Page 43 of Valka
“Katva? Who is Katva’s mate?”
“Tina. Short, round, violent female.”
“Bettina?”
“Yes. Good female.”
“She is good. I like her very much.”
“Want soup?”
“Do I want soup?”
“Yes!” he said excitedly.
“Does it have fish in it?”
“No! Have meat.”
“Okay, I’ll try it.”
“Soup good. Make Delia strong.”
Delia started trying to sit up, but she’d been lying down for several days for the most part, so the dizziness set in. With only one arm, it was hard to push herself up.
“Wait! Valka help.”
“I can do it,” Delia said.
“Valka help!” he insisted.
Delia just allowed herself to flop back onto the furs he’d stacked beneath her head.
“No bang head. Head sick,” he said, rushing to help her sit up.
“I know,” Delia said.
He pulled her up into a sitting position and rearranged the furs behind her for her to lean against. But it still wasn’t high enough for her to recline comfortably. Charging across the cave he picked up one of the large logs surrounding the fire pit and carried it back to the bed. He placed it on the ground, then lay the bottom fur over the top of it and followed that with more until she had a soft raised spot behind her to lean her body.
“That’s perfect, Valka. Thank you.”
“Valka know. Now… soup!” he said triumphantly.
She watched as he filled a bowl with the soup he’d made in much the same way she’d scooped up water for the skaevin when she’d first arrived. He’d supposedly made it from the directions Bettina gave him, and Delia prayed that it was halfway decent. Not only because she didn’t want to hurt his feelings and he was proud of his soup, but because she could really use a good soup. Anything other than dried meat would be more than welcome.
“Here. Eat soup,” he said, presenting her with a steaming bowl of it. “Eat it. Eat now.”
“I’m going to. I’m just waiting for some water.”
“Water?” he asked, completely confused.
“To drink. Water. I’m thirsty.”
He sprang into action, running over to the bucket he kept fresh water in and brought her a cup of water, watching as she drank down most of it.
“I have to admit the water here is fantastic. Nothing but fresh, clean water.”
“And soup,” he said, encouraging her to try his soup yet again.