Ascende Superius | Book 3

07 | Thirteen

"May you live forever."

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The market is bustling with life as per usual, many different people from different places all milling around with their wares and trades. Though of course, I can only see it from the window. Lexa has us in the throne room once more. This is my own doing, I know that much. But... well, to put it simply, I am not brave enough for politics.

Her speech garters my attention however, and I glance around at the faces of the different young Natblidas, settling on Aden's. I wonder if I can maybe save him, too. But what ripples would that cause? I haven't even yet seen the consequence for saving the Grounders.

"We gather here on this ascension day to honour the commanders that came before me, those who live on within me. As I will live on in one of you." Trig echoes from outside the door, and Lexa quiets, all of us now watching the entrance.

From outside comes a rough voice. "The flamekeeper promised we would be heard!"

"Titus, what is this?" Lexa mumbles to him, looking up at the fleimkepa. He leans down, and I can't catch what it is he tells her, too far back in the room to hear his whispers. The door shuts heavily behind the people.

They crouch down to kneel, and one brings forward my struggling sister. It's the Grounders from the village. "Octavia?"

I jump forward, ready to rush to her aid, when some stand, holding out their spears. "Es pleni!" Lexa chides coldly, and they allow me to pass, stopping beside my bound and gagged sibling. One of her eyes is completely bloodshot and swollen, a bloody cut on her cheek. Dirt is smudged on her face, smeared randomly.
(That's enough)

"Forgive me for intruding on this holy day, commander. I am Semet of Trikru." Oh no... Oh no, no, no. "And I come seeking justice."

"Go yo klin. Choda yu don sis Oktevia kom Skaikru en honon?"
(Explain yourself. Why do you hold Octavia of Skaikru prisoner?)

"Em laik honon kon war, Heda." I don't catch the rest, but I can distantly remember subtitles. It's something along the lines of her paying for the Skaikru crimes.
(She is a prisoner of war, Heda.)

"What crimes?" Clarke demands, hurrying up to Semet, her voice not hiding how desperate she is. "What happened?"

"Skaikru attacked their village," Titus elaborates, and a rock drops in my stomach. I stumble back a bit, knocking into Jasper. He steadies me, also shocked into silence. "Because they didn't lose their warriors to the earlier attempts," the fleimkepa looks to me briefly. "They were able to fight many of those attacking, but were defenceless to your guns. Many warriors died."

"Beja, Heda. Ai beja yu daun... goch osir klin."

(Please, commander. I beg you. Avenge us.)

More deafening radio silence. Static fills my head like a plague. People weren't supposed to die in that attack. Not any grounders, at least. Is this my retribution? They fought, and where before they lost no one, they now lost their warriors?

"Jus drein jus daun!" One of the village women calls out, her voice ringing on the air. People begin to call out insults thrown at us as members of Skaikru, as well as repeating the words from the woman.