Chapter 67

Madi, Octavia, Palla and Imber were standing facing the wall. Palla and Imber studied the construction. She was amazed at how quickly Diyoza had gotten the men mobilized and working. Palla knew that she shouldn't because of Diyoza's military background, but she was. She knew that her background made her more suited to do this type of project without any supervision. She wondered if she would be willing to work with Imber after the Great Thaw. She knew that Diyoza's teaching could help him be a better general and a better leader when it came to leading the troops.

"Besides the war with the Praha, has there been any other conflict?" Madi asked Imber and Palla both.

"No, there hasn't. But, Palla has been preparing us for another war with the Praha," Imber replied. "Lately we've been working in town to make sure that we are better prepared if they get passed the wall."

"So your attention has been more focused there?" Madi asked as they continued to walk.

Palla didn't answer. She just looked at the young girl. She had quickly deduced what was causing Palla's concern when it came to having Imber at the wall. She had been worried when Octavia had contacted Clarke the day before. She knew that it had to be something serious for Octavia to tell Clarke about it. Madi watched the leader and she could see that Palla was still worried about everything. She was worried about her people and the Praha. Madi understood her concern and she shared it. It was another reason that Madi wanted to see the wall. She wanted to see what Diyoza was doing and she wanted to help Palla. It wasn't just because Madi thought she had to help her for helping them; it was because she knew that it was the right thing to do. They were learning from each other and they both wanted to survive. It was a symbiotic relationship. They were the leaders and they had to protect their people. Together, they would be bigger, badder, and better. Madi was determined to make things work there.

Madi wanted them to succeed as much as Clarke did. She knew they had to make it work on Helios. They had no other choice. They had nowhere else to really to really go. Helios could be the last place in the universe for man to survive and Madi wasn't going to be the one that let man fall. She was the Heda and as Heda, she had an obligation to not only protect her people, to help them survive and to help man continue on as a species but to help them learn to thrive in this new world, their new home.

"I am ashamed to admit it, but yes, Heda, I have been working on other projects. I assumed incorrectly that my officers were doing as I ordered. Trust me when I say that they will be punished for their actions and they will be working long and hard days until the Snows to make up for their incompetence," Imber replied.

"At one point back on Earth, if they had been my officers, they would have been killed and replaced. Clarke however believes in second chances and she was already working with the former Heda to change our ways. She has shown me that life is precious, all life, but sometimes we must make the hard choices. The sacrifices of a few are sometimes needed to protect the many. No matter how many times I lead my people, I know that someone might die, but I always push for the majority to live. Imber as the General of the Rangers, it is your responsibility to make sure that the people are protected for Palla and you've failed her in this. How are you going to correct that and prove to her that you should remain her general?" Madi asked him.

Octavia smirked. She hadn't been prepared for Madi to go all "Commander on him," but she also wasn't that surprised. Ever since Gaia helped her tap into the past Commanders, Madi has been stepping up at odd times and with very insightful reasoning, actions, and answers to questions that they never thought to ask. She was just proving once again, that she was indeed ready to take the Flame and be the Heda that she was meant to be. Octavia was proud of her.

"I was hoping that you would let us work with Diyoza and study your techniques."

"Ah, so you are admitting your mistakes and asking for our help?" Madi asked him.

"I am, Heda."

"I will talk with Diyoza and her lieutenants, Imber. I am sure that she'll give you some help and we might even send an envoy back with you. I believe that we need to have a united front with our defense," Madi told him, but raised her hand when Palla turned to disagree. "I know that you don't want us to help you too much, Palla, but at this point, I already have a trained standing army and they are ready to fight. If need be, we will, with or without your approval. I will help defend this land because soon, it will be part of our new world. We want to be able to thrive here and if fighting the Praha in order to make sure that we survive, I will order everyone to arms. That is my promise. If the Praha attack, we will mount up and will fight back. I don't care whether they attack us directly or they attack the Village at this point. They are a viable threat to my people and we will meet that threat head on."

"I understand that, Heda, but they're quarrel is with me and my people not with you."

"We live here now. If we are to join with your nations, then we are also your people, are we not? Do we, as Palla and Heda, not share the same blood? I know that we do, Palla. Back on Earth, we have ruled over all and squashed any and all desenters to our laws. The Praha have broken the laws of Helios as you have prescribed them to me. I would not being doing my duty as Heda if I didn't do something about it," Madi replied.

"I am not going to talk you out of this, am I?" Palla asked her.

"Octavia, if you will," Madi answered with a smile.

"No, Palla, you will not. Nor would any of the jusgona. Clarke won't hear of it either. She believes that we are the catalyst that is causing this new rebellion by the Praha against the treaty that you arranged with them after the war. If Heda en Wanheda say that we will fight, you'd best be prepared for the might of Gryfonkru to follow you into battle. I will ride with you, too," Octavia told her. "With Heda's blessing of course."

"And, you would have it, Skairipa," Madi stated.

Palla just nodded at them. She knew that she was fighting a losing battle when it came to keeping the Earthlings out of the conflict with the Praha. She would concede defeat in the matter, but she would do it in private. She didn't want to look weak in front of her officers or the Amazons. She looked at Madi and Madi nodded to her. The little leader understood more than she let on most of the time. Palla was thankful for her understanding and she would make it up to her somehow, some way, in the future.

"Octavia, is there anything else for you to report of the Village?" Madi questioned changing the subject.

"No, Heda, there is not."

"So, we will be able to trade and exchange items with them? We will be able to integrate if we want to? You've seen it, can we make a life here with them? Or, will we have to isolate ourselves and dig in at our settlement, only to be a militia if needed?" Madi questioned.

"We will be able to integrate as needed and wanted. Palla has been true to everything that she's told us, Heda. We should back her and she will back us. We can still be separate but still join into the lives of the Village. It is just as Palla said it would be. We can make our home here and thrive, Heda. Of that, I have no doubts," Octavia told her.

"Have you seen them train their warriors, yet?"

"No, Heda, I have not. We've basically been working with the council and dealing with the wall. But, my first impressions are not that good about their ablitility to defend themselves. Indra would have a fit at the condition of their armor as I've seen it. She would scoff at her officers and especially the wall. Diyoza has done more in a few days than they have done in years. Heda, they need us," Octavia told her.

"We shall see."

Octavia nodded. She knew what that meant and she knew that Heda was right. It was up to Palla to protect her people. If she wanted Heda's help, she would have to ask for it. Imber had and he'd been granted it. Madi wouldn't refuse her, but she wasn't going to put her people in a position that Palla didn't want them in, either. She was letting Palla dictate their involvement and so far, Palla was keeping them at a distance. Everyone understood why Palla was keeping them apart. No one blamed her for that, but now that they had someone who had been to the Village, Madi had to plan for anything and everything that might cause some sort of concern with the members of Gryfonkru. She couldn't help but worry about what the people in the Village would do if they found out that Gryfonkru was surviving and thriving on their own. She didn't want the Village to come after them, especially if the Praha decimated their world.

"I think that I would like to see some of your jusgona train and fight with my men and the Amazons."

"Why?" Madi asked her, surprised by Palla's suggestion.

"I think it would be good to have a competition. Don't you? I know that you have your warriors practice with each other. We could do it as a group game from all the different villages and such of Helios. Like the Olympics of old from Earth, a way to see how athletic how people are, but just for fun."

"For fun?" Octavia asked.

"Yes, for fun."

"I have never fought anyone other than my brother for fun. I fight to train and I train to fight. Other than that, the only fighting I have ever done has been in war. I have never just sought someone out to fight them for fun," Octavia stated, obviously disturbed by this turn of events.

Just then a large clap of thunder rolled and they all turned to look up at the sky. Dark clouds were rolling in and immediately because of the cooler weather, all the Earthlings wondered if it would be the beginnings of the Snows. Madi looked to Imber and the man shook his head. He didn't know what Palla was up to, nor did he believe it was snow. Madi nodded back.

"Imber, why don't you go with Diyoza and speak with her before my mother carries her back to the barracks. I think that Palla and I need to discuss more. Take your men as well. I am sure that there are things she can get them doing before the Snows," Madi commanded him. He looked to Palla, who just nodded in ascent, and started to walk away before Madi spoke again, "And, if you run into my mother again, tell her that I wish to speak with her before she goes back to the barracks."

"Yes, Heda, I will let her know," he replied and walked away.

"What is it, Palla?" Madi asked her as soon as they were alone.

"I don't like the fact that the Amazons have come."

"Will they threaten your leadership?"

"No, they won't," Palla answered.

"Then why do they bother you?"

"Elena will test Clarke and if she finds her lacking..."

"She'll do nothing. Clarke is natblida. She might not be a warrior in the traditional since, Palla, but she will not let anyone destroy what she's tried to build and sustain."

"Clarke is a blackblood?"

"She is."

"But, you have the flame?"

"It is a long story, Palla and one that we don't like to tell. Rest assured though. Clarke can take care of herself. She isn't the Wanheda for nothing," Madi told her and Octavia just laughed at the truth in the statements.