Page 32 of Valka
Valka looked at the male lying on the ground at his feet, arguing defiantly despite the severity of his injuries. He knew as long as Raska was alive, even if he were banished, Delia wouldn’t be safe. “Then die,” he said calmly, bringing his heavy axe down on Raska’s neck, severing his head from his body. A gasp went up from several in the crowd. Unaffected, he leaned over and wiped the blood from his axe blade on Raska’s leg before he pointed the axe at Raska’s small loyal following. “Who next?!” he demanded, turning in a slow circle to look each male in the eye, his chest puffed out, his tusks on display.
Those he challenged wouldn’t even look him in the eye in return. They kept their gazes on the ground and their fallen leader.
Valka glared at each of them. “Raska male stay, Raska male die.”
When none responded, with his message delivered, he turned and walked away. No more than ten steps later, he bellowed as loudly as he could. “Valka village.” Valka walked away from everyone gathered there, leaving them all behind to do whatever they decided. Stay or go, he didn’t really care, except for those who’d aligned with Raska — they had to go.
“Valka!” Elkva called. “Wait, there is much to be settled.”
He stopped walking and turned to them. “Valka win!” he said, bewildered that it wasn’t enough.
“It’s your village,” Katva said. “There are rules that must be decided. Punishments doled out.”
“Raska male go,” Valka said, turning his back on them again as he made his way toward his home.
“Valka!” Katva shouted.
“Katva settle!” he shouted without even a glance back.
~~~
Valka wasted no time getting back to Delia. He didn’t hesitate as he quickly ascended the footholds leading up to his cave. Rushing into his cave, he found Louise sitting on his bed holding Delia’s head in her lap as she spoke quietly to her, while Patricia sat beside her holding her hand.
“Delia!” he said, his deep, gravelly voice conveying so much emotion with just the simple pronunciation of her name.
Louise looked up at him. “You see? He’s here. I told you he’d be back.”
Delia tried to nod, but winced at the pain the slight motion caused her.
“Delia,” Valka said again, crawling across the bed furs to her. He leaned over her, holding himself directly in front of her face. “I am Valka!” he said urgently.
Delia rewarded him with a small smile. “I know,” she whispered.
He lifted a hand, being sure to gesture directly in front of her face so she could see it, and indicated herself. “Valka female safe.”
“Okay,” she said softly.
“Valka kill all!” he snarled.
“All?” Louise asked worriedly.
“Not all, all?!” Patricia squeaked.
Delia opened her eyes again and though she was squinting her eyes, she did her best to focus on him again. “All?”
“All bad male. Good male alive.”
“Okay,” she said again. “Don’t kill anyone else for now.”
Valka grinned. “Only bad.”
Delia simply closed her eyes.
“Move!” Valka said, shooing Louise away from where she sat holding Delia.
Louise smiled as she very gently lay Delia’s head down on the furs so she could move out of Valka’s way.
Valka didn’t even wait until she was fully off the bed furs before he was taking Louise’s place and very carefully lifted Delia onto his lap and into his arms.