The door opened and Ontari entered, followed by two guards bearing trays. Abby squeezed Clarke and stood. "Good morning, Commander."

"Clarke, is all well?"

Clarke looked up and did her best to smile. Miss you. She wanted to scream with frustration. "I'm fine, Heda. How are you?" Clarke put her sketchbook in her lap.

"I am well. I wish to join you for breakfast."

"Of course," Clarke answered. Soon.

Ontari sat in the only empty chair, across from Clarke. "Good morning, Fisa. Good morning, Marcus."

The guards put the food on the table and went to stand in the hall.

"I did not know what you like, so I brought some of everything."

"That's very kind of you, Commander," Marcus said.

"I do not understand why all of your equipment cannot be brought here," Ontari said to Abby while everyone served themselves.

"It requires electrical power."

"Can we not move the power source with it?"

"It's built into the Ark. I don't know how that would happen."

"Where are your people who managed that?"

"A few of them died in the battle," Marcus answered, "and the others went with Jaha."

"Where did he go?"

"No one knows, Heda," Clarke answered. "I understand you left troops at the Ark?"

"Sha. There are many useful things there. I do not want scavengers taking them."

Safe. "No one saw Jaha or his people leave the Ark. I wonder whether they might be hiding in the less accessible spaces."

Both Marcus and Abby looked at Clarke.

"Raven would know where they could go safely," Clarke continued. "No one's been in the upper parts since you landed. There were supplies up there." Smart.

"I will have it searched," Ontari said.

"No, Heda, it isn't safe."

"It is safe enough for them."

"Raven is a mechanical genius," Abby said. "She knows the blueprints." Abby stopped. "She was on the computer a lot the last few days."

"Clarke is correct, Commander," Marcus said. "It is not safe for your troops."

"Wanheda, do not withhold information."

Speak true. "I'm not certain about all of it, Heda, and I do not want to tell you something now that turns out to be incorrect. As soon as I know everything, I will tell you."

"Who is Jaha? Why would anyone follow him?"

Clarke's mouth was full, so Marcus answered. "He was chancellor when we were in space. Our leader. He got down here on his own, and somewhere heard about the City of Light. He left to find it and took a few people with him, including Murphy."

"Why would the Skaiskat follow?"

"He wasn't well liked and didn't fit in."

Clarke choked at Marcus' understatement, and indicated she was fine when Ontari looked at her. Ontari's eyes flashed green. Abby looked between them and wondered what her daughter was getting into now.

"Continue," Ontari directed.

"Jaha returned a few weeks ago with a grounder dressed like none of us had seen. By that time, Pike was in charge, and his guards murdered the man. They let Jaha in, though. He carried a case that he guarded, and spent all of his time recruiting people to enter the City of Light."

"People were sad and scared, and he told them he could take away their pain, both physical and emotional," Abby said.

"The City of Light is not real," Ontari said.

"I don't believe it is," Abby agreed. "I think he was deluded and the people who agreed to follow him were desperate."

Clarke nearly sighed with relief that neither Marcus or Abby said anything about the computer chips. She pushed her plate away and sipped from her mug.

"You didn't eat enough," Ontari and Abby said simultaneously.

"Please don't do that again," Clarke said. "I'm not hungry."

"You will eat," Ontari said firmly. Her eyes turned green while Clarke watched. "You cannot aid me if you are ill."

Safe. Strong. "I'm not hungry," Clarke repeated. "I have an appointment." She put her mug down, got out of her seat, slid her sketchbook into her pocket, and kissed her mother's cheek. "See you soon." Clarke waved at Marcus.

Ontari watched Clarke walk to the door. "Join me for sanch. There will be a meeting after, and I wish to discuss it with you."

Clarke paused, her hand on the door. Miss you, Klark. She hoped her voice was steady. "Sha, Heda."

Ontari returned to her breakfast. "I will have a guard take you to the healers when we finish here," she told Abby.

"Thank you, Commander."

"You should learn much from each other. Marcus, I would like you to attend the meeting. An hour after sanch."

"Of course, Commander."

"I will send someone to bring you."

"Thank you."

"If you don't mind me asking," Abby said, "what's your interest in Clarke?"

"Wanheda is familiar with the coalition. I was not trained with the Natblida, and require assistance with the agreements. That is why I also ask Marcus to join the meeting."

Abby nodded although her bullshit detector was going nuts. "Marcus should be a great help to you. Clarke, too."

"Sha. People want to follow Wanheda, and she speaks highly of Marcus."

"What will happen to Skaikru?" Marcus asked.

"I have not yet decided. You will be safe."

100 – 100 – 100

Clarke ignored her guard and charged down the hallway. She hit the steel door at the staircase with her shoulder and went down them as fast as she could. She had planned to go back to speak more with her mother that afternoon, but Ontari hijacked her schedule again. Maybe this evening, after supper with whoever it was Roan wanted her to meet.

She flew down the stairs, grabbing the rails to help her make the turns, and finally pushed out the final door open. She stopped for a second to see where she was, saw the manicured path, and abruptly turned right and began running again. She couldn't deal with any of that right now.

She nearly collided with someone when she reached the street, and had to slow to a fast walk until the streets cleared out closer to the training area.

"Wanheda," a voice boomed as she passed through the entrance.

She turned to see an Azgeda warrior about Roan's size.

"Azhefa Roan said you need training."

"Sha."

"Come."

Two hours later, Clarke was covered in dust. Sweat cut through it in some places. She was certain she would be bruised everywhere, but especially on her ass, where she repeatedly landed. There was no laughing or mockery, though, just repeated instruction and demonstration.

"Come before breakfast tomorrow. Perhaps you will be quicker."

"Doubt that," Clarke muttered, and did her best not to limp as she started back to the tower.

When she got there, she surprised both her guard and herself by taking the stairs up to the fourth floor.