Roan's entry to the Azgeda suite startled Clarke. He was travel worn and dropped his saddlebags just inside the door. "Is it true?" he demanded.
"Sha," Clarke answered with a smile.
"Where is she?"
"With Heda and the Natblida, I think."
He was gone as abruptly as he arrived. Clarke followed him out of the suite and down the stairs to the rear of the Tower where the Natblida trained. He skidded to a stop when he saw Lexa in the training ring with Ontari who attacked Lexa in slow motion while she explained her defense. When they finished, Lexa ordered the Natblida to pair off for practice and left the ring.
"Roan, my friend, it is good to see you," she greeted him. "I owe you a great debt."
"You owe me nothing, Lexa," he answered, holding her forearm and examining her face.
"Dine with us tonight," Lexa invited.
"Please," Clarke added.
"I look forward to it. I will not keep you from your students any longer."
"Mochof." Lexa nodded at Roan and squeezed Clarke's hand before returning to the ring.
"He turned to Clarke. "You must tell me how you did this."
"It's a long story."
Roan laughed. "We have time."
Clarke grinned at him but saved her story until they were back in the Azgeda suite.
Murphy waited there. "Your majesty."
"You did well, Murphy." Roan clapped his shoulder as he greeted him.
"Mochof."
"Klark says this is another long story."
"It is. Food and drink are on the way. I put your bag in your room."
Roan nodded as he sat. The door opened and Ontari came in. Roan stood again. "Heda."
"Roan! I have missed you." She grasped his forearm and put her other hand on his shoulder. When he bowed his head, she put her forehead against his for a few moments.
"It is good to see you, Ontari," he said quietly.
"How is Azgeda?" she asked as they separated.
"Getting better. There is still much to do and undo."
"While the guards brought trays of food and drink, Ontari told Clarke, "I sent guards for Raven. Do you wish your mother to come?"
"No, Raven can explain it better."
Ontari nodded and returned her attention to Roan. "You will dine with us tonight."
"Lexa," he began.
"They will be there, as well," Ontari answered and looked at Clarke, who nodded.
While Roan began to eat, Murphy poured drinks for everyone. Raven arrived and sat beside Ontari. Clarke made the introductions.
"I have heard a great deal about you, Reivon kom Skaikru."
"The good parts are true," she answered cockily.
Clarke laughed and Murphy snickered. Roan looked at them, then at Raven and Ontari. "She is good for you, Heda."
"Sha," Ontari answered with a smile.
"Down to business?" Raven suggested.
Murphy poured another round and Clarke began explaining how they brought Lexa back, Raven and Murphy chiming in as needed. It took a few hours, and another hour to answer Roan's questions.
"That is quite the tale," Roan said when they finished. "You are going to share this with the other leaders?"
"What the Fleimkepa thinks they should know, as much of it is in her domain," Ontari answered.
"Has anyone else arrived?"
"I have not been notified of any other arrivals."
"They will be here soon," Roan predicted.
"That's what we're counting on," Clarke said. "Get everybody in one room, explain everything, and be done with it."
"I'll bring popcorn," Raven told Murphy. "Don't forget to dress appropriately."
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
"You wanna answer that, your majesty?" Raven asked.
He rubbed his forehead. "The tailor will be here tomorrow. For you, too, Clarke."
"I have clothes," she answered, a little indignant.
Raven smirked at her.
"You have nothing appropriate for this," Roan said, then looked at Ontari. "If you require anything, Heda," he began.
"I will ask Lexa tonight what I should wear. Raven requires an outfit."
"Of course." Roan emptied his glass. "I must get cleaned up," he said, and left the table.
Ontari and Raven departed soon after, leaving Clarke and Murphy at the table eyeing the moonshine.
"One more," Clarke decided.
"What's this about clothes?"
"It's a state dinner, all the bigwigs in one place."
"I should talk to Heda about security."
"Lexa's doing the planning. I don't think she'll forget that."
"I'd rather just be a guard." Murphy sipped the liquor, appreciating the burn and subsequent warmth.
"Too bad. You were there, you helped."
"I didn't do anything," Murphy protested.
"Murphy." Clarke put her drink down and looked him in the eye. "I couldn't have done any of this without your help. Raven either. So shut up and enjoy being a hero for once."
"That's, uh, new and unexpected."
"And earned." Clarke raised her mug toward him. They clinked them together and emptied them. She refilled it with water and returned to her papers
Murphy stoked the fire and settled in front of it while he thought about what Clarke said.
100 – 100 – 100
Dinner was good. Conversation was casual and happy. When they finished eating, the women allowed Roan to pull Lexa aside. They spent half an hour away from the others and returned relaxed and smiling.
"You have my support," he told Lexa when they returned to the table.
"One down, 11 to go," Clarke said to Ontari.
100 – 100 – 100
When they were settled in bed, Clarke asked Lexa, "How did you convince him you're you?"
"We talked about the fight."
"When you killed Nia?"
"Sha. We made an agreement before, that he would ensure your safety if anything happened to me." Lexa smiled. "He did far more than I expected."
"Me being the Azgeda ambassador was your idea."
"No, it was his, and a good one."
"It keeps me busy," Clarke acquiesced.
"It is good for you, and you are good at it. The ambassadors would prefer another like them, but it is good for them, too." Lexa yawned. "Sorry, no time to nap today."
"All day without a break?"
"Without a nap," Lexa corrected. "It feels normal."
"Good." Clarke kissed her shoulder. "Night."
"Os nat, hodness."
100 – 100 – 100
Trikru sent Indra, who arrived without fanfare in the early afternoon. She went directly to the Natblida training area and silently watched Lexa with the youngsters. Nothing had changed in that regard; Lexa always had endless patience with her charges. Her voice was the same, rising and falling in a pattern that Indra recognized.
There were differences. Lexa's hair was shorter. She was thinner. For the first time since Lexa was a youngon, she looked tired.
Once Lexa had the Natblida practicing, she quickly walked to Indra. "It is good to see you."
"You as well." Indra appraised her again. She looked like a younger version of Lexa. Her hands were smooth and unscarred, and her eyes held the same doubts.
"You are Trikru chief?"
"No," Indra answered with a faint smile. "I knew you the longest. Chief is coming."
"How are you?"
"Undecided."
"I will answer your questions now."
"The Natblida.
Lexa turned and called instructions to them. "Finish your drills then read until supper." She returned her attention to Indra. "Come."
Lexa debated going to a pub but decided to bring Indra to her rooms. It would reinforce her new position. They didn't talk while they climbed the stairs. When they finally reached their destination, Lexa poured mugs of water for them from the pitcher that was filled three times each day and they sat at the table by the window
"Ask," Lexa said.
"I do not understand this at all," Indra admitted.
"Klark," Lexa answered with a smile.
"Wanheda killed you and brought you back?"
"Klark did not kill me. She has done nothing wrong."
"You still defend her."
"Until her dying breath." Lexa gave Indra time to say something. When she didn't, Lexa asked, "How is Tondisi? Does the rebuilding continue?"
"It does, but it is slow. Our population increases but there are many who cannot work."
"I can ask Heda to send help."
"No."
"Do you not trust Heda?"
"She is Azgeda."
"She is Heda, and Azgeda's no longer."
Indra harrumphed, her disbelief obvious.
"Speak true, Indra," Lexa urged gently.
"I came to see you," Indra answered.
"And?"
"I still do not know whether you are truly Leksa kom Trikru."
"Anya took me as her seken during my tenth summer. I was the smallest Natblida. I could barely raise a sword. You were less merciful training me than she was. I earned my first scar in your training ring." Lexa touched just below her right shoulder joint with her left hand. "It is no longer there, but I remember it."
"How did you earn it?"
"I did not listen to you. My defense was weak. Benj hit me harder than he intended." Lexa smiled faintly. "It felt like he tried to remove my arm. Nyko kept me in the medical tent for days. I hated it and kept sneaking out. My arm was strapped to my side but I was allowed to return to training because I told you all that a warrior needed to continue to fight regardless of injury.
"You have always been stubborn."
Lexa laughed. "I learned from the best."
"Anya," Indra agreed, smiling.
Lexa laughed. "And you."
"Why are you not heda?"
"Ontari is heda. She holds the Flame."
"You could be heda. The clans will support you if you wish it."
"I do not," Lexa said firmly. "I will not challenge Ontari. There has been enough fighting and more than enough death. We will not survive if we keep killing each other."
"I see Wanheda still"
Lexa cut her off. "Klark has nothing to do with this. Are you not tired of working past exhaustion because there are not enough to provide? Is it not better since Azgeda no longer constantly pushes at the borders? Do you prefer to continue destroying generation after generation in battles that achieve nothing?"
"Jus drein jus daun," Indra mulishly answered.
"No." Lexa was calm, her tone even. "If we continue jus drein jus daun, the time will come when we are too weak to continue. We must work together, share our strength with those less strong."
"What strength does Skaikru share? Heda favors them as you did."
"If Heda favored Skaikru, Arkadia would exist. It does not. Skaikru is counted by handsful, yet they continue to give what they can. Heda said the price is paid. Blood has had blood."
"And Wanheda?"
"Klark is not your concern," Lexa answered icily. "She did nothing to you, Indra. She brought no harm to Trikru."
"She serves Azgeda!" Indra roared.
Lexa remained calm. "Because I commanded it before Titus killed me. That was the price Roan was to pay for Azgeda's freedom from Nia. Unlike Titus, who swore to me as I died that he would protect Klark yet immediately imprisoned her, Roan kept his word. Ontari did not slaughter the strikon natblida and Klark remained safe. The coalition flourishes. Trade has never been better. I do not see so many hungry people in the streets. These are facts. Your hatred is your own."
Indra glared at Lexa, thought about what she might say, and decided on, "You have changed."
"As have you."
After a long silence, Indra stood. "I have heard enough."
Lexa nodded once. She watched Indra leave, unsure what she would say to Trikru's leader. After she was gone, Lexa hoped the other meetings would be better. Indra was angry about things she did not understand, and Lexa was drained. She wanted a nap but instead went in search of Ontari.
Her guards directed Lexa to the Azgeda suite, where Ontari, Roan, and Clarke were talking. The table was covered in papers. Clarke smiled when she saw Lexa. "Just who we need," she said, and got up to bring a chair.
"You OK?" Clarke asked while Lexa seated herself.
"Trikru sent Indra. I am not sure what she will say to their new leader."
"Let me guess, she thinks I have too much influence with you and Heda."
"And she continues to mistrust Azgeda," Lexa confirmed.
"I will speak with Bel when he arrives," Roan said. "At your Ascension," he nodded at Ontari, "I made Azgeda's apologies to those whose lands we border. I agreed to send food and furs in excess of our trade agreements for two years. Weapons, too. They have not been refused or returned."
"I hope he listens. I hope they all listen," Lexa said.
"They will," Ontari said confidently. "The coalition has held long enough that most see the benefit."
"I hope you're right," Clarke said.
"What are you discussing?" Lexa asked.
"Where and how much land Azgeda is willing to give Skaikru," Roan answered.
"Why only Azgeda?"
"Because Trikru hates us."
"Why can they not stay in Polis?" Lexa asked Ontari.
"We want a place of our own like the others have," Clarke replied.
"Polis can be your place," Ontari offered. "If Skaikru do not wish to remain in the Tower, we will find homes for them near each other."
"I don't know," Clarke said. "I can't make that decision without talking to my people."
"Speak to them soon," Roan said. "If the other clans need to be involved, it will be easier while the leaders are here."
"Murphy!" Clarke called.
He presented himself a few seconds later.
"Please tell Miller I need to speak with everyone first thing tomorrow morning."
"For the record, I want to go back to Azgeda with Haihefa." He inclined his head toward Roan, then Ontari. "If that suits you, your majesty, and you, Heda.
"We will discuss it," Ontari answered.
Murphy nodded before he left.