Chapter 63
Octavia watched Palla as they moved through the Village. They were walking first as they had left their caballos at the hospital. Octavia didn't question it. She didn't feel that she had the right. She was there to protect Palla, not question her. The only thing that she wanted to question was leaving Raven alone, but she didn't. She knew that Palla had made the arrangements and that she personally sought out the help of both Meeka and Sam. For Octavia as hard as it was, that was enough for her. If Palla trusted them without any doubt, she did as well.
She took in the sights, but she didn't let herself get overwhelmed. This wasn't Polis. This was the Village. It was quaint, she supposed, but she really didn't have anything other than Polis to compare it to. She looked it over and decided that a town like this wasn't for her. She enjoyed the outdoors and the openness of the Trikru villages. That is why she was happy that Clarke was allowing the Grounders to build their settlement. She felt more comfortable there in open spaces than she did in anything like she saw before her. She knew that Clarke and Madi had come accustom to it as well.
They stopped in front of another building. It wasn't as large, but it looked tougher. The concrete and brick building had no decorations on it and very few windows. Palla by passed everyone standing there and entered it. As she did, Octavia watched as anyone that was sitting stood immediately and nodded. A few even addressed Palla as they passed. She didn't acknowledge any of them. She just keep walking deeper into the building with Octavia following her closely.
She stopped in front of the only closed door in that hallway. Without raising a hand to kn
ock, she opened the door and found a flustered Imber sitting behind a desk. He looked up and then appraised Octavia behind her. She could feel Octavia bristle and she couldn't help but smile. She knew that Octavia could kill him from where she stood and not even break a sweat. Imber had no idea who was dealing with and she knew that Octavia wasn't going to tell him. She was just going to stand behind her, quiet, and be the good little soldier she'd been sent to be. She had no need to talk to him. That would be for Diyoza to deal with since she was the one guarding the wall near the barracks.
"Palla," he addressed her, but she knew that even Octavia could hear the surprise in his voice.
"Come on. We're going to ride the wall. I want to see who is working and who isn't. They are your men, Imber. Let's go."
She turned, Octavia behind her, before he could answer. She gave a knowing smile when they emerged from the building. She didn't wait to see if Imber was behind them. She moved back through the small town area back to the library. She mounted her caballo and watched as Octavia did the same. She then led them back to the barracks in the Village. Octavia already had her bow slung over the saddle horn. As they pulled up on the barracks, Palla watched as her hand dropped to her right side and to the blade sheathed there. Palla had seen how quick Octavia was with her sword and she didn't doubt that she would strike Imber down before he could make a move against her. But, she also knew that Palla was loyal. It was his men that she was more worried about. They were the only ones that she hadn't had complete interaction with. They were all on the wall most of the time, so she really didn't have a need to deal with them. Now, she knew that did. Even in her paranoia about being attacked, she never once questioned the men that served as Rangers and Scouts for Helios. She'd taken it for granted that they would be loyal to the Village and by proxy her, too.
It was few minutes, but Imber finally joined them in front of the building. He looked tired, Octavia noted, but she never moved her hand from the hilt of her sword. She didn't trust him and she knew that Palla knew that. She also knew that Palla did trust him. He'd proven himself to her many times throughout the years and wars with the Praha, but Palla hadn't been to the wall in a while. She'd left that up to him. She'd been walking the line at night, but if Imber had heard about this, he assumed that she was checking the wall. Now, they both knew that she hadn't. She'd been walking the line to Memorial Hill and spending time with her wife.
As he pulled up, Octavia could see the look in his eyes. He was going to get dressed down. He was sure of it. He hadn't been out there either. He'd let the scouts and messengers handle everything. He trusted his officers to the hold the wall and keep him appraised of what was happening. He now knew how wrong he'd been in doing that because an entire section was unprotected and men had been lost without his knowledge. She cocked her eyebrow at him, but she kept quiet. She wasn't there to be the ambassador at the moment. She was there to be Imber's shadow and make sure that no one tried anything against her.
Palla simply nodded at him and turned her caballo towards the edge of town. They rode out and headed for the wall. Octavia noticed the new guard towers. She couldn't help but wonder why and when they were built. She also wondered if they were manned.
"Palla, the Scouts have started their rotations in the guard towers. Erich tells me that they have a good range with their bows from their vantage points. He has also placed sharpshooters up there with the Scouts. I agreed with him have a rifle on staff in case, just like you said. Better to be prepared than not have it," Imber told her.
"And, the sharp shooters on the wall?"
"They are all set to the guard towers that break up the sections of the wall. I've sent reinforcements for both the guard towers and the sections. I have them on a two day on, two day off rotation. A new group should be returning to the Village tonight. We might pass them on the way out there," Imber told her.
"Good."
Her thoughts drifted away from the wall and Imber completely. Octavia moved closer. She could tell that Palla was drifting. The caballo just plotted along, already knowing the route as soon as they got out of town. And, Octavia being on one of Palla's war caballos, Fotia knew to follow along as well. She let her reins relax as she came up in step with Palla and her caballo.
"You okay?" Octavia asked her.
"I'm fine, Oktevia. Monchof."
"Pro. But, Palla, something is bothering. What is it?"
"It's nothing."
"Clarke?"
"Oktevia..."
"What? He can't understand us unless you've been teaching your people Trigedasleng. Which I highly doubt, so talk to me. I might be a little angry, but I can still listen."
"Being with Niylah has been good for you," Palla told her.
"It has. But, I know Clarke, too. We've both done things. Let me just say that I get her and she gets me. If you need to talk, I'm here," Octavia explained.
They were both quiet after that. Octavia let her have her time. She knew that Clarke was complicated. And, she knew why. Palla was just as complicated, but her complications weren't as deep. For as much as she was complicated, Palla was a simple person. What any saw with Palla is what they got, with Clarke, it was always a mess. No one knew which Clarke they were going to get on a given day, but Octavia, Madi, Raven and Echo had learned to roll with it. They knew what Clarke had been through because they'd been through it, too. Their shared history made it easy to understand and get through the walls that Clarke built up to protect herself after Lexa's death. Niylah had started helping her heal, but it was the friendship between Raven, Echo, and Octavia that saved Clarke. Madi gave her something to live for and a reason to keep her hope alive while she waited for them to come back to her. It was their friendship and their knowledge of hardship and heartache that made all their relationships stronger and closer from the time they got on the dropship back to the Eligius and when they woke up. It would be that closeness that got through whatever faced them now on Terre Nova. Octavia could only hope that Clarke found someone to be with, again. She had Niylah. Echo had her brother Bellamy. Raven had Shaw, who was still on the ship at the moment. Hell, even Murphy had Emori. Madi was still young, but even Octavia knew that she wasn't going to be enough for Clarke soon. Clarke was too passionate to be alone. Palla was just as passionate and just as damaged as Clarke.
"Monchof, Oktevia."
"Pro, Palla. Pro. Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Take care of her and don't ever die on her," Octavia told her.
"I will do my best not to," Palla told her.
Octavia gave her a smile as she finally thought she was getting somewhere with Palla. She felt like she owed it not only to Clarke but to Palla as well. She'd talked with Palla while they were still in orbit many times. In fact, it was Palla that made her accept Clarke's invitation to be her guard. Madi had a lot to do with it, but it was her time spent with Palla that she had begun to forgive herself for everything that happened in the bunker until Madi ascended as Heda. Palla had helped her find peace with her decisions. It wasn't that she forgot them or belittled them. She couldn't. She'd caused the deaths of hundreds, either by policy or forcing them into a war she wasn't even sure she could win. But, with what she knew and the support she had, Palla made her see that she'd done the best that she could. Sure, she'd been heavy handed, but it was needed to bring everyone together and in line. She was trying to keep them alive and save the human race. Clarke eventually saw it and they'd talked at length about it. She'd finally come to grips with what happened in Ton DC and the Mount Weather. She understood why Clarke made the decisions that she had and she was proud to call her friend, ally, and leader. She was proud to be her Jusgona and her Second. She knew that Clarke was training her to be not only Wanheda if need be for Madi, but also to help Madi lead. Madi knew it was also on the off chance that something happened to both Clarke and Madi, Octavia could take over the Kru and lead them, make them survive. She knew that it was going to be hard, but that was when Octavia thrived. She liked things hard.
The top of the wall could be seen just as they came over a ridge. From where she was sitting, Octavia wasn't that impressed. Indra had built bigger walls in less time than this piece of shit in front of her. She sighed and looked at Palla. The wall wasn't falling down. It was just poorly constructed. Raven would have a field day with it and Indra would knock it down in a day if given the chance. She didn't speak her mind though. She waited for Palla to ask her about it. But, even she knew that the rocks, metal barriers and stone and concrete sections weren't reinforced enough to stop a force from going through it. It was merely a symbolic gesture.
"Get your leaders together, Imber. We must talk. Go. Now!" Palla commanded.
She watched him go before she turned to Octavia. She could see the guard's thoughts in her eyes. She had the same feeling.
"Well, it is nice to know that this is still a piece of shit wall between our peoples."
"Uh, Palla, no offense, but when was the last time you came out here?" Octavia asked her.
"Shortly after I signed the Peace Accords with Balt and Dominick, the leader of the Praha."
"Well, is this the same wall as then?"
"It is."
"We've got a lot of work to do..."
"Sha, Oktevia, we do," Palla replied.
"Raven and Indra are going to have a field day with this."
"And, Diyoza?"
"Oh, yeah, her, too. I am sure the criminals have already beefed up our end and it makes this look like...well...shitier than it already is. We need to call Madi and get crews up here to help you guys. This thing isn't going to stop anyone."
"It'll have to wait until Spring, Octavia. We can't risk it in the Snows. The exposure wouldn't be right to fortify. It would be useless," Palla told her.
"They need to start now with something while they can still see the ground. Throwing some cement at the bases will help stabilize the walls and give it a better footing. They can start cutting trees and preparing logs for reinforcement with mud and cement in the Spring. They can be stacked and wait for the thaw. This is just...well...sad."
"I know that. I can't believe that nothing has been reinforced like I asked. There should be a second wall and more towers. What have they been doing all this time?"
"That is a question that you need to ask your officers, Palla."
"I know that."
"And, when you do, you don't need to be Palla the leader. You need to step up and be Palla the warrior, the Black Blood Fios. You need to dig into that anger that you felt when you were fighting the Praha, because obviously enough, you haven't scared them enough."