The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 38

"Okay." I say, taking in what Lexa's told me. "So what you're telling me is that we have four options. One we can't use because it'll take too long. Another we can't take because we'll be overrun with Azgeda warriors. And another one we can't use because we'll be surrounded by assassins that want to kill you. Which leaves us only one option to get to this meeting, where we will need to go really close to the base of our biggest enemy."

"Yes," Lexa confirms.

I frown. "Well it almost seems like you're being herded onto that route."

That makes Lexa pause, her face twisting slightly as she thinks. "I think you may be right."

"Then who could be behind this?" I wonder aloud. Lexa sits on a chair by the table, gesturing for me to do the same. I take a seat and run over the possibilities in my head. "Let's look at the assassins on that one road first. How recently has their numbers been going up?"

"Very recently. Since about a week ago, only a day after when the time and place for the meeting was confirmed. Someone must have hired them or tipped them off." Lexa says, her eyes widening. "I cannot believe I did not see that earlier. Mochof (thank you), Clarke."

"Pro (you're welcome). Have your scouts noticed anything about the assassins? Are a lot of them Maunon or Azgeda?"

Lexa's mouth drops open slightly in understanding. "There has been a increased number in reports of Maunon in that area, yes. This is not good, Clarke."

"Can you tell me what you know about the Mountain Men?" I ask.

"Anya has told me what she has told you. You know almost everything we know about them. Their people take ours and they rarely return alive. If they are ever seen again, they have become a Reaper. Their people also do not leave their compound often. When they do, they are covered in a flexible material."

"What does it look like?" I question.

Lexa takes a pencil and a blank sheet of paper, starting to draw on it. "I do not know how to describe it."

She finishes and sets down the pencil. I study it closely. It almost looks like a flimsier version of the suits the Zero G Mechanics wear on the Ark. But why would people need it down here?

"Anything else?" I ask, glancing back up at Lexa.

She thinks for a moment. "Yes, one last thing. We caught one of their people once. When we tried to get his suit off, he started screaming that it would kill him. Not believing him, we sliced a hole in it. Bumps started forming on his face and he kept screaming. He died within two minutes."

That extreme of a reaction had to have been caused by something. He had to have reacted to something in the air, if just a small hole in his suit resulted in his death.

It almost sounds like he was killed by radiation, but I don't know that'd be possible. Lexa and her people are fine, and so am I. It's possible Lexa and her people may have adapted to the radiation in the atmosphere, but that still doesn't explain why I'm fine. There wasn't any radiation as far as I know, because we were in space. Hang on. Solar radiation. There isn't anything protecting the Ark from it, so we must be used to high levels of radiation. But if there's a bunch of radiation on the ground, there would be signs. Some defects in the population. Though I really hate using that word.

Lexa lets me think, waiting silently for me to speak. When I do, she shifts, giving me her full attention. "Are there any people born with abnormalities?"

"Yes. I assume you mean physical abnormalities?" She waits for me to nod and confirm. "I once saw a baby with a hand like foot. They are considered taints in the bloodline and banished. It is harsh, but it keeps our people as strong as possible."

I understand her point of view, but I feel bad for all the people who were just born different and were punished because of it.

What Lexa's told me furthers my theory. I explain what I think to her, only pausing to quickly eat breakfast when it comes. Lexa takes it in easily, seeming to understand everything I'm saying and when she doesn't, she asks questions until she does. She's so much smarter than I thought, actually. And that's saying something.

"...I'll need to see a Maunon for myself to confirm my theory." I say as I finish explaining.

"We will be so close to them it is almost guaranteed that you will see one very soon. There is a scout that will be returning soon. I sent her out yesterday to check out the road ahead of us."

Right on cue, the flaps to the tent open, and Gustus comes into view, holding it open for a small, muscled girl to walk in. I recognize her. She's an incredibly good scout, but once she was caught and shot out of a tree. Luckily, she was just hit by the arrow in the shoulder but I did have to stitch her up.

"Mara." Lexa says, standing up straight and facing her. She's in Commander mode again. "What is your report?"

"There are many Maunon on the road, all of them with devices. Some have guns but none seem like they are going to try to kill you. It almost seems like they are set up to observe you."

Lexa nods. "Mochof, Mara. Good work."

Mara bows her head and leaves, nodding to me before she goes.

"Why do you think they want to just watch you?" I ask.

"They know much about me already, Clarke. I am the leader of their enemy so they observe me often. But this is different. I am a known, something they have studied since I became Heda. But you are an unknown. You are a new person in this war. An unexpected enemy. They want to observe your interactions with me, since they cannot get close enough to the village to do it here. We will need to be careful, Clarke. You are a threat to them, just as I am. And like any frightened beast, if we prove ourselves to be a danger to them, they will take us out."

The Mountain Men are stepping up their game! And I know some of you might be worried after this chapter, but I want to remind you that my stories always have happy endings without killing off any major good characters! And they still have to have the talk about the cheek kiss... Thank you all for reading and stay awesome!