Chapter 9
The next morning Delia woke slowly, looking cautiously over her shoulder for Valka before rolling over and stretching her tired, sore muscles. Sitting up and looking over the expanse of the cave, she realized that he’d left her alone. “Valka?” she called quietly.
There was no answer.
Fairly certain there was no way he’d leave her unattended, she got up and stretched again before she walked along the back wall of the cave looking for the entrance to the walk through that was naturally hidden from view. She found it and followed it to the bathing cave, her eyes scanning the cave quickly to determine if Valka was there or not. Seeing that he wasn’t, she hurried over to the last small pool at the lowest section of the cave, did her business, then returned to the main cave, expecting Valka to be waiting for her. But when she arrived, he was still nowhere to be seen. “Valka?” she called out again, a little louder this time.
When there was still no answer, she smirked. “He’s testing me,” she said to herself. She looked around for her clothes, and found some of them, draped over the logs near the fire pit. “Where are the rest of my clothes?” she demanded, looking carefully around the cave, but they were nowhere to be found. All she had were her pantaloons and her undershirt. Irritated, though not having any other choice in the matter, she reached for her pantaloons and realized they were wet. “He washed them!” she exclaimed, holding them up to better see them. Shaking her head in irritation that now she had to wear wet clothes, she pulled the pantaloons on despite the dampness remaining in the fabric, followed by the still damp undershirt.
She sat on the log she’d found her underclothes on for only a moment before she headed for the entrance of the cave. She very anxiously approached the cliff’s edge and looked down at the ground below. The only thing she saw was the skaevin she’d befriended, lying alone in the sun. The bowl she’d given him water with, lying empty a few feet away from him. Looking back toward the village itself, she realized that it was further away than she’d first thought. Apparently, the Orcs brought all their stolen merchandise just inside the cliff walls of their village to break it up and go through it all while determining who got what, and what they’d sell or keep. Now that that part of scavenging the ship she’d arrived on was finished, the people of the village had vacated the space directly beneath Valka’s cave and cliff.
Delia glanced toward the skaevin once more and realized it was looking at her. “You’re hungry and thirsty, aren’t you?” she asked.
She looked back at the village, further to her left, then toward the waves she could hear crashing further to her right. She walked to the far right following the cliff’s ledge as far as she could and was surprised that at the back of the cliff, it provided a view of the beach and bay, complete with the rocks sticking up out of the water that had been partially responsible for the ship they’d been on becoming stranded. As she stood there, looking out over the water, she wondered if Valka had watched their impending demise, determining then and there that he’d claim one of the women for his own, or if he’d even considered such a thing before seeing her and deciding that she was his. Ultimately, it didn’t matter. She belonged to the old, scarred Orc, now. And he’d promised to protect her, and considering where she could have ended up, it wasn’t a bad ending at all.
The call of the skaevin distracted her from her musings. She walked back around to where the cave entrance was located and peered over the cliff’s edge again. Sure enough, it was looking up at her.
“Fine. I’ll bring you some of Valka’s fish. Lord knows I don’t want it.”
Delia went inside and began going through the storage spaces he’d cut into the side of his cave. It took her very little time to find the dried fish and took at least a dozen pieces, wrapping them in a strip of cloth to make then easier to carry. Then she began to look for a bowl or cup or anything to carry water in.
The huge raptor called again, urging her to hurry.
“I’m coming!” she called loudly.
“Everything on this island is so damned impatient!” she complained as she finally exited the cave and started climbing down the rough hewn footholds Valka had carved into the side of his cliff. It was slow-going, climbing down carefully because the stairs, if you could even call them that were so far apart, it was not possible to walk them, she had to climb them, either up or down, dependent on the direction she was going. He’d obviously never considered that someone smaller than he was might need to use them. Or perhaps he had, and that was exactly why they were so widely spaced. They were difficult for her to maneuver, but not impossible.
Finally reaching the bottom, she jumped from the last one that sat about six feet off the ground. Landing, then falling on her ass, she hurriedly got up and glanced around to be sure she wasn’t noticed by those far to the left in the actual village. Thankful that no one seemed to have noticed her yet, she moved toward the skaevin, who far too easily sat up and waited for her.
The skaevin made soft, trilling noises, welcoming her as she approached.
Delia smiled and shook her head. “I think that maybe you’re not as hopeless as you like me to think. You’ve figured out how to get a free meal,” she said, laughing as she laid out the fish she’d brought for the creature.
The skaevin eagerly ate up all the fish, then cautiously moved its head closer to inspect her clothing and hands for more.
“That’s it. That’s all I brought. When Valka comes back, I’ll find out where a bowl or something is and I’ll bring you water. Maybe he’ll have a bucket,” she said with a shrug.
The bird rubbed his head against her hand.
She petted it very slowly, careful not to make any fast moves and startle it, then it stood, spread its wings and flew away.
Delia stood there, shocked for a moment, before she laughed heartily. She’d been completely taken in by the huge creature. He had indeed found a way to get a free meal.
Still chuckling she started back for the footholds to return to Valka’s cave. The sound of soft voices murmuring, and some snickering let her know that she wasn’t as completely unnoticed as she thought she was. She glanced at them only briefly before she focused on the first step she needed to make it up so she could return to the shelter of Valka’s cave. She tried a few times to jump high enough to grip the top of the bottom step, but just couldn’t get high enough to grab it.
Still, she heard some of the villagers laughing and whispering about her. With her back to them she hesitated only for a second to look down at herself. She was far more covered in her under-clothes than anyone else she’d seen in this group so far. She straightened her back, lifted her chin and tried to get up the stairs again. She’d not considered how she’d get back up without Valka there to help her when she’d decided to tend to the skaevin.
The steady increase in volume of the voices and laughter, let her know their owners were moving her way. The last thing she wanted was to deal with any type of trouble without Valka, but if she had to, she would. She gathered her courage, straightened her back, and lifted her chin in preparation of turning to face those intending to give her any kind of grief. But before she could turn to look at them, the tone of their words turned from amused to urgent.
She turned quickly to look their way and realized she was in serious danger. The women among them were calling to her, telling her to run. And the reason? Skala. Skala had just breached their group and was running toward her, a steady snarl pouring from his chest.
Knowing she couldn’t make it back up to the cave, she turned and broke into a run toward the beach. She had no idea what she’d do when she got there, but she couldn’t just stand there and wait for him to reach her, so she ran as quickly as she could. But the sound of heavy, hurried footfalls, coupled with angry snarls began to bear down on her, she knew she was about to be attacked. “Valka!” she screamed, just as Skala reached out and wrapped a hand in her hair, yanking her off her feet and smashing her onto the ground.
Delia screamed, trying to turn over to defend herself, all the while demanding that Skala get off of her.
He grabbed her head from behind again and slammed her face into the ground, and thankfully somewhat soft sand with one hand while she felt his other grab the back of her pantaloons and rip them from her body, exposing her to the air and any who might want to see.
Delia became enraged, panic taking over as she screamed threats at him, trying to kick her legs, turn her head, anything at all to gain a little more edge so she could try to buck him off.
But it didn’t matter, Skala kept holding her down, only snarls and growls pouring from him as he manhandled her.
He shoved his knee between her legs, slamming it against her pubic bone painfully, then forced his hips between her thighs.
She cried out as she fought him, trying to force her legs back together.
He let go of her head to try to hold her still so he could finish what he intended to do, but she took that opportunity to scurry forward, trying to get away from him.
He grabbed her by the ankle, yanking her back to where she’d been and punched her in the ribs to knock the wind out of her so she’d stop fighting, then twice more once to the side of her head, the other in the back of the head to stun her.
She felt him still behind her as he spread her legs further and his body settled on top of hers again as he loomed over her. She felt his hips as he pressed himself against her, then… she felt nothing. His weight was suddenly gone from atop her, and the roaring above and behind her was not even noticed as she let the darkness take her. She welcomed the respite as she lost consciousness, glad at least that she wouldn’t have to witness all that he planned to do to her body.
~~~
Valka approached the village with a leather pouch filled with eggs. He held his head up proudly as he always did, but this morning even more so. He’d awakened early and gone in search of food other than the dried fishes he’d offered his female the previous night. It was clear to him that she did not enjoy them. To fatten her up and keep her healthy, he needed to find foods she would willingly eat. And he’d been successful. Not only had he found the eggs he’d searched for, he’d trapped one of the small creatures that traversed the island using small tunnels to move about to keep from being seen. He’d caught, killed and skinned the animal. He’d already pierced it with a sharp stick to roast it over the fire. It would provide meat for her to eat. The pride he felt this day was from providing for one that needed him. He’d never had such a feeling.
As he reached the edge of the village he heard shouting, laughter, and jeering. He scowled at those few gathered to watch whatever it was that had brought them out of their homes at so early an hour. He could hear angry snarls and growls beyond the other end of the village, beyond his cave even, where the cliffs narrowed to a slender walk through leading out to the beach. Just as worry had him quickening his step, one of the village elders shuffled over to him, her crooked hand reaching out to touch his arm.
Valka snatched away from her touch at the same time he turned to look down at her.
“It is your female, Valka. Skala…” she said, as she pointed toward the ruckus he could hear up ahead.
Dropping all he carried, including his battle-axe in his haste, he started running not hearing the end of her sentence. He shoved people out of his way carelessly as he raced to get Delia. The scene he ran up on enraged him. Delia lay on the sand, her clothing ripped from her body, Skala punching her to subdue her as she struggled against him while he tried to mount her. Valka lost all sense of reason. He grabbed Skala by the hair and neck, and in one single motion lifted him off Delia, tossing him through the air to slam against the closest cliff wall.
In slow motion it seemed, Skala slid down the cliff wall and to his knees in the sand. Valka didn’t wait to see if Skala was alive, grabbing him as soon as his knees hit the sand and pounding him repeatedly face first against the cliff wall. He didn’t stop until what was once Skala was barely recognizable as a body. And even then he dropped Skala’s body to the sand and began to stomp and kick what remained.
At some point, while still beating the bloody mass that was once Skala, Valka realized there were more to deal with. Slowly he turned, his chest heaving, his expression a harbinger of death, and the blood that coated him a warning to all those who stood by, entertained by the attack on his female. His entire body was coiled tightly, ready to lunge at his new targets; those who laughed instead of helping Delia. He took a step toward them, then another, and another until he was chasing and they were running. The females, he shoved to the ground and pushed out of his way as he focused on the males first. He caught one male, holding him by the hair and pounding his face with his opposite hand over and over again until he was unconscious. Valka dropped the male to the ground before darting quickly to the side to snatch another of them out of hiding behind the jagged rocks. This one made the mistake of trying to swing at Valka. Valka grinned coldly as he caught the male’s arm and brought it down on his lifted knee to force the elbow to bend backward, breaking at the joint. The male went to his knees screaming in pain as a loud snap reverberated. Valka kicked him in the throat, leaning over him as he lay on his back struggling to breathe. “Die,” Valka sneered at him. “Valka watch. Valka laugh.”
Valka stood over him and waited until he died while forcing loud, frightening laughs from his chest. Once the male was dead, Valka lifted his head, searching for the rest. There weren’t many. Those who had something to fear from him had continued running and were now hiding themselves away in their homes. It didn’t matter, though, he knew who they were. Those standing around him now, had no reason to fear him. They came out to see for themselves why Valka had lost control. He glared at them, preparing to send a message through them to all those he planned to kill. “Hurt Valka female. You die.”
No one said a thing, they simply watched him wide-eyed, thankful they weren’t even sure which female was his.
“Valka,” a feeble voice called.
Valka turned at the sound of his name and found the old woman who’d approached him earlier trying to get to Delia, but no one could get close. The skaevin she’d been feeding, attracted by the noise and scent of blood was sitting beside her, its giant wings covering her body. “Go! Move away from her!” the old woman shouted, taking an old soft blanket off her shoulders and waving it toward the skaevin. The giant raptor stretched its head toward her, snapping its beak.
Valka hurried back to Delia, getting as close as he could.
“It won’t let me near her,” the woman said.
“Move!” Valka bellowed, trying to charge the bird and make it move away from Delia.
Instead of showing any concern at all for those trying to make it leave, it settled more comfortably and tucked its wings more tightly around Delia, who still lay unconscious.
“Feed it,” the old woman suggested. “Lure it away.”
Valka glanced around quickly, his gaze landing on the two bodies he’d left bleeding in the sand. He strode over to Skala and grabbed up what was left of him, dragging the body back toward the skaevin. “Eat!” Valka shouted, tossing the bloodied mass off to the side.
The skaevin eyed Skala’s body, then Delia.
“He’s protecting her,” the woman said.
Valka unable to contain himself any longer, circled the skaevin, looking for a way to dart in and get Delia away from it. Finally deciding he’d kill the creature if he had to, he looked around for his battle-axe realizing he’d dropped it somewhere along the way. Thinking of the way Delia had handled the beast, he did the same. “Go,” he said, keeping his voice low and non-threatening. “Mine Delia,” Valka said, kneeling beside Delia, and touching her gently. Relief washed over him when he realized her skin was warm, she was still alive.
The skaevin watched him closely, making sure he wasn’t hurting Delia.
After a few tries, Valka finally managed to pull her closer to himself and away from the skaevin.
The old woman quickly tossed her worn blanket over Delia to cover her, and Valka rose from the ground with Delia in his arms. The skaevin emitted its shrill call, objecting, but it seemed to realize that Valka was trying to help her, not hurt her.
“He hit her hard, she may have broken ribs, too. She’ll need care until she wakes and recovers. Bring her to my hut, I’ll care for her until she’s well,” the old woman said.
Valka looked down at Delia still unconscious in his arms. He blew across her face to try to remove some of the sand.
“Bring her to me, I’ll care for her until she’s strong enough to return to you,” the woman said.
Valka shook his head despite the fact that the women of the tribe routinely cared for those injured until they were able to care for themselves. “Mine,” he said, his voice gravelly with emotion as he adjusted her body so he held her more securely. He walked away from the elder, and without stopping to rebalance Delia, he jumped up to the lowest foothold in his cliff wall with very little effort, not slowing until he reached the top of his cliff and stepped onto the flat ledge leading to his cave. Valka waited until he was inside his cave and adjusted her in his arms, putting her head on his shoulder and replacing his hands so that he wasn’t touching her ribs.
“Valka kill Skala more!” he growled as he strode right past his bed of furs and took her straight to the thermal pools that only he and Delia knew his cave hid deep within its walls. He approached the bathing pool, and walked right off its side, dropping into the warm, soothing water. He just stood there, looking down at Delia resting in his arms as he willed her to open her eyes and disagree with him again. It was part of what he liked most about her, she was not afraid to let him see that she was not happy with him. She was brave, and she was loud. He held her floating just on top of the water and used his other hand to cup handfuls of water and drip them down over her face and hair. Once he was sure that the sand was off her face and body, and her hair rinsed clean, he took one large leap out of the water and landed beside the pool, still holding Delia.
Valka took a few minutes to wring some of the water out of her silver hair, then took her back to his furs and put her right to bed. He dragged one of the large logs he used to sit by the fire over near the bed and sat down on it, simply watching her sleep.