PROLOGUE
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

     THE ROOM WAS SILENT, the leaders surrounding her in bated breath as Lexa walked through the doors. Her blue eyes were still starkly visible against the backdrop of dark warpaint and the black blood smeared across her face and body. She blinked as Anya lead her to the platform where she stood above her people, Dria waiting patiently off to the side with the rest of the aides.

     The flamekeeper nodded at Anya who stood aside and made room for Lexa to face everyone. She clutched several pendants in her hand, fingers wavering but her expression strong nonetheless.

     "Leksa kom Trikru...is victorious," the flamekeeper announced. Everyone watched with bated breath as she became the center of attention, the center of...everything.

     Looking on with pride, Dria made her way to stand behind her with Anya, knowing in her heart more than anything that Asha's spirit made the right choice.

     "Ascension will take place this time tomorrow," the flamekeeper announced, everyone who had gathered dispersing out into the various halls.

     Lexa was escorted from the room by Anya with Dria following close behind, not a single word uttered from her mouth since the minute she won. They arrived in a private room, where Anya told Lexa to rest before the ceremony before making her leave.

     Eyes distant, Lexa sat down on a nearby chair and shook her head, hands unsteady as she stared down at them. The black stains on every inch of her skin seemed to be her main concern. Dria couldn't blame her.

     She walked to the edge of the room and retrieved a bowl of water and a rag, pulling up a chair beside Lexa's. As Dria began to wash the blood away from her hands, she glanced up at the girl who was still staring at the wall.

     "Lexa, you did it," she offered, trying to get her to realize what had been accomplished. "Heda. You did it."

     At that one simple word, Lexa's gaze snapped to hers and she nodded absently. "Heda," she whispered in response. "I had to."

     "You had to," Dria agreed, placing the now black stained rag in the bowl of water. "You were the strongest. And the strongest win. That is what we were taught. You are going to be a good heda."

     Lexa didn't say much in response and Dria put the bowl on a nearby table, putting her chair back where she found it. "You can rest now. I'll be back soon," she announced, casting a worried glance back at the motionless girl before leaving the room.

     The air in the tower seemed different now. Dria and Lexa has both grown up there, but now that she had been forced to kill everyone they had ever known, it was difficult to see the place the same.

     "Dria," a voice called out from behind her. She turned around to find Commander Asha's former advisor, giving her a soft look. "I've been sent to tell you that until you are old enough to advise and strategize by Lexa's side efficiently, I'm to step in and help you both learn."

     The small girl nodded in response, only one question plaguing her mind. "Do you miss her?"

     Anan gave her a painful smile and placed a hand on her shoulder as they walked together down the crumbling hall.

     "Sha. I always will," he responded, the sadness practically seeping from his eyes. "But I have to serve the next commander now. And you'll do the same. We serve her with dedication and devotion, nothing else. Our people come first. Do you understand?"

      Dria was silent for a moment, absorbing all of his words one by one. After a momentN, she nodded with new conviction.

     "Yes, I understand."