Marcus kept a tight hold on Abby. He knew her instinct would be to try to save Jaha again, and that couldn't happen. No one else in the room moved. Clarke stared at Jaha's body. Everyone else looked at Clarke. Nearly two minutes passed before anyone moved.
Clarke finally raised her eyes and looked back. "You can go," she said in a conversational tone, and the room began to empty. After a few minutes, nearly everyone was gone. Miller, Bryan, Harper and Monroe remained, as did Murphy, Raven, and the Azgeda guards. Clarke summoned one of them, and the others moved closer so they could hear what Clarke said.
"We need to dispose of his body," she told the guard.
"We can build the pyre wherever you want."
"He doesn't deserve that."
"There is a place," the guard said tentatively, "but it is not close."
"How far?"
"Too far to walk."
"Get a cart," Clarke ordered.
He left, and Skaikru remained in a group together. "We'll take care of it," Miller volunteered.
"I'll do it," Clarke answered.
"We'll help," Murphy said firmly.
For the first time, Clarke looked at all of them. After a moment, she nodded. Miller said something quietly to Bryan and he left, only to return a few minutes later with a blanket. They draped it over Jaha's body while they waited for the cart to arrive.
When the guard returned, Miller and Murphy pulled the blanket off Jaha's body. They spread it out beside him and rolled him onto it, then rolled him up. Everyone, including Raven, helped carry the body outside and put it in the cart.
Raven rode on the cart while the rest of Skaikru walked behind it. The guard led them through lesser trafficked streets and out one of the small gates. An hour outside Polis, they reached a dumping ground. No one said anything while they removed the body from the cart and carried it as far as they safely could, then placed it on the rubbish heap.
Clarke put Miller, Bryan, Harper, and Monroe in the cart with Raven for the return trip. The horse moved faster than Clarke and Murphy walked, and that was fine with Clarke.
"You OK?" Murphy asked when the others couldn't hear.
"Yeah," Clarke answered. "It's almost finished."
"We'll leave tomorrow after Heda."
"We going to walk?"
"Yeah, otherwise we're going to spend a lot of time picking mud off the horses."
"Sounds fun."
"You know it." Murphy put his hand on Clarke's shoulder. "You did the right thing."
"I know. Still sucks."
"Most right things do," Murphy answered, and dropped his hand.
They walked the rest of the way back without talking.
100 – 100 – 100
Clarke sat at the table with Ontari after Murphy and Raven went to bed.
"I have doubled the guard traveling with you," Ontari told her.
"You don't have to do that. We'll be fine."
"Klark, you must be safe. There are still people out there who would kill you to say they had taken your head."
Clarke took a slow, deep breath before answering. "Lexa, stop. Too many guards will draw attention we don't need. It's bad enough you're sending four. I'd rather it were two."
"You will take the guards, Klark."
"What about Raven and Ontari?"
"Many guards travel with them to protect the Natblida."
"How many?"
"A unit."
"How many?" Clarke repeated.
"Thirty."
"You have to stop with the overprotectiveness. Murphy and I don't need four guards, and Ontari doesn't need 30."
"Klark, we are close. All of you must stay safe."
"Fine, just ease up on Ontari."
"I do not know how long it will be until we are together again."
"I miss you, too," Clarke said, and squeezed Ontari's hand.
"I will keep Raven safe," Ontari said.
"I know you will. We'll be back before you know it." Clarke released Ontari's hand. "Good night," she said, and stood up.
Ontari waited a few minutes before following Clarke to the bedroom.
100 – 100 – 100
Clarke didn't dream that night, but Ontari did. She and Lexa planned every step of the journey to Arkadia to ensure that all who were vulnerable would be safe. You will give Raven a weapon of her choosing, Lexa instructed.
"Guns are not safe."
Raven knows how to use that weapon. She is far more protected by that than a sword.
"I will protect Raven," Ontari answered, a little indignant.
I know you will. Her weapon will be a last resort.
"She wishes to visit a Skaikru who lives with Trikru."
Octavia, Lexa answered with a sigh. They were close to each other and Clarke. Her brother was once Clarke's seken, but when she left, he lost his way. He was one of those who slaughtered the army sent to protect Skaikru from Azgeda.
"He died in the battle. Clarke looked pained when she pointed at him."
She blames herself for the wrong that Skaikru did. She thinks that had she been there, none of those things would have happened. She will never say it, but Klark believes none of it would have happened had she stayed with Skaikru after Maun-de fell.
"She cannot blame herself for the actions of others."
She does, but it is not anything we can address now. Rest now, Ontari. The coming days will be full.
100 – 100 – 100
Abby and Marcus joined the others in Clarke's suite for an early breakfast. When she learned Raven was going to Arkadia, she asked to go as well. "I want to do a brain scan to see if there's a reason the A.I. was able to take you over," she explained to Raven, and looked to Ontari. "Raven and I can look at the medical equipment and determine what can be moved here."
"Gather your things after we eat. I will leave a guard so you can catch up."
"Mochof, Heda," Abby answered, and ignored Clarke's look and Murphy's smirk.
Ontari looked at Clarke. "Be careful. Send a messenger when you return to Polis."
"I will," Clarke said. "Any chance you'll let us leave two of our guards here?"
"None," Ontari and Lexa answered together.
They finished the meal quietly. Clarke and Murphy were the first to leave.
The Natblida were waiting for Ontari at the stable, and Clarke stopped to speak with them. They were excited about the trip, and when Clarke finished with them, Aden and Fair pulled her aside.
"Why is Heda taking us?" Aden asked.
"Ask her," Clarke answered.
"When we return, I would like to speak with you," Fair said.
"Any time. You, too, Aden. But I need to get going now. Heda will be here very soon. She was just a few minutes behind me."
"Travel safely, Wanheda," Aden said.
"You, too. All of you," Clarke answered, and she and Murphy walked to the gate.
Outside Polis, they moved off the road and into the forest.
"You know where we're going, right?" Clarke asked.
"Yes. We're going to the coast and then we're going to work our way north until we find a boat or someplace I recognize."
"Nothing like a definite plan," Clarke answered.
"You'll thank me when we don't have to ride through the desert for two weeks."