Chapter 72

Elena and Octavia were still outside the building. Octavia was watching everyone in the Village that passed by with a suspicious eye. Elena looked around and finally settled on the hint of tattoo that was peaking out of Octavia's shirt.

"You have ink?"

"I do."

"What does it mean?"

"It is the same tattoo that my mate had."

"Your mate?"

"Yeah, my Fos let me get it to mark me as a warrior shortly after he died."

"I'm sorry."

"For what? You aren't the one that killed him. There is nothing for you to be sorry for," Octavia told her.

"For your loss," Elena replied.

"Death is a part of life."

"Cynical much?"

"No, realistic. Where I became a warrior, death was certain. Life wasn't. What we had was beautiful while it lasted, but I know that he would be proud of the warrior I've become. He'd be prouder to know that I've gotten so good that I am now Jusgona en Skairipa. Titles that I never thought that I would ever get just because of who I was, where I was from, and what I had been taught."

"And, now?"

"I'm proud to serve ai Heda, ai Wanheda, en ai Palla."

Elena looked into her green eyes. She could tell that Octavia was telling the truth. She was proud to serve Clarke and her daughter, but she could also tell that there was more behind it. She cared for them. The fact that she was also serving Palla gave her pause though.

"Why do you serve Palla?"

"Why do you?" Octavia countered.

"She is our leader," Elena replied.

"She is ours as well," Octavia stated.

"But, she isn't. Not really anyway. She's agreed to take you in and give you her lands, but she isn't your leader. So, why do you serve her?" Elena elaborated her question more.

"I serve her because I was asked to, but it was more than that. I am also the ambassador to the people of the Village for my people. It was a way for us to learn your ways and laws. We don't want to impose or cause any issues with the people here. We are just looking for a place to live."

"Because Earth is gone?"

"Yes," Octavia said as she pulled out a small knife and started sharpening it.

Elena realized that the conversation was over. Octavia would answer her, but she would only tell her so much. She would do better to talk to Clarke about things. She was more curious about Palla and Madi's relationship though.

"You have more questions," Octavia stated as she continued working a stone down her knife.

"I do."

"Ask."

She regarded Octavia again. She took in the hardness that was there and knew that it was a strength that was gathered in war and battle. She could see faint scaring, but nothing that would tell her Octavia's full story. Her green eyes watched her even as Octavia worked on the knife. There was more to these "Earthlings" than they were telling, but she wondered what the secrets were that were so dark that they banded together against everyone else. She decided that she would talk to Octavia like she would any of those that wanted to join their ranks as an Amazon, but she would ask questions about why there seemed to be a core group that Palla was protecting above everyone else from Earth.

"Why does Palla care so much for your friend that is with Meeka and Sam?"

"Raven is important to us. As for why Palla takes care of us, you would have to ask her. I cannot speak for her."

Elena's eyes narrowed. Octavia was more than just a simple warrior. She was more than a body guard. She was a politician, but Elena didn't know why. And, she didn't understand her devotion to Clarke, the child or Palla.

"You said that you are 'just going nah'? What is that? Can you explain it?" Elena asked going in a different direction.

"Jusgona," Octavia said with a little chuckle. "It means 'blood warrior' in our language. We are the guards to the heda and anyone else she seems fit to guard. We are a new kru of jusgona. The Jusgona haven't been enacted since the fourth Heda, because they betrayed him. Since then, the guards surrounding the Heda were all from their clan and their personal body guards. Madi let us bring back the jusgona because she asked me to be one."

"Did she even know about them?"

"She knows lots of things that she can't explain and neither can I. Madi is Heda, that is the only explanation we need. If she commands it, we follow. She is fair and just. She deserves our loyalty."

"And her mother?" Elena questioned.

"You question Clarke?" Octavia asked, obviously getting defensive, but she didn't bow up like she wanted to at the Amazon.

"I think she is your leader and not a child."

"Then, you are the fool. Madi is our leader. If you went back to our camp, you would see it."

"I think it might be awhile before I'm allowed in your camp," Elena replied.

"That might be true. We are not an easily trusting people. Palla, however, made us an offer and she is seeing it through. It also helps that she is working with Heda on things. The people see Palla as an equal to Heda and they see that Heda trusts her enough to let us come to the Village. This goes a long way with our people. However, if Heda didn't trust Palla or the Village, it would mean war."

"She would declare war?"

"The people would demand it," Octavia stated. "But, we've fought so much that I believe we would seek diplomatic relations first. We asked for permission to land. We didn't know where we were going when we came here, but we know that we can't stay in space forever. We don't have the resources."

"Should I be worried about your people?"

"We are warriors, Elena, but we don't seek it. On Earth, it was the way of life. We are hoping for peace here, a place to rest our heads and raise families. However that doesn't mean that we are a docile people. We will fight if provoked and we will fight to the last man," Octavia told her.

"Even following a child?" Elena inquired.

"Especially following that child," Octavia said and she put her knife away. "She is special, Elena. It would do you well not to piss her, her mother, or any of the jusgona off. We might forgive, but we never forget."

"And things that happen in battle, happen in battle," Elena stated in reply.

"Exactly."

Octavia studied her more then. She knew that Elena was trying to figure out the dynamics between them all, but Octavia couldn't tell if she was doing it to find a way to undermine them or to find a way to understand them.

"The easiest way for you to understand us, Elena, is to think of Rome. Heda is Caesar and the jusgona are the Praetorians. Clarke, being Wanheda, is a special case. She would be more like the head general of the jusgona, but she is so much more. She is ambassadress, general, and even our leader at times. She is outside the norms and it isn't because she is Heda's nomon. She is just more. She is the Commander of Death."

"Does it take a lot to provoke her?"

"We are all her children and one doesn't poke a sleeping dragon or piss of a mother bear. Clarke is both. I am just an extension of their wrath. But, I am not the one you should fear slitting your throat in the middle of the night," Octavia told her with a special, mischievous glint in her eyes.

"And, who is that?"

"Echo, my sister and the Azripa. Your new ambassador to our people. She is the one to fear."

Octavia stood. She didn't wait for Elena to say anything else. She knew that there was something about Elena that was driving Echo crazy and she didn't know what it was. She decided that she needed to know, especially if Echo was going to be staying with them in the Village. Echo wasn't known for her diplomacy, but she loved Heda en Wanheda. Echo wasn't a wildcard, but she was fierce.

Without looking at Elena, Octavia made sure that her hand was on her dagger and entered the clinic. She just nodded at the workers as she worked her way to Sam's offices. The clinic reminded her of Arcadia, so she used that to get around. She'd never been to medical while they were in space, but she had been treated several times while they were on the ground. The halls were similar and she wasn't sure that she liked it, but she knew that she'd learn to deal with it for Raven's sake. Raven was now her sister and, she'd protect her as such.

She stood outside the room that they were all talking in. She could see them through the window. Echo glanced up and saw her. She gave her a smile and then leaned against the wall. Their shared eye conversation told Octavia to wait and that they'd be out of the room soon.

Sure enough, five minutes later, they all came out. Madi looked to Octavia and cocked her eyebrow in question. Octavia tried to hide her smirk, but Madi caught.

"What is it, Okteiva?"

"Yu laik Klark's goufa, Heda."

"Ai laik, sha."

"Sha, yu laik."

"Madi, she is saying that you act like me," Clarke stated as she came out of the room.

Madi cut her blue eyes at Octavia and then smiled at the woman.

"What do you need, Skairipa?"

"To speak with Eko, Heda. There is nothing to worry about. We are safe here."

"Keep it that way, Jusgona."

"Sha, Heda," both Octavia and Echo stated as they saluted Madi.

Echo moved to Octavia's side. She eyed Clarke and Palla, both of which nodded. She knew that it meant that they would watch over Madi while they talked, but they were both expected to follow along to the hospital as they moved for more information about Raven's surgery. They fell into a slight formation as they walked to the hospital. Palla and Madi in the front, Clark and Sam behind them, Raven and Meeka followed, finally Octavia and Echo.

Elena jumped up and followed them as they exited the building. Octavia noticed Echo go rigid as Elena made her way to the front to talk with Madi and Palla. She watched Echo and knew that Echo was silently plotting Elena's mysterious death.

"What you are planning is treason, Eko?"

"I know."

"But, you still want her dead?"

"She reminds me of Nia, Okteiva."

"How?"

"She's oily and like a snake. She is trying to get too close to Clarke. I don't like. She sees the power in both Heda and Wanheda, but there is something more. I think she wouldn't mind overthrowing Palla," Echo told her.

"Then, we watch her, Eko. We watch and we wait. If we act without proof, we forfeit our bodies to Heda. Don't know about you, but I doubt that she would hesitate with us. We are supposed to be better than normal gona."

"I know."

"There is something more, though."

"What is it?"

"I don't know. I think she has designs on Clarke. I think she might make a pass at her."

"Won't matter," Octavia stated.

"Why not?"

"Klark looks to Palla and Palla looks to Klark like Leksa looked to Klark. There is something between them, but they are both denying it for now. They are both still mourning. Eelaina has no chance with either of them."

"Good."

"But, still we will wait and will watch. But, we will focus on Raiven. She is our worry."

"I'm the joking ambassador to her, though."

"Keep to Trig when you get angry and find me if you need to. We'll battle it out. Eko, you can't act out. Klark will only protect you for so long."

"She saved me from you back on Earth," Echo replied.

"Did she really? Or, did she save you for Bellamy? Clarke always has her reasons and most of the time, they aren't what you think. She's a leader. She plays the long game. Remember that, sister."