HARLEE POV

The rest of the afternoon had gone abysmally slow. After a decent lunch shared with Clarke, Wells, Raven, and Octavia, we had all headed back to the dropship. Well, except for Octavia. She headed out of camp and towards Lincoln's cave. I had a feeling that Octavia would have no problem getting my brother to agree to train her. I had seen the care and detail he had put in his drawing of the petite brunette. And I had noticed how Lincoln had continuously glanced at Octavia while we had waited for Shallow Valley to pass. It was apparent to see that Lincoln was smitten with the younger girl. And Octavia seemed just as struck if her eagerness and flushed skin whenever he was mentioned meant anything. It'll be interesting to see if anything comes out of their budding relationship.

I had continued whittling as I listened to Clarke and Wells converse with their Council. I was mildly surprised at how well they maneuvered the conversation. Speaking with the right amount of submissiveness and subversion. They supported each other, but it was evident that Wells often deferred to Clarke. As the scouts had reported, Clarke was the one who led. And where Clarke spoke more passionately, Wells remained calm and poised even when the Council members were blatantly condescending and patronizing. I had watched as Clarke looked ready to explode several times, but Wells would lay a hand on her back, and she instantly calmed. It made me think that with a bit of training, Wells would make an excellent political advisor. A bonus was that he was unquestionably loyal to Clarke.

Not much had been decided during the meetings. The Council seemed more interested in dissecting and debating each grain of information. It reminded me of some of the Ambassador meetings in Polis I had been forced to attend. And just like those times, I fought the urge to stab myself in the ears to render myself deaf. They were all just as bad as goufas fighting over a toy.

The only highlight was that Raven continued to sit next to me. We'd sat there working on our own little projects in companionable silence. Every once in a while, one of us would snarkily comment on something the Council said and devolve into chuckles. We tried to keep it low, but it didn't always happen, and we'd earn glares from Clarke. That's when I learned that Clarke had what Raven immediately dubbed the 'mom glare.' That comment got us the glare, a hissed expletive, and a finger pointing us outside the dropship. Getting the message, we gathered our belongings and headed outside.

That's where we finally parted as Raven headed to her tent, and I stayed by the entrance to continue listening in. Luckily, the meeting hadn't lasted much longer after we'd left. Of course, I'd gotten an earful from Clarke as she chastised me for the interruptions. I just nodded along and then teased her about being more upset that she wanted to laugh along with us. Clarke just leveled her 'mom glare' at me and was a little more aggressive when she changed my bandage.

That had been several hours ago. Now, I was leaning against a tree waiting for Thor to return with Murphy. That is if he had lasted Devin's training. I straightened up when I heard someone approach. Their steps were heavy as if they were carrying something. I slipped out my knife as I turned to face the footsteps. When I saw who it was, I relaxed and leaned against the tree again. It was Murphy, and he was carrying a small deer across his shoulders but straining under the weight. I looked behind him and saw Thor carrying a basket. I took an experimental sniff of the air and detected the scent of cooked boar.

"So, you survived, John Murphy," I said once he was within conversational distance.

I smirked when he startled since he hadn't been paying attention.

He resettled the deer across his shoulders, and snarkily replied, "Barely. Your man is the devil" -he paused- "Chief."

I nodded at being adequately addressed, "Hardly. Goufas, children, learn what you were taught today, John Murphy, when they are less than five winters."

"You're shitting me," Murphy looked at me in surprise.

"No," I replied, walking over to inspect the deer. "Did you take this down yourself?"

"Yes, Chief," Murphy answered, turning his head to look at me.

I nodded as I looked it over, "A sloppy kill, but I'm impressed that you took it down on your first day. You might just survive, John Murphy."

"So, what happens now," Murphy asked.

"Well," I said, walking back around him to look at Murphy directly, "you'll take this into camp and finish cleaning it. It's small, so there's not enough to smoke, but it should be enough to feed everyone tonight. No more than one helping, though, unfortunately. You take care of that, and you're done for today. Meet me outside the dropship an hour after sunrise tomorrow. You and Octavia will help me start the training tomorrow. I'll run down the plan before we gather everyone. Got it?"

Murphy nodded, "Yes, Chief."

"Good," I replied. "That's all. Have a good evening, John Murphy."

"You too, I guess," he said and understanding the dismissal headed into camp.

Once Murphy was through, I turned to look at Thor, "What news, Thor?"

"Wormana Indra and Deke have combined our forces," Thor reported. "They are using this opportunity to train in our differing…techniques."

I smirked, "We're running circles around her elites, aren't we?"

Thor cracked a smile, "Understatement, boss. When the poor fellows are done with patrols, she has them in the training pits until they collapse. The Riders have taken to setting bets on how long they last."

I sighed and looked at him, aggrieved, "You know how I feel about bets, Thor."

Thor nodded while still smiling, "Of course, boss. Shall I let Deke know to cease?"

Thinking, I replied, "Not until I win. It'll be the small ones that last the longest. But no longer than six hours."

I smirked as Thor laughed, "I'll be sure to let Scrapper know. Usual bet?"

I nodded, "Sha. What else?"

Thor calmed and replied, "We've had to separate the girls. The girl you replaced, Mary, she started to antagonize and belittle Sharlot. The mensfisa arrived a few days ago and suggested that Sharlot be allowed to leave the cell. If you plan to bring her home with us, Arty thinks letting the girl see and experience our way of life will help her adjust better."

I looked at him in surprise, "Maria sent Artemis?"

Thor nodded, "Sha. Is that a problem?"

I shook my head, "No. Not at all. I am just surprised. Arty doesn't like to leave No'folk, but she is who I would want to help Sharlot. Artemis is our best when it comes to children and trauma. Make sure Maria and Artemis have my thanks."

"Of course," Thor replied. "Wormana Onya was not happy to defer Linkon's punishment. Or that you have given one of the Skai goufas free passage within Trikru lands."

I rolled my eyes, "Of course, she isn't. Onya isn't one for playing games, even if she plays this one well. Have Deke make sure she understands that this is my mission, and she is under my command. Until Heda states otherwise."

Thor nodded, "I will, Wocha. Maria has the company mobilized and ready to leave on your command. She's also taken the initiative and prepared several ships and transports for rapid deployment. If the need arises."

I sighed, "Then she sees the potential as I do. Very well. Have Maria contact Floukru about mustering and readying fisas. Let Maria know that if Floukru lacks medical supplies, she has my authorization to procure them. But only if I send word that it is needed. I will not drain our coffers or stores unnecessarily. Is that all?"

"I'll make sure the messages are sent, Wocha," Thor said, bowing his head. "And sha, that is all the news for now."

"Alright," I said and took a minute to gaze at the camp's wall as I gathered my thoughts. "Let Heda know that the goufas can now speak with their people in the Sky. Klark en Wels spent the day being criticized for every decision they've made. The least of which was their decision to banish Belomi. Their Council is going to be a problem once it arrives. They already judge and believe us to be inferior to them."

Thor let out a low growl and I laid a hand on his arm to placate him, "I know, Thor. But think of all the fun we will have proving them wrong."

A slow, mischievous and evil smirk spread through his bearded face, "Sha, Wocha."

I grinned, "It'll probably be the most fun we'll have for a while. Anyway, we learned nothing of their impending arrival. I will work on getting Klark to push for answers."

"I will let Heda know," Thor replied, and then held out the basket, "Your dinner, Lee. Enough for you and everyone else that seems to have started congregating in your hut."

I took it even as I rolled my eyes, "Don't remind me. This wasn't intentional."

Thor chuckled, "I know, boss. But it happens every time. I don't think you can help yourself."

I groaned, "I don't think I can either. I swear Heda is going to so owe me for a long time after this skrish is over."

"Well, you better get to it, boss," Thor replied, laughing. "I think I can hear their stomachs growling from here."

"Oh, jok of, Thor," I said, flipping him off as I set back to camp. "Just wait until I get these stitches out. You and I now have a date in the pit."

I laughed when I heard Thor mumble, "Jok ai," as I crossed into the camp. I opened the basket and removed Devin's report. Folding it before sliding it into a pocket to keep it from curious eyes. I didn't need the extra headache. I sent a prayer to the Goddess Nott to make this week pass quickly. I was more than ready to get back to my life.