They returned to the Azgeda suite. Roan ordered food and fresh drinks to be delivered. While they waited, he disappeared into his room and returned with an armful of bottles.
"Klark," Ontari cautioned her quietly.
"One," Clarke answered.
"One mug," Ontari clarified.
"Sha," Clarke agreed. Keep your wits about you, Klark. A desperate man thinks he has little to lose. Clarke rolled her eyes, filled her mug, and took two mouthfuls. "Mochof."
He nodded. "No business until we eat," he announced.
Murphy slouched in the chair next to Clarke and drank, too. Ontari was the only one to abstain. She filled two mugs with water and set one in front of Clarke.
This was much stronger liquor than she drank this morning, and halfway through the mug, Clarke was back in the place where the alcohol insulated her from everything. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She tried not to think about the many questions still going through her mind. She hoped they gathered all the chips, and wondered what to do with those left. Abby would get a few to study, but there were a lot of them. Clarke didn't want the responsibility for guarding all of them. You know who to trust with them. It is dangerous, yes, but less dangerous than keeping them in one place.
Clarke sat up and sighed. She took another healthy swallow from her mug and looked at Murphy. "Well?" she asked.
"Deep subject," he snarked back, and they both laughed.
"You're still an asshole."
"You're still a princess. And bossy. But you're handling this better than I would, so cheers." He tapped his mug against hers. "I guess I'm still leaving with his majesty."
"Sha. I have an idea. A lot of ideas."
"No business until we eat," Roan repeated.
Clarke was the first to push her plate away, despite both Abby and Ontari trying to force her to eat more. Murphy was the last.
"You have ideas," Roan said to Clarke.
"We need time to find out exactly what the chips do and if they can be removed. And I'm still worried about what will happen if your people find out that the commander spirit is something that came from the sky. That's a bedrock belief in your culture, and I don't want to tear everything down."
"Reasonable," Roan answered.
"Change takes time," Marcus said.
"So let's take our time and be slow. Titus doesn't know what we know, except that Murphy and I saw him kill Lexa and remove the A.I. And while I feel the death of a thousand cuts would be a generous punishment, for the time being, I think we're all better served by maintaining the status quo." Clarke looked at Ontari. "I'm so sorry you're in the middle of all of this."
She shrugged. "It is interesting."
"I guess that's one way to look at it." Clarke picked up the mug of alcohol and drained the last bit from it. She took a deep breath. "Lexa already started changing your culture. Ontari, you need to continue what she was doing. We'll help, but you need to keep pushing that violence and vengeance aren't the best way to resolve conflicts. And then you need to start them thinking about the idea that the commander can be chose by a way other than duels between contenders. Or find a way to separate the heda from the head of government, so heda is in charge of the armies but someone else leads the coalition."
"I do not understand how that will make things better," Roan said.
"That's for the long term. Right now, just working on making people think before pulling out their knives is enough. And I need to come to an agreement with Titus."
"Klark, he hates you."
"I know, Ontari. Part of it now is that he worries what I'll do. Murphy and I saw what he did to Lexa, even if it was an accident. Who else would have seen her body?"
"No one," Roan said. "Fleimkepa prepares Heda's body."
"Then I guess my question is who would believe two Skaikru over him?"
"There are some," Roan said. "Soon there will be more, as they see you ensuring that all are treated fairly."
"Clarke, this is a dangerous game," Abby said.
"It's my life, it's not a game. I think you'd trust me by now, Mom. I've pulled Skaikru's ass out of the fire how many times? And you still think I'm a stupid kid."
"I don't," Abby protested.
"Then act like it," Clarke snapped. She put her elbows on the table and put her head in her hands. Both Murphy and Ontari put a hand on her back.
Murphy looked at Abby. "This is exactly what I asked you not to do."
Clarke frowned, but didn't look up.
"This has nothing to do with you, John."
"My life's on the line, too. You don't know everything, especially how Grounders think. Trust Clarke to make the right decisions for all of us."
Everyone watching could see Abby's anger increase. Marcus put his hand on her forearm. "Abby, everyone is telling the truth. You can help us most by finding out how those chips work and if they can be safely removed. Let Clarke deal with politics. We both know it's not your strong suit."
"I hate when you're logical and reasonable," Abby told him. "Fine, Clarke, do what you have to. Just don't tell me about it."
"Ok," Clarke said, and sighed. She picked up her head again. "I need to talk to Titus, and I won't do it alone."
"You won't," Ontari said. "There will be no secrets. You and I will speak to Titus. He will do his job or I will take his life."
Protect you, Klark. "That's exactly what we're trying to change. I'm tired of explaining everything and I know I'm not getting it right, so I'm just going to tell you all what I need you to do."
She started with Roan. "You're going to leave for your capital tomorrow. I will send you an update every day. I will protect Azgeda's interests, and when you can, come back."
"Sha, Wanheda."
"Mom, I need you to work on the chips." She glanced at Ontari. "If you need something, we'll get it for you. When you learn something, let me know. Marcus, I need you to help Ontari and I with the coalition. Politics isn't my best thing and I'm sure there's a lot that Ontari missed by not being trained with the other Natblida. Murphy, you're going with Roan."
"And me, Klark?"
"You are heda, Ontari. I can't tell you what to do. There are things I think we should do, like talk to Titus together, and meet with the other ambassadors individually before meeting with them as a group, but it's your call. Even things that are my idea need to look like they're coming from you. The last thing you need is a civil war."
"We will do as Klark asks," Ontari said. "We are finished here. Haihefa, Skaiskat, travel safely." She inclined her head toward Marcus. "We will speak tomorrow while Clarke nurses her head."
Murphy guffawed. Everyone, including Clarke, ignored him.
Ontari stood and pulled Clarke up with her. "Haihefa, should you need anything from your ambassador, she will be with me."
"Sha, Heda." He stood and gathered several bottles of moonshine, then walked around the table to present them to Clarke. "A parting gift, Wanheda."
Clarke smiled at him. "Mochof. Safe travels. Don't kill the branwada."
"Sha. Now go, as your heda commands."
Clarke took the bottles from him and followed Ontari to the door.
When they were gone, Roan looked at Marcus and Abby. "Murphy is correct," he told Abby. "You need to trust Clarke. Her instincts are good, and Marcus will rein her in when necessary." He focused on Marcus. "Let Wanheda do the same for Heda when needed."
"For the record, I don't like any of this," Abby said.
"Noted," Marcus answered. "Do you need anything else from us?"
"No."
Marcus stood. Abby took the hint and stood, too. "May we meet again, Haihefa."
"May we meet again, Marcus com Skaikru."