DISCORDIA

[ 49 ] blood fire

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       BLOOD FIRE

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       JINNY RODE ON THE BACK of Raulf's horse as he came to fetch them from their camp. Abby and Kane were with her behind two other riders; the designated leaders of their people. The ride to the Grounders' encampment was short, offering limited words to be exchanged between them. Raulf was relieved that Finn's death had been quick; he was never one to revel in the pain of others. Jinny felt that she could see no reason to distrust him, he was as pure as first snow.

       When they arrived, Abby was the first to ask for Clarke before darting into the Commander's tent when Raulf pointed that she was inside. Jinny and Kane went in after her, staring at the sight of the blonde girl sobbing in her mother's arms. "They would have tortured him. I had to! I had to. What did I do?"

       The grief in her broken voice was blatant and it sent a searing knife twisting into Jinny's heart to see her like this. Raven's screams continued to haunt her, but Clarke's anguish genuinely pained her. Kane covered his mouth with his knuckles as he looked at them, sympathy reflected in his eyes from the candle lights around the tent. Clarke immediately stopped when the curtains were thrown open again, and the imposing Grounder from before walked in.

       "The Commander is ready to talk," he informed.

       Clarke nodded her head, quickly composing herself and wiping the tears from her cheeks. She stood up to take her place next to Jinny just as Lexa entered, followed by Raulf and Indra. The Commander took her seat on the wooden throne with her advisors and bodyguard on either side.

       "Blood has answered blood," she announced. "Some on my side say that's not enough. They wanted the murderer to suffer as our tradition demands." Jinny casted a shady glare towards Indra as Lexa addressed Clarke, "But they do not know that your suffering will be worse. What you did tonight will haunt you until the end of your days. Still, there will be restitution, the body will be given to the people of Tondc; murderer and murdered joined by fire. Only then can we have peace."

       "No," Kane protested. "No, we've done enough. The boy should be buried by his own people—"

       "Enough?" Indra cut in. "We were owed the pain of eighteen deaths, we were owed the righteous kill. My village deserves justice."

       "You don't want justice, you want vengeance!" Abby retorted heatedly.

       Jinny looked towards Clarke who was side-eyeing Indra with a numbness that seeped onto her face. Revenge isn't justice, her voice rang in Jinny's ears as she recalled Connor's sneering face. It is justice, he replied.

       Indra moved forwards threateningly but Jinny stood in her way, face characteristically impassive in front of the wrath of the other woman. She could see every scar on Indra's face that outmatched her own. "You'll have your restitution," Jinny told her evenly. "He will go to the people of Tondc."

       "Jinny," Kane's voice was soft but filled with dismay.

       "We'll do it," Clarke agreed in confirmation. "But when it's over, we talk about how to get our people out of Mount Weather. All of our people."

       "We want the same things, Clarke," Lexa said with a solemn nod.

       "Good. When do we leave?" she asked.

       "Now," the Commander declared, standing up with her lean sword in hand. "Choose your attendance."

       With that, she walked out of the tent with her entourage. Abby stopped Clarke before she could leave, touching her arm gently. "You don't have to do this," she whispered.