Clarke's first message from Arkadia put Murphy on edge. He knew how dangerous Jaha could be. The time away from him gave Murphy perspective to see how Jaha manipulated him from the start.
Murphy liked Azgeda. He He liked learning to fight, how to protect himself and deal some damage. It made him feel strong. No one coddled him because he was Roan's charge. He even found some friends. They taught him things outside the training ring, how to hunt and fish, how to build a fire and put it out, how to keep warm in Azgeda's unforgiving cold. They explained their scarification and their scars. They talked about how glad they were that Roan returned to lead them. Nia's mother was fair and just, and in a generation, Nia nearly destroyed Azgeda. Roan was fixing things. Everyone knew it would take time, but as long as they saw progress, they were satisfied.
One of the things Murphy liked most about the Ice Nation and its people is that there was nothing other than what you saw or were told. Nothing was sugarcoated. When he made a mistake in the training ring, it was pointed out and he was taught how to correct it. When he made it again, his trainers exploited it until he fixed it himself. He learned quickly not to whine or complain as it drew nothing but contempt.
When Murphy got Clarke's second message, he went to his quarters and stuffed what he would need into his pack and went to see Roan. He waited patiently until Roan finished his meeting, and Murphy was allowed in within a minute of Roan being told he waited to speak with him.
"Murphy, why are you here?"
Murphy handed Roan Clarke's note. He read it quickly and handed it back. "You are returning to Polis."
"Sha, Haihefa."
"Your orders are the same. If Clarke is injured, you will pay."
"Got it."
"Let me know what's happening there. Clarke's missives are maddeningly short on detail. Remind her that she is my ambassador, and we need some trade agreements set up with other clans. I will send a list of what we have available with the next messenger."
"Anything else?"
"Watch your back. Titus lives, and continues to be a danger to you and to Wanheda. I will send some guards with you to ensure you arrive safely. Have you eaten?"
"Not since breakfast."
"Join me, and you may leave after."
"Whatever you want, Haihefa." The mocking tone was gone from Murphy's voice.
"Come."
Murphy followed Roan to another room. Roan stopped at the door and gave orders for guards to prepare to travel with Murphy before they entered the room. It was large, sectioned by screens, but they stayed in the main area.
Their conversation was easy during the meal. Roan asked about Murphy's training and whether he would return when Clarke was finished with him.
"I'd like to," Murphy said.
"You are welcome here, Murphy kom Skaikru, so long as Wanheda is safe." Roan sighed. "I wish I could go with you, but there is still too much that must be done here."
"I'll tell Clarke you miss her," Murphy said with a small smile.
"Heda, as well."
"She doesn't like me, but I'll tell her when I get a chance."
"Perhaps she will grow to like you as I have."
"I'm not holding my breath for that to happen."
The door opened and a guard reported that everything was ready for Murphy's departure. Roan left the room for a moment and returned with a small pouch of coins. "This should cover your expenses."
"Mochof."
"May we meet again," Roan said, and offered his hand.
Murphy grasped his forearm in return. "May we meet again," he echoed, and headed for the stables.
100 – 100 – 100
Frustrated, Raven left her workshop for the day. She walked to the hospital. She wanted to speak with Abby about her experience with the chips and to ask for those she removed. When she got there, Abby was busy. Nyko was glad to see her, though, and offered to help with her leg. This time, Raven accepted.
She explained everything that happened while he examined her. Nyko had Raven remove her brace, boots, and pants. He moved her leg this way and that while she moved from her back to her side to her front, and he learned all he could, he left her on the table while he fetched something that would help.
The green salve he massaged into her muscles smelled pleasant, and the massage eased some of the pain. While she dressed, he told her to return the next day for another treatment.
"If I can."
"Make time for this, Raven. It will make a difference."
"OK, Nyko. I still need to talk to Abby."
"She will be busy for the rest of the day, but I will give her the message."
"Thanks."
100 – 100 – 100
"I came here to get away from Skaikru," Octavia said angrily.
"They asked for you," Lincoln answered.
"I don't care."
"I think they're the ones Wanheda seeks."
"Oh, that's just dandy," she snarled. "Where are they?"
Lincoln walked with her to the gate. Three Skaikru waited outside. Octavia took one look at them and turned to Lincoln. "They're definitely the ones Clarke wants. Bring them in, truss them up, send them to Polis."
"Octavia, they are your people."
"You my people. Trikru is my people. They're just a bad memory." Octavia turned on her heel and returned to the training ring.
100 – 100 – 100
The rest of Clarke's trip back to Polis was quiet. She stayed away from Jaha and spent her evenings going over the messages that reached her during the day. She composed answers and handed them off to the messenger. Before retiring, she jotted notes in her journal. Questions continued to come to her about the City of Light, the chips in Ontari and Titus, and how things might play out.
She was more than ready to return to Polis, to a comfortable bed and the people who might have answers for her. She wasn't ready to dream of Lexa again, of Lexa protecting her from Quint and Major Byrne's death, the leap that injured Lexa's shoulder, their time in its lair, their escape. Waking to Lexa's assurance of safety for the first time sent more thoughts than she could count or remember spiraling into her brain. It did the same in her dream, and Clarke couldn't look away from Lexa, entranced then and now by her green eyes.
"Soon, Klark," dream Lexa promised, and Clarke woke with a start as she had then.
100 – 100 – 100
Ontari was restless and couldn't sleep. Lexa paced, and that didn't help. Neither of them liked having Clarke so far away. Despite doing anything she could think of to fill her days and tire herself out, Ontari lay awake, looking out the window, holding Clarke's pillow. She knew it was silly and weak. Not weak. He is wrong. Love is not weakness.
Clarke's last message said she would arrive late today, possibly after dark. Ontari wanted nothing more than to ride out and find them and bring Clarke back to Polis. They would move faster together than Clarke would with a group.
At the same time, Ontari knew she couldn't. There was already enough talk about she and Clarke in Polis, not that Ontari cared. Any idiot who thought Wanheda's power greater than Ontari's was welcome to take a crack at her. If anything, they should be impressed that Ontari, as Heda, had Clarke under her control. She chuckled to herself at that. Clarke was under no one's control, although she understood the value of appearances.
Ontari wondered, not for the first time, whether her feelings for Clarke were her own, and wondered again whether it mattered. Lexa would remain in her, even if they found a way to resurrect her. If that happened, would Lexa be quiet like the other hedas?
Ontari sighed again. The sky was clear and the night temperature was cool. Many of those in Polis were breaking out their heavier clothing. To Ontari, used to Azgeda's constant chill, it still felt quite warm. She gave up on sleep and got up.
Ontari went to her suite, bathed, and dressed. She spent an hour redoing her braids. By that time, the sky was beginning to lighten. Ontari pulled the table and chair in her suite closer to the balcony and sat down to go through the accumulated messages.