa said squeezing the woman tightly. "I have business to attend to."

Costia gave a sigh before rolling away and sitting up. "I should get back as well." She said crestfallen.

Lexa say and placed her hands on the girl's shoulders. "Thank you." She said placing a kiss on each shoulder.

"No trouble at all." Costia said laughing. "Shall I help you sleep again tonight?"

Lexa groaned and got up from the bed and began dressing in fresh clothing.
Costia who was still wearing her uniform from the night before gave the Commander a brief kiss and left the tent.

XXXX

The next two clans proved to be convinced with surprising ease. Word of the other clans attending the Solstice in Polis had reached them before Lexa and her troupe had so their leaders found it only that more flattering that the Commander herself came to invite them.

Lexa was also finding the journey much quicker and more pleasant. Part of this was no doubt the ease in which the clans were agreeing to the change and the other part that Costia had spent every night in her room.

Now it was on to the Ice Nation, on to Nia. This was all Lexa could think of as she watched her warriors set up camp. They had decided to stop just on the edge of the Azgeda land border. Lexa was no keen on sleeping on her land without her first agreeing to attend the Solstice.

As Lexa walked through camp the warriors paid her little attention. The air was heavy and they all knew that rain would come tonight. The camp was determined to firmly set up all tents so they wouldn't need to face the rain and spend the evening resting. They'd been on the road now for 4 weeks and it was beginning to wear on all warriors. Life on the road was never a pleasant one.
The few warriors who did glance up as she passed Lexa nodded encouragement at them, which seemed to alleviate their downtrodden spirits.
Had the rain not been coming Lexa would have built a large fire and brought the camp together for a night of celebration. They could all use some happiness.

As she approached it she was pleased to see that her tent had been erected and stood tall and strong. She entered and began to remove her armor. There was a plate of venison and plants on her table, left by one of the hunters. She sat and began to eat, as she was just finishing the flap of the tent was lifted and Costia entered with a tray and some cups of what smelt like tea.

"You haven't any guards." She said confused. As Commander Lexa always ensured that two strong warriors stood outside her tent day and night. It was not something she insisted upon but merely a tradition of the Heda. She had always found it tiring for she never felt like she was truly alone.

"Yes I sent them to sleep. No use having them out in the rain." Then as if her words spoke to the sky the rain began to fall. It pounded against the tent in heavy full drops.

"That's kind of you." Costia said placing the tray on the table. "Many of the guards have been feeling ill because of the traveling." Lexa hadn't known this, but then no one ever dared show weakness to the Commander. Lexa held her arm out and Costia gladly was enveloped by it. "Don't you go getting sick too." Lexa said kissing the girl's hair.

"What do you think the tea is for?" Costia said breaking off and filling the two cups and taking one for herself. She sat at one the chairs and sipped the steaming drink.

Lexa took the second cup and sat opposite of her taking a drink of the tea. It tasted of pine needles and honey, an old remedy for the cough.

"How do you feel about going to Azgeda tomorrow?" Costia spoke after a moment or two of silence.

Lexa put her empty cup down. "Whatever happens happens. There is no reason for me to worry until I know how Nia will respond to my presence."

Costia raised an eyebrow. "Come now Lexa. I know you."

The two stared at one another for a moment.

"I am worried." Lexa confessed. "Nia has never truly accepted my rein. She had hoped that her son Roan would be named Commander but he was not born with the Nightblood. She has killed many Trikru and made several attempts at my life."

"She was the one responsible for the Nightshade attack?" Costia prodded.

Lexa absentmindedly rubbed her shoulder where not so many moons ago a boned dagger had been embedded. "Yes."

"Well." Costia said rising and collecting Lexa's cup. "You had better have guards tomorrow rain or not."

"Of course Heda." Lexa said smirking at the healer. Costia seemed taken aback for a moment at being addressed as such but then smiled.

"I'll be back in a moment." She said leaning in to kiss Lexa. It was intended to be a quick peck but Lexa wrapped her arm around the girl's waist preventing her from being released and prolonging the kiss.

"I have to return these cups." Costia whined after several minutes and she tried to pull away from the Commander.

"Very well." Lexa said releasing her. "But don't stay out long, you'll get wet."

As Costia crossed the tent she turned back to the Commander eyebrow raised cockily. "You don't want me to get wet?"

"Oh just go." Lexa called feeling redness cross her face that only Costia could bring out.

XXXXXXX

The rain still pattered against the tent when Lexa woke. The candles had all but been extinguished and the sun had not yet risen, Costia's body was warm against her and the girl breathed contently in her sleep. So why had she woken? Lexa raised her head slightly to look around the tent. She had heard a noise, that had been what had woken her, but where was the source?

Lexa's hand was on her sword beside her bed before her brain even registered the movement. The figure lunged from the darkness, a glint of a dagger catching in the dim candlelight. Lexa's swung her sword clumsily from her sitting position but still made contact with the intruder. Costia screamed and the intruder groaned as Lexa felt her sword blade sink into the side of his neck. The man feell backwards and lay on the ground holding his mortally wounded neck.

Lexa swiftly stood up brandishing her sword at the darkness.

"Lexa? Lexa!" Costia's voice was high pitched and panicked.

"Hush Costia." The Commander hissed for she didn't need her senses to have any distraction as she scanned the dark tent. The dying man before her was moaning as the life seeped from his neck.

Sudden movement on her right and Lexa swung her sword broadly. This time the intruder's knife blocked the blow. Lexa pushed her sword towards the dark figure, but it did not relent. Lexa kicked the mass back and heard a female grunt as they stumbled backwards hitting the table and chairs. Lexa stabbed at the figure and felt her blade sink deeply into their chest. The sound of the woman's death seemed almost as quiet at the rain.

Suddenly the tent became much more illuminated. Costia had lit the bedside candles and was now staring in horror at the dead man's body beside the bed. Dark red blood coated the ground around him and the white war paint across his face seemed illuminated on his pale face.

"Azgeda." Lexa hissed looking at the woman's body, which also bore the white ash paint.

"They were here to kill you." Costia whispered in horror. Lexa nodded her eyes still scanning the tent for any other hidden foes. "Bounty Hunters?"

"No." Lexa said conceding that they were alone. "These are no bounty hunters. These are warriors." The body's armor was of the highest quality and their weapons shiny. Bounty Hunters spent weeks if not months in the wilderness. These Azgeda were clean. They'd come from their city. Come to kill her.

Costia's breathing hitched in fear. Lexa looked at the healer. Her face was white and her body shook. It was only now that Lexa realized she was not a warrior. She'd seen blood and injuries but never have been present at their infliction. Lexa was about to comfort the girl when there was a cry from somewhere out in the night, followed by more and more yells, finally a horn.

"They weren't alone." Lexa mind was now churning. This was an attack. Nia had sent warriors to not only kill her but attack the camp, to kill them all.

"Get under the bed Costia." Lexa commanded.

"What?" The girl said stuttering.

"Get under the bed." Lexa said more forcefully this time. She sensed time was the essence. "You will be safe there."

"Lexa…" Costia said eyes wide with fear.

"Please." Lexa said quickly crossing to the girl and helping her to her feet.

At her touch Costia flung her arms around her and hugged her tightly.

"You must be careful." She said hushed. Lexa ran her hands through the girl's red hair and nodded.

"Of course."

Costia released the hug. "I love you."

"I love you too." Lexa said rushed. "Now please hurry."

Costia nodded, crouched down and slipped out of sight.

Lexa crossed to her armor and hurriedly tied it on. The yells from the camp were growing louder and greater in number.