Chapter 60
Palla, Octavia, and Raven rode up on Palla's farm just about lunch time. They hadn't ridden very hard and Palla was concerned about Raven's leg. She took as many breaks as she dared, but she wanted to get to the Village as soon as possible. She hadn't really been thinking about anything else.
The steady clip-clop of the caballos hooves kept a steady rhythm and helped her to forget the troubles in her mind. It wasn't like they were really all gone. It just gave her some peace. She knew that Octavia was watching her. She'd figured it out early enough. It also didn't help that Octavia kept to her left, while Raven was on her right. They were flanking her, but Raven wasn't on her protective detail.
Madi hadn't just sent her because she wanted intel or an ambassador for Gryfonkru. She wanted to make sure that Palla was protected. She knew that Palla was Lexa reincarnated and she knew that as soon Clarke figure it out they would be inseparable. But, that was a problem. Palla, while she wanted Clarke, wasn't going to pursue her too much. She wanted Clarke to actually act she wanted a relationship. She knew that it had been a long time for her, but it had been for her as well. Sure they both had their daughters to worry about, but Madi was practically a woman now and a leader in her own right. Lex was another story. She still needed guidance. And, somehow Palla was determined that she was going to get it, even if it wasn't from her.
When she saw her farm coming into view, she let a small smile cross her face. This was home, or at least it had been...once. Now, it was as much a sanctuary as Tamma's grave was. This was a place she went to hide from the world, but it never failed that the world would come find her.
She moved them slowly across the barren fields to her small stable and barn up near the house. She could tell that Raven was admiring the architecture. Stone buildings were nothing new for them, Palla knew that, but she also knew that the windmills for the well and small generator were. She knew that it was going to be the first thing that Raven looked at, which was fine with her. She had things to do and communications to send. She knew that Octavia would stay with her. She would leave it to Raven to let them know that they'd made it fine.
She lead them into the stables and helped them put the caballos in stalls. Octavia tended to them while Raven and Palla went to look at the windmills. She just smiled at the Latina as she started spouting off a bunch of things that she didn't understand. It didn't take long for Octavia to join them. She couldn't help her smile in watching Raven move around and follow the plumbing and electrical lines into the house.
Once inside, Octavia was greeted by a very protective Sky. Palla forgot about him, or rather, she assumed that he would be with Lex over at Hrathgar and Ferre's place. Octavia looked at the monstrous animal and stopped. She didn't move. Palla wanted to laugh, but she didn't. She understood the other woman's discomfort and hesitation. She stepped around Octavia and knelt down until she knew that Skylos recognized her.
"Sky, boy. Where's Lex? Why aren't you with her?" she asked as she reached out to pet his head.
Octavia stood there dumbfounded as Palla just pet the beast and he allowed it. Raven came up short behind them and stared at the giant black pog. Palla kept talking to him like she was actually expecting him to answer her.
"Uh, Palla, what the hell is that?" Raven asked as she stood slightly behind Octavia.
"This is Lex's pog. Don't worry. He's gentle giant. He won't hurt you," Palla told them.
"Won't hurt us? He didn't seem too happy to see me. You know with all the growling and stuff," Octavia stated.
"He was just defending the house. He is very protective of Lex. But, I don't see her, so I don't know why he's here by himself."
"Uh, Palla, what the hell is a pog?" Raven asked as she took a tentative step around Octavia.
"Oh...it is what we call these animals. They are like a mix between a panther and a wolf dog. The Primas called the pogs and it stuck. They are highly intelligent and protective. They live in packs in the wild, but they pick a human as theirs."
"As theirs?" Octavia inquired, hoping for more information.
"Yes, as theirs. That human is under their protection. They will die for them. Sky has proven many times what he is willing to do for Lex. He was a gift from Balt and Hrathgar's brothers. I think that they hoped he would imprint on me, but he chose Lex. I am grateful though. She does tend to get into mischief that he can actually get her out of. He's never betrayed our trust. He didn't know who you were, so he was trying to defend the house."
"And, now?" Raven asked.
"Oh, sorry," Palla replied. "Sky, these are friends. Good people. Now take me to Lex."
Sky stood up to his full height and moved towards the door. Palla followed him. Octavia and Raven both put their hands on their swords and watched as Palla opened the door. There was no one behind it and Octavia could see the tension in Palla's movements. She was worried. Sky was inside the house and they couldn't find Lex. Something was wrong. Octavia and Raven actually drew their swords as soon as Palla did. She moved through the house and then to the front door. She opened it and walked through it. Octavia and Raven hot on her heels, they crossed the yard towards Ferre's.
They stalked across the expanse behind that massive pog. His demeanor didn't change until they approached the other house. As soon as he heard Lex, he calmed. When Palla saw Skylos settle, she sheathed her sword. Octavia and Raven didn't because they knew that they were in a strange area and they didn't know anyone there besides Palla. They weren't going to stand down until they knew that Palla was safe.
Ferre came out of a door, another giant pog on her heels and two children. She looked up to see Palla flanked by the two Earthlings. She gave Palla a quizzical look as she moved to the side just enough for Lex and Sprite to see who was visiting.
"THETOS!" Lex screamed as she ran towards Palla, leaving everyone else behind.
When Octavia and Raven heard Lex's yell, they sheathed their swords because they didn't want to frighten her. When Octavia met Ferre's eyes, she realized who they were visiting and she actually relaxed. Raven followed suit and moved to be closer to Octavia in case something went down.
"My little Lexie, how are you my daughter?" Palla asked as knelt down and picked up the child.
"I'm good, Thetos. I've been staying with Ferre and Hrathgar."
"Have you been good?"
"She has," Ferre answered with a smile. "What brings you back? And with friends? The Wall?"
"Among other things," Palla answered.
"Well, come in and sit for a spell. I know that Imber and Balt will be glad to see you. But, first you want to talk to me about them?"
"Later, but this is Octavia. She is a guard. And, that's Raven, their head engineer. I don't know if you actually met them earlier out at the barracks."
Ferre just nodded. She cocked an eyebrow at them but waved them into the house. Sky and Odin stayed outside with Lex and Sprite.
"Stay close to the house," Ferre called out as she followed them through the door.
Once she was inside, she gathered some glasses from the kitchen and a pitcher of some drink. She poured the glasses and distributed them. Raven and Octavia both sniffed it before drinking.
"It's a local sweet ale," Palla stated as she took a healthy swig of her own.
"So, why are you back now? I thought you were going to wait until I was going to pop this one out. Has something happened?"
"No, nothing's happened. Diyoza and Heda's people have reinforced their end of the wall. It is manned and I doubt that we will have to worry about the Praha coming through there. Heda en Wanheda have been slowly working on their settlement on the lands I've allotted them. They won't have everything ready before the snows, but they will know what they need to reinforce once the snows break. It was actually smart for them to start building now," Palla stated.
"I know," Raven quipped and took another sip of her drink.
Ferre cocked her eyebrow at her, but she didn't say anything. It was obvious that Palla had become friends with the two other women. She looked at them and realized that Sorcha looked more at home with them than she did in her own village.
"Do you want to call for the Council?"
"Not yet. I want to speak to Imber first and I want to ride the length of the wall. Octavia will go with me. I am sure that it will be a good thing to have fresh eyes on it."
"It will."
"And, Raven will go meet with Meeka and Sam."
"Meeka and Sam?"
"Yes, she needs to look at some of our tech to see what she can work with and also, I want her to be able to get some stuff from our stores. She and Meeka are going to be working together to make sure that things flow well between their settlement and ours. I want them to start a report now and not wait until after the snows."
"And, Sam?"
"That is a private matter," Palla stated.
Raven and Octavia perked up at that. They weren't sure who the other two were, but they could tell that whoever they were they had to be important to the Village. The fact that Palla didn't want to tell her sister-in-law why Raven was to meet with them made them wonder if there was something that they should know but didn't yet.
"Are you going to stay for dinner?"
"No, I want to head to town soon. The sooner I get with the Imber the faster that I can get my reports ready and make a strategy for the Winter. I want to make sure that there are no more surprises as the snows fall. Once I make sure that everything is set, I will have someone take Octavia and Raven back to the barracks. I will be staying here for the snows."
"Here with us?" Ferre asked.
"Either here or at the house with Lex," Palla stated.
"It would be better if you stayed here. I don't want you both in that house alone. It isn't that I don't think that you'll be able to handle it, but if something happens..."
"We'll be the furthest from the Village with no way to get there, I understand," Palla replied as she nodded.
"Good. I'll have Hrathgar fix up the room for you. Do you want Lex back at home tonight?"
"Not tonight. I'll come get her tomorrow. I have too much to do today. Thank you for watching her."
"She's my niece. It's my job. Kinda like still taking care of your ass. Now, go on and get whatever it is that you need done. We'll be by after breakfast, so you'd best be up or I'll wake you up," Ferre told her.
"I will be," Palla stated as she stood up.
Raven and Octavia finished their drinks and followed Palla back out of the house. They hung back as she talked with Lex and Sprite quickly. When Palla turned back to them, they realized that she was ready to go back to her house. They followed, but not without wondering who Meeka and Sam were and why Raven had meetings with them tomorrow.
When they got back to the house, they sat in Palla's living room. She grabbed some computer tablets and comm devices. She handed most of them to Raven.
"I know what you are wondering and I am going to tell you, but I didn't want you to get mad with me."
"Mad with you?" Raven asked.
"Why?" Octavia questioned.
"I want Octavia to ride the wall with me tomorrow. It will take the better part of the day. I know that Madi expects her to stay with me, and I was truthful in the fact that I wanted you to see our tech and decide what you wanted to take. Meeka is my head engineer. She is the one that gave me the supplies that you have in your bay. She wants to meet you and work with you. I figured that this would be a good time to do that."
"Sounds like a plan. I love tinkering with things, but I also need to train. Am I going to have time to do that with Octavia while we're here? 'Cause I know that Echo talked to her about it since we didn't know how long we were going to be here," Raven stated.
"Yes, we will all train together in the morning and then following your appointments with Sam and Meeka."
"Appointments?" Octavia asked.
"I want you to see our muscle and nerve specialist, Sam Orwell. She is the best that we have. That is why I had you upload all your reports, both Clarke's and Abby's. She's reviewed them. She likes what she sees, but she wants to do some more tests...tests that Abby hasn't done and that couldn't be done out there at the barracks."
"Clarke knows about this?"
"No, not yet."
"Call her. Now. I am not doing anything unless she says it's okay," Raven demanded.
"I know that. We are going to talk to her about it soon, but I needed to present this to you. She is our nerve specialist. She wants to see you. And, she is married to Meeka. They both want to help you," Palla replied.
"What can Meeka do for me?"
"She wants to work with you on a new brace based on the mobility that you have. I know that you can walk, but you still can't do it unsupported. The brace that Meeka is suggesting would make it easier for you to ride a caballo. You don't have to do anything but meet with them, Raven. The rest is up to you," Palla told her.
"Call Clarke," Octavia reiterated.
Palla nodded. She handed them both a tablet and took one for herself. She pulled up the communications program and basically dialed the barracks. She knew that even though Raven was with her Clarke would have someone watching the comms back in Raven's lab. Knowing Clarke like she did, she knew that it would be Clarke.
"Hello, Clarke," Palla stated as soon as Clarke's face was on the tablets.