"I can't believe this!" Bram argued. "You've let that pet go to your head."
Kagan was upon him lightening fast, his canines bared an inch from Bram's face as Kagan gripped the male's black cloak.
"Speak again so foolishly and I will have your tail and fangs publicly removed. Are you so blinded by the fact Giselle is not one of us that you cannot see everything she pointed out is true?" Kagan snarled.
"As much as I do not like the idea of doing nothing. I agree." Cyprian conceded.
"Who said we were going to do nothing. Do you think me so spineless as to let this stand!" Kagan turned on the other man. "We will not come running because Vigdis snapped his fingers. We will seek retribution but at a time of our choosing. Go make ready."
All but Dagaa departed. Kagan was ready to throttle someone, anyone. Part of his frustration was due to his men, but part was because he'd forced Giselle to state her case in front of the other warriors and now they questioned him again. She had tried to tell him she needed his attention and just like the other fools he'd dismissed her. In true Giselle form she tore off his blinders without fear of reprisal. It nearly sickened Kagan to think what his anger and pride had nearly led him into.
"I am honored to be at your side." Dagaa said.
Kagan halted his mental admonishment and looked up in surprise.
"Few warriors have the strength to do what you just did." Dagaa added.
"I can think of one." Kagan's thoughts turned to Giselle. She was surrounded by foreigners who put her beneath even their chattel in status, and yet she persevered. It was staggering. "Where would we be if she hadn't spoken up?"
"Probably trudging through a swamp getting our tails kicked." Dagaa replied. "What do you think Giselle meant about our formations?"
"I am not quite sure. Come let us find out just how much my pet knows of war. You go first, I have a feeling Jeezelle is a bit frustrated." Kagan said pushing Dagaa forward in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"I think I'd prefer to go meet Vigdis in the swamp." Dagaa nudged back as they headed to find Giselle.
"Dagaa if anything should happen to me, promise me she will be cared for by no other." Kagan couldn't help but ask, his mind returning to the bleak reality of their situation. They may not be fighting today but it was coming.
"As her owner or her Second?" Dagaa asked.
Kagan couldn't reply. Dagaa asked a serious question with serious implications. As a pet Giselle would need a new master if anything happened to Kagan. But if Giselle were a Cadi female, she would require a Second should anything happen to her bonded warrior.
If given the choice Kagan desired the later. Giselle was his and not just as a pet. The fact that he'd been compelled to mark her said it all. But to formally bond with Giselle and have it recognized by his people Kagan would need support.
Dagaa seemed to accept Giselle's unique nature, he would care for her honorably either way. That was a comfort. However the Second often claimed the widowed female after a period of mourning. Kagan glanced over at his friend not liking the idea at all that the male might claim Giselle in the event of his death. Protect fine, claim not so fine.
So Kagan couldn't answer Dagaa just yet. Cadi didn't recognize Giselle as more than just a pet it would take time to change that view. Kagan had wanted to try to talk to Giselle about what the conjugo mark meant. However the more he became certain he wished to formalize their bond, the more events pointed to the fact she would not be accepted by his people.
It would be better to wait, rather than disappoint her by dangling freedom in her face only to snatch it away. He could go against the regents if he chose to, but if the monks denied his request then that was it. They were the final authority before Kali. What they upheld the people would uphold.
Either way he would keep Giselle by his side, nothing but death would make him give her up to another male.
A sudden sobering thought entered Kagan's mind. Giselle might just as easily reject him. After showing his tail on more than one occasion she might not even view him as suitable mate material. Kagan's heart stuttered in his chest. Potential rejection alone was a reason to keep his mouth shut on the subject.
"I'm starting to like the idea of meeting the Scelus Cadi in the swamps." Kagan grumbled feeling snared between a rock and a hard place. Battle seemed far more approachable than Giselle's potential rejection or attempting to change the minds of his people.
Giselle
Giselle sat in front of the tent eating last meal which had been brought to her as she watched the warriors around her packing up to move out. Giselle wondered what had been decided. Kagan was in a hard position.