Page 13 of Valka

“The little one?” the male asked. “I like the little one.”

“She is given,” Raska said.

Skala smirked, believing his brother was saving her for him.

The male scowled, but looked from Delia to Patricia who sat quietly with tears streaming down her face.

“Her name is Patricia” Delia said. “She has dreamed of a husband, I mean, a male, who will protect her and provide for her, and make all the necessary decisions to allow her to be a good wife. She is kind, and she sings so she can entertain you, and wants nothing more than to be a good wife to a husband who can do these things for her.”

“I do not want a needy female. And I do not want an old female!”

“Then you get none. Go,” Raska said calmly.

The male’s eye twitched, and he hesitated, but eventually decided he didn’t want to challenge his chieftain. He turnedand hurriedly walked back through the small crowd that had assembled.

“I will take the crying female. It will be an easy life to make all the choices and provide her with protection and the necessities to survive in exchange for kindness.”

Skala laughed. “Elkva wants kindness! What male wants kindness?” he scoffed.

“I do. There is no shame in kindness from your mate,” Elkva said, lifting his chin defiantly.

“Does anyone object?” Raska asked, looking at the remaining males.

They shook their heads. None of them wanted a weepy female.

“She is yours, Elkva. Take her,” Raska said, glad that this female was no longer his concern.

Elkva squatted near Patricia and extended his hand. “Come. You are mine now.”

Patricia looked up at him, and he smiled at her, showing a mouth full of tusks.

She looked up at Delia quickly, fear in her expression.

Delia stepped closer and leaned in so that Elkva could hear her. “She has very little experience with males. You will need to teach her slowly the ways of males and females.”

Elkva looked up at Delia, his eyes wide with wonder. “I will be kind,” he promised.

Patricia looked at his hand still extended, waiting for her to take it, then at his face, his words running through her mind. She lifted her hand and placed it in his as it trembled almost uncontrollably.

Elkva rose to his feet and waited while Patricia joined him, then walked away with her beside him, looking back over his shoulder just once to smile at Delia with wonder, unable to believe his luck in choice of a mate.

“The only female left is the old loud one,” Raska said to the rest of the men assembled. “If you do not wish to claim her, then go.”

Much grumbling was heard, but soon enough the males hoping for a female of their own, along with the gathering of curious onlookers dissipated, leaving only Raska, Skala, Bettina and Delia behind.

“It is good they’ve all gone. I will take my female now and be gone as well,” Skala said.

“If you want the old, loud one, take her. Otherwise you will be gone now,” Raska said.

“No! I will not take the old one! She is unpleasant and I do not want her! I want the round one!”

“She is given,” Raska said.

Skala looked back and forth, making a show of the fact that no one else was standing around waiting. “There is no other waiting but me!”

“I am standing here, brother. She is mine,” Raska said.

“She is not!”

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