Our People (the Third Book of the Her Weakness series)

Chapter 113

Clarke's POV

"Then if we are all up for it, we will go fight your pirates for you." Lexa says.

"Does anyone not want to?" I ask. "It's okay if you don't."

"No way, I'm definitely going." Raven has the glint in her eyes that makes me nervous. "I can test out Boomy."

"I'll go, too. Someone has to keep an eye on Raven." Octavia says, winking at Raven as she complains quietly to her about not being a child.

Lincoln looks into Nix and Ryder's eyes for a moment before nodding. "We will go as well."

"Mochof (thank you)." Luna says gratefully.

"I must warn you," Nakai says. "A lot of the pirates are fierce warriors, most of which fought for Floukru before the Coalition. And Heda? Their leader is an old enemy of yours. Pakstoka."

Lexa takes in a quiet breath and her hand tightens around mine just enough to be noticeable. "Pakstoka? I have not heard that name in years. This is where he has been all of this time?"

"We only found out recently when we captured one of their pirates." Luna says. "He was put in our jail but was killed by the pirates when they learned he had been taken. We were planning on having our ambassadors tell you at the next summit."

"Wait," Raven says after a moment of tense silence. "His name is Pakstoka? Isn't that Trigedasleng for something?"

"It means wolf," Octavia responds.

"His name is wolf?" Raven asks incredulously.

"That is not his real name. That is what he called himself when he joined our military." Luna explains. "He was too good of a fighter for us to risk questioning it. I do not think there are many alive that know his real name. Even I do not know it, even though I have tried to find out."

"Why call himself wolf though? There's a bunch of other animals he could have named himself after." Raven questions.

"I can answer that," Lexa said. "He is fearsome in battle, like wolves. He has a scar from a claw that goes straight down over his right eye. It is intimidating to the most seasoned of warriors. It is said that he got it while he trained alone in the forest. But then again, it is also said he was raised by wolves."

"Like some of the old stories!" Raven murmurs excitedly. "That would be so cool, being raised by wolves."

"He is blind in that eye." Lexa continues, giving Raven a small smile in acknowledgement before falling back into her blank Heda expression. "It is milky, and instead of making it seem like he cannot see you, it feels as though he sees more through that eye. Like he can look right through you and determine your worth or how difficult you would be to kill."

"How do you know so much about him?" Octavia asks. "If you don't mind me asking, I mean."

"He lead a resistance in the Floukru against my Coalition. He and his warriors got brave when they realized they had silent support from other clans and attacked Polis. None of them but him escaped alive. I was not certain he was alive until now, for the last time I saw him I put a sword through his gut."

"You're such a badass." Raven murmurs, looking at Lexa in awe and admiration.

"Heda." Nakai interrupts. "I have been helping Luna by gathering intel on the attacks from survivors of the ships they raid. Not all of the pirates are warriors. They have their partners and children living in the cave with them."

"We will spare them, of course. Those that do not attack us or stand down will be spared." Lexa says reassuringly.

"Mochof (thank you)." Nakai breathes out a soft sigh of relief. "I believe my sister and her children may be among them, so I will be coming with you to fight."

"Good. I will be coming as well." Luna says, her tone leaving no room for discussion.

"Luna, you are the leader of the Floukru. What if you get injured?" Lexa asks worriedly.

"Lexa, you are Commander of the Twelve Clans. What if you get injured?" Luna retorts and Lexa doesn't seem to have a good response to that. "You will still go and so will I. It is a risk I am willing to take."

"Very well." Lexa says, relenting. "Be careful, Luna."

"I will." Luna promises. "Now, we should all enjoy the sea breeze and when we get back we can talk more about what we will be doing."

With that, we disperse again. Lexa, Octavia, Raven, and I all go back down to the lower deck to look out at the sea. Raven leads us over to near where Boomy is, probably so she can keep an eye on him. Even though he's a robot and is turned off.

I lean on the railing, watching the sunlight glitter on the water. Lexa removes her hand from mine and instead wraps and arm around my waist. I rest my head on her shoulder, relaxing even more.

I hear giggling and look to see that Octavia is standing behind Raven and has her arms around her waist. Raven's arms are spread and she's leaning against the railing.

"I'm flying, Jack!" Raven says in a dramatic, high pitched voice. "I'm flying!"

She and Octavia burst into giggles again and I laugh too. "You're referencing the Titanic? While we're on a boat?" I ask teasingly. "Don't jinx us."

"Well, our version is better." Raven says proudly. "This isn't the Titanic, this is the Bitanic. You know, because we're both bi." Raven winks at Lexa and me. "Plus, Octaven is a ship that will never sink!"

Raven puts her arms down and Octavia keeps hers where they are, leaning her head on Raven's shoulder.

"Cute," I remark. "Clexa's better though."

Raven gasps theatrically and places a hand to her heart like she's offended. "You are not!"

"We are," Lexa chimes in.

This game of "you are not" and "we are" go on for a few minutes until Raven concedes without admitting defeat. At least, I like to think of it that way.

"Agree to disagree," she says.

Pirate fighting and a guy named Pakstoka... Next chapter, maybe fighting! Thank you all for reading and for your amazing comments! Stay awesome!