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chapter twenty-nine, Reap What You Sow

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NOVA IS WALKING AROUND POLIS and spots the seating area and sees Octavia sitting alone. Nova maneuvers through people and finally makes it to Octavia's table and takes a seat across from her.

"Hey" Nova greets, and Octavia sends her a smile. "How have you been?" Nova asks looking at Octavia who shrugs her shoulders. "I've been... dealing" Octavia responds leaning back in her chair and Nova nods her head slowly, understanding the response, and leans back in her chair mocking Octavia.

"How about you and Bellamy?" Nova asks and Octavia sighs. "Dead to me" Octavia says straight forward and Nova looks a little taken back and sits up straight in her chair.

"He's your brother Octavia you can't feel-". "Why not? He got Lincoln killed and I loved him. Bellamy knew that and still he got him killed" Octavia confesses and Nova clears her throat and is cut off by the conversation beside her and Octavia.

"The King protects Skaikru. Why?" One of the younger men says.

"Because he is their puppet, Ilian. And anyone who protects the people who did this are as guilty as they are. Roan of Azgeda will hear me" One of the older men wearing a robe says.

Octavia is starting to listen discreetly and keep their heads down like they're not listening.

"As your new ambassador I have the right to challenge him. Single combat" The man says, and Nova lifts her head up looking to Octavia in confusion. They know if Roan dies the deal is off, so they have to keep him alive and give him their trust if they want to continue to work together.

"I want justice, Skaikru did this, not the king" The younger man says, and Nova turns her head looking around.

"Do you want revenge for your family, or not? When Trishanakru controls Polis, you will have it. I promise when the King's head falls, Skaikru falls with it" The ambassador tells him, and they get up and leave the table eyeing Octavia and Nova when they leave.

"You know what we have to do, right?" Octavia asks and Nova scoffs standing up. "You're really asking?" Nova questions as Octavia stands to her feet and they start marching side by side to the polis tower and arrives in the throne room where Roan is placed.

Nova and Octavia burst in the throne room with a new set of information.

"May we have a word? Now" Nova asks and Echo turns around harshly looking at the two girls.

"Privately. Which means without Echo" Nova says looking over at Echo who looks over at her King.

"Echo, leave us. Please" Roan orders and Nova smirks at Echo as Echo brushes past her and leaves.

"You were right to be concerned about Trishanakru. Rafel is going to challenge you for control" Octavia begins and Nova nods her head in agreement. "Bold move for a new ambassador. So? Let him come" Roan questions and Nova furrows her eyebrows as she looks at Roan.

"Sorry to ask but, aren't you in still injured?" Nova asks but Roan doesn't answer. "The law says you can pick someone to fight in your place" Octavia states and Roan scoffs, "No. The clans will never accept a leader who hides behind the law. Or another warrior's blade" Roan states and Nova sighs.

"Let's be honest. You'll lose. You have a bullet in your chest" Nova points out motioning to his wound. "I say cancel the gathering or delay it until you're strong enough" Octavia suggests and Roan shakes his head immediately.

"No. Letting the ambassadors have a voice keeps the peace here. Azgeda holds this city through force alone, and the Flame won't keep the clans at bay forever. If they unite against us, we could lose. And if we lose --".

"Yeah, we know... they come for Skaikru" Nova adds. "And the radiation comes for us all." Roan announces and Nova and Octavia glare at each other thinking about the radiation.

"And you know, no one has to die. The arrangement was to create a solution so everyone can live so we'll do that" Nova states and Roan steps towards Nova.

"And how is that solution coming?" Roan asks and Nova looks over at Octavia and clears her throat then moves her eyes over to Roan's.

"It's coming along. Besides, we have six months to decide" Nova declares.

"How about I talk to the ambassador. Me or Octavia and we let him know he cannot challenge you" Nova states and Roan shrugs.

"Okay... talk but what will you do when he says he'll challenge me anyway?" Roan asks and Nova chuckles humorlessly.

"We kill him" Nova answers and Roan nods his head up and down slowly as her and Octavia turn around and leave.

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NOVA WENT BACK TO THE SEATING AREA in polis and spotted Rafel sitting with some people. Nova walks over with a knife in her boot, her sword in her weapons belt and her cross bow on her back.

Nova walks over to them and looks at the men sitting around the table. "You Rafel?" Nova asks and the man scoffs and nods in response. "May we talk privately?" Nova questions and Rafel stands to his feet, getting in Nova's face, trying to intimidate her and takes another seat at a different table and Nova sits across from him.

"We know you plan to challenge King Roan" Nova states. "I want you to reconsider" Nova offers sitting up straight and looking at Rafel in the face.

"After everything your people have done, you expect diplomacy" Rafel states and Nova shakes her head.

"Skaikru is not your enemy" Nova tries to reason and Rafel laughs humorlessly. "So, I guess I should call you... my friend?" He asks in a sarcastic matter and Nova puts on a tight-lipped smile as she looks in Rafel's' direction.

"Not at all" Nova state honestly and Rafel looks a bit taken back at her response.

The young man from before walks over and slams an AI chip onto the table. Nova stands to her feet looking to the guy who has tears falling from his eyes. "Skaikru made me murder my entire family. I have no one left" The man explains, and Nova shakes her head.

"And I am sorry, but you are only blaming them for the city of light. How about you thank them for destroying it. They were put in danger to save you all" Nova argues and the guys shakes his head, not accepting her apology so easily.

"It took me murdering my mother while she screamed for me to stop for you guys to do something about it" The guy defends as she gets close in Nova's face.

"Sorry we didn't work fast enough. Blood transfusion and hacking into the city of light takes some time" Nova argues as she slightly pushes the guy away. "And besides we've suffered so much already, why spill more blood? The clans are stronger together anyway" Nova argues and Rafel stands to his feet with a smile on his face.

"You see Ilian? The King can't fight, or his minions wouldn't be here trying to stop us" Rafel says, and Nova furrows her eyebrows.

"Who says Roan can't fight? It's not that he can't. It's that he doesn't want to waste his time on a worthless warrior" Nova taunts, looking Rafel up and down. "Since you landed here, your people have done nothing but rip our world apart" Rafel states, changing the subject and Nova takes a deep breath then looks to Rafel and Ilan.

"I am asking you to not do this" Nova practically begs and llian scoffs in response.

"Reap what you sow. The time of Skaikru is over" Rafel voices before him and llian walk away.