Page 52 of Valka

“Maybe. Valka learn only pieces. Then later, know more,” he said, tapping his ears, “but no talk more.”

“You could understand more but not necessarily speak it.”

Valka nodded.

“If you understood it, it would probably have been easy to learn to speak it. Did you ever try?”

Valka shook his head.

“No want to. Valka talk like Valka.”

“Oh, okay. There’s nothing wrong with it, I just wondered. Because I wasn’t around back then.”

She ate her eggs as Valka wandered back and forth, fidgeting, doing little things to keep busy, obviously uncomfortable.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

He looked up and the words seemed to shoot out of him. “Valka not Cliffer.”

“Of course, you are. You live in a cave, on a cliff!” she said.

“Valka stolen.”

“From where, how long ago?”

“Long time. Valka home gone.”

“But you’re their fiercest warrior. You’re their Chieftain.”

“Now. When child, no.”

“Cliffers come to Valka home. Kill father, kill mother.”

Delia’s eyes misted over, imagining Valka as a child, doing all he could to defend his mother. “Valka,” she said, her heart hurting for him.

“Valka little. Valka strong. Valka fight male kill mother.”

“How did you end up here?”

“Valka no stop fight. Male laugh. Bring Valka to cliffs.”

“What about your home, the tribe you came from?”

“No tribe. Small. Family. Two, three.”

“Only a few families.”

Valka nodded.

“Valka hate Cliffers. Valka fight and fight.”

“Did they hurt you when you were a boy?”

Valka shrugged, not wanting to admit it either way.

“Valka grow big, learn fight hard. Valka want honor.”

“I’m so sorry, Valka.”