Our People (the Third Book of the Her Weakness series)

Chapter 37

Clarke's POV

"When do you want to go watch the Night Bloods train?" I ask Lexa as she leads me in the direction of where the meeting will take place.

"Perhaps tomorrow. It will be a busy day, nonetheless. We will be speaking to Ontari and if all goes well, the ceremony to make Skai Kru the 13th clan will take place tomorrow night. If we have time in the morning, we could go down and watch."

"That does sound busy. I'm sure we'll find time for them. Maybe we can even join in and train with them."

A smile lights up Lexa's face. "I would love that, and so would the Natblidas."

We stop in front of another set of double doors, and she takes my hand and squeezes it before dropping it. Lexa takes a breath and I can see her putting on her Heda mask. Her back straightens and she exudes power (which she always does, but when she's in her Commander mode it's even more than usual). The guards open the doors for us and we stride in side by side.

The other clan leaders are already in the room and stand at the sight of Lexa. They dip their heads and Lexa gestures for me to take the seat next to hers. I stand in front of it, bowing my head to her.

After a moment, she addresses us. "Welcome, leaders of the twelve clans."

The other leaders straighten and chorus, "Welcome, Heda."

A few curious eyes land on me, probably wondering why I'm here if this is a meeting for the twelve clans. Lexa sits, her piercing eyes meeting everyone else's before landing on mine. There's a fiery determination in them I've always admired.

"I have gathered you here today to welcome Skai Kru into our midst. For those of you that do not know, this is Clarke kom SkaiKru."

"By welcome in our midst, you mean what?" Luna prompts.

I have to admit, I'm kind of impressed she has the guts to talk to Lexa like this. They must be closer than I thought.

Lexa gives Luna a hard look that makes the leaders on either side of her look nervous. Luna just smirks at her.

"Our numbers grow as we welcome the SkaiKru as the thirteenth clan."

I do a quick scan of the other leaders' faces and am pleased when most are surprised, a few skeptical, but there is no outrage that I can see.

Dracas (I'm proud that I remember he's from Boudalan/Rock Line) is frowning, and Lexa must notice too. "Dracas? Do you have something to say?"

He hesitates at the coldness in her voice. "Are you certain it is wide to allow the SkaiKru into our Coalition?"

Dracas visibly flinches under the weight of Lexa's glare. "Elaborate."

"Moba, Heda (sorry, Commander). I am just wondering if your emotions are clouding your judgement."

Lexa's voice gets quiet, which I never thought would be more terrifying than yelling. "You question my judgement based on my emotions? Do any of you recall Costia?" Lexa looks around the room, eyes landing on me last and I hope I give her a comforting look. That's what I was aiming for, at least. "She was taken by Nia and tortured and  beheaded." Her voice rises, but never gets louder than normal, just more forceful. The vein in her neck throbs as she continues. "She had a messenger place her head at the foot of my bed. And yet I still allowed Nia and Azgeda into my Coalition. I do not allow emotions to control what I do."

"Moba," Dracas apologizes.

"Skaikru has proven they are good allies." Lexa continues, her voice getting calmer as she speaks, but there's still not mistaking the power in it. "They helped us free our people captured by the Maunon. They fought with us against Nia. Clarke lead our forces against her. She was among three Skaikru who fought alongside Indra and I inside Nia's castle on the front line. They have healers with more advanced knowledge that could save lives and heal illnesses we cannot. They have mechanics that can make everyday life easier. They have warriors as fearsome as ours. Does that rid you of your worry?"

"Sha, Heda. Moba. I apologize to you as well, Clarke kom Skaikru. I know you mean well."

"There's no need to apologize. Our people have not interacted much. Your concern was not irrational." I pause and glance around the table. "I know there are probably some more of you that are wary of my people, but that's fine. We'll prove to you we can be trusted allies. One thing Lexa didn't mention is that we have stored knowledge for decades that may be beneficial to you all. We have old texts and volumes on nearly everything."

Lexa meets my eyes and gives me a small smile, something I know the other leaders don't miss.

She turns back to the others, her expression blank again. "Are there any objections to Skaikru becoming the thirteenth clan?" No one speaks up. Luna and Menelaus both give me a respectful nod. "Clarke kom Skaikru is to branded with the mark of the Coalition tomorrow evening." She looks around the room again. "Dismissed."

The others file out, each stopping by me to welcome Skaikru into the Coalition. At last, Lexa and I are the only ones left in the room.

We take steps toward each other, meeting in the middle. Our faces are so close our noses brush. Her Commander's mask is off and she's grinning.

I press a short kiss to her lips. "We did it."

She gives me a slightly longer kiss, our smiling making our teeth clash together but we don't care. "We did."

I reach down and take her hands in mine. "What's the branding you talked about? I've heard a bit about it from you, but I don't know much."

"It is like the Old Earth practice of branding livestock. There is metal that's end has my Coalition's mark on it. It is heated in a fire and the end is pressed onto your skin. I apologize, I did not realize you did not know much about this."

"No problem, I'm just glad that if I'm going to be branded, it's with your mark." I wink at Lexa, who's flustered by my comment.

"Hey is it over now?" Octavia pokes her head in. She sees us standing so close and Lexa blushing and smirks. "It's safe to come in, Rae. They're having vigorous eye sex if the Commander's red cheeks are anything to go by, but their clothes are still on. I told you they wouldn't be banging on the table."