Clarke was surprised to see Murphy sitting at the table when she came out of her room to leave for training, and was more surprised when he asked, "Ready?"
"For?"
"You're going to training, right?"
"Yeah."
"I'm coming with you."
"OK." Clarke left the room, Murphy on her heels.
In the stairwell, he asked, "What happened last night?"
"None of your business."
"I'm not asking about your weird personal stuff with the commanders."
"If there's something you need to know, Murphy, I'll tell you."
"OK. I'm here if you need someone who doesn't give a shit."
Clarke couldn't help the laugh. "Let me know when you find somebody to do that."
"I meant me, dumbass."
"I know. I also know you didn't come back so soon because you're bored up there." Clarke slammed into the exit door and let them into the garden.
"No," he agreed.
"Roan told you to keep me alive."
"I told Heda I'd give my life to protect you."
"You didn't have to do that."
"I know." Murphy smirked at her. "If I die saving you, I'm going to haunt you worse than Lexa."
"I expect no less." Clarke turned and walked backward. "You know we're going to the City of Light."
"I figured. Raven's so excited about that book you gave her."
"Everything we need to know is in there." Clarke turned around again.
Murphy took an extra step to walk at her side. "What do you need her to do?"
"We'll talk about it later." Clarke opened the gate to the training area.
Alba, as always, waited for her. "Who is with you, Wanheda?"
"Murphy kom Trikru. He is under my protection, and Heda's, and Azplana Roan's. Murphy, this is Alba, who spends every morning putting me on my ass."
"Less often than when you began," Alba told her and looked Murphy up and down. "Have you been trained?"
"A little, in Ontario."
"Show me."
Murphy turned to Clarke. "What's your pleasure?"
"Sword."
He nodded and walked toward the storage hut. Clarke followed him, removed her satchel and jacket, and carefully placed the satchel under her folded jacket. Murphy chose two swords, put one back and got another. He handed his first choice to Clarke, and she smiled at him. "My favorite."
"Good."
"You can talk later," Alba reminded them. "It is time to spar."
Murphy attacked first. His skills had improved greatly. Clarke defended and launched a counterattack. They went back and forth, using every trick they learned, and were panting and dripping with sweat when Alba told them to stop.
For the next half hour, he corrected every error they made, and had them go again. Against each other, they were evenly matched, and he was satisfied with their match. He stopped them again and summoned two sekens. "Teams," he told them. "Skaikru against you."
The sekens bowed to Clarke and lined up across from she and Murphy. "Back to back," Clarke murmured.
"I'm not an idiot," Murphy hissed back.
"Go," Alba instructed, and the sekens immediately split.
Clarke turned to the right and Murphy pivoted so his back was against Clarke's and they both faced one antagonist. The younger fighters tested their opponents before circling around to trade. No matter how they moved, Clarke and Murphy moved as one. They let the sekens tire themselves by attacking before making a move.
"Now," Murphy said, and charged his adversary. Clarke did the same, pushing his sword away with hers and knocking him to the ground. She straddled him, hit the wrist of his sword hand hard enough to make him release his weapon, and laid her blade across his neck. "I yield," he panted.
She stood and helped him up before turning to watch Murphy. The girl fighting him was a bit quicker, but Clarke could see when Murphy tired of cat and mouse. He feinted toward her sword arm, and when she moved, he pulled her feet from under her with his foot. He stood lightly on her hands with the tip of his weapon in the skin of her throat. "I yield," she said hoarsely.
He stepped back and held out his hand. "You did good."
"I have much to learn if a Skai person can best me."
"I've been fighting for my life since we got here."
"Next time, I will win."
"We'll see."
"Wanheda, you and Murphy are dismissed for the day. I will see you tomorrow."
"Mochof, Alba," Clarke said.
"Mochof, Ticha," Murphy said with a courteous nod. He felt the eyes following him when they left.
"I'm impressed," Clarke said. "I've had extra training from two commanders, and you can keep up."
"His Majesty trains me once a week, but he still hasn't told me how he became king."
Clarke bit her lip before giving him the short version. "His mother challenged Lexa and named Roan her champion. Lexa defeated Roan, killed Nia, and declared Roan king."
"There has to be more to it than that."
"Maybe he'll tell you."
"Maybe," Murphy answered doubtfully.
"After training, I get cleaned up and get to work. As much as I enjoy your company, you can't stay for breakfast. I'll let you go first if you get cleaned up quickly. Go have breakfast with Skaikru. Tell Miller I sent you. Spend time with them. We need to know who should go with us and who should stay to hold down the fort. Talk to them about Jaha, too, get a feel for what they think should happen to him."
"Got it. Anything else you need me to do?"
"Help Raven. No matter what anyone says or asks or wants, reading that journal is her number one job. When she's finished, we'll talk, me and you and Ontari and her."
"Your mom?"
"No. Don't tell her anything important. She doesn't believe me."
"What about Marcus?"
"When we have a plan, we'll share it with him, but he's going to stay here to help Ontari."
"She'll want to go with you."
"She knows she can't. We've talked about it. She's Heda, and this is her place. Plus, we'll travel faster without her."
"How many do you think will go?"
"Us, anyone from Skaikru you think can help, and guards," Clarke sighed. "Way too many guards, but it will make Ontari happy so we'll take them."
"What about Raven?"
"I don't know, Murphy." Clarke jerked the door open and they entered the tower.
He followed her in. "I think we're going to need her."
"If we do, she'll come with us, but that case, that thing, it stays far away from her."
"Agreed."
Clarke began to jog up the steps, ending their conversation.