Murphy caught Miller in the hallway. Miller and Bryan were on their way to the market. Murphy didn't bother with small talk. He handed Miller the folded paper. "From Clarke."
"Is she all right?"
"Yeah."
Miller opened the paper and read it. He looked at Murphy. "Who is it?"
"I don't know. Be quiet about this. She doesn't want anyone to know. It's not safe."
Miller looked at Murphy. Even in the dim hallway, he saw Murphy's healing face. "Who did that to you?"
"Long story."
"Come with us so you can tell me."
Murphy looked over his shoulder at his guard and sighed. He and Miller would never be friends, but this was probably his last chance to spend time with any Skaikru. It was easier to talk to people when he didn't have to explain everything. "All right."
They took the stairs down and went out the main entrance. Murphy stopped for a second and turned around. He asked his guard, "Where's the market?"
The guard walked in front of him and signaled for them to follow.
"What's going on?" Miller asked as they entered the crowded street.
"I really don't know, exactly, but it has to do with the things Jaha was handing out."
"He was talking about all kinds of crazy shit."
"Believe me, I know. You need to find out who this is before shit blows up."
"I will."
Bryan spoke for the first time. "How dangerous is it?"
"The Azgeda king is taking me when he leaves."
"What?"
"Clarke made a deal with him to keep me safe."
"What do you have on her?" Miller asked.
"Nothing. I owe her, all right?" Murphy lowered his voice. "Be careful who you trust. Remember someone's always watching and listening."
Clarke said the same thing in her note. "We owe her, too."
Murphy nodded. He hoped there were enough coins in the pouch to get Miller a blade, too. He was going to need it to protect Clarke and the others.
100 – 100 – 100
It was a 15 minute walk to the hospital. Abby tried to pay attention to the route, but was constantly distracted by everything in Polis. She didn't get to look around much last time she was there. She was uncertain why the guard stayed with her once she arrived.
It was a pleasant surprise to see Nyko again. She thought he had been part of the massacred army. She smiled at him, and he nodded back and sent the guard away. "I'm so sorry about everything," Abby said.
"Words do not make it right."
"I know."
"Will you ask Clarke to visit? I wish to discuss some things with her."
"Certainly. What can I do to help?"
"Heda said we are to learn from each other, as we did at your camp. She said your tools will be brought here."
"They won't be much good without power."
"Raven kom Skaikru can figure that out."
"Nyko, Raven's not with us."
"I am sorry."
"I don't think she's dead, but she went with Jaha."
"To the City of Light."
"Is that a real place?"
"People believe it is real."
"We have a saying: Anything that sounds too good to be true probably is."
Nyko smiled. "My nomon said that before we came to market."
"She was a wise woman."
"Sha. Come, I will introduce you to the others."
100 – 100 – 100
Ontari knelt on the concrete, her arms around Clarke, her chin on the top of Clarke's head. She didn't say anything for a long time and Lexa was silent, too. Everything happened so fast. Roan's shock at Lexa's death confused her. He should have been happy that the woman who murdered his mother was dead.
Ontari didn't mourn Nia. Azplana was unrelentingly cruel to her without teaching her anything she needed to know as heda. Ontari knew that had Nia survived Lexa, she would have slaughtered all the strikon Natblida on Nia's orders. It never occurred to Ontari at the time that becoming heda would be an escape from Nia.
But she was here now, Heda of the Alliance of 13 Clans, and Roan's instructions were clear and precise. He didn't threaten her, as his mother would have. Instead, he explained all that was at stake as they rode back to Polis. He told her that Lexa was not weak because she envisioned a future where there was no war and the clans settled their disagreements with words instead of armies, where children didn't starve to death because their parents went to war and invaders burned their fields.
He talked about Clarke, told her how Clarke took down the Mountain after Lexa left with her troops, how she fought him at every step until one of her people was in danger. Ontari prevented Clarke from poisoning Nia, but that was to save her own skin, for Nia would have killed her when she realized what Ontari allowed to happen. She saw no fear on Clarke's face when she threw her onto the table, only a kind of relief replaced by anger when she covered Clarke's face with her blood.
Since defeating the other Natblida in the Conclave, Ontari felt her life was on fast forward. Titus put something in her, and Heda Leksa's voice and thoughts sometimes overrode her own, sometimes blended with them. Clarke was at the center of it, even her own thoughts. Clarke was beautiful, honest, and kind. She bowed to Ontari without being asked or told, and after she publicly swore fealty and accepted Ontari's blood, Ontari hated being away from her. The need to be near Clarke was a constant itch at the base of her skull. She had relief from it only at moments like these, when she held Clarke. She wanted more with Clarke, and knew Clarke would not accept or offer anything at this time, as she struggled with her grief for Lexa and her fear for her people.
"I'm sorry," Clarke whispered.
"Do not apologize to me, Klark. You have done nothing wrong."
"We need to get ready for the meeting."
"I am heda. Floukru can wait."
"That's not the message you want to give. Make him feel important."
"This is why you advise me. Titus would have me insult and threaten."
"My dad used to tell me, 'You'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar.'"
"Why would you want to catch flies?"
"I asked him that, too." Clarke lifted her head. "He never explained it but told me it meant I'd be more likely to get my way if I was nice. I know you think nice is the same thing as weak, but it isn't. It's just a different approach."
"I will try to catch Floukru flies."
Clarke smiled. "Marcus is much better at the honey thing than I am."
"Anyone is better than I am."
"Most people aren't like Nia, Ontari. They don't enjoy inflicting cruelty or suffering on others."
"I am learning that." Ontari stood up and offered Clarke her hand.
Clarke let Ontari pull her to her feet.
"Finish your lunch while I send for Marcus."
"I'll try."