Traveler's Blessing

Chapter 10: The Taste of Poison

"Why hasn't she woken up?"

It is the Commander's voice.

"Heda. We forced her to drink water, made her throw up, and flush out any residual poison. Since the toxin is not in her bloodstream, the damage is minimal. She should wake up any day now."

"You said that two days ago. I do not need to remind you of the consequence of misleading your Commander."

"No, Heda ... her condition is ... not exactly predictable," the fisa sounds terrified. Being accused of lying to the Commander would result in his tongue being cut out. His voice is trembling. "We are trying our best, without knowing what kind of poison she ingested ... Without the cure... We are not sure ... if she will even ..." the confidence earlier is dwindling.

"Enough!"

It was clear Lexa didn't want him to finish the sentence.

"Leave us."

Someone scrambles away.

There was a moment of silence. Then Costia can feel her bed dipping. The weight shifting as Lexa sits down next to her, close enough to hear her sigh.

"Han woke up only after a few hours of being shot. Clearly, you are a better fisa than the ones treating you." Lexa is speaking softly, no longer wearing the mask of the Commander.

Costia can feel her hair gently being brushed off her face, the touch lingering.

"I tell myself you wouldn't have done this if you didn't know what you are doing, that you wouldn't put yourself in danger. Then again ... maybe you know the risk and did it anyway."

There was a sadness in Lexa's voice, the same tone from a lifetime ago when Clarke held a knife against Lexa's throat. I'm sorry ... I never meant to turn you into this...

"You saved his life, you know. Some of our injured warriors are still fighting the poison, but many are not so lucky. Nyko says we need the antidote."

"Tomorrow morning, we march against Shallow Valley. I will get what you ... what our people need ..."

Even alone, Lexa is still separating her duty from her feelings, denying herself.

Maybe someday, you and I will owe nothing more to our people. I hope so...

"Until then ..."

Costia can feel Lexa close by. Her hair cascading down onto Costia's face. Whispering, nudging Costia's cheek with her nose, "please, wait for me ..."

Costia is fighting to open her eyes. To resurface and tell Lexa that she is here. To tell Lexa that attacking Shallow Valley is a mistake. Yet the sea of darkness engulfs her; she tries to reach out but just keeps spiraling downward.

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"Lexa!" Costia sits up. Eyes wide open. She looks around and sees Han jumping up from his chair.

"You are awake!" He is wearing a sling to stabilize his injured shoulder. His eyes are red with dark bags beneath them. He rushes over and folds Costia into his embrace with his good arm. "I thought you were going to die. Because of me. Don't you ever do that again." His voice choked up.

"I'm ok... you're ok." Costia pats Han's back before pulling away from him. The poison has worked its way out of her system. "Where is the Commander?" Costia asks, her voice rasp.

"Heda left an hour ago to march against Shallow Valley. Only a few guards are left behind to guard the injured warriors."

"That is a mistake. We have to stop the attack." Costia swings her legs around to stand up, but they almost give way. She is weaker than she thought after being unconscious for several days.

"You need to rest." Han stops Costia, forcing her back to bed.

"No, you don't understand." Costia struggles. "The Commander cannot attack Shallow Valley. I will not allow this to happen." Madi. She tries again, willing strength back into her limbs, but pushing Han is like pushing a wall of bricks.

"Louwoda Kliron kru poisoned us! Attacking Heda is an attack on all of us." Han said unbudgingly, still keeping Costia from getting up.

"Listen, they have nothing to do with this. It is a setup. So either you are with me, or I'm doing this alone." Costia says, slightly out of breath.

"What setup?"

"Someone is pitting us against each other to subvert the Coalition effort. Louwoda Kliron kru didn't ambush us."

"How do you know this?"

"I know. I tasted the poison." Costia bites her lips. She can still recall the smell and the aftertaste of a unique sweetness mix with blood and iron. Shallow Valley was, will be, her home for six years. Not only is she familiar with the flora and faunas in the Valley, but Clarke also had access to the Louwoda Kliron Kru's healers' supplies. "The poison is not something from this region. So are you with me, or what?"

Han considers all but for a moment. "I'm with you."

"Ok, we don't have much time. Now help me get up."