The One True Commander [BOOK 1]

Chapter 24: The Lost Natblida

The morning after the feast and celebrations was a rough one for everyone who partied a little bit too hard, ambassadors and war chiefs were all hungover and were glued to the bed with a banging headache. Because of this, there would be no meeting with the council today, so I was just left with a pile of paperwork to do about various different matters. I sat on my throne while I read the reports of Reaper attacks and other situations such as the Mountain Men. More Reapers were being killed thanks to the raised guard, but more Mountain Men scouts were being spotted and this worried me. They had weapons that could shoot a single piece of metal through a warrior and kill them instantly, their only weakness was their reaction to the radiation but they had weird suits to protect them, but then again they could easily be torn open.

My forehead creased as I was thinking hard about the situations that needed to be resolved. The Mountain Men were a hard enemy to defeat with their technology, but that was also one of the reasons why I created the coalition, to strike back at the mountain and save our people.

My thoughts were interrupted when the doors opened and I looked up to see Titus. "What is it Titus?" I asked.

"One of the scouts has returned early with a nightblood from Trikru lands. She was found alone in one of the villages, someone took her in but soon realised what she was. She is an orphan of war, Heda." Titus told me.

"Is she with you now?" I questioned, putting my paperwork down.

Titus nodded and looked to the guards to let her pass.

The girl timidly walked into the room from the shadows, looking nervous and scared. From the looks of her, she was only three summers old, so full of innocence. The girl's hair was as brown as the earth beneath our feet and her eyes were as green as the forest. Tears ran down her cheeks and she cowered behind Titus. I instantly felt sorry for the child, she was so young, too young for a nightblood to be here in Polis. Titus stepped aside so the girl was in clear view and I could tell she was shaking a little.

I looked to Titus, "a little young to be in Polis."

"Yes, Heda I know novitiates need to be a least five to start their training but, the order of the flame has decided to take her early because her parents are deceased and the people who took her in no longer wanted her because she is a natblida," my flamekeeper told his excuse.

I nodded knowing it was the best choice and then I rose from my throne and walked over to the girl. She cowered under my gaze and I crouched down to her height to make her feel less frightened. "Hey, it's okay, your safe here in Polis." I spoke softly to the girl, "what is your name?"

The girl's glossy green eyes looked up to me and she quietly spoke her name.

"Lexa."

I gave a warm smile, "Lexa. What a beautiful name. Well Lexa, I want you to know that your are safe here. I'm Y/N kom Trikru, but most people call me the commander."

"Your from Trikru too?" She squeaked out.

"Yes."

The girl then suddenly wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me tight. I was a little taken aback by this but soon I smiled.

"Heda, l-." Titus tried to speak.

"It is okay, Titus," I interrupted his plead that I shouldn't comfort the girl.

Titus backed off but still looked badly of this.

I hugged the girl back and rubbed her back to comfort her and soon her sobs stopped and she went silent. Then she pulled away and her emerald green eyes looked into mine. I smiled at the girl, and she gave the slightest smile back to me.