Page 26 of Valka

Elkva shrugged.

Valka scoffed, then went back to watching Delia. He leaned forward, leaving the log behind and crawled over the furs on his knees to where her head rested and lifted her eyelid to look at her eye. Satisfied that she was still alive, he moved her hair to examine the bruises where Skala had hit her near the temple and then the back of her head, too. The one near her temple was already turning a dark purple color, while the one at the back of her head was a dark red.

“Put a rock on it,” Elkva said.

Valka scowled up at him.

Elkva bent over and picked up a smooth round rock and extended his arm to hand it Valka. “It is cold. Patricia says it makes the injury heal.”

“The cold keeps the swelling down,” a female voice called from outside Valka’s cave.

Valka stood up quickly, looking at Elkva suspiciously.

“I am not alone. My Patricia waits outside.”

Valka remained standing but didn’t say anything.

“I can’t leave her unprotected. But you needed your food and your axe. So we are both here.”

Valka finally nodded.

“Can I come in?” Patricia called out. “I just want to make sure that Delia is alright.”

“Delia sleep!” Valka shouted irritatedly.

“At least she was,” another female voice said.

Valka looked angrily at Elkva.

“I am not the only one here to help you,” Elkva said hurriedly.

“Valka need no help!”

“You might. You killed Skala. Skala is Raska’s brother. Raska will come for revenge. I will stand with you. So will Toska, Oscal, and Katva.”

“Why?” Valka demanded suspiciously.

“Because you were right to defend your female. Because Skala should have been killed long ago. And because Patricia is Delia’s friend and Patricia would be angry if I didn’t.”

“And Toska’s female!” Toska shouted.

“Toska is mated to Delia’s other friend, she is loud like Delia. She will be angry with Toska if he doesn’t stand with Valka.”

Valka watched Elkva for a few seconds before he impatiently waved him back, away from Delia, then he grabbed his battle-axe and headed for the entry of his cave. He steppedout and stared at the group of people standing there looking right back at him — just standing there, waiting for him. All of the males wore their battle armor.

“Why Oscal? Why Katva?”

“Valka is the strongest. We stand with Valka,” Oscal said.

Valka made a show of looking behind Oscal. “Where female?”

Oscal smiled. He wasn’t surprised that Valka knew he’d claimed one of the females. Valka was far more aware of everything happening in the tribe than he let on. “I left my female with my mother. She is too afraid.”

Valka harrumphed.

“I should have had a female. Raska sells them all until now,” Katva grumbled. “And now he takes one for himself!”

“Raska is not a good leader,” Oscal added. “If he comes, we stand with Valka. Valka will be a good leader.”