Goodbye beautiful // King Roan

Chapter 7

Entering the building at noon I was glad to be in the shadow. Wearing the long sleeved leather coat was a mistake. Wiping the sweat from my forehead I hurried towards the elevator and rode it to the highest level. Exiting it I made my way to the throne room and pushed open the doors. Roan had his back to me. He wore a tank top, making the scars on his back visible.

"Good that you're here. I need a sparring partner." he said over his shoulder and turned the sword in his hand. I was about to object but decided against it. Nodding, I sipped down my leather jacket and threw it to the ground. Now in my crop top I wasn't as warm as before. I grabbed my trident and swirled it around in my hand, getting used to the weight after these days not using it. "Report." he commanded while we circled each other. His blue eyes staring at me with his usual coldness. I began telling him that once again there was no word on the street, no direct threat against him. Suddenly he launched at me and I was able to block it at the last second. I ducked under the sword and swung the blades on the trident towards him. He blocked the strike and made one of his own, but I blocked. Backing away a step he grunted in pain and pressed a hand against his chest, he still hadn't fully healed. I wanted to tell him that he should take it easy, but didn't.

We continued to spar for a while, the sound of metal hitting metal echoing in the room. We were quite equal in fighting, at least in an open space like this one. But since he was wounded I had my trident pressed against his throat more often than he had the sword pressed against mine.

It didn't take long before I had overpowered him once again and his eyes flashed irritatedly, his breath heavy. Removing the blade from his throat I backed a few steps to give him space. Roan stood up, slightly limping and clearly pissed. "Dismissed." he rumbled at me and I grabbed my leather coat. Holding it over my shoulder I left the throne room and headed to my room to change. Once the door closed behind me I changed into the short sleeved leather coat and dried the sweat from my forehead and arms. I then left my room to get back to the city. Walking through the corridor I heard a door open somewhere behind me.

"Khalida!" Roan called out and I twisted around. His blue eyes were more furious then before. He walked over to me, his whole stance told me that something was very, very wrong. Now was not the time to be an ass towards him. I swallowed as he stopped very close to me. "Someone stole something from me." he said very lowly, probably only for me to hear. His eyes were intensely piercing me, fury radiating from him.

"What did they take?" I questioned as low, wondering how the hell someone could get in and out undetected. Then it hit me, I did that every day. It wasn't exactly hard getting past the guards and someone had used it to their advantage.

"The Flame. They must have taken it while we were training." he hissed and my spine went stiff like wire. "If you took it-"

"I value my and the lives of the Skaikru too much to have done something like that." I cut him off. "I'll find the Flame before the word gets out on the street."

"Good, I'll talk to Octavia too, now go." he said and I nodded before hurrying to the elevator. I was out in the busy street within seconds and began roaming around. Thinking of what would be the best place to start I rushed past people. I needed to concentrate on finding it, but also to hear if anyone heard word that it's gone. Who would benefit the most from the Flame? Either the ambassadors or the Flamekeepers themselves.

Remembering that Roan would talk to Octavia I headed towards her quarters. We could cover more ground if we were two. Maybe she had heard something I hadn't. Taking shortcuts and crossing over streets I was within her area within ten minutes. Rounding a corner I found her standing outside her house with Indra and Roan. Moving back once again I hid behind the wall, waiting to get her alone. Listening to their conversation I could make out Octavia leaving and I followed after her. A street further down I called out to her.

"Lida, what are you doing here?" she questioned as I walked beside her.

"The same thing as you. I thought that we could cooperate, cover more ground, you know." I answered and she nodded. We began making a plan, agreeing that it probably were the Flamekeepers who took it. I would search the northern temple and she would take the one closer to the tower. Splitting up I headed to my part, walking slow enough not to draw attention to me. My eyes spied after anyone looking suspicious and Flamekeepers.

I reached the temple after an hour of walking. It was almost across town and I had taken some detours, suspecting that I was being followed a few times. I started by looking for exits and back doors, I would need an escape route if something went wrong. Finding some hidden doors I was happy to have a lot of escapes. Picking one of the doors I entered the building, walking silently in the shadows. I waited at corners, listening closely for anyone. Turning into the next corridor I came to a wooden door. I put a hand on the handle, it wasn't locked. I couldn't hear anything from the room on the other side and slowly opened the door. Peaking my head inside I was met with a small staircase leading up to the main floor. Now I could hear the voices clearer. Slowly creeping up the stairs I stayed low and stopped once I saw them. They were moving all the stuff. All the holy and sacred things were being moved, but none of them were Flamekeepers. They were just ordinary people. Soon the big room was empty. The Flame wasn't here.

Disappointed, I made my way back, making sure that no one saw me. Once outside the building I walked to the main entrance. Seeing them placing the stuff on a wagon I walked up to someone standing close to me.

"Where are you taking all of this?" I questioned the man.

"To the main temple. The new Flamekeeper wanted everything in the same place." he shrugged and I nodded a thanks before heading back to the tower. This was a dead end. If a Flamekeeper had it it must be in the other temple. Octavia probably had some kind of information. This time I rushed to the center of Polis, it was already getting dark and I needed to find Octavia before whoever had the Flame could disappear into the shadows.

The sky was pitch black when I finally found Octavia. She was just leaving the temple with Indra. Calling out to them they stopped and waited for me to reach them.

"Mine was a dead end. How is it going for you?" I asked them as we began heading back to the tower.

"We found it. But we're not bringing it back." Octavia explained.

"Why?" I asked horrified. "He'll have our heads if we don't bring it back."

"We're going to hand him a fake." she said low and held out the remains of a fake Flame.

"Someone close to Indra had it and we couldn't bring her back to Roan, so this is the plan for now."

"Clever." I smirked at her and Indra said goodbye to Octavia as we neared the tower. I was glad that Roan wouldn't have the Flame anymore, it belonged to the Flamekeepers. We entered the building and took the elevator to the top. That's when I noticed the bag in her hand. When I asked her about it she told me not to worry, she would handle this. The doors to the throne room opened for us and we walked right up to the throne. 

"Leave us." Roan commanded and the guards left the room. Octavia put the bag by his feet and uncovered the head. She told him it was one of the Looters and not one of the Flamekeepers. He looked up as she said it, suspicion in his eyes.

"And the Flame?" he questioned.

"Destroyed before I could kill him." she answered and handed him the remaining pieces. "I'm sorry."

Roan threw the pieces into the fire. "It'll be more dangerous now. More people will have to die to keep me in power. Not that that bothers you."

Octavia looked defiant at him. "People fell in line behind the Flame, now they'll fall in line behind the sword."

"Let's hope Clarke finds a way to save us before they have to. Get out." he dismissed us and I was so relieved. Outside the throne room I said good night to Octavia and hurried to my room.