Nightblood

Chapter 6: Thayer.

I could hear muted voices as I began to regain consciousness. My head still hurt as my vision came back into focus. Indra was speaking with the grounder she called, Rook. As I began to rise from the bed, their conversation ceased and Rook left. Indra approached me with cup of water, "Drink this."
I gladly accepted the drink as I sat looking at my surroundings. We were inside of a large tent, it was bright and hot, "Where are we?" I queried. "The Dead Zone for now. You're lucky to be alive," Indra said.
I knew it was a foolish move to insight such conflict, "Did they take her sword?"
Indra motioned her head to a table where the sword now lay, "I told them it wasn't meant for them. They left it be."
I rose to my feet, moved over to the table and held it in my hands, "Will she see us?" I asked.
Indra nodded, "Reluctantly, yes. The situation has been explained, nothing has been agreed upon, but she will hear what you have to say."
Indra seemed wary of following me down this path, but we currently had no other choice. I thanked her for getting me to this point, but once again she offered caution, "Do not anger her, Wanheda or disrespect Trikovakru any further. You run the risk of getting us both killed."
I nodded, still intrigued by this new clan, but wary of my actions and words. Indra led me out of the tent into the desert. The sun reflected off the sand, blinding me. Around us were more tents and grounders fully armed, watching as we passed by. Rook waited for us by a large tent and spoke before allowing us to enter, "If I see for one moment you are a threat, I will cut you down myself. Are we clear?" She meant every word.
"I understand." The situation reminded me of the first time I met Lexa and Gustus had delivered a similar warning.
She led us into the tent to meet the only living relative of Lexa Kom Trikru. As my gaze fell upon the girl standing before me my heart skipped a beat, shock enveloped every cell in my body. I was not prepared, I was not prepared at all.

There she stood, dressed like a warrior of the desert, long dark hair, piercing green eyes, one of which was covered with an eye patch. An injury from battle perhaps. She was fierce in appearance and for the most part completely identical to Lexa. I stood in silence as the shock of her image washed over me.
Thayer looked over at Indra and spoke, "You didn't tell her?" Her voice was a little deeper than Lexa's.
"As we agreed," Indra replied.
Thayer looked back at me, "Wanheda is lost for words it seems," she said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry... I... I..." somehow my words would not articulate.
"It's strange being a twin. You see, people expect your nature to be the same. I am not my sister, Wanheda. Remember that when you speak," Thayer warned.
I battled back my nerves and shock and presented her with Lexa's sword. She recognised it an gently took it from my hands, "Your sister's sword, I know she'd want you to have it. Thayer, I come here with the utmost respect, we are all facing destruction even you and your people. The world is turning  on itself, we have no Commander,  you are the only hope we have of surviving."
Thayer absorbed my words, "You want an outlaw sitting on the throne in Polis? You must be desperate," she scoffed.
I cautiously pulled the box containing The Flame from my pocket and showed it to her, "This is The Flame, all of the Commanders have their consciousness stored inside of it. Only a nightblood can hold it inside their flesh and access it. I believe it holds the answer to our salvation, a way to survive what's coming."
Thayer looked cautiously at it. "You ask much of me, Wanheda. I am no political leader, I don't carry the heart of a Heda as my sister did." She sounded sorrowful as she spoke.
I cautiously moved closer to her, "I see a leader standing before me as do those who ride with you it seems. Help us, Thayer. Help us to keep Lexa's legacy alive." She looked at me so intensely, "Be wary of offering so much power to those you don't know. You may come to regret it."