Chapter 18
Dante and Cage Wallace stood before Dante’s desk, staring down at the two boys sat in front of them. “And you were not involved in this breach?”
Wells shook his head. “No sir. Clarke acted alone. We don’t know how she got out.”
Cage was practically spitting with rage. He resumed his cagey pacing before he whirled back to Wells. “I think you’re lying-“
“Back off.” Bellamy snapped, moving subtly. If Cage made a move, he would meet him with just as much force. Bellamy wasn’t above fist fighting a man threatening his friends. “We told you what we know, we told you the truth.”
Dante sighed. “She put everyone in this bunker at risk. She stole one of our greatest assets. You have to understand why we’re weary.”
Bellamy wouldn’t give him an inch, so Wells extended the olive branch. “I think this is a perfect opportunity.” Wells shifted again, sending a warning glance towards Cage. He uncrossed his arms and broadened his shoulders. “Here’s what we do, you send a couple of us, with due supplies, and we venture outside. We find Clarke and this asset of yours and retrieve them. We contact the Ark in person, gain their trust. Then when we return, we’ve proven our loyalty, and gained the essential information necessary for this merger.”
Bellamy tried not to swell too much with pride. Wells was damn good at this negotiation thing, maybe they should’ve sent him instead of Clarke to the Commander’s meeting table. “Let us prove to you that we can be trusted. This is an isolated incident. Let us make reparations.”
Cage scoffed at Dante’s growing grin. But Bellamy knew the person they needed was the senior Wallace. He had the official power, the true power. But Cage was getting to be a problem. Any more distrust between the two and Cage could be genuinely dangerous.
“I like this idea. We had no intention of testing you, but I think it’s only reasonably after this breach of trust. Prove that Clarke is in the minority and we can forget this happened. Who were you intending to send?” Dante clapped his hands, relaxing into his seat behind his desk.
Bellamy glanced to Wells. “We haven’t fully discussed this yet-“
“I’m going.” Wells interrupted. “Clarke and I were childhood friends. I can appeal to her, maybe convince her that she’s making a mistake leaving us here. We were also considering Finn Collins and John Murphy.”
“Just those three?” Dante asked. “We can accommodate that. Cage, go start gathering the rations they’ll need. This will be so much more efficient than sending the hazmats.”
Bellamy glared at Wells. “Sir, if you’ll excuse us, we should probably tell Finn and Murphy that they should prepare to go.”
Dante waved his hand. “Good idea, we’ll have a couple of officers escort you to the door in an hour. Thank you, boys.”
The two nodded and stiffly took their leave, passing an angry Cage Wallace on their way.
“You said I couldn’t go because we needed to be here.” Bellamy accused as they wound through the halls, trying to ignore the guards flanking them.
Wells shook his head. “I meant what I said. But you honestly think they’re going to trust two people they’ve never spoken to? Dante says he trusts us. We all know Clarke would physically fight you if you tried to get her to come back. She may not have caught on to the whole Jake Griffin conspiracy yet, but I still hold some weight.” Wells ran a hand along his neck. “I have access to a more emotional appeal. It makes the most sense to at least send me. Besides, I need to keep Finn on track.”
“And Murphy in line. Speaking of, what the fuck Wells?”
“You know Murphy will jump at the chance to get out as soon as possible. He causes more trouble in here than out there.” Wells sent Bellamy a look. “This is a time of increased tension. Take as many troublemakers with me where they have room to fuck up, and leave you with the ticking bomb. You can keep these people in line, but I want to take John what-is-authority Murphy and Finn. Finn’s gotten to be a problem, haven’t you noticed?”
Bellamy shook his head. “What’s he been up to?”
Wells stopped outside the door of the dormitories. “I caught him sleeping around a bit.” Bellamy shrugged. “He has a girlfriend, Raven. You know? Mechanic genius. That can cause some problems. We don’t have the time for petty teenage angst right now. I want to get him out of this situation so that maybe we can knock some sense into him. I don’t think he realizes what’s going on, how close to death we are.”
Bellamy ran a hand over his face. “When you find Clarke, look for my sister will you? Make sure she’s okay.”
Wells placed a hand on Bellamy’s shoulder. “Of course.”
Bellamy nodded and opened the door for the two to enter the dormitories and face their people together.
Lexa glowered at the head of the negotiating table, her eyes focused on Kane’s directly across from her. “Fayoguns are cursed weapons among my people.”
Clarke rubbed at her eyes. “We don’t know how to use anything else-“
“They’re superior weapons, Commander.” Kane matched coolly. “The difference is that you are afraid-“
“My people have been killed for centuries by the Maunon Men!” Lexa roared, standing to her feet. “For generations, my people have faced unending torment, torture at the hands of a people who wield these death machines!”
“You cannot expect us to reverse centuries of scientific and technological innovation!” Kane snarled back. Lexa was not used to such a bold tone of voice, but she was too angry to nitpick about respect and the place of the Skaikru. “It is the one thing that has kept us alive for so long!” Kane continued. “Taking this from us will make my people hate you and yours. If you ever want a lasting alliance you cannot do this!”
Lexa slammed a hand on the table and glared at the man, surprisingly steadfast in his opinion. She hadn’t expected the Skaikru leader to be strong like this. This kind of strength was not taught to the common people of the clans. But the longer she stood glaring, she understood. “You will keep the other tek. The fayoguns will not be accepted. My people cannot separate your fayoguns from the terror of the Maunon. I would not expect them to.”
Kane shook his head. “My guards cannot protect my people without them.”
Lexa grit her teeth. “We compromise.” She was quieter then, glancing to Clarke. “The guns may not leave the premises of your camp. And when we have settled your territory, they are not to leave Skaikru lands. Those who take them into other territory will be punished under law of the Coalition.”
Kane bowed his head. “I can agree to that.”
Lexa tensed her jaw and glared off to the side. She didn’t want to compromise on this issue, her people were so terrified of the Maunon. But she couldn’t guarantee that there were other subjects to compromise on, the Skaikru hadn’t shown their full hand yet, and she needed to save her resolute stubbornness for when it was absolutely necessary. That’s what had gotten her so far, be generous with compromise, and when situation required, force the other hand. She could afford a small compromise here, because she couldn’t assume that later she would have the space to compromise again.
Clarke watched her, the fear of the Commander of the Twelve Clans having long since dissolved. No longer was she the fearful ruler of massive armies, but simply the girl she comforted years ago by squeezing her hand in the dark where no one could see. Lexa could see it in her eyes, she had startled Clarke with her outburst, but it fell away, quickly replaced with exasperation.
Lexa wanted to rage at her. Wanted to shake her, to scare her. To fight her off and send her away. She’d been planning this since her first kiss with Costia. Her Keryontai was not for her, she had Costia. But now? Even without Costia, Clarke would never be safe around Lexa. This singular girl, the one that fell from the sky and demanded respect for nothing but existing, held the key to the last of Lexa’s weakness. She knew the pain Costia brought, she knew just about every secret wound, and not only that, but her capture, her torture, would tear Lexa apart. She would feel every second, know every lash and cut and strike against the girl as it happened. And all Lexa could remember was the singular golden eye staring endlessly up from the burlap sack thrown to the floor before her bed.
And yet, Clarke wasn’t afraid. Not of Lexa, not of anyone else. Lexa couldn’t tell if this was because she was endlessly brave or endlessly stupid. She wasn’t afraid when Lexa played the brute and she wasn’t afraid when she told the truth. What would keep her away? What would keep her at arms’ length?
Lexa feared the answer.
But she didn’t have time to deal with the problem that was her Keryontai. “We need to find the other half of the Ark.” Kane steepled his fingers against his mouth as he leaned forward. “They fell north of here, from what I can recall.”
Clarke rubbed at her jaw uncomfortably, and Lexa realized the way her teeth ached with their clenching. She loosened her jaw as best she could. “They landed in Azgeda territory.”
Kane shook his head. “The Azgeda are members of your Coalition?”
“Azgeda?” Clarke was putting the pieces together, and Lexa was certainly not prepared for it.
“Sha,” Lexa sighed. “The Queen of the Azgeda is… savage to say the least. She does not tolerate invaders, and negotiating the safe passage of your people will be costly. If they are lucky, they will be enslaved. If they prove to be dangerous, she will simply kill them.”
“How long do they have?”
“Hours.” Lexa shrugged stiffly. “The Azgeda have no room for even ancient laws. Soul ties mean nothing to them. The only reason the Coalition tolerates their presence is because of their strength. They are a powerful, brutal people. The cost of punishing them would require too much blood.”
“Our survivalist experts are on that ship.” Kane pointed out. “We can’t just leave them to die.”
Lexa shook her head. “We have to choose between the Maunon and the Azgeda. Empires have fallen because of the foolish decision to fight two fronted wars. My Coalition will not be another forlorn legend told around campfires to teach children to die blindly for their leaders, as only the honorable warriors of generations past do.”
Kane tried to hide his frustration. “My people will not survive without them, they are our farmers and agricultural experts.”
“We need to pick our battles, Kane.” Clarke cut in. “We focus on the Maunon, go to war, get our people back and affirm our place in the Coalition. Then we have a case to force the Queen’s hand for a peaceful resolution. We can’t claim a legal right to our people until we’re seen as legal equals.”
Lexa nodded, finally sinking to her seat again, she had to admit, having an ally was a welcome change to negotiations. “I will send a rider with a message to Queen Nia about these people. But I cannot guarantee that my word alone will protect your people.”
“Thank you, Lexa.” Clarke ran a hand through her hair, sitting back in her chair in relief. “We should discuss national sovereignty.” Clarke sat back. “Azgeda has a Queen, and you’ve mentioned other clan leaders before. We expect national sovereignty as well. The rights to lead our people as we see fit, to make laws within our territory as we see fit -that are to be abided by at all times even as citizens of another clan visiting our territory- and the right to do what we feel necessary within our territory, whether that’s production and manufacturing or just agriculture.”
Lexa almost smiled, but she caught herself in time. “All of the clans started as separate sovereign entities before joining the coalition. You will have the protection of the coalition so long as you abide by our international laws. My jurisdiction lies solely in international matters, I will not be able to regulate internal matters, unless you require it of me until a suitable leader can be found.” Lexa rolled her shoulders, sending an apologetic glance towards Clarke’s answering wince. “That particular situation has occurred once or twice before, but I have no intention of becoming a tyrant or ruling your people.”
Kane drummed his fingers against the table. “And how do we ensure that we have claim to these rights? Do we just take your word for it?”
Lexa glared. “We have written laws. The leader of your people will take a brand and bow to me in acceptance of these laws.”
Kane’s eyes widened comically and Lexa had to curb her desire to roll her eyes. “I assumed that-“
“We were illiterate savages?” Lexa’s eyebrows rose, lip curling in a sneer. “You aren’t the first.”
“Make no mistake we are not like the Mountain Men.”
Lexa did roll her eyes at this point. She was tired of having this conversation. “We’re done here. We will get rest before Titus, our recordkeeper and Guardian of the Flame, arrives and we continue our discussions about the Skaikru and their relations to the Coalition.” Lexa stood and paused. “Clarke, I’d like to see Anya, would you take me to where she is being held?”
Clarke sprung to her feet. “Yeah, c’mon. I’ll see you tomorrow, Kane.”
Kane gave a half-hearted wave as they left the room.
“I’m sorry about… all of that.” Clarke winced, rubbing at her temples. “I thought Kane would have at least a bit more tact.”
Lexa straightened her back, clasping her hands behind her as she walked. “These things take time.”
“Time that we don’t have.”
Lexa sighed. “Clarke, I’m not going to kill your people because they assume that we cannot read.”
Clarke shifted uncomfortably. “Thanks?”
Lexa shook her head. “We will retrieve your people in due time. Anya will give me the information she has regarding the Maunon, and tomorrow we begin strategizing.”
“What about Titus? What do you need him for?”
“First, he is our recordkeeper.” Lexa glanced to the girl beside her. “This is historical. When we fell the Maunon, he will be charged with recording it. He also has access to archives from generations ago. You know nothing of Alie and Becca, but we must figure out the relationship between your people and my people’s history.”
“Who is Alie and Becca anyway?”
Lexa stopped walking, turning her gaze back to Clarke. “Becca was the first Commander of the Trikru. She was the first Natblida. She brought my people from darkness.”
“And she fell from the sky?”
“Sha,” Lexa nodded. “She never spoke of other people in the sky. At least, from what I know of the texts. Titus would know more.”
“What about Alie?”
Lexa’s gaze darkened. “Alie is a conspirator against the Commander. But she is not… easily detectable.” Lexa stepped closer. “Only Heda and those directly involved with Alie know who she is, what she is trying to do. It is Heda’s duty not just to rule their people but to keep Alie at bay.” Her voice lowered. “You cannot tell anyone of this, Clarke. It is dangerous, sensitive information. If Alie were to escape, if she were to take a solid form, or gain control of the right weak-willed person… everything could be destroyed.”
Clarke gaped. “And why shouldn’t other people know about this?”
Lexa rubbed at her face, an exhausted sigh escaping her lips. “Information is dangerous, Clarke. She could gain more power rather than lose it if other people were to know that the City of Light is real.”
“City of Light?”
“It’s where she is imprisoned. She cannot escape. But those who search for the City of Light and survive, those people are the most dangerous. They can travel to and from Alie, they do her bidding. They recruit.” Lexa crossed her arms. “If your people are friends of Alie, I would have to kill them.”
Clarke looked to the ceiling. “It feels like you’re looking for reasons to commit genocide.”
Lexa scoffed. “On the ground, you’ll learn, people cannot be trusted. It does not take much to be dangerous.”