Sabin nodded looking forlorn. Giselle sympathized whole heartedly.
"But who knows? There is no sense fretting over tomorrow and things we have no control over. We must do our best today and have courage to do the things we can. Where I am from there is a saying; A coward dies a thousand deaths, but the valiant taste of death but once."
"Wise words." Giselle turned and noticed Dagaa riding his manx beside them. "How are you two doing?"
"Well, Thank you" Giselle replied though she was a bit sore. The bite on her shoulder throbbed and her veejayjay was cramping for more than one reason, but overall she was good. "You and the rest of the men don't need to worry so much." Giselle waved her hand in dismissal of their concern. "This is nothing, unlike the time I broke my ankle during a Judo match. My opponent caught me with a foot sweep and I went down hard. The pain was a reminder to be more alert in the future." Maybe she was a bit masochistic but Giselle had won the next time she competed.
"You were sparring?" Dagaa asked in surprise.
"Yes a competition with a male even." Giselle put her hand to her mouth in an 'Oh my!' expression and then couldn't help the giggle that escaped.
She'd taken up Judo in college as an elective and then had stuck with it. It was good self defense for a female since it concentrated more on the take down rather than the power of a strike. Being a young woman living on her own she figured it was a wise skill. Of course here among these giant men there'd been no possibility of defending herself.
"This is not something we do." Dagaa said and many of the other warriors listening nodded in agreement. "Warriors do not battle females even in practice."
"Well Dagaa compared to you all I may be a little female but I might just surprise you. When we camp for the night I will show you a few things unless you are afraid of little old me." Giselle taunted.
"I can see why Kagan is pulling out his hair." Dagaa chuckled with a shake of his head before riding off.
Giselle smiled. Dagaa wasn't too bad. Maybe if she could win over a few of the Cadi things here might be bearable.
"So Sabin how about you teach me more of the Toufik hand gestures." Giselle asked.
Kagan quo Rordan
Kagan rode at the front of the caravan in silence as images of Giselle's marred body assailed him. He had lost his head. She worked her way so deep beneath his skin he didn't know up from down. Kagan hadn't even recalled biting her in the heat of the moment much less treating her so roughly. That was not like him, he didn't even lose his head in the midst of battle.
Kagan's mind kept circling back to the conjugo mark he'd placed on Giselle's shoulder. She was not Cadi nor would his people recognize her as such. Their species probably weren't even compatible, and yet the bond felt complete. What had he done?
Dagaa rode up beside him and they sat in silence for a long while.
"How is she?" Kagan desperately wanted to know. He didn't trust himself around Giselle after what he'd done but he found himself overwhelmed with concern.
"Fine. She is teasing and laughing with Sabin." Dagaa gave Kagan a sideways look.
It was obvious his lieutenant was curious if Kagan planned on punishing her again for speaking.
"What would you have me do? I clearly cannot force her to obey. You already saw what I did." Kagan nearly snarled.
Kagan hung his head. He was the leader. His people must follow orders and respect him or things fell apart. Yet here was this defiant pet making a fool of him. She incited him and confused him. He was struck by her intelligence and drawn to her physically. And now he was bonded to her by the mark. He was screwed.
"I don't think anything short of breaking her entirely will quiet that female and the punishment does not fit the crime." Kagan ran his hand through his hair tugging it.
"May I speak as your friend as well as your lieutenant?" Dagaa gave him a sympathetic look.
"Always." Kagan replied to his friend.
It was an unnecessary request. Dagaa knew Kagan respected his perspective and their brotherhood. Dagaa if he ever disagreed with Kagan always did it in private. In front of the men they were a united front. And though Kagan didn't always agree with his friend, and first commander, Dagaa brought viewpoints that Kagan could not given his elevated position.
"We have been at war too long as a people. We are constantly vigilant for attack such that we have let martial law practically become everyday law. We've let some things go to the extreme. We like the Toufik because they are strong, resilient, quiet and grateful to be here instead of on a planet where the elements are tearing it apart. Their silence has suited us well when stealth is imperative in times of war."