Page 9 of Valka

“No, making friends with the birds. Are you sure that thing is a bird?”

“It’s got wings…” Delia said, shrugging slightly.

“True. And that Skala is scary, but some of the males are not all that monstrous. Some show a genuine interest in us.”

“Do you not see the green skin, and the tusks protruding from their mouths?” Louise asked.

“So, I’ve got freckled skin. You’ve got a golden color to your skin, we’ve all got different colors of eyes. Our hair is all different shades, and some is curled, some is not. Does it make any one of us better than the next?” Bettina asked.

“That’s not my point, Bettina,” Louise said.

“Well, it’s mine. We’re all different, they are, too. Maybe if we’re respectful of them, they’ll be respectful of us.”

“You heard them speaking of selling us! There is no respect on their part!” Patricia whispered through tears.

“Then we’ll have to earn it, as will they,” Bettina said.

“Yes, befriend them. As Delia is befriending the large killer bird,” Louise said.

“They didn’t kill us,” Delia pointed out.

“That is true. And they did eat the bastards that kidnapped us and locked us in the hold to drown.”

“Good birds,” Louise said, nodding.

“I suppose it’s worth a try to earn the respect of the males. It’s no different than we’d be facing if the captain had managed to get us to the port he’d intended, is my guess,” Bettina agreed.

“Except these males are green and have tusks. Louise said so already. They are not human!” Patricia rushed out defensively between hiccups.

Bettina turned her gaze on Patricia. “Can you stick to praying? Your negativity isn’t helping anyone.”

Patricia wailed slightly, then closed her eyes, rocking in place as she whispered prayers, all the while with tears streaming down her face. “They’re monsters,” she said between prayers.

“The real monsters are the humans that chained us in the bottom of that ship. The creatures here aren’t monsters. They’re just different — hopefully. I think the giant birds are called skaevin, and I think the people are Orcs,” Delia said.

“What is an Orc?” Louise asked. “And how would you know that?”

“The angry one up on the cliff mentioned Orc women. So, I think they’re called Orcs. I could be wrong, but that’s what I think. Skala said we were lucky the skaevin didn't eat us, so I believe that’s what the birds are called. Since the birds were eating the crew of the ship.”

“Doesn’t really matter what they’re called. We’re stuck here with them, or whoever we’re sold to, no matter what name they’re known by. It only makes good sense to try to endear ourselves to those currently in control of our immediate futures,” Louise said.

“I agree. I do know if we make ourselves become a burden, they could just as well throw us to the birds as feed. We have to make ourselves easy to keep alive. Agreeable,” Delia said.

“You already started a disagreement with the one called Skala,” Bettina pointed out.

“He was going to attack Patricia and the others because they wouldn’t stop crying. Someone had to do something.”

“If he harms her, it’s your fault,” Louise said to Patricia.

Patricia, who’d managed to somewhat calm herself with her prayers, started sniveling again.

“Oh, good Lord! Control yourself! I don’t want them thinking we all behave like you!” Bettina hissed out, looking around to make sure that none of their captors was approaching.

“Patricia, it’s going to be alright. Just try not to appear so weak,” Delia said. Then she looked around at the rest of the women. “Don’t forget that we are alive, and as long as we’re alive, there’s a chance of freedom. Remember ladies, you do not give up. You survive, whatever it means that you must do, you do it, and you do it well so that you’re treated well. Stay healthy, stay alive, then when your opportunity comes, you make a break for your freedom. It is then that you kill the bastards if you must,then you run and you keep running until you are free. Never give up. Never stop fighting!” She stood up and went back to the water bucket, scooping water into the single bowl they’d been given.

“You’re giving more of our water to that, what did you call it?” Patricia asked.

“Skaevin. And yes, I’m determined to make it not want to eat me. You keep huddling there and hoping for the best.”

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