Giselle watched the injured man weave as the manx veered away from the transport. The beast was adrift without its rider to direct him. The manx had no clue which direction to go. The frothing manx was wide eyed, huffing in confusion as the barely conscious warrior slid further to one side.
She had to do something, or the warrior was going to fall and get crushed. Plus the next time the manx ran into the transport it might cause a wreck.
"Stay down." Giselle told Sabin.
Giselle grabbed a rope and watched as the manx again veered their way. Although she'd ridden horses on more than one occasion, she was far from a jockey. Giselle stood up, gauged the distance and said a little prayer before taking a leap. She led with one foot hoping to land astride the beast. Giselle's foot slipped on the manx's sweaty back but she grabbed its scruff and held on for dear life as her ass crashed down between the creature's shoulders.
Giselle twisted and looped the rope around the warrior behind her. It took some doing, but she got either end tied off to the beast's saddle. That was the best she could do for him for the moment. Giselle turned back around and leaned forward on the manx.
Giselle looked ahead to see they were charging towards a narrow pass where the mountains pinched the valley with it rocky face, maybe a few thousand feet across. She scanned the caravan and was relieved to see the wagon with Sabin up ahead. Giselle wondered how she'd gotten separated from the transport so fast. Giselle was no fool she couldn't stay this far back. She couldn't fight like the surrounding warriors, she had no weapon, and was no match against flying debris or stray gun fire. Giselle needed to catch up.
"I need you to get us up there." Giselle yelled at her striped mount as she spurred the creature further up into the middle of the caravan to safety and cover.
Kagan quo Rordan
Kagan barked out orders as their small contingent approached the pass. Kagan hoped like hell his army waited on the other side. The ass end of their caravan was taking heavy fire and they could use the support. The group of Scelus Cadi moved far swifter than anticipated while Kagan was slowed by the number of Toufik they liberated. It wasn't the entire Scelus Cadi army on their heels, at least not at the moment. But there was enough enemy nipping at their tails to overwhelm the small group of warriors he'd brought on this risky mission. Kagan hoped he didn't regret this foray.
"Dagaa hold the front with the first and third guard. I'm circling to the rear with the second and fourth."
It was Kagan's duty to lead and protect all his men. Kagan gritted his teeth and held true to that goal, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't also want to check on Giselle and the boy. Kagan brought his men around to lend support to the rear of their train. He quickly assessed everything as he passed. The middle of the caravan was catching occasional shrapnel but seemed to be holding. There were minor injuries among some of the Toufik as well as the warriors, but everyone looked like they'd survive unlike the report he received from the rear.
"Where the hell is that transport?!"
Kagan had passed several cargo skids but had yet to come to the one holding Giselle and Sabin. He had no idea they'd fallen this far back. The next one looked like it held nothing but supplies till Kagan came alongside and noticed Sabin peering out from a blanket as he huddled behind some crates.
Kagan searched the transport frantically.
"Where is Jeezelle?"
Sabin looked at him wide eyed and pointed out the other side. "She jumped." The boy sobbed.
"Stay down!" Kagan roared.
What the hell? Giselle surely hadn't been so foolish as to jump. Something gripped Kagan's chest. Giselle was so small, what if she was jostled out? She'd be crushed beneath the manx and rota.
Kagan said a prayer as he goaded Idris forward and circled to the other side of the wagon. There a hundred paces back close to the skirmish was a sight Kagan never thought he'd behold.
Giselle was crouched over the back of a manx, the wind whipping through her golden hair. Her face was serious yet radiant as Giselle kicked her heels, spurring the manx to move like the lightning.
For a brief instant Kagan was taken by the image. Giselle looked like a living breathing version of the Goddess Kali, glorious and unrestrained. He'd never been able to rectify how the Cadi goddess was both the embodiment of fertility and also a fierce warrior, not when Cadi females were so gentle and reserved. As Kagan looked at Giselle, he suddenly understood. Kagan shook loose of the daydream.
"JEEZELLE." Kagan yelled.
His fearless pet was going to get herself killed. Kagan caught a glimpse of the bloodied warrior collapsed behind her as she moved closer.
"So that's why." Kagan shook his head. Giselle was too brave and compassionate for her own good.