The hairy beasts did almost every task for the warrior race. Giselle wouldn't be surprised if the warrior's didn't even wipe their own asses. Though Kagan was the better of two evils, seemingly polite rather than vicious and demanding like Vigdis, it didn't belie the fact he still kept slaves. She didn't want a master even a kind one with a magic tongue.
Giselle lay debating the problem. There was no escaping this planet of bigots. She couldn't fight an entire race. Even if she could wage and win a dozen battles, it still did not mean she'd win equality in their eyes. No she'd have to somehow break Kagan's resistance with something far more powerful than physical strength. But what?
Giselle closed her eyes and pulled the blanket over head with a groan. How could she reason with these alien people and gain a measure of respect? What do warriors respect besides prowess in war?
There was a sudden weight on her chest and the point of a sharp knife poking through the blanket into her chest. Giselle struggled and pulled the blanket away to see the face of a boy.
"You aren't the Vidya Cadi Daimio!" The boy said in surprise.
Giselle looked at the disgruntled child. This must be the little prisoner the warriors are looking for. She couldn't understand why the warriors were holding the child prisoner but were now upset because he was in danger. It didn't make sense but what did on this alien world.
"No I am not." Giselle replied assuming the boy was looking for Kagan. She recalled the other warrior calling Kagan the title Daimio. "Do you think you can stop stabbing me?" Giselle asked calmly.
The boy huffed and got off her. Giselle sighed in relief. The boy's face didn't appear that old, but he was big like all of his race. He turned and started sneaking out beneath a flap of the tent.
"Hey where are you going?" Giselle asked. She had no doubt that Kagan was right about it not being safe for the boy to wander the wilds. She grabbed his arm. "It's not safe for you to venture into the jungle alone."
"It's better than being a prisoner. " He said indignantly.
"As a prisoner you will live to see another day, but out there some wild creature could hurt you." Giselle tried to reason with the youngster.
"I am a Scelus Cadi warrior. I do not fear death." The child puffed up his chest making her smile.
"I see but is it wise to throw your life away so foolishly when a better opportunity may be waiting?"
"They won't return me to my people. They're the enemy." The child said angrily.
"What is your name? My name is Giselle."
"Sabin"
"Well Sabin, I'm sure that if Kagan promised to return you to your people he will." Giselle hoped Kagan wouldn't make a liar of her.
Kagan quo Rordan
Kagan had tracked the boy back to the campsite but lost him amidst all the tracks around the tents. He shook his head in frustration as he approached his tent.
Kagan stopped as he was about to raise the tent flap hearing voices inside.
"What is your name? My name is Giselle." He heard his little pet say.
"Sabin" The boy replied.
Kagan smiled. None of his warriors had been able to get the child to tell them his name.
"Well Sabin, I'm sure that if Kagan promised to return you to your people he will." Giselle told the boy.
Kagan was surprised. Giselle didn't know him well enough to judge his character. The fact she said such a thing made Kagan inexplicably proud.
"I'm not listening to you. You're a pet. You shouldn't even be talking to me." The boy, Sabin, said angrily.
Kagan found the youth's comment made him uncomfortable. The boy spoke the truth and yet the way he said it was harsh to hear coming from one so young.
"So because you don't see me as your equal, but as a pet, that somehow makes it okay for you to be rude. Does being a pet mean that what I say is worthless?" Giselle asked very calmly. "I have feelings just like you do. I have value in the universe as a living breathing being just like you do. Nothing you call me changes that. You are angry because someone says you are a prisoner and you don't agree, but then you treat me with the same dishonor. It doesn't matter if you are talking to the Toufik, to the enemy, or to your own family, if you speak with honor it will be returned ten fold and you will honor yourself in the process."
Giselle's astute words struck Kagan hard. He had a newfound respect for his little pet as she spoke to the young warrior. He was starting to wonder what kind of creature the Jurou Biljana had sold them.
Kagan stepped into the tent and both Sabin and Giselle jumped in surprise.
Giselle sat wrapped in several blankets while the boy crouched nearby holding a sharp blade. Kagan frowned as he looked at the mark the little male had left on Giselle's chest. The boy wasn't much of a match for a full grown warrior but he could have easily hurt his little Giselle.