The first night they camped, Clarke laid down the law. No one was better than anyone else. She would pitch her own tent and help where needed. She would not stand aside while everyone around her did things for her.
Kemp suspected Clarke would do this. Her guards came to him when they learned he was going with Clarke. It made things much easier if Heda had her way, they told him. She was more than capable and didn't believe that her titles gave her any privilege in the field. He had warned the gona he recruited that their new Heda would not stand down when camp was set up and torn down or work needed to be done.
Clarke and Murphy were relieved that Clarke's speech seemed to work. They set up Clarke's tent, just big enough for she and Raven to sleep vertically in it with Murphy across the entrance. It was habit for them to gather canteens. Raven followed them as they followed hoof prints to the creek and filled the canteens. On the way back, Clarke picked up wood for the fire. When her arms were full, she dumped the load on Raven and gathered more. From experience, Clarke knew that Raven needed to stay busy and present.
In camp, they left the firewood near the fire. Murphy dumped the pile of canteens and picked up more empty ones. They went into the woods again, silent while they worked.
While they waited for food, Clarke hailed Lexa on the radio. She heard the Natblida in the background. "We're getting settled for the night."
"Us, too."
Clarke waited for her to say more and Lexa hoped Clarke would tell her anything about her day. Finally, Clarke pushed the button. "Sweet dreams," she said.
"Klark," Lexa began. Clarke turned off the radio and walked back to her tent to return it to Raven. She walked the camp, found Kemp quickly, listened to his summary of scouting reports.
When food was ready, she ate and turned in. The others followed her.
In the dim of their tent, Clarke asked Raven, "You as OK as you can be right now?"
"No."
Clarke slid closer and put her arm over Raven, remembering hating the comfort Ontari provided her but needing it.
"Fucking fairytales," Raven said bitterly.
Clarke didn't ask. She kept Raven close as they fell asleep.
100 – 100 – 100
The road west ran through and near many Trikru villages. Clarke knew the word was out when people stood silently, lowering their heads as she passed. On an open stretch of road, Clarke asked how much longer they would be in Trikru lands.
"We will leave them before stopping for the night."
Clarke tried to visualize the map Lexa showed her while teaching her about the krus. It wouldn't come, and she made a mental note to copy it into her sketchbook.
"And cross into?"
"Rock Line. We will not go too far in today."
"Why?"
"The scouts need time."
Clarke nodded slowly. She hated going in blind, and this was one reason she'd asked for Kemp. He had experience she did not, and it showed in his comfort on the walls as he rotated troops, kept supplies coming, deployed fighters where they were needed and moved them to the next location when they finished. His strategies were sound and Kemp himself was unflappable, always seeming a tiny bit amused by everything around him.
100 – 100 – 100
They stayed in camp the next morning, waiting for the scouts to return.
No one expected them to bring anything other than regular reports, so when one of them returned with Cian kom Blue Cliff, things heated up fast. Raven saw them first and was up and running.
"You bastard," she screamed while half the encampment closed in on her. The scout did all he could to keep Raven from his prisoner, but he was no match for her rage. It took Clarke, Murphy, and Kemp to pull her off of him.
"He's not the one you want," Murphy repeated.
Raven didn't hear. She got one last good kick in before they dragged her far enough that she couldn't reach him.
"Get her out of his sight," Clarke ordered, and one of the soldiers stepped up when she released Raven. The three of them wrestled her away. Clarke dismissed the scout. She sent him to get something to eat until she was ready for his report.
Cian waited for her on his knees, unarmed, unrestrained, and repentant. His head was so low his chin nearly touched his chest. Clarke couldn't stop herself. "What the fuck were you thinking?"
He stayed silent.
"Who rules after you?"
He was still silent, staring determinedly at the dirt in front of Clarke's boots. She dropped into a crouch. "Your death will be quick, but it will not be here. You can answer me now or I can turn Tekheda loose on you. Nobody knows what's in her saddlebags." Clarke's smile was tight and unfriendly. "And you will still walk behind us until your compatriots are with you, and then you will walk to Polis."
"Sha, Heda."
"Help me save your kru."
"Why should I believe you?"
"I don't lie, for starters. There is no need for your old, infirm, women and children to pay the price for your crimes."
Two tears dropped from his face to the dirt.
Clarke leaned a little closer. "I don't want to hurt our people. I give my word your family will be safe if you tell me what I ask."
He looked at her then, seeing what his ambassador insisted he should see, then dropped his head again. He brought one arm forward and began to draw a map in the dirt. Clarke stood and moved to his side to give him enough room.
"Camp," he said, pointing at one end of the map. "He caught me here," one finger moved, "but they ran. He drew diagonal lines in opposite directions."
"Mochof."
Cian bowed his head again, silent. His sole regret was that he could not say goodbye to his houmon and their children. His oldest was 8, and her uncle would act as regent if Heda permitted it. He sensed Clarke was about to walk away, and threw his dignity to the winds. "Heda."
"Sha."
"May I say goodbye to my blodon (blood kin/immediate family)?"
Clarke stood without breathing for several seconds. This was what hurt her most. There was no punishment but death for Cian's actions, and now they would ripple through generations of his family. "Are they close?"
"Sha."
"Draw a map and I'll send someone for them."
Clarke's mercy stunned him. After several seconds, he wiped out the first map and started another. While he drew lines in the dirt, Clarke summoned the nearest gona.
"When he finishes, feed him and let him wash up."
"Sha, Heda."
"I need to speak with Kemp, if he's able to get away from Raven."
The warrior reminded Clarke of Ontari. Black hair, dark eyes, scars now covered with white paint. She turned and caught the eye of one of her friends. Clarke left them and went to the fire. She pulled out her sketchbook and replicated the first map on one of the back pages and removed it.
Kemp arrived as she finished. "Heda."
"Raven?"
"Murphy is taking care of her."
"Mochof. The scout"
"Deen," Kemp interjected.
"Deen," Clarke repeated. "I would like to speak with Deen when we finish." She handed Kemp the map, neatly labeled. "Before we do that, come with me."
Clarke led him to Cian's map and made sure they were standing on the side Cian drew from. "Send some troops here and return with Cian's family. Do not frighten or threaten them."
"Sha Heda. May I ask why?"
"So they can say goodbye."
"Anything else?"
"Not now, Kemp. Mochof."
Kemp left Clarke so he could carry out her orders. She went to her tent, hoping Murphy was getting Raven blackout drunk.
He wasn't. Raven raged aloud, stomped, gesticulated. Murphy tried to stay out of her way but keep her in the tent.
"Raven," Clarke said sharply.
Raven stopped and looked at Clarke. "I'm going to kill him."
"Yeah, we've been over that, but that's not Lander."
"One is the same as the other."
"No. When we get Lander, you can scream and punch and kick, but you can't kill him."
"I fucking hate you, Clarke. He didn't take anything from you."
Murphy's eyes went wide and he backed out of the tent.
"You wanna rethink that statement?"
"You brought Lexa back. It's not fair."
"It's not," Clarke agreed, moving further into the tent. She stopped arms length from Raven.
"Sometimes I want the whole world to burn."
Clarke nodded.
"Can I talk to her?"
"I haven't seen her yet. When this is over, when we get back to Polis, I will do my best to figure out that nifty trick."
Raven finally looked at her. "How the fuck did you do this?"
"I didn't have a choice."
Raven started crying again, silently this time. Clarke moved close and hugged Raven. They stood there for a long time, Raven crying on Clarke's cloak until she was done. "I think I'm gonna lay down for a while," Raven said.
"That's a good idea," Clarke said gently. "I can stay," she offered.
"I want to be alone," Raven said.
"I'll check on you later," Clarke said. Raven nodded back and slowly got into her furs.
Murphy was outside. "I thought you were gonna deck her," he said quietly.
Clarke shrugged. "I remember feeling like that," she told him.
"I remember, too." They looked at each other. "I'll stay," he offered.
"I'm gonna give you a medal when this is over."
"I don't want a medal."
Clarke looked at him for a few seconds. "After we finish this in Polis, I'll ask Roan to come. I want to see you get you marks, Murphy. You earned them. When Roan leaves, you go with him."
"When you're ready."
"When he leaves," Clarke repeated. "My life isn't mine but there's no reason you shouldn't have yours."
"Thanks."
Clarke nodded before she turned toward the fire.
Deen was there and on his feet as soon as he saw Clarke. "Heda."
"Deen." Clarke offered her forearm. Deen hesitated a moment before shaking Clarke's hand. "Mochof. Did he say anything?"
"Nothing. When he saw me, he tossed his weapons and went to his knees."
Clarke nodded and smiled at Deen. "You did very well."
"Mochof, Heda," he answered.
Clarke saw his blush show on the few bare areas of his face. "Dismissed."
Deen bowed and returned to his duties.