The Warrior's Pet(7)

Kagan was the first to concede that his pride and prowess often got the best of him. Even now half of his mission here in Scelus Cadi territory was to take petty revenge. He refused to let Vigdis quo Carnager get away with the blow he had dealt his people. Vigdis had nearly handicapped the Vidya Cadi last season when he stole the new Toufik chattel Kagan had acquired. As the Daimio and reigning lord of his people, it was Kagan's job to right that wrong.

Kagan was pleased as he observed the strong Toufik Vigdis' lieutenant purchased. He was going to enjoy stealing this group from the son of a metcor. Besides it would be in the best interest of the industrious simian breed. Vigdis quo Carnager was a ruthless bastard. The things Kagan had seen his distant cousin do made him ashamed that they shared blood no matter how diluted it was.

The crowd quieted as the last acquisition of the day was ushered into the market tent. Kagan saw the top of the opulent cage being pushed to the stage but couldn't see what it contained.

"What in Kali's name did they put in a pavo aerie?"

Kagan moved closer to the stage keeping his hood in place as he pushed past several bodies. The crowd made way since he was no small warrior. As the audience split Kagan didn't see the abundance of colorful plumes the rare pavo sported.

There on the gilt cage floor crouched a tiny pale thing, the likes of which Kagan had never seen. What had the Jurou Biljana found?

The cage settled on the stage and the small creature rose up on two legs, yet it was hardly any taller. It was as small as a child. Kagan looked from the pale tiny feet with five little toes each, to long shapely legs. The creature was small but its limbs were long and graceful for its size though not out of proportion. Unlike the Cadi who were defined by muscle the creature was rather soft and rounded in the thighs.

Kagan glanced at the junction of the creature's thighs to see a cleft covered in pale hair. The creature was a female. His eyes followed the full curves of the female's hips, to the narrow waist, up to a set of large yet pert breasts. The generous mounds were so pale that the profound contrast of their ripe berry tips was compelling. Kagan couldn't help but stare. Cadi females weren't quite so endowed by comparison, nor were they as shapely and delicate looking.

Kagan noted the almost yellow long hair that curtained a slight pair of shoulders which were thrown back as the female stood proud. The upward tilt of her chin spoke of defiance and made Kagan smile. To think such a small female stood so bravely in front of hundreds of fearsome Cadi warriors. Cadi females twice as large and strong would barely be able to contain their fear in such a position.

A blue pair of eyes the color of the sacred waters, made contact with Kagan's as the female surveyed the crowd. They were so stunning and expressive. Kagan was enthralled. The way the female seemed to assess him intelligently was also a shock. Her gaze a mix of curiosity, trepidation and censure did not divert or lower as he expected from a female and certainly a slave for that matter. Too soon her eyes moved on to study the crowd in an attempt to ascertain her fate.

Kagan nearly missed the bidding as it began. He wasn't surprised that the sum started so high. The creature was unusual and compelling. When Vigdis' lieutenant raised his hand offering an outrageous sum Kagan smirked.

"Of course Vigdis needs a new plaything." He thought sarcastically.

Well Vigdis quo Carnager wouldn't have his new pet, nor his Toufik slaves for long. Kagan quo Rordan wasn't Daimio of the Vidya Cadi for nothing. Unlike other spurious leaders Kagan wasn't just a tyrannical figurehead, he earned his position, warrior's ink and respect, one scar at a time.



Giselle

Giselle studied the tall frightening hulking male alien that had purchased her as he walked beside the cage ushering it away from the large auction tent. The man had to be well over seven feet tall. His red face was marred by a scar that ran from over his eye and down his left cheek. The alien had black hair like most of the species that ran down his back. Woven into it appeared to be sharp teeth similar to the long fangs in the man's mouth.

The demonic looking man's shoulders and arms were covered by black tattooed patterns that were only slightly obscured by scars new and old. The designs extended down the alien's back but Giselle couldn't see past the straps he wore holding numerous weapons and blades.

Giselle shivered. These were a violent people. That was more than apparent. Giselle had thought the Jurou Biljana's warning about being whipped for speaking was crazy but now she could easily see it wasn't an idle threat.

Giselle looked over at the herd of Toufik being led a hundred feet from her cage. They were being prodded to move quickly despite being compliant and hustling. The way their new owners treated them was obviously agitating the big hairy males. Giselle could tell by the way their hands moved signalling to each other.