"You have questions?" Clarke asked.

"Sha. Heda Leksa held you in high esteem. She said Skaikru would help build the future, but she did not say how."

"Part of it is our technology. We have much of the technology that was lost on the ground when the world ended. I think the rest is that she and I worked for peace. Heda Ontari is doing the same, trying to change jus drein jus daun to jus drein nou jus daun."

"Why?"

"Everyone can thrive if peace prevails. If Heda Ontari did not believe this, you would not have survived the Conclave."

"She spared all of us."

"There are few Natblida. It makes no sense for you to slaughter each other."

"That is not what Titus said."

"Titus believes the old ways are best, but the world is changing. Even Azgeda are turning away from war now that Roan is king."

"He should have killed Heda Leksa for what she did."

"Why?"

"She killed his mother."

"Nia brought death to herself. If Heda Leksa was not merciful, the Azgeda would have been eliminated. Instead, she brought them into the coalition. Although they joined, Azgeda fought every step. Nia challenged Heda Leksa, and appointed Roan as her champion. That was her error. She believed that offering Roan the opportunity to return home after being banished was sufficient enticement for him to defeat Heda Leksa."

"Why was it not?"

"When Heda Leksa defeated Roan, when he was on his back with her foot on his chest and her spear at his throat, Azplana screamed threats and insults at her son. Roan and Lexa spoke with each other about the futures they foresaw, and knew they would never come to fruition as long as Nia lived. She was starting a war that no one could win."

"So you are telling me Azhefa Roan chose the good of his people over the life of his mother."

"Sha, Fair." Clarke smiled at her. "This is why you are the best choice to be the next Fleimkepa. It requires more than just listening or reading. You must hear what is not being said."

Fair nodded. Clarke pointed at a bench, and they sat. Fair fidgeted for a few seconds before composing herself. "Titus has all but said that you are the cause of Heda Leksa's death."

Clarke looked away and bit her lip. She took a few deep breaths before answering. "I did not. You will hear many things from Titus, and not all of them are true."

"How will I tell the difference?"

"You can ask Heda Ontari. You can ask me. Do not be afraid to question Titus. In the end, only you can decide what you believe."

"You will be at my lessons, Wanheda?"

"Sha, Fair."

"You really believe that Heda Ontari wants to keep the peace?"

"I do."

Fair nodded again. "Thank you for your time, Wanheda."

"I am in Azgeda suite if you wish to speak with me. If you have questions for other Skaikru, I will make sure they are available."

"Mochof." Fair bowed to her.

Clarke swallowed a sigh. "Pro." She sat on the bench for several minutes longer, enjoying the quiet, before getting up and walking toward the tower. Dispatches and reports waited for her attention. She needed to speak with her mother. Ontari expected her to join her for supper. All of it made Clarke tired. She went to her rooms, pushed her boots off, and laid down for a nap.

It was late when she woke. Ontari slept beside her, and Clarke rolled out of bed. In the common room, she lit the lantern at the table. A pile of papers waited for her, as did a covered plate of food and pitchers of wine and water.

While she ate and drank, Clarke went through the reports. She was surprised to find a letter from Murphy.

Hey, Clarke, I'm in Grounder Central, part two, also known as used to be Ottawa, Canada. Roan has decided to train me as a warrior. I think he mostly enjoys seeing me have my ass handed to me.

These Grounders are nothing like the others I've met so far. I like them. We understand each other. I'm pissed off, they're pissed off, so we all dispense with the niceties. I suck at them anyway.

I wanted to let you know I'm alive, and I owe you, and I'll find a way to pay you back some day.

Be careful with Jaha when you find him. Dude is certifiably crazy, and way dangerous. If he thinks you're trying to stop him and his AI girlfriend, I don't know what he or his roboarmy will do. Watch your back.

Murphy

Clarke wrote a quick answer, folded the note and sealed it. She jotted her daily dispatch to Roan and sealed it, as well. She left them on the table to be picked up by the morning messenger.

She looked through the rest of the reports, and left the pile to go over with Ontari during breakfast. When the plate was empty, Clarke doused the lantern and returned to bed.

Ontari was awake when Clarke got up to go for training. She offered to come along, and Clarke declined, partly because she didn't think Alba would be safe if Clarke fell too many times.

There was less hitting this morning as Alba worked with Clarke on her balance and footwork. She still ended up on the ground a fair bit, but accepted it as part of the process. At the end of the session, she thanked Alba, grabbed her satchel, and returned to her suite to bathe.

Ontari was already at the table, and Marcus arrived while Clarke bathed and dressed. He was going through the dispatches with Ontari with more patience than Clarke had today. She was eager to get to work on the chips, and shoveled her breakfast down.

"You guys OK with that?" she asked, gesturing at the paperwork.

"Sha," Ontari answered absently, her brow furrowed while she read yet another short report.

"We're fine, Clarke," Marcus said.

"Great. Thanks. Have fun with the Natblida." She hurried out the door, down the hall, and started climbing stairs. When she reached the floor where her mother was staying, she found her room and knocked on the door.

Abby let her in and went back to the table to finish her breakfast. "Are you ready to start?"

"Yes. I want to get our people back."

"Any word about Jaha?"

"Not yet. It's just a matter of time."

"I'd like to examine the Commander's blood."

Hearing Lexa's title stopped Clarke for a few seconds before she remembered that her mother meant Ontari. "Let's see how far we get with the chips first."

"The Commander gave us some rooms in the tower to work in. I've spent the last couple days bringing supplies over."

"What do we have to work with?"

"A microscope, a couple shock sticks, and some basic medical supplies."

"Have you done anything with the chips yet?"

"No."

"I'm going to catch Titus before he gets busy with the Natblida and then I'll be there. What rooms?"

"They're on the second floor. The only ones with guards."

"OK. I shouldn't be too long."

Clarke got up to leave.

"Did you eat breakfast?"

"Yes."

"OK."

Clarke was out the door before Abby could find a reason for her to stay. She hurried upstairs to Titus' suite. The guards nodded at her when she knocked on the door, and went in as soon as Titus called for her to enter.

Titus sighed when he saw her. "Wanheda."

Clarke pulled one chip from her jacket pocket and showed it to Titus.

"Where did you get that?"

"That's not important. When you took the chip from Lexa, you did something that made the filaments retract. What was it?"

"I will not tell you."

"Titus, a bunch of my friends are under the influence of these things. It's not like the chip you put in Ontari, or the one that's in you. It takes away their memories. It takes away their free will. It makes them slaves to the thing that ended the world."

"I will not tell you, Wanheda. Your friends are not my concern."

"Will it be your concern when more of them infiltrate Polis? When they find you? When they take Heda? When will it become your concern, Titus?"

"You seek to strip my power."

"I don't care about your power. You're a dead man walking."