Chapter 32
Palla and Hrathgar made it to the Village some time after midnight. She wasn't willing to wait for the morning, but she waited long enough to see Raven, Echo and Clarke take off back for the Eligius ship in orbit. She knew that they had pushed the caballos hard and that they would have to stay in the stables in the Village. They wouldn't be able to ride them back.
They charged into the library first. Balt, who was still up writing in the Keeper's journals, was surprised by their forceful entry. He dropped pen on the page he was working on. Looking up, he noticed the pain and anguish in Palla's eyes. But, he saw the fear and worry in Hrathgar's. He knew that something must have happened out at the barracks and whatever it was, it wasn't good.
"Well, good evening," he started. "What's happened?"
"Praha," she said quickly.
"You're sure."
"We are," Hrathgar replied.
"Shall we assemble the council?"
"Yes! NOW! I'm activating the Rangers and Scouts, too," Palla told him.
"As you wish," Balt answered her. "Hrathgar, go. Wake the council members. And, make sure to wake the captains to assemble the reserves and troops."
Hrathgar raised his right fist and beat it near his left shoulder in salute, "Yes, Palla and Keeper."
Palla started pacing. He hadn't seen her this tormented since Tamma's death. He knew that Palla had asked for some of the villagers to help out of the barracks. But, she was only with Hrathgar. It had been weeks since they'd gone to the barracks and he assumed that everyone had come back.
"What happened?" he asked her again, watching her every movement.
"They've been scouting around the wall. They've found weak points near the barracks. They must have been watching us as we were preparing for the rest of the Earthlings to land..."
"Palla, what happened?"
"A warrior, a guard, their leader's personal guard went for a ride after a tiring and emotional day, she didn't return," Palla started.
"They killed her?"
"They tried. But, she is a fighter. She wounded at least two of them in a battle of five on one."
"She is worthy of her position."
"Very worthy, Balt. Very worthy indeed."
"I am assuming that you found her."
"Yes, I did. I went after her. I found her in the clearing, clearly covered in wounds, but I saw not signs of battle or struggle. She was covered in wounds. I could smell the Sticky Sap..."
"I thought that you burned all the trees and covered their roots in salt."
"I did. There are no Sticky Sap trees south of the wall. They coated their blades in the sap like poison."
"And, she is still living?" Balt asked.
"She finally woke today. Her blood still burns, but she is a fighter. She will not let this be what takes her down."
"The Praha?"
"Yes, so, I found her. I smelled the poison and took her to the Springs to wash it out of her wounds and off her body. I did what I could. Before the fevers set in, I kept her warm with a fire and my own body heat. It wasn't ideal, but I didn't trust myself to get her back in the dark."
"A wise decision, Palla," he offered.
"The next morning, I bathed her again. The chills had set in and I knew that I had to get her back to the clinic at the barracks. There was no way that we would have made it back to the Village before the Sticky Sap ravaged her body. She needed the antidote. I called a head that night before to tell that what she was suffering from and that she would need attention as soon as we arrived. They were prepared for us. I was not prepared for the trip back, it seems."
"You were attacked?" Balt inquired.
"Yes, in the crossroads clearing. Three men, at least, one tried to kill by knocking me off Svathimmel. He paid with his life. At least two others were in the trees with bows. They weren't happy that I'd killed their friend. They started a volley at me. I must have gotten hit in the leg at this point, but it didn't matter. I had to get Octavia back to the barracks. She was counting on me to save her. I had to go."
"What did you do?" he asked.
"I sent Fotia ahead. I picked her up and placed her on Svathimmel and mounted behind her. I picked her up a little more into a sitting position in front of me and galloped towards the barracks. I was shot in the back as I ran away. I was so angry and so possessed in wanting to go back and slay every Praha that I could find in those woods that I didn't feel it. It wasn't until I got back and handed Octavia back to her people that my wounds caused me to break. I collapsed and was taken to medical. This is when Ferre and Hrathgar arrived," she explained.
"I'm sure that went over like a flying brick," he retorted.
"Exactly. I was passed out by then. They treated me and I promised to be good and wait to come back with them. However, Hrathgar took some scouts to see where were ambushed. He saw the signs of battle and rushed back to tell me. We all went on the defensive. They've returned to their ship to bring down the rest of their warriors to defend themselves."
"And, Ferre? Sprite? Lex?"
"They are safe and guarded by their Heda and their general. They are safe. Trust me. I've sparred with them. If all their warriors have been trained like they have, then they have been battle tested and fire born. They are amazingly efficient at killing on the battlefield, but they are like us in they do not seek war for war's sake. They fight to uphold their peace and for justice."
Balt looked at her. There was something in her dark eyes that he didn't recognize. It was otherworldly.
"What is it?"
She looked up at him. His light green eyes betrayed his worry and she understood it. She needed to calm him now.
"I am not here as Palla today, Balt. I am here as Fio. We need to reinforce the wall. I know that Winter is coming, but if they are already coming, how will we stop them in the snows?" she asked him.
He shook his head. She was right. They were secure in the Village somewhat. She'd made sure of that, but if the Praha were already over the wall in area, then they would attack in the snows of high winter. They'd been watched and their weaknesses found. Now, it was time for more damage control. The peace had survived for almost six years. He looked over at Palla. Where had they gone wrong? She was so persistent about the wall and patrols. How had they missed this? How did Imber let this happen?
He was brought out of his thoughts as the council members started arriving at the library. He lead them into the council chambers and waited for both Hrathgar and Imber to arrive. Palla moved through the crowd and to her seat. She looked around at the other men and women of the council. Twelve factions of their village represented and each one with a vote. She only voted to break a tie. But, tonight, she would vote regardless of the numbers. She needed for the council to see that she wasn't going to stand for complacency, incompetence, or negligence when it came to the safety of their people.
"Palla?" the lead engineer asked as he came in and sat down. "What's going on?"
"Take your seats please and I promise, Brees, that I will answer your questions," Palla answered.
The council members all looked to her. She'd kept them safe and well stocked, prepared for almost any emergency for the last decade. They knew for to wake them in the middle of the night that it must be something important. As soon as Hrathgar came in, she saw Imber take his seat. The older general looked tired and angry, but she knew that he wouldn't say anything until after the meeting. He was smart enough to wait to talk to Palla alone. It was one of the reasons that he still had his position. He knew when to push and when not to.
"I'm sorry to have woken you so early in the morning or late in the night, depending on what you prefer, but we have a major problem," she told them and then paused to let them squabble for a moment or two.
"What happened?" Reese the head of the crafters asked.
"You all know that the last of Earth came on a ship from Eligius. They have been in orbit for a while. They wish to join us, but knowing that it is so close to winter and the snows, I have only let them in the barracks. I have had some help from some of the factions in supplying them and getting the barracks ready for their numbers. I have given them some of my land as Fio to build their colony come Spring. I will be spending time here and with them until they have a functioning settlement of their own."
"What about the Praha?" a few of the councilors asked.
"That is the problem. It seems that before their ambassadorship landed, the Praha found a way over the wall near the barracks. They have been scouting and watching the area," Palla told them.
"How do you know that?" Imber questioned as he leaned forward, resting his chin on steepled fingers, more awake and aware of what was going on now.
"Because they attacked me," Palla replied.
"I scouted the area myself," Hrathgar stated and then threw the second area he'd collected on the table. "There's your proof. They're over the wall and attacking."
"What are we going to do?" the Engineer asked.
"I've called up the reserves and scouts. We are going to reinforce our defenses. The towers will be manned all the time now, not just at night. We need to get a head of this. I'll be sending dispatches to the outlining settlements for more help. However, the Earthlings are bringing down their forces to help us as well. We will not let the Praha succeed in this foolish venture. It has been over eight years since they've attacked, but this just seems like they are trying to find a better way to get to us. We've reinforced the wall so much around the Village that we've forgotten about the older sections."
"I'll send men with troops to repair it and man it, first thing," the engineer stated.
"Good, Brees. Get with Imber and select some men. Take at least three scouts. As for the rest of you, start first thing in preparations for rationing and send the hunters. We need to be ready for anything. I don't trust the Praha and I won't put it passed them to try something as soon as the snows start. They are better equipped to fight in the snow. I will not let us fail in this."
"PALLA! PALLA! PALLA!" they all shouted in celebration.
"Imber, a word."
The general nodded. Balt escorted everyone else out with a promise to check on them all in the morning. He knew that he would be incharge of the Village with support from the council while Palla was out at the barracks. It wasn't ideal, but it would help keep both settlements unified until the threat was over.
"I need the list of names of the men that were watching the most Western parts of the wall near the barracks."
"It won't do you any good," Imber told her.
"Why not?" she asked her eyebrows furrowing in question.
"Because they haven't reported back in a week. I sent a scout out this morning to check on them, but he isn't back yet. If they've punched through..."
"Who did you send?" Hrathgar asked.
"Huxley," Imber told them.
"He's good, Palla. He'll hide if he sees something. If he ran into anything, we won't know until tomorrow at the earliest," Hrathgar stated.
"Then we will wait as long as we dare for word from him before we head back to the barracks," Palla replied. "Imber, I want every warrior in a position by lunch time. No excuses. No excemptions. No issues!"
"Aye, Palla," he said, saluted with a fist to his chest and left.
"You're still worried," Hrathgar stated.
"Of course I am."
"Why?"
"Because, I am not sure that I have the stomach to do this again," Palla told him as she moved to the back of the library to a set of small cloisters to hope for a little sleep before she unleashed everyone in the late morning.