Once they were behind closed doors, Clarke said, "We need boundaries."

"I talked to them while you were gone."

"And?"

"I believe they will not disturb us unless it is a real emergency."

"Which is?"

Lexa smiled at Clarke. "Bleeding that won't stop. Bones showing through skin. Not staying awake after a head injury. War."

Clarke smiled back and finally relaxed. "You explained that to Heda?"

"I will in the morning," Lexa promised. "Thank you. I'm sure Raven will thank you."

"No she won't." Clarke shrugged. "She'll get busy and forget."

"She will thank you."

"I don't want her to do it because you asked Ontari or because Ontari made her."

Lexa nodded and changed the subject. "What were you drawing?"

"Nothing." Clarke hurried to pick up her sketch book and close it. The little bit she'd done looked terrible to her and she didn't want anyone to see it. She put it in her trunk on her way to the balcony.

Lexa followed her and they leaned on the wall and looked over Polis. Clarke saw lights in the corner assigned to Skaikru and made a mental note to check in with Miller in the morning. "I never thought there was anything like this here."

"Like Polis?"

"Any city," Clarke clarified. "ALIE targeted population centers. We're near what was the capital of the United States of America."

"Tondisi, yes."

"Cities weren't just full of people. They had most of the cultural things, too. Museums, libraries, theaters. That's why you haven't found a lot of that. It's probably not safe to go digging through everything yet."

"We can rebuild all of that."

"I know, and I know you and Ontari will do your best to make it all happen in your lifetimes, but it's gone. It's better to make new things that reflect how things are. We can't do it that unless the peace holds so there's time to educate at least the next generation."

"The Natblida," Lexa clarified.

"Not just them. Everyone should know basic information. All of Skaikru can read, write, and do basic math."

"Gonasleng is for warriors," Lexa said with a frown.

"I know." Clarke blew out a breath. "That's another long term thing. I get ahead of myself."

Lexa smiled and brushed Clarke's cheek. "We will get there."

"I hope we get to see it."

100 – 100 – 100

Things were quiet for a while.

Trade continued uninterrupted with Rock Line, but there was little communication. Spies sent what they learned, which was less than usual. That confirmed Clarke's suspicions that Lander was planning something.

Ontari and Lexa seemed unconcerned. Ontari was more focused on getting Skaikru settled. They had been given an unused corner of Polis and were building homes and gardens. At Lexa's suggestion, Ontari sent carpenters and masons to ensure the new buildings did not look too different from the rest of Polis. Clarke made a point of walking over every day to see the progress and talk.

Marcus left the library to help with the building. When Clarke asked why, he answered that it wasn't fair for the kids to build his home while he sat. "History isn't going anywhere. I'll get back to work when this is finished."

"So you and mom are going to move down here?"

"Yes. It will be nice."

"Don't count on it," Clarke mumbled.

"Abby loves you, Clarke."

"I love her, too. I just don't like her much right now."

"Understandable."

Clarke waited for the lecture she was sure would follow. When Marcus didn't say anything, she asked, "Not going to tell me how I only have one mother and all that?"

"No. The two of you will work it out in your own time."

"Thank you."

"Anything I can do for you?"

"Keep on what you're doing."

Marcus smiled at her. "Of course." He looked past her. "I think Miller is looking for you."

"Thanks for helping him."

"You're doing good, Clarke, all of you. I'm here to help everyone."

"Thanks, Marcus."

"Hey, Clarke."

She nodded to Marcus before turning to speak with Miller. "Hey."

"Can you look at something?"

"Sure."

She followed him through to what would be the middle of their area.

"I'm thinking we should put a guesthouse here."

"Why?"

"Everybody else has one. Murphy will be back to visit. You might need to stash somebody. And who knows, Octavia might come visit."

Clarke choked laughing at the last one.

Miller grinned at her. "Stranger things have happened."

"Fine, just not too big."

"Got it."

"Have you seen any of the other guesthouses?"

"Yeah. They're pretty much the same except for decorations."

"Do you want me to make anything?"

"Emblem for over the fireplace?"

"How big?"

Miller spread his arms and did some calculations on the fly. "Elbow to elbow."

"Stay still a second." Clarke moved close enough to compare her spread arms to his. "A couple inches bigger than me, got it. I'll get started, but let me know when you're getting close so I can finish it on time."

"Will do. One more thing, we need to have a boss meeting."

Clarke pointed toward the nearest tavern. "Sanch tomorrow?" she suggested.

"We'll be there."

"I'll send a message if something comes up."

Miller gave her a thumbs up. "And we know how to find you."

"Yeah."

"See you later."

"Later," Clarke said, and headed to the market to look for what she would need.

100 – 100 – 100

Lexa was relieved that evening to see Clarke pick up her sketchbook again. Paints had been delivered during the afternoon, and Lexa couldn't wait to see what Clarke planned. In the meantime, she and Fair continued to read and digest Bekka Pramheda's journal. It was the original plan, and Lexa wanted to return to what of it they could.

It had started already. Roan ordered Ontari not to kill the rest of Conclave participants. She could have easily taken all of them, and Nia certainly would have expected that. Instead, Roan explained to Ontari why the Natblida – all of the Natblida – were important. When she understood, after dozens of questions, why Roan was determined to continue Lexa's work, she accepted his plan.

"If this is what Pramheda ordered, why was it not done?" Fair asked, frowning.

"Because someone felt he knew better."

"Like Titus." It wasn't really a question.

Clarke continued to sketch different ideas while she listened to them talk.

"Sha." Lexa gently closed the journal for the night. "Sometimes power changes people. Sometimes they forget where that power comes from. No matter how powerful heda is, if the people do not want them, they will not last."

Fair began reciting the names of the hedas who found themselves in that position. Lexa waited for her to finish, and praised her when she was done.

"Your Fleimkepa betrayed you," Fair said quietly.

"He did. I would erase him from our histories but it is important to see both good and bad. When I am ready to write about him, I should be objective."

Clarke snorted quietly. Objective and Titus did not belong in the same conversation.

Lexa ignored her. "When you tell my story, I expect the same of you."

Fair nodded slowly and glanced at Clarke. "Then you must tell me everything."

"Not now. There are many other people you can speak with."

"Skaikru?"

"If they are willing."

"And Heda," Fair confirmed.

"And Heda," Lexa agreed. "After you speak with all of them, I will talk to you."

"Wanheda, will you?" Fair asked.

"We'll see when we get there," Clarke answered noncommittally.

"That is enough for one evening."

Fair stood and bowed to Lexa. Clarke didn't look up but Fair bowed to her anyway.

Even after the door closed and Lexa joined her on the couch, Clarke continued to try different ideas. After a few minutes, she closed the sketchbook and put it aside. "Thanks for not volunteering me."

"Thank you for not saying no. What were you drawing?"

"Miller decided Skaikru needs a guest house." Clarke rolled her eyes. "So he asked me to make the design for over the fireplace."

"May I see?"

"Not yet. I'm still figuring it out."

"If you want to continue working, I can read," Lexa suggested.

"That really what you want to do?"

Lexa didn't answer. She studied Clarke for several seconds, then got up and went to the door. She locked it and came back to Clarke. Clarke smiled, stood, and waited for her. Just before Lexa arrived, Clarke held up her hands, fingers black with charcoal. "Be right back."

Lexa followed her to the bathroom, reached around Clarke and helped her wash up. They started dropping clothes in the floor on their way out.

100 – 100 – 100

It was still dark when pounding began on their door, and they had only been asleep a few hours.

"If it's Raven again, she's gonna find out just how much natblid can heal," Clarke grumbled.

Lexa rolled toward the door. "Away."

The pounding continued.

"I swear," Clarke grumbled as she rolled out of bed. She went into the trunk at the foot of the bed and came up with a long shirt. She shimmied into it while going to answer the door.

"What is so important?" she asked before opening it.

"War," Ontari answered.

Clarke groaned. Lexa hurried from bed and picked up Clarke's shirt from the floor. She slipped it over her head while Clarke opened the door.

Ontari was alone, the guards busy ignoring her as she stitched together every swear Clarke heard on the ground and some that she hadn't.

"Heda." Clarke gestured for her to enter and sent one of the guards for drinks and snacks before closing the door and joining Ontari and Lexa at the table.

"Lander?" she asked.

"And Blue Cliff and Shadow Valley."

"I will kill him for breaking the peace," Lexa said.

"Unless I reach him first," Ontari answered grimly.

Clarke tried to breathe.

"You do not," Lexa started.

"Yes, I do. He might not be afraid of us, but I'm betting some of their fighters will either be terrified or turn on them."

In any other circumstance, Ontari's grin would be terrifying. Clarke's plan was reminiscent of Nia's, which relied on fear as much as surprise.

"Roan will come," Lexa said. "I am not certain who else."

"Luna. Some of Skaikru may volunteer," Clarke said.

"Good," Ontari said. "I will send riders to the others."

Clarke got up and went to the door again, just in time to let the server in. She sent a guard to get Raven.

A few minutes later, they were eating while they waited to find out why Clarke asked for Raven.

"This better be good," Raven said tiredly and dropped on Ontari's lap.

"War. We need stuff from you. Bombs. Grenades, Pyrotechnics. Any spooky shit you can dream up."

"Wish I had a generator. Then I could throw up holograms. It would look like there are more of you than there are."

"Perfect!" Clarke grinned and offered Raven the plate of sandwiches.

"Funny," Raven said, but took one.

Lexa and Ontari decided they didn't need to know and studiously pored over maps, anticipating from which directions attacks would come.