Chapter 8
It took three days to make it to Troi. Echo hadn't lied in the fact that she hadn't really stopped to get there. They ate as the horse meandered through the countryside. They'd only stopped for necessary times and water. Clarke wasn't upset about it. It was joken cold out in the wilderness of Azgeda. It made her appreciate the Winters that she'd spent in Trigeda in her after Mountain exiles.
The palace was built into the side of a low mountain that over looked a large lake. There were large columns on the outside that reminded Clarke of the Grecian temples she'd studied in school. They were each different, so she knew that they weren't all carved there or from the same building. It didn't matter, whoever built the palace of Azgeda was a genius architect. It was amazing, and under normal circumstance, she would give it the awe that it deserved.
Instead, she was ushered in, unceremoniously, to her fate with Nia. Echo had taken the furs from her and tied her hands again with rope. It was painful, especially in the cold. She knew that she couldn't look too comfortable when she met Nia, but she would have at least liked to have feeling in her hands. She didn't have to worry about the cold for too long. As soon as they broke the plain of the might doors to the palace, a gust of warmth from a large communal fire, in what must have been some sort of antechamber roared, warmed her back up.
"Who is this?" a guard of sorts questioned Echo.
"Tell the Kwin that I have brought what she asked of me, Jorgen."
He looked at Clarke again before looking into Echo's eyes. He didn't know what her mission was, but he knew better it seemed than to cross Echo. Clarke could already feel her moving a hand to knife, ready to fight and defend if need be, just inches behind her. She wasn't sure how far Echo was willing to go, but it seemed that this Jorgen fellow would have found out. He nodded minutely and stepped away towards the only double doors in the chamber.
Clarke studied. She couldn't help it. She was curious. She blamed her father for this, because of all of his engineering. The doors were each roughly the breadth and height of two men. They had to be some sort of oak or darkened hardwood. The grain in them was magnificent. The color was rich and warm, everything that Azgeda was not. The hinges weren't ornate, but they were functional. Two large iron rings functioned as the handles to open and close the doors. As they opened, she saw an identical pair on the inner side of the door.
Two brutish size men opened the door from the inside. Jorgen, not being one of them, came back to where they were standing. He gave Echo some sort of look and then just turned back to the doors. Echo pulled on the rope and started to pull Clarke along. The blonde could feel her heart beginning to race with adrenaline. She lumbered along, knowing now that her fate in this life was already sealed. She was going to die soon, and she was okay with it.
The throne room was immense and nothing like Lexa's. It was cold, sparsely decorated, except for white furs on the floor around a huge throne of bone and wood. It radiated that the whoever sat upon with the supreme ruler there, but it didn't mean that they were loved. There were guards at a few side entrances, that Clarke could only guess what they led to.
Before she was brought forward and made to kneel before the queen, Echo leaned into a little, stating, "Don't push her and you might live to see tomorrow."
Clarke wanted to laugh. She had no qualms about pushing Nia. She knew what to say to make it hurt. She also had some semblance of stupidity, thanks to what happened to the Mountain, to not care what the fuck that Nia thought about her. She knew that nothing she said short of agreeing to kill Lexa was going to spare her life or the lives of her people in Arcadia. Nia wanted two things: power and Lexa dead. And, she didn't care how she got either.
"Kwin Nia, I present to you the one from Skaikru they are calling Wanheda," Echo said as she pushed Clarke forward and kneeled.
Clarke didn't kneel. She studied the woman before her. She was blond, pale, and had light colored eyes. Clarke couldn't decide if they were actually blue or just a light hazel. It didn't really matter though as she stood there, hands tied, before the woman.
Her eyes flicked to the left of Nia and saw Ontari standing there. Clarke wanted to immediately run to the younger woman and choke her to death for all the destruction and mayhem that she had caused in Clarke's past lives, but instead she just cocked her head. She knew that Ontari wasn't just a body guard to Nia. She was treated like her child. Rumor was it that with Roan's banishment, Ontari was now her heir even if she wasn't her blood. Whatever thoughts, she had were stopped when saw Ontari start to rush her.
Cocking her head again, she watched at the smaller, younger natblida came at her. Echo must have seen the movement and pulled down on the rope that bound Clarke's hands. It was a futile movement. Clarke wasn't ever going to "bend the knee" to either of them. She'd die first, and it looked like it was going to happen sooner than later. The darker woman stopped in front of her. They warred with their eyes, but Ontari didn't draw a weapon on her...yet.
"Kneel before your Kwin!" Ontari demanded in Trig.
Clarke didn't move. Echo could feel the tension rising. She knew that Nia must have known that Skaikru didn't speak Trig. Nia was no fool. She craved power, so she craved information. There was no way that she didn't know this. So, having Ontari purposefully in her face had to be test against the girl. Nia needed to know what and who she was dealing with. She feared the unknown and what it could do to her throne. She knew that having the people believe that this Skaigada was the true reincarnation of Wanheda could cause problems. And, that was something that Nia couldn't have. Wanheda would either be hers or would be no more.
"Forgive me, ai Kwin. The goufa doesn't know our language. She group up in stars. She only speaks Gonasleng," Echo spoke loudly as she was still kneeling and facing the floor of the throne room.
Clarke turned to look down at Echo and then back up at Ontari. She squared her shoulders. She wasn't going to submit to them. She refused.
"Kneel for you queen," Ontari hissed at her.
"I have no queen," Clarke replied.
Ontari moved quickly behind her and kicked out at her knees. Clarke stumbled and Echo let go of the rope. They both knew that if Clarke was going to be dumb that she needed to be smart about it. She almost went to the ground, but her knees never made contact. Instead, she used to momentum to move herself closer to Nia. It was a calculated risk and one that Echo didn't know that she was going to take. If she had, she might have either tried to talk Clarke out of it or she wouldn't have reacted as genuinely as Clarke saw her react.
Ontari came at her again, but Clarke felt her coming and dodged the attack. Clarke knew that she wouldn't be able to last long against Ontari in a fair fight, much less unfair one, because she had no true warrior training. When Ontari spun around again to attack, Clarke assessed her dressing. She had a few daggers on her belt. All Clarke needed was one.
When Ontari was close enough, Clarke let her think that she was going to have the advantage. She allowed her to get close enough that they could feel each other's breath. At the last possible millisecond, Clarke moved as she pawed at Ontari's waist. As they both turned from each other, she used the small knife that she'd procured to cut the rope around her hands, carefully as to not nick herself. The knife wasn't large, barely a finger's length, but in Clarke's hands it would serve.
Ontari was pissed. She couldn't believe that Clarke had bested her. She drew her sword and went to charge but was stopped by Echo's sword.
Clarke turned and was amazed at Echo's speed. But, there was more to it. She knew that Echo was about to be punished for helping a prisoner. She couldn't believe that Echo would stop Ontari like this. But, looking into Echo's hard eyes, Clarke realized that the spy had a plan of sorts. It was probably a bad plan and Clarke would hate it, but at the moment, she had nothing to do but go along with it.
"Em plenti!" Nia shouted from her throne. (Enough!)
The guards hadn't moved. It seemed that they were either waiting for Nia to order it or they were wondering to see what the outcome was going to be. Clarke hoped it was the latter, but knew more than likely, it was the former. Either way, she'd take it. She and Echo weren't dead...yet.
"Ontari, that is not how we treat out guests," Nia said with a very sachrine smile.
Clarke wanted to puke. This bitch, Clarke thought as she turned to the older blonde and waited her fate. Ontari didn't move. Echo did. She came up to Clarke and took the knife from her hand. Clarke didn't fight her. She didn't think that she should. And, whatever Echo was trying to tell her with her eyes, Clarke didn't understand. She tried, but she couldn't fathom what Echo wanted her to do. So, she just dropped her shoulders in defeat for a second before turning to look back at Nia.
And, Clarke wouldn't be able to tell you what came over her in the next few minutes. Maybe, all the death and rebirth without being able to change things addled her brain. Maybe, she was just plain insane. It didn't matter. It was obvious to everyone in the room that she just didn't care if she died. It was like the part of her brain that was supposed to kick in for self-preservation was just gone or maybe didn't exist to begin with. Clarke knew that she'd never been truly labeled as sassy. That was more of Raven's things. And, she was only defiant when it came to protecting, saving, and fighting for her people. She wasn't just generally contrary like a young, untrained and untested Octavia was. No, when Clarke became defiant, there was reason. She had no true reason for what she did except for the fact that she loved Lexa and wanted to make Nia suffer like she made so many others. If she had to spill her own blood to it, then she would...gladly, over and over again, as long as it meant that it was hurting Nia and her quest for power. Which is why even Clarke was surprised by her snark.
"Guest? I was under the assumption that I was prisoner because I did something that you couldn't do yourself, Nia. You sent a spy, and a malnourished one at that to capture a damaged girl in the woods. I would have thought that such acts were beneath you, but I know better. I am no guest of yours, nor will I be."
Nia just smiled at her, deeper. She stood from her throne and moved closer to Clarke. She knew that Echo had unarmed the girl. She also knew that having both Ontari and Echo near her meant Clarke's death should she even try to raise a hand to the Queen.
"I think you misunderstood why you were brought her, Clarke of the Sky People."
"Oh, there was no mistake. I know why you've brought me here. Your people think that I am some mystic being come to save them. You think that this means I am here to usurp Lexa in some way. I know that they call me Wanheda. I am not a warrior. I am nothing more than a healer's second. I have done nothing by try to protect my people. And, all you have done is try to kill them," Clarke quipped back. "I know what your people did to those from Farm Station. We could have been allies, but instead, you decided to kill them and only a handful made it back to our people. For that, you will find no friend with Skaikru. We could have helped you have better farm land. We could have helped you develop better weapons. We would have traded medicines with you. But, instead of trying to offer aid, in which we would have returned double, you chose to kill. My people will not forget this at the negotiating tables. I know that Lexa is sending emissaries to Arcadia. We will become the thirteenth clan and then we will ask for blood."
"And, your people will join without you there to make sure that it happens?" Nia questioned.
"I know my people. We don't war. We just want to live. We have things to offer, but we will not offer them to you. Reparations would need to be paid first."
Nia laughed. Clarke wondered if she knew that she was bluffing. She was in a way, but she would never side with Nia or her Azgeda.
"You speak for a people who don't even know if you are alive."
"They know enough. When word gets to them that you have captured me, they will go to Heda. Lexa will ask the other clans to turn on you. Twelve against one isn't good odds But, then again, you already know that don't you. It was why you tried to trick Lexa into war after joining. It was a bitch move and one that she didn't bite on. Do you know why?" Clarke asked her as she tried to make her body as big as she could in front of Nia.
"Because she is weak," Nia hissed.
"No, it is because she is a better leader than you will ever be. She had given you plenty of opportunity to join the coaltioin, but you didn't. When the other clans around did, and you finally saw the benefits, you were still worried. You knew that Heda was the best warrior in all the lands. You knew that she brought the other eleven clans to heel and now, they were all prospering. You weren't. You're people were dying from sickness and starvation, from cold and lack of resources. Lexa would have giving you all that, but instead, you stole someone close to her and sent back their head. Your timing was off, though."
"How so?"
"You'd already kneeled and took the brand of the coalition. Doing so meant that all laws and transgressions before that time were forgiven. Meaning, killing Costia gave you nothing but a body. You didn't get your war. And, now, your people are a little more prosperous. You would jeopardize the livelihood of your people for what? Power? You will never sit on the Throne of Polis. You will never be the Heda," Clarke told her. "You can't."
"I will rule all the clans."
"You can't, and you know it. They won't follow you. You don't have the right colored blood. Lexa does. And, she has nine heirs, perfectly trained for battle and to avenge her death. But, you already know that," Clarke replied. "That is why you keep her close to you."
"What are you talking about?"
"I might be a Skaigada, but I'm not a fool, Nia. You're scared now. If Arcadia joins either the Kongeda or Trikru, you will lose face among the people. You will not be the mightiest of clans anymore. With Lexa's help, I felled the Mountain. So, Heda can claim victory over a hundred year old problem. She was the first Heda to attack and defeat the Mountain," Clarke explained. "What have you done but terrorize your people? Kill them? Starve them for your leisure?"
"She left you at the Mountain," Nia hissed back at her.
"She did at my request. She took the deal that save all the Grounders inside, and in doing so, it allowed me unfettered access. Once I had access to the Mountain, I could end it. She knew that with our knowledge of tek that would could finally end the reaping. And, I did. In doing so, the people labeled me Wanheda. I am the Commander of Death and while, you might challenge Lexa and win. It won't be at Roan's hand. And, if and when my people demand justice from yours, it will be you that will have to answer for it."
"What are you saying to me, Wanheda? Are you calling for my death? Are you telling me when I will die?" Nia questioned her amused by Clarke's spunk.
"I am."
"And, when shall that be, hmm?"
"No matter the outcome of the coup you try in Polis, Lexa might fall. But, her death will cause an issue with all the clans. The Coalition will dissolve and you will have nothing but Azgeda to rule. Within six months of today, I will tell you this: Azgeda will fall and with it, you and precious Ontari as well. I will gladly die knowing that you will be dead soon as well. So, kill me, if you wish. But doing so or not, your fate is sealed. No one will gain my power. It starts and ends with me. I am Wanheda and I call for your death!" Clarke shouted in Nia's face.
Ontari went to strike Clarke down again. And, once again, Echo stopped it, but she couldn't stop the other swing of Ontari's hand towards Clarke's face. Nia turned to look at her spy, in surprise of Echo's defense of the young blond woman. But, the damage had already been done. There was a mark upon Clarke's face, a busted lip from the errant fist of Ontari's. It had drawn blood. The entirety of the Court now knew what Echo was about to tell them was true. Clarke wasn't just Wanheda, she was a natblida. Nia wouldn't be able to cover that fact up, but she could still hide the Wanheda.
"She is a natblida, ai kwin. And, while she states that killing Heda is an option, it could be hers. Roan works with Heda. Klark is here. Make Wanheda yours. Teach her to follow you. Give her the time to want to bow. Let her anger towards Heda build and then command her to take Heda's place. Or, ignore her warnings and fight Heda with Ontari. If you kill her and word gets back to Heda or the Fleimkepas, it will be your head that they demand. All the clans will rise up against you. The laws are clear. No night blood shall be killed but by another night blood. The Fleimkepas and Heda will never believe that you didn't do it yourself, ai Kwin. They know how you want to rule in their sted. Taking Wanheda's head will only cause war with all the clans."
"And, what do you suggest, loufa?" Nia demanded. (...Spy?)
"Train her. Send her to the pits. Make her Azgeda, and watch the people turn to us," Echo suggested.
"You think that you can do this? You can make Azgeda? Why?" Nia questioned.
"If she is the true legendary Wanheda, it will make her serve you. For now, she's given you six months before she calls for you death. Make her Azgeda, let her learn to love you like our people do and her loyalites will change. She will give you Heda then. And, think of what you can do with both Ontari and her. She would remain Wanheda and Ontari would be Heda. Azgeda would rule over the Kongeda as the supreme clan. Everyone would have to bend the knee to you, ai Kwin. With Wanheda in your pocket, Heda will fall and give you the Kongeda without too much fight. Especially if she commands it," Echo replied.
Nia seemed lost in thought and then turned to face Clarke again. She smiled. Turning back to Echo and then Ontari, she'd made her decision.
"Fine then, Echo. You will get your wish. Train her. Make her a warrior. No scars to her face though. She will have to earn them," Nia said as she reached out and took Clarke's chin her fingers. "You will wish to please me quickly and earn your place here, Wanheda or you will wish for death."
Clarke just cocked an eyebrow at her. Thankfully holding her tongue and not replying to Nia's words, Clarke stood rigid. Nia let her go and turned back to Echo.
"Take her. Train her. Make her one of the best," Nia commanded. "Or, break her so completely that no one would ever dare say that she ever was Wanheda."
