The Warrior's Pet(46)

"Repeat that again." Kagan said grimly.

"Nearly everyone in Nazario is lost." Grainne choked out.

How was it possible? The bustling city held several thousand Vidya Cadi and just as many Toufik. It was the province capitol where trade is carried out, and where the warriors quartered when the army occupied the region.

"The attack came so suddenly this morning. The Scelus Cadi ship came over head and we assumed it was the usual attempted air raid and bunkered down. Regent Pirus manned the armaments on the wall with the city's armigerent while I led the members of the manor to shelter. I kept waiting but there were none of the usual noises of assault. I emerged after two hours to get a status update and found absolute carnage. There are next to no survivors." Grainne practically sobbed.

Kagan had so many questions, like what killed so many people so fast? But he needed Grainne to finish his tale before the male completely lost it.

"There were only a few shelters with survivors, a hundred people at best. I don't understand it. They're all dead." Grainne whispered into the comm.

"What killed them?" Kagan asked.

"Nothing." Grainne said almost hysterically."There are no injured, it's as if their souls were snatched from their very bodies."

Kagan sat with his head in his hand as he attempted to focus on what had to be done.

"Grainne by my command you are now the regent of the city of Nazario and the whole of Fazl Province. Secure the city walls. Keep this comm line open I will contact you soon."

"Yes Daimio." Grainne said as he disconnected.

Kagan looked up to see Dagaa staring questioningly at him. Dagaa had only heard one side of the conversation but could see the news was grave. Kagan couldn't wrap his head around the magnitude of this atrocity. He didn't even know where to begin.

"I don't know if I can bring myself to repeat this, so gather Cyprian and my other commanders. We'll open a secure comm channel to the regents from the other provinces."

Dagaa acted fast and did as Kagan wished. Then Kagan with a heavy heart and mounting outrage retold the bleak tale.



Giselle

Giselle ate lunch with the Toufik and the day wore on with various tasks keeping Giselle busy, but as it got later she wandered into the warrior's camp to see what Kagan was up to. She hadn't wanted to hang on his every move, so she let him carry out his duty. Even little Sabin was doing little warrior tasks and didn't need her interference.

Giselle finally found Kagan surrounded by a throng of his commanders. He looked so dejected as he sat reviewing something with the men. Giselle walked up behind him and stood at his back. Though she got a glance or two the warriors were entrenched in planning.

Kagan leaned back against her as she placed her hands on his shoulders. He was extremely tense so Giselle rubbed and massaged his knotted muscles as she listened to the strained discussion.

"I say we attack Vigdis' army. We go in swift and without prejudice." Bram said angrily.

"Intel says the Scelus Cadi army is stationed on the far side of the swamps." Cyprian pointed at a terrain map. "But we don't have an update and won't with Nazario down."

"I'm betting Vigdis is even now pulling in forces from several other regions." Dagaa surmised.

"Then we will immediately send reinforcements from our provinces." A voice over a comm said. "This attack will not be tolerated, we will have vengeance." The voice sounded enraged.

"Ah but how quick will they arrive?" Kagan rubbed his chin as he considered the dilemma.

"Hold on we are getting images from Regent Grainne." Dagaa said as the comm beeped. "Pay attention. If any of you recognize the scourge that affected the citizens of Nazario speak up."

Giselle looked at the projected pictures and nearly became sick. Images of dead men, women and children piled so deep it was staggering. Someone was filming as a handful of exhausted looking warriors collected body after body and piled them up in a clearing.

Giselle gasped and gripped Kagan tight. He reached up and placed one hand on hers squeezing it for comfort, his and hers.

There were Cadi and Toufik alike with their sightless eyes staring back, their lips tinged slightly blue. Beyond that Giselle could not see what had killed all those people.

The Toufik pouring a cup of water for Kagan dropped the pitcher she was holding. Her hands fluttered frantically as she stared at the surreal and way too graphic images of the dead. Giselle knew she'd seen the gesture before but where?

Kagan reached out and halted the female. "Repeat that." He said to the Toufik who then repeated the hand gestures. "I don't understand of course it's an empty death."

"Empty death, empty death." Giselle silently repeated. It sounded familiar.