Page 15 of Valka

Raska looked at the small, round female he’d chosen for himself. “I am Raska, Chieftain of the Cliff people. You are mine.”

Bettina simply stood there, looking at him, wondering why he’d chosen her. What he’d have her do or not do, and the dozens of ways this could go wrong.

“I have chosen the best of fishes for you,” he said, tempting her to trust him as he held out the handful of dried fish he’d taken and held aside while the others were taking their choices of food.

“The best of them?” she asked.

“The best,” he repeated.

Bettina reached out and took the three dried fishes, holding them covetously in her hands as she looked at him.

“Come. I will take you to my home.”

Bettina stepped closer to him and allowed him to urge her forward with an arm behind her back.

“I do not wish to teach you how to have relations,” Raska said. “Do not cry when I strip your clothes.”

“I don’t need to be taught,” she admitted, watching cautiously for his response.

His head turned toward her quickly and he smiled. “I have chosen well,” he said, sliding a hand down to cup her ass.

Bettina smiled back at him, glad he had no problem with the fact that she was experienced.

Delia watched Bettina following Raska and felt a little better about the fact that each of the women was now with a particular male, and would stay in the tribe, rather than be sold.

“Come, old one. You pleasure Valka,” Valka said.

Her attention whipped to Valka. “I am not old. And I will not be pleasing you unless you can give me a good enough reason to do so!”

“Duty!” he said emphatically, condescension dripping from his words.

“In what world?” she demanded.

“Valka world!” he said.

Delia looked down at the dried fish she still held in her hands. If she was going with Valka, he’d have to feed her at some point, if he wanted to keep her alive.

“Fine. But I need to do something first.” She turned and started walking away from him.

“Stop!” Valka demanded.

“I’m coming back. I’m going to feed my bird.”

Valka’s brow creased as he watched her walk toward the skaevin she’d given water to earlier. He moved closer so he could grab her if she tried to run, but allowed her the freedom to make that choice as he watched her. He’d stop her of course, but still, he wanted to see what she’d do.

Delia approached the skaevin cautiously. “I promised to bring you food. Are you hungry?” she asked, her voice soft.

The skaevin lifted its head and scented the female and the fish she was carrying. Delia was brave enough to move close to its mouth and set the dried fish down in front of it. The moment she backed up the skaevin picked the dried strips of fish up one at a time, and tossed them into the back of its throat, swallowing them down without so much as a gulp.

“I know it’s not much, but I’ll bring more when I can.” She took the chance of laying her hand on its rear flank once more, then turned back to Valka.

He stood watching her stoically.

Sighing resignedly, Delia started back toward him.

He watched without moving a muscle until she came to a stop right in front of him. Without a word he snatched her off her feet and threw her over his shoulder. He strode quickly across the sandy bit of space between the facing cliff walls and lifted his battle-axe, hammering it against the stone cliff embedding it securely enough to pull himself up off the ground to the first step carved into the rock. With Delia still balanced on his opposite shoulder, he planted his feet on a small flat surface serving as a foothold, approximately six feet off the ground.

Delia did her best to remain perfectly still, but her injured arm was caught between her own stomach and his shoulder. She braced her good arm against Valka’s lower back and held herself up as best she could, taking a little bit of weight off her injured arm so that she could pull it free from being pressed between her own body and his.

---