p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Without the Natblida to distract her, Raven was able to move quickly. She moved from room to room, stripping out what she could carry in the rover and made a mental note to ask Clarke about hiring her own scrappers. Based on what she saw in the market, they could do the work, and she would explain what to leave intact and what to break down./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The guards there were helpful. They heard about the battle for Polis - two had been there before being rotated for Arkadia for guard duty – and were happy to help Tekheda when she asked. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She spent three days making two trips a day between Arkadia and Polis. On the last trip on day three, she left the rover where it could charge and went to her workshop. She asked her guard to get a message to Clarke, and she went to take care of it personally while Raven inspected the shelves, making note of what they particularly needed. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She turned around to ask Fay something and the Natblida were lined up. "Junior hedas!" she greeted them, and they swarmed her./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Hold up." Raven put up a hand to get a second of silence. "Does Fleimkepa know you're here?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She dismissed us for the day," Sas said./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And you came to see me? You guys are the best."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Most of them didn't stay long because there was nothing exciting happening, but Sas and his shadow, Brook kom Louwoda, stayed to help. Raven explained why they were putting things away in the order they were, and named each piece. She asked them to pull the green circuit boards from all the boxes and put them where they belonged while the others continued to empty crates./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"When she got hungry, Raven closed up shop for the day. Roger and Fay went to the Skaikru area while Raven, Sas, and Brook walked toward the Tower. Raven hadn't seen her guard yet, and was about to go for dinner with the Natblida when her guard trotted up looking a little worn./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Heda asks you to dine with her this evening and said you may go to her suite when you are ready."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Thanks." Raven crouched down to eye level with her charges. "And thank you both. You were a big help. I'll see you soon."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Leida, Tekheda," Sas said. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I want to help more," Brook said./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Raven looked at her and smiled. "You are welcome at the workshop whenever it's open. We always need help."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Tomorrow," Brook said decisively./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If Fleimkepa says it's OK."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If I say what's OK?" Lexa asked as she approached. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Hey, Lexa, Brook wants to help out in the workshop."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If Tekheda allows, you may go during your free time."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Like I said, any time the workshop's open."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sas, Brook, you are late for dinner."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sha, Fleimkepa," they answered and waited until they were around the corner to break into a trot. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Heya, Reivon."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Hey, Lexa, I think we're having dinner together."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sha, Klark asked me to keep an eye out for you."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Guess we should head up."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Probably a good idea." Lexa started walking toward the Tower./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Raven caught up. "Any news?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Not yet. The leaders should begin arriving in the next few days."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"How long to get them all here?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It depends."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They got on the elevator and rode silently. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke was on the balcony and didn't hear them come in. She was using the afternoon light to mix the exact shades of blue she wanted to use. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Klark," Lexa called./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Balcony," she yelled back, looking between two jars of blue. One of them needed something else, maybe a little red./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What are you doing?" Raven asked./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"When Clarke turned around, Raven laughed at her. Lexa smiled, left, and returned with a clean cloth. "You have paint," she said, gesturing at her own face./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everywhere," Raven added and laughed more./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Don't ask me to paint a sign for your workshop," Clarke told her./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If I get a sign, it's gonna have neon," Raven answered./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke rolled her eyes and went back to what she was doing. This was the last she needed, and she wanted it to be right. Two drops of red and one of white, she decided, added the tints, and closed the jar so she could shake it vigorously to meld them. When she opened the jar to check, she was satisfied. Clarke sealed the jars and added them to the crate beside her./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If you want to clean up, I'll bring this in," Lexa said./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Thanks." She leaned toward Lexa to kiss her cheek on her way by but Lexa pulled back. br /Raven laughed again but she helped Lexa carry Clarke's things inside without being asked./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke still had some blue paint in her hair when she returned, but her face and hands were scrubbed clean. "Business or food first?" she asked and got the same answer from both./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Business."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"OK." Clarke and Lexa sat on one sofa and Raven sat on the second one Clarke had brought in to help accommodate the seemingly regular onslaught of company. "What do you need?" Clarke asked./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I really want Sas to go back to Arkadia with me." Raven paused. "And Brook, I think. They're attached at the wrist."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sha," Lexa agreed. "They have always been close."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"So maybe they both come and that way he's not just a little kid surrounded by adults." Raven and Clarke shared a look and Lexa knew it had to have something to do with their lives in the sky./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She still wasn't happy about apprenticing Sas to Raven, and wanted even less to send another of her charges with the tinka. The trip she was taking was long and dangerous in both directions, and the City of Light in all forms was hazardous. "I don't know," Lexa answered./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Can we talk to them?" Clarke asked. "I mean, I always had an opinion when I was a kid, but they never asked what I wanted to do."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lexa sighed. There was so much Clarke didn't know. "You do not have to ask my permission, Klark."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I'm asking your advice because you know all those kids better than we do."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They will not understand if you ask what they want to do. Fleimkepa places natblida as sekens when and where they feel it is in their best interest. Natblida have no input."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"That's why you're all warriors, because that's what Titus wanted."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lexa took time to consider before agreeing with Clarke./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Huh." Clarke got up and came back with wine for all of them. When she was seated again, she said, "I think Brook should go with Raven, too."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If that is your order," Lexa answered./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It is," Clarke said. She got up and walked to the door to send a guard to bring Sas and Brook. "No hurry," she told him. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"This time when she was seated, she told Lexa, "Now's the time to instruct her on the care and feeding of natblida."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Raven giggled as she thought of an old movie. "I won't feed them after midnight," she promised./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lexa didn't get the joke, but she got the gist of what Clarke wanted her to do. "You will be responsible for them like a mother. Make sure they eat enough and get plenty of rest. We will make sure that one guard can continue their warrior training, but you must do the rest."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Like what?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I teach them everything I think they can use. History and philosophy are the base of it all."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"OK," Raven said uncertainly. "They'll get all that, but filtered through science and math."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"As long as they can read and write gonasleng. We use ciphers, and they must understand them. Strategy is important."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ciphers are all math, logic, and probability theory. Strategy, too."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And they are children. You must allow them to play and play with them."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She won't have a problem with that," Clarke said./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Probably not," Raven agreed./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"A knock on the door warned them Sas and Brook were incoming. Raven moved to sit beside Clarke so Sas and Brook could sit together on the other sofa. Greetings took a while to sort out but finally everyone was seated./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lexa jumped right in. "Heda has apprenticed you to Tekheda. You leave with her in the morning. Do you have questions?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Where are we going?" Sas asked Raven./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Back to Arkadia. It's still full of stuff we need. We'll be back and forth so you won't need anything now."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"More questions?" Lexa asked and both shook their heads. "To bed, then."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Meet me at the workshop in the morning," Raven added./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sas said goodnight for both of them and they bowed before heading out./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They will not sleep," Lexa sighed. "None of them will sleep."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Servants came and set them up for supper, and their food arrived soon after. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I talked to Pramheda last night, " Clarke said when they were alone again./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Don't tease me," Raven answered./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lexa frowned but said nothing. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She wants to talk to you. I hope she figures out something that doesn't involve me," Clarke continued./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"For real?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke, her mouth full, nodded. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Wow." Raven brought food to her mouth. "I'm gonna need another notebook,"she said before putting it in her mouth./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke laughed. "Probably." She looked at Lexa, worrying, and asked, "What?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She is dangerous."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She's not corporeal, so how dangerous can she be?" Raven asked. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"There is a reason the other hedas do not welcome her," Lexa told them./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Which is?" /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I do not know," Lexa admitted. "But the others will not speak of her or go near the area she claimed."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She seemed fine to me," Clarke said. "But you were quiet. I'll be careful."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The others didn't talk while they ate, but Clarke had one more piece of news to share. "Murphy got his marks this morning."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Did you watch?" Raven asked./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yeah. Kinda wish I skipped that invite. Lots of blood," she sighed. "Murphy did great. Never twitched or made a sound. He looked like crap, though."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It will look much better in a few days," Lexa reassured Clarke./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They finished the meal, but no one was really interested in talking. Raven said good night and went across the hall./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="center"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"100 – 100 – 100/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke spent the next few days working in Skaikru's guesthouse. For the first time since she became heda, she was left alone. It didn't occur to her that the guard standing at the entrance might be the reason, but Clarke didn't care. She took her time with the first big project she'd done since covering her cell in the Skybox with her ideas of the planet below, and was relieved that she got the proportions correct. When it was finished, she went outside and came in to see how it would look to visitors./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Miller saw her as he was passing by. "Hey, Clarke."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Hey, Miller, I just finished the thing over the fireplace."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Can I look?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Absolutely." Clarke moved out of the entrance./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Miller walked in and came right back out. "It's perfect."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Thanks. It needs a day or two to dry and then I'll come back and seal it up so you can just wipe smoke or whatever off it."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Cool. Thanks."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Any time. I'll pack up my stuff and get out of here. You guys good for lunch tomorrow?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yeah. Meet you there."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="center"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"100 – 100 – 100/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lunch with Miller, Harper, and Monroe took the last of Clarke's free time. The last two kru leaders were supposed to arrive in a few hours, and meetings would start the next day. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Although Clarke thought it would be a working lunch, they spent the whole time catching up. Everyone, not just Clarke, had been staying busy. Clarke felt bad that they had to wait so long for her to have time for them, but the others weren't bothered. They weren't going anywhere, a decision made once Clarke was heda. If she needed backup, they would be there, even if they were her last resort. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She wanted to linger, but Lexa and the Natblida expected her for what she thought of as sky story time. Clarke talked about growing up and living in space and answered questions for an hour every week. Some questions had to wait until Raven brought Sas and Brook back for supper, and on those nights, Clarke and Lexa ate with them./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"When Lexa ended the day's lesson, Clarke walked toward the Tower. Just before entering, she asked her guard about messengers and was led to an office on the second floor./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke wrote out the message she wanted spread and ordered six riders to take it into the Wasteland every day until she ordered them to stop. The clerk read the message and looked uncertainly at Clarke. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She held a finger to her lips. "Not a word," she said quietly and gave him a few seconds before ordering, "Now."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The guards there were helpful. They heard about the battle for Polis - two had been there before being rotated for Arkadia for guard duty – and were happy to help Tekheda when she asked. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She spent three days making two trips a day between Arkadia and Polis. On the last trip on day three, she left the rover where it could charge and went to her workshop. She asked her guard to get a message to Clarke, and she went to take care of it personally while Raven inspected the shelves, making note of what they particularly needed. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She turned around to ask Fay something and the Natblida were lined up. "Junior hedas!" she greeted them, and they swarmed her./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Hold up." Raven put up a hand to get a second of silence. "Does Fleimkepa know you're here?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She dismissed us for the day," Sas said./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And you came to see me? You guys are the best."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Most of them didn't stay long because there was nothing exciting happening, but Sas and his shadow, Brook kom Louwoda, stayed to help. Raven explained why they were putting things away in the order they were, and named each piece. She asked them to pull the green circuit boards from all the boxes and put them where they belonged while the others continued to empty crates./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"When she got hungry, Raven closed up shop for the day. Roger and Fay went to the Skaikru area while Raven, Sas, and Brook walked toward the Tower. Raven hadn't seen her guard yet, and was about to go for dinner with the Natblida when her guard trotted up looking a little worn./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Heda asks you to dine with her this evening and said you may go to her suite when you are ready."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Thanks." Raven crouched down to eye level with her charges. "And thank you both. You were a big help. I'll see you soon."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Leida, Tekheda," Sas said. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I want to help more," Brook said./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Raven looked at her and smiled. "You are welcome at the workshop whenever it's open. We always need help."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Tomorrow," Brook said decisively./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If Fleimkepa says it's OK."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If I say what's OK?" Lexa asked as she approached. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Hey, Lexa, Brook wants to help out in the workshop."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If Tekheda allows, you may go during your free time."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Like I said, any time the workshop's open."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sas, Brook, you are late for dinner."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sha, Fleimkepa," they answered and waited until they were around the corner to break into a trot. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Heya, Reivon."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Hey, Lexa, I think we're having dinner together."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sha, Klark asked me to keep an eye out for you."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Guess we should head up."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Probably a good idea." Lexa started walking toward the Tower./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Raven caught up. "Any news?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Not yet. The leaders should begin arriving in the next few days."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"How long to get them all here?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It depends."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They got on the elevator and rode silently. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke was on the balcony and didn't hear them come in. She was using the afternoon light to mix the exact shades of blue she wanted to use. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Klark," Lexa called./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Balcony," she yelled back, looking between two jars of blue. One of them needed something else, maybe a little red./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"What are you doing?" Raven asked./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"When Clarke turned around, Raven laughed at her. Lexa smiled, left, and returned with a clean cloth. "You have paint," she said, gesturing at her own face./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Everywhere," Raven added and laughed more./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Don't ask me to paint a sign for your workshop," Clarke told her./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If I get a sign, it's gonna have neon," Raven answered./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke rolled her eyes and went back to what she was doing. This was the last she needed, and she wanted it to be right. Two drops of red and one of white, she decided, added the tints, and closed the jar so she could shake it vigorously to meld them. When she opened the jar to check, she was satisfied. Clarke sealed the jars and added them to the crate beside her./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If you want to clean up, I'll bring this in," Lexa said./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Thanks." She leaned toward Lexa to kiss her cheek on her way by but Lexa pulled back. br /Raven laughed again but she helped Lexa carry Clarke's things inside without being asked./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke still had some blue paint in her hair when she returned, but her face and hands were scrubbed clean. "Business or food first?" she asked and got the same answer from both./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Business."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"OK." Clarke and Lexa sat on one sofa and Raven sat on the second one Clarke had brought in to help accommodate the seemingly regular onslaught of company. "What do you need?" Clarke asked./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I really want Sas to go back to Arkadia with me." Raven paused. "And Brook, I think. They're attached at the wrist."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sha," Lexa agreed. "They have always been close."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"So maybe they both come and that way he's not just a little kid surrounded by adults." Raven and Clarke shared a look and Lexa knew it had to have something to do with their lives in the sky./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She still wasn't happy about apprenticing Sas to Raven, and wanted even less to send another of her charges with the tinka. The trip she was taking was long and dangerous in both directions, and the City of Light in all forms was hazardous. "I don't know," Lexa answered./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Can we talk to them?" Clarke asked. "I mean, I always had an opinion when I was a kid, but they never asked what I wanted to do."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lexa sighed. There was so much Clarke didn't know. "You do not have to ask my permission, Klark."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I'm asking your advice because you know all those kids better than we do."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They will not understand if you ask what they want to do. Fleimkepa places natblida as sekens when and where they feel it is in their best interest. Natblida have no input."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"That's why you're all warriors, because that's what Titus wanted."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lexa took time to consider before agreeing with Clarke./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Huh." Clarke got up and came back with wine for all of them. When she was seated again, she said, "I think Brook should go with Raven, too."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"If that is your order," Lexa answered./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It is," Clarke said. She got up and walked to the door to send a guard to bring Sas and Brook. "No hurry," she told him. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"This time when she was seated, she told Lexa, "Now's the time to instruct her on the care and feeding of natblida."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Raven giggled as she thought of an old movie. "I won't feed them after midnight," she promised./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lexa didn't get the joke, but she got the gist of what Clarke wanted her to do. "You will be responsible for them like a mother. Make sure they eat enough and get plenty of rest. We will make sure that one guard can continue their warrior training, but you must do the rest."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Like what?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I teach them everything I think they can use. History and philosophy are the base of it all."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"OK," Raven said uncertainly. "They'll get all that, but filtered through science and math."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"As long as they can read and write gonasleng. We use ciphers, and they must understand them. Strategy is important."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Ciphers are all math, logic, and probability theory. Strategy, too."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"And they are children. You must allow them to play and play with them."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She won't have a problem with that," Clarke said./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Probably not," Raven agreed./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"A knock on the door warned them Sas and Brook were incoming. Raven moved to sit beside Clarke so Sas and Brook could sit together on the other sofa. Greetings took a while to sort out but finally everyone was seated./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lexa jumped right in. "Heda has apprenticed you to Tekheda. You leave with her in the morning. Do you have questions?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Where are we going?" Sas asked Raven./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Back to Arkadia. It's still full of stuff we need. We'll be back and forth so you won't need anything now."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"More questions?" Lexa asked and both shook their heads. "To bed, then."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Meet me at the workshop in the morning," Raven added./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Sas said goodnight for both of them and they bowed before heading out./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They will not sleep," Lexa sighed. "None of them will sleep."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Servants came and set them up for supper, and their food arrived soon after. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I talked to Pramheda last night, " Clarke said when they were alone again./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Don't tease me," Raven answered./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lexa frowned but said nothing. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She wants to talk to you. I hope she figures out something that doesn't involve me," Clarke continued./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"For real?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke, her mouth full, nodded. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Wow." Raven brought food to her mouth. "I'm gonna need another notebook,"she said before putting it in her mouth./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke laughed. "Probably." She looked at Lexa, worrying, and asked, "What?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She is dangerous."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She's not corporeal, so how dangerous can she be?" Raven asked. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"There is a reason the other hedas do not welcome her," Lexa told them./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Which is?" /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"I do not know," Lexa admitted. "But the others will not speak of her or go near the area she claimed."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She seemed fine to me," Clarke said. "But you were quiet. I'll be careful."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"The others didn't talk while they ate, but Clarke had one more piece of news to share. "Murphy got his marks this morning."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Did you watch?" Raven asked./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yeah. Kinda wish I skipped that invite. Lots of blood," she sighed. "Murphy did great. Never twitched or made a sound. He looked like crap, though."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"It will look much better in a few days," Lexa reassured Clarke./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"They finished the meal, but no one was really interested in talking. Raven said good night and went across the hall./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="center"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"100 – 100 – 100/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke spent the next few days working in Skaikru's guesthouse. For the first time since she became heda, she was left alone. It didn't occur to her that the guard standing at the entrance might be the reason, but Clarke didn't care. She took her time with the first big project she'd done since covering her cell in the Skybox with her ideas of the planet below, and was relieved that she got the proportions correct. When it was finished, she went outside and came in to see how it would look to visitors./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Miller saw her as he was passing by. "Hey, Clarke."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Hey, Miller, I just finished the thing over the fireplace."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Can I look?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Absolutely." Clarke moved out of the entrance./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Miller walked in and came right back out. "It's perfect."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Thanks. It needs a day or two to dry and then I'll come back and seal it up so you can just wipe smoke or whatever off it."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Cool. Thanks."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Any time. I'll pack up my stuff and get out of here. You guys good for lunch tomorrow?"/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;""span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Yeah. Meet you there."/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="center"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"100 – 100 – 100/span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Lunch with Miller, Harper, and Monroe took the last of Clarke's free time. The last two kru leaders were supposed to arrive in a few hours, and meetings would start the next day. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Although Clarke thought it would be a working lunch, they spent the whole time catching up. Everyone, not just Clarke, had been staying busy. Clarke felt bad that they had to wait so long for her to have time for them, but the others weren't bothered. They weren't going anywhere, a decision made once Clarke was heda. If she needed backup, they would be there, even if they were her last resort. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She wanted to linger, but Lexa and the Natblida expected her for what she thought of as sky story time. Clarke talked about growing up and living in space and answered questions for an hour every week. Some questions had to wait until Raven brought Sas and Brook back for supper, and on those nights, Clarke and Lexa ate with them./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"When Lexa ended the day's lesson, Clarke walked toward the Tower. Just before entering, she asked her guard about messengers and was led to an office on the second floor./span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"Clarke wrote out the message she wanted spread and ordered six riders to take it into the Wasteland every day until she ordered them to stop. The clerk read the message and looked uncertainly at Clarke. /span/span/span/p
p style="font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.1in; text-decoration: none;" align="left"span style="color: #000000;"span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"span style="font-size: medium;"She held a finger to her lips. "Not a word," she said quietly and gave him a few seconds before ordering, "Now."/span/span/span/p