Titus waited for Ontari outside her suite. She debated letting him come in and decided to allow it.
"The Natblida would like you to spend time with them."
"Why?" Sha. They need to hear from you and Klark.
"It is customary for heda to participate in the training of the candidates."
"All I can teach them is how to fight like Azgeda." There is much more.
"That is enough to start with. As you learn more, you can share it with them."
"I will go to them when I finish with business tomorrow." Good.
"Is there anything I can assist you with?"
"No, I am meeting the ambassadors of each kru to find out what they want and tell them what I expect."
"What is that?"
"Peace, Titus. I expect them to talk at length before taking any action."
"As you wish, Heda."
"Have you chosen your successor?"
"I think Aden is a good candidate."
No. Aden has another destiny. You pick from the Natblida. Klark will help you. "We will choose someone else."
"Why?"
Ontari's eyes shifted to green. "Do you question me?"
Titus didn't notice. "Not your authority, Heda. I wish to know what you see in him that I do not."
"Aden will be a great general. He thinks ahead. He does not get drawn into a fight by his emotions."
"I will adjust his training."
"Mochof, Titus." Her eyes switched back to brown.
"Is there anything else you need, Heda?"
"No, Titus."
He bowed and left her.
Ontari went to bathe. She enjoyed the facilities in her suite, even if she wasn't quite used to everything. It was much different for her, having so much done for her. It made her restless. Nia's court was far from opulent, and Ontari was used to finding her own meals and sleeping rough.
In the bath, she sorted out the things she did and didn't miss. She missed Roan; it was good to spend time with him after so long apart. She missed the expanses of Azgeda land and the lights in the night sky. She missed hunting in the mountains, and the infinity of the sky from their peaks. She didn't miss Nia, or the stream of orders that were impossible to comply with, or the punishments that would follow. She didn't miss being cold and hungry.
She definitely liked the huge tub that filled with hot water on demand, but she was still getting used to the servants that appeared and disappeared and the guards who followed her everywhere. She knew that it was childish of her and Clarke to run from the guards yesterday, but Ontari wanted fresh air and time alone with Clarke, not that she ever had it for long without Lexa interrupting. She was grateful for Heda Leksa's guidance, but it was hard sometimes to remember who Ontari was. Not for long. Ontari snorted.
She soaked in the tub for an hour before washing up, and spent most of another hour putting her braids in. Ontari went onto the balcony and looked out over Polis. Its size still amazed her. The city held so much life. She didn't think she would ever see all there was to see. There were many important buildings. Perhaps Clarke would see them with her.
Ontari knew Clarke was still in the tower, probably with her friends. Close enough that the nagging urge to be close was manageable, and Clarke probably would not appreciate Ontari joining her there, either.
100 – 100 – 100
Clarke sat in the common room on Skaikru's floor. Miller, Harper, and Monroe sat closest to her. Bryan sat beside Miller, and nearly all the rest of their peers were in there with them. They passed around bottles of liquor from the market, and the late afternoon turned into an impromptu memorial for the many they lost. Clarke knew the true number, and remembered each of them.
They broke up early; everyone wanted dinner. Before anyone left, Miller stood and began reciting the Traveler's Prayer. By the time he finished, everyone was standing and saying the words with him.
Miller, Harper, and Monroe hung back with Clarke. "Thanks for coming," Miller said.
"I miss you guys."
"Any news about Sora or Raven?"
"Not yet. Mom and I are gonna start the day after tomorrow. You guys can visit them if you want."
"No thanks," Harper said. "It's too sad."
"It is," Monroe and Clarke agreed.
"I'll see you soon," Clarke said. "Stay safe. You know how to find me if you need me."
"'Night, Clarke," Miller said for all of them.
Clarke went up to her suite and got into the tub. She got out, found the lavender oil, and poured some in before getting back in the tub. One more day of boring as hell meetings and she could start figuring out how the chips worked, at least until one or another of the ambassadors decided to throw a fit over something inconsequential. They were tiringly consistent in that regard.
Clarke rested her head on the edge of the tub and relaxed her body even though her mind wasn't cooperating. It worried the questions about the A.I. like a dog with a bone, chewing here and there, sometimes stopping to concentrate on a tiny area before restlessly moving again. They needed information, solid facts, and Clarke wondered again whether Titus was truthful when he said her would assist her. She suspected he knew things that would help. Whether he would share them was another matter.
Clarke sighed and got out of the bath. She dried off and wrapped a towel around herself for the brief walk to her room. She dressed casually and went to the common room to order dinner. A guard waited for her with Ontari's request that she join the heda for supper. Clarke grabbed the afternoon dispatches from the table and went with him to the top floor.
Ontari smiled, but said nothing until they were seated, their dinner before them. "How are Skaikru?"
"They are well. It was nice to have time to talk."
"I hear good things about them."
"Oh?"
"They are polite. They deal fairly with merchants and traders. They work hard at the training grounds. They also talk too much and ask many questions."
"How else will they learn?"
"I did not say it is a bad thing."
Clarke smiled at the light teasing. "Have you decided what to do about us?"
"No. Do they worry?"
"Some. This is all new for them, too."
Ontari nodded and paid attention to her plate for a few minutes. Clarke pushed the food around more than she ate. She was still distracted by questions about the A.I. and Niylah's quick agreement to keep another of her secrets. When Ontari finished eating, Clarke pushed her plate aside and moved her chair closer so they could go over the reports together. Ontari was starting to recognize words, and Clarke patiently worked with her. They spent a little time practicing writing, and when that was finished, Clarke excused herself.
"Where are you going?"
"I want to talk to Titus."
"I will have him brought here."
"I'd rather talk to him alone."
"You keep too many secrets, Klark."
"No secrets, Ontari. I have questions, and I hope he'll answer them."
"So why can't I be there?"
"I think it will be better if he and I talk alone. You can order him to do things and I can't."
"This is one of those flies things?"
"Sha," Clarke smiled.
"You will return when you finish."
"We've talked about this."
"You will come here, or I will come to you."
"I'll see you in the morning," Klark answered.