Chapter 65

Palla still sat atop her caballo. Octavia was by her side but back enough to let them know that she was there not only as a second in command, but as Palla's personal guard. It was a sight to be seen and Octavia could tell that they weren't used to seeing Palla that angry. Angry wasn't even the word that Octavia would use. She couldn't think of one heavy enough for it, but she could still see the fire in Palla's eyes. She was beyond pissed. Her men had done nothing but patrol in order to protect themselves. Palla had been calling for reinforcements and restructure for years and nothing had happened. She'd taken for granted that they would just do it. It made her wonder why they even bothered building the guard towers in the Village. Was it only because she was there so much? Or, did the rest of the town actually believe that they might be in danger?

"Peace is the time that build for the coming wars," she muttered under her breath.

She was trying to rein in her anger. She knew that it wasn't the soldiers' fault. It was the officers, and on top of that, it was Imber's.

She looked to her left, where he should be, and he wasn't there. She wasn't surprised. He was in front of the officers that was being led to her. She shook head at them. There were six captains and over twenty lieutenants. She sat back in the saddle a little and looked back at Octavia.

"What is it, Palla?" Octavia asked her in Trig.

"I think we should go for a ride."

"You want to see what Diyoza has done with our end of the wall?"

"I think I should. I think they should. I don't doubt that she would have reinforced it somehow. It has to be better than this," Palla replied.

"Call for their horses, My Palla," Octavia told her switching back to English.

"Horses?"

"Caballos."

Palla nodded. She shifted in the saddle, again and looked over the men. Finally, singling out one of the lieutenants, one she knew. One she knew that she could trust and one that she knew would do as she asked. She nodded again before calling him forward.

"Del!" she called him.

"Aye, Palla," he answered as he ran up to her.

He stopped short when he saw Octavia's hand move to her side. She hadn't gone for her sword. Her hand landed on a dagger on her left side. He gave Octavia a look and then looked back to Palla for more direction.

Octavia had to hide her smile. She was glad that he was frightened of her. It made her job easier. She wouldn't have to worry about the officers trying to rise up against Palla. It looked like all the junior officers were actually afraid of her and of Octavia. It was the captains that she knew she would have to watch. She was sure that one of them was biding their time in order to over throw Palla or they had done something incredibly stupid like side with the Praha.

"Gather the rest of the lieutenants. Get with the engineers and begin suring up the bases of the wall. Devise a team to go cut some beams and posts from the forests beyond the village. Make sure that the timber is good and strong. We might not be able to do much before the snows, but the more we can, the stronger the wall will be come the spring thaw. Now, go," Palla told him.

He saluted and went back tot the grouping of officers. It was then that Octavia realized that he was the most senior of the lieutenants. He got them to follow him away. As soon as they were gone, Palla turned on the captains.

"I don't know what to say to you all, but you have disappointed me. I asked you to secure the wall and all you have done is man the wall. What good would that do if the Praha have amassed an army against us? You have left us open to attack when I asked that you help protect our people. I am ashamed of you as officers," she told them.

Octavia's hands itches against the hilt of her dagger as she watches them all, even Imber. He hangs his head. He had been so worried about the town and having a ready militia that he'd neglected the wall. Like Palla, he assumed that the captains had been doing as they asked. He should have known better because there was no requisition for materials or laborers to help them secure the front. Those in charge of the towers went to work quickly. He doesn't blame Palla for her disappointment or the look of disapproval in Octavia's eyes. He knows that the Earthing doesn't think highly of him and he knows why. He understands. He gives her a nod and she nods back in acknowledgement, letting her know that she didn't have to worry about him.

"Octavia has agreed to be my liaison with the Earthlings. She is a skilled warrior and one of their generals," Palla told them and ignores the cocked eyebrow of the younger brunette. "Her people have agreed to secure and man the section of the wall nearest to the barracks and the processing buildings. We will go there. Now. Mount up. Stay close and don't do anything stupid that would give me cause to do anything rash. All of you are on probation and if I see fit, I will strip you not only of your rank and position, but also I will remove you from the Rangers all together."

The men scurry away. She watches a few women come forwards. They all await instructions.

"Ladies, mount up. Be prepared for anything and don't let the men see you sweat. The Guard needs you now."

A red head in front salutes and leads the women away, but not before Octavia eyes them all. They were all dressed in leather armor and looked fierce. She could only wonder who and what they were. She openly admired them. Whoever they were, they looked fierce and all Octavia wanted to do was find out more about them. The most obvious thing was that they were loyal to Palla and not to Imber. It made Octavia wonder where they were from because she hadn't seen anyone looking like them around town.

"What's wrong, Oktevia?" Palla asked.

"Who are they?"

"They are just like their namesakes. Well sort of. Those are the Amazons of Helios. They are a group of warrior women that live alone but support us. They are my friends. They must have heard about the troubles to have come. They will not cause any harm to us. Only the Praha."

"Warrior women?"

"Surely, you've heard about the tribes of the Amazons. I know that you studied Roman history. Your own brother named you after Augustus' sister. But, you don't know the Amazons?"

"I've heard of them, but they were just myth, stories I was told. You have your own Amazons? And, they fight for you?"

"They fight for Helios," Palla told her.

It was that simple statement that Octavia understood. They didn't follow anyone. They fought for Helios as a hole and to them, the Praha were the enemy. That was all they needed to know.

"They ride with us to see Diyoza?"

"Yes, they will. I am sure that they would like to meet your people. As a warrior culture, I am sure that you will both have something to learn from each other. I am sure that Elena would like to speak with you the most."

"Elena?"

"She is their leader," Palla answered.

Just as she did, a woman rode up beside her on the right. She was on a palomino horse. Her hair looked like fire at sunset. Her eyes were the color of an Earthern sky.

"Elena, I would like you to meet Octavia kom Gryfonkru. She is one their elite warriors and part of the royal guard. She is their liaison."

"And, yet, she protects you, Palla," Elena said as she eyed Octavia.

"She does."

"For someone of your skill and rank, I find it odd that the Earthings give you a royal guard. Is there something I should know? Have you found someone, Palla?"

Octavia cocked her eyebrow. She was wondering the same thing, but she hadn't voiced her questions. She respected Madi, Clarke and Palla too much. She could see that they liked each other, but she understood that they were afraid. Clarke was afraid to love anyone because everyone she loved died. Madi approved of the match and even let them both and most of the jusgona know. It was another reason that Madi was protecting Palla, even if it was from herself.

"So, Royal Guard, why do you protect Palla?" Elena asked as she dropped back enough on her caballo to match Octavia and be by her side.

"I do it because Heda asked me to and also because Wanheda was needed to help our people prepare for the Winter Snows," Octavia said, giving the most diplomatic answer that she could think of. She didn't want to betray anyone, but she wanted to make sure that Elena knew where she stood.

"Your Hey-da?"

"She is like our queen. It means Commander in Trigedasleng. She is our leader and her mother is also a our. Her mother is the Wanheda."

"Won hey da? What does that mean? Will you tell me?" Elena asked.

"It directly translates to 'Commander of Death.' It is an honorary title. There haven't been many since the time of the Hedas."

"I see. And, when did the time of the Hedas start?"

"After the bombings. Those that survived the fallout came together and realized that they needed to band together to fight for resources and such. A Commander arose. She helped those survive, both with science and knowledge. After her death, the next in line took the title of Commander. Eventually, a new language was made and all the people under the heda used it. That language is called Trigedasleng, or Tree People Language. Commander became Heda."

"But, you speak English."

"I do. As do all the warriors. It was a necessity for our people to know both."

"Why?" Elena asked her.

"Because there were some survivors underground that used English. They weren't very hospitable to those who could live above ground. They attacked and fought the people of Earth. They were called Grounders. To hide their movements and their plans, Trigedasleng was developed. Eventually, those in the ground were defeated, but the language stays. It is part of our shared heritage now," Octavia explained, glossing over a lot of their Earthern history.

"Are you willing to teach it?" Elena questioned.

"We've taught Palla," Octavia answered.

"But, beside Palla," Elena added.

"Only if Heda permits."

"She must be a wise woman," Elenda stated at Octavia's answer.

Octavia and Palla both laughed. But, when they turned to face Elena, they remembered that she didn't know that Madi was only thirteen. Palla hung her head at her actions and then looked at Octavia. The younger brunette nodded and turned to face Elena more fully as they rode towards the wall near the barracks.

"She is a wise girl. She is only thirteen or fourteen, Elena. She was chosen to be our leader because she is special. She has the blood of the gods, according to the Grounders. But, she is wise beyond her years," Octavia told her.

"A girl, eh? I really need to speak with her then. I want to know more about your people," Elena replied.

"I will do what I can and arrange that for you, Elena. But, first we deal with the wall. I wonder if Clarke told Diyoza we were coming," Octavia said.

"I am sure she has. I am sure that the Colonel has done wonders with it. I hope that I can get our officers to follow her example," Palla stated.

"Except for becoming a domestic terrorist, yeah, that would be good," Octavia muttered.

"I'm sorry?" Elena inquired.

"Diyoza is from the original Elegius project. The same project that settled here. She was...well, she was a prisoner that was sent to mine other planets. They came back to Earth before it was made uninhabitable. Now, she is one of us. Her fellow inmates have sworn their allegience to Heda and she has made them part of the krugona. They are good at digging in and defending. Heda asked them to guard the wall after the Praha attacked me," Octavia told her.

"She must be something to have won your admiration and the loyalty of your Heda. I can't wait to meet this Diyoza. She seems to be a good leader. I look forward with speaking with you as well, Octavia kom Gryfonkru."

"It's just ahead," Palla said as they came over a ridge to look down into the valley where the springs were.

The wall could just be made out. They rode harder and stopped short when they were stopped by some of Diyoza's guards. Octavia moved to the front to announce them when she heard a voice call out from behind them.

"Skairipa!"

"Heda!? Is Wanheda here?"

"Sha," Madi replied.

"You're in luck, Elena. They are both here. Shall we," Octavia stated as she rode passed the guards and towards the little camp that Diyoza had set up.