Chapter 35

Palla was sitting at a table in the main part of the library. She was looking over maps. She knew that Hrathgar had gone to get them some food, but she wasn't hungry. She wanted to be on the back of caballo heading back to the barracks. She didn't like leaving them there with out a full contingency of guards. She knew that Bellamy and Indra could handle themselves, but Bellamy still had a long way to go before he would be back in her good graces. Her night of sleep wasn't enough to make her calm down. She wanted blood, but then again, she didn't.

"I'm getting too old to do this," she stated as she let her head fall into her hands.

"Don't let the men hear you say that," Hrathgar told her as he sat down next to her, handing her a plate.

She took the plate and set it down. She really wasn't hungry. She was angry. She didn't know how the Praha had gotten over the wall so easily. It was really starting to make her wonder about Imber's ability to lead anymore.

"You okay?" he asked as he took a bite of bread from his plate.

"No."

"You're questioning Imber right now, in your head, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Do you think he isn't loyal?" Hrathgar asked her.

"I don't know. I want to hope he is, but they got over the wall. They've been spying on us at the barracks. They knew enough about the trails to set ambushes and damn near succeeded. So, do I question his ability? Yes. Do I question him personally? I just don't know at this moment. He's never given me a reason to question him before. He's always done as I've asked, even if he asks why. Once he hears my reasoning, he understand and more than compensates for it. He over fortifies. It isn't a bad thing, but he sees what I mean and he works it."

"Do you think the wall has been compromised?"

"In that area, yes. It seems that it hasn't been guarded well in months. And, the scouts that went haven't returned. That can mean one of two things..."

"They were ambushed or it is really bad," Hrathgar added.

"Yes."

She dropped her hands and let her head hit the table. Her backed up at the thud as he continued to eat what he had on his plate. He watched her. He'd seen Palla in all sorts of moods, but this was different. There was no joy in her planning. There was no anger, either. She was just...resigned. It was like she was just resigned to the fact that she had to fight. It was like the Praha were a thorn that was never going to be fully removed.

"They are using Stick Sap as poison."

"We'll carry the antidote with us on the wall," Hrathgar stated.

"Do we have enough?"

"We'll get with Ziggy and check. I'm sure that he has some sort of stockpile for you. I wouldn't doubt if he didn't have enough for every Ranger to carry two or three vials on them. But, you are Palla. All you have to do is ask and you know that."

"I do."

"Then, I need you to get your head back in the game and tell me what you need from me and the other ranchers."

"Caballos for the Rangers," she stated quickly.

"Already done. New ones have been trained. Each Ranger should have two if needed. What else?"

"Supply trains from the settlements to the wall," she told him.

"We can arrange that once we know where the main posts are. We will keep you supplied and fed. What else?"

"I need to talk to Clarke," she said as she finally pulled her head off the table.

"So you can tell her that you care for her?" Hrathgar asked her with a glint in his blue eyes.

"I...no. That has no bearing on anything. And, Ferre needs to keep her mouth shut."

"Ferre has nothing to do with this and you know that. I have my own eyes, Palla. She makes you smile."

"It doesn't matter. She is not mine to have. Nor would I ask her on the eve of battle, that is just selfish. There is too much at stake for me to deal with anything that I may or may not be feeling," Palla said as she shook her head. "It isn't like she even looks at me like that. She's confirmed that she's still in love with her dead lover. I cannot compete with that, nor would I want to. Tamma might have sent them here to help us, but I don't know what she was thinking when it came to Clarke and Madi."

"She wanted you to find happiness again?" Hrathgar offered.

"Eligius, Hrathgar, I am happy enough. I have Lex and the farm. What more could I want?"

"Someone to grow old with. Someone to share the peace with. Someone to come home to after being in the fields all day," Hrathgar answered.

"Shut up."

"Truth hurts, eh?"

"Shut up."

He laughed. He actually laughed at her. She looked deep into his blue eyes with anger and tried to give him the best unamused face that she could. All it did was make him laugh harder.

"When we get back, you are on shit duty," she told him.

He laughed harder and then said, "We have indoor plumbing."

"I'll dig a hole just for you, then," she quipped.

He laughed more. She turned and looked at him. She broke. She couldn't help it. They were both being ridiculous.

"Where the fuck is Imber? He should have reported in by now. What is going on with my general?" she asked as she stood pushing back from the table hard.

He reached down to a bag that was by his leg and put it on the table. She looked at it and then up at him. His eyes betrayed nothing as he opened it.

"I would feel more comfortable if you armed yourself, Palla," he told her as he handed her some kamas and a knife. "We still don't know if there is someone amongst us that is betraying us. I don't want anything to happen to you. Ferre would never let me hear the end of it."

"We wouldn't want that. She can be vicious. Arm yourself as well and stay with me. I am not sure that I trust anyone else closer than you to me."

He nodded and pulled some more knives from the bag. He sheathed them in several places on his body. Then he pulled out some light armor and put it on. It covered some of the knives, but she knew where they were. He would wear the armor open until they went into fight mode. She could only smile we he handed her an armored vest.

"Thank Eligius for Velcro," she said as she put on and pressed down on the Velcro closures. "Ready? Good, let's go find Imber and then back to your woman."

He cocked an eyebrow and said nothing in return. He knew that he'd pushed enough for the moment. He did however file something for him to use against her later when it came to Clarke. With a smile, he followed her as they moved through the Village. He could tell by the way that people were moving out of their way and rushing around that word had already been spread. They were getting shelters ready and making sure that all the resources and supplies were packed up and guarded, but also easily accessed. He saw some Rangers quickly finishing the towers and Scouts rushing up the ladders to their posts. Arrows and bow slung over backs, swords at their sides, every man and woman that was fit to fight were moving to help sure up the Village. It did his heart good to see it. He knew that all the farmers and ranchers would start making their way to the Village until the conflict was deemed over.

"What about the crops?"

"They will work one farm a day until we know otherwise. We know how to do this, Hrathgar. Make sure that they know that they are to escorted and guarded while working. We can't afford to lose anyone. We won't lose anyone," she told him.

"I'll pass the word," he replied and stepped away towards the Farmers Guild house.

She watched him go and for the first time in years, she actually felt alone. She didn't like it. Damn him and his mouth, she cursed him as she moved to the Ranger's Station. She didn't both knocking as she pushed her way into it. She wasn't surprised to see Imber at his desk. It looked it he was pouring over dispatches and intel reports.

"Anything I should know about?"

"The far west of the wall has been neglected. The scouts returned and found large holes punched into it. I've already gotten some engineers to head that way with two squads of Rangers and a squad of scouts. Once the holes are secure, they will be building another lookout tower and a guard post. I'll add it to the rotation like the others," Imber told her.

"And, why wasn't this done before now?" Palla questioned, trying to keep her anger down.

"It was on rotation, Palla. I don't know what happened that it became neglected. Possibly it is because we haven't ventured to the barracks in many years. I will be the first to say that we became complacent and we can't let that happen. I will drill down where the breakdown occurred, Palla. Rest assured. The wall is secure and guarded."

"I want more troops on the wall. And, I want more than reassurances. I want daily reports, even if there is nothing to report. I would suggest your find your messengers and make sure that they have fast caballos. They are going to need them," Palla told him.

"Aye, Palla," he replied looking ashamed for failing her and failing the Village as well.

"And, Imber?"

"Yes, Palla?" he responded.

"Make sure not to fail me again. I would hate to have to relieve you in the middle of battle. You're a good general. You've been fair. Let this be a mistake, an oversight on your part, and don't let it happen again. Too many lives depend on us, but I know that you aware of that. Protect these people, Imber. That is your only job. Protect these people," she stated, still trying to keep her temper in check.

In her head however, she'd already beat him to a bloody pulp. She looked around the office and tried to find a clue as to who was next in command. She felt foolish doing it because she should already know. She didn't because she hadn't taken the time to find out. She dealt with the council mostly, twelve people, one from each faction in their society. They represented their faction and brought up any grievances or issues. Imber never did. She walked the line and she'd been a Ranger. She gave him orders and he followed them. She walked the line enough to know, but even she hadn't ventured that far west. Shaking her head, she realized that it was both of their faults.

"This cannot happen again," she stated as she stood.

"Aye, Palla," he replied.

"I'll expect the first messengers to arrive around dinnertime at the barracks."

"Aye, Palla."

She left the building without any further instruction. She figured he had enough to do. She'd just ordered him to protect the people. He knew that wall needed to be manned. He know that towers needed to be manned. He knew what he had to do to defend them. He was good at that. He was a good general to have in defense. If war came, she would lead the army over the wall. Until then, Imber would stay in charge at her leisure, but he knew that one more screw up would cost him his job. She didn't have to like the situation. She just had to work with it. As did he.

Hrathgar already had two fresh caballos waiting for her. She hadn't seen him run to the stables to get them. But, she was thankful that she did. She wanted to get back. She needed to get back. She hoped that Octavia was at least well enough to get out of bed. She might not be ready for a fight, but Palla wanted to pick her brain about Wonkru fighting techniques and such. She could ask Madi, but she was still so young. Madi also hadn't seen a lot of combat. She knew about the Flame and that it gave her insight into battle and how she could plan for the best outcome, but she was twelve. She would wait and reserve her thoughts for the "Little QUeen" as Raven called her later. For now, she would lean on Octavia until Clarke came back. And, then, she would see what this legendary Wanheda could actually do.

"Stop drooling. You'll see her soon enough," Hrathgar teased as they neared the edge of the Village.

"We aren't stopping."

"I know."

"Full gallop."

"I know," he stated.

"I going to talk to Ferre about your actions."

"I know."

"I would think that you would be more afraid," Palla quipped at him.

"Of you or her?"

At this, Palla couldn't help but laugh. She knew how much of a whirlwind Ferre could be. And, she knew both of their tempers. While Palla burned white hot when provoked, Ferre seemed to burn all the time, especially when one of them was being stupid. Now that she was pregnant, that little flame was a raging inferno somedays waiting to be unleashed as soon as Ferre's hazel eyes opened. Neither of them wanted to deal with it. But, she knew that they had to get back in order to stop anything from happening and to make sure that Ferre made it back to the Village to have baby Tamman.

"I know you're afraid of her."

"Who isn't?" Hrathgar questioned.

"Right now?"

"Aye, Palla?"

"Clarke, I think..." Palla answered as she nudged her caballo into a trot and then a gallop, chasing the suns into the afternoon.