"Are you sure?" Kagan asked looking concerned.
Giselle nodded.
"Giselle would like to help. Find me if you need anything." Kagan said to Giselle and Jolana before departing.
Giselle looked to the tall lithe female. Jolana looked back at her with mixed emotions. On one hand she seemed surprised as all Cadi that Giselle spoke and was permitted to be clothed. That expression was mixed with an assessing glance that was attempting to categorize what kind of creature Giselle was. But what overwhelmed all of it was sadness and exhaustion.
"Jolana I may be small and strange to you but I am stronger and smarter than I look. How may I assist you?"
Jolana's eyes widened. "We are preparing the little ones to meet Kali." The woman choked out.
Giselle followed her to a wagon where one of Kagan's warriors had taken over unloading the dead. Jolana attempted to take the form of a small child but was halted by another warrior from the army.
"No disrespect Marita but we will lay the little ones out, I can see you are tired. If you and the other females will assist the monk in preparing them."
Jolana nodded not arguing just moving on instinct. Giselle followed as they approached a shrouded figure moving up and down the lines. The figure tossed what looked like ashes, the black dust scattering in the wind as it descended on the dead.
"There are too many to mark them all but we hoped to anoint the little ones properly before they meet Kali." Jolana looked at her hesitantly.
Giselle wondered if it was some sort of sin for the Cadi to not honor the dead properly.
"I am sure that given the circumstances Kali will understand and I have no doubt the goddess and the little one's parents will appreciate the final honor you give the children in these tough times." Giselle hoped that her words expressed that she sympathized with this impossible task.
There were so many bodies it was staggering. What happened here reminded Giselle of the atrocities Stalin or Hitler had committed. Giselle was doing her best not to rebel against the sight, scents and sounds. The gathering flies would be enough to drive one insane but it was all the rest that truly was disturbing. No one ever spoke of the fact that death was horrible not just for the loss of life but what it did to a body. The slain Cadi were a pale purplish hue, with dull waxy eyes, and shriveled lips that stretched back from their fangs. The body released whatever was in it making for a terrible mess. The gasses of decomposition escaped especially when a body was moved, and when it did, it was not quiet no matter which end it came from. It all added a disturbing element to an already daunting task.
"Kali will welcome all her children regardless, but she will look favorably on us for performing this last rite for the little ones."
Giselle turned to see the shrouded figure standing behind her holding the ornate bowl with the black ash.
"Ismat how may we be of assistance, the warriors have taken over the task the females were doing." Jolana asked.
"Take one of the bowls over there and mark the little ones foreheads where I left off a bit ago, please."
Giselle moved to assist but several of the women that had joined them looked at her funny. Giselle paused wondering if you had to be initiated into their faith to do this, like first communion or confirmation for Catholics.
"Come you can assist me little female." Ismat said as he moved along the row, his long robe dragging in the dust. "Do you mind holding this?" He held out the bowl to her.
Giselle took the heavy brass basin and walked beside the male as he dipped a brush and cast it over the rows in a mass anointing. Giselle looked at the religious figure. He was tall but not built like the warriors. The hair beneath his robe looked like it had been cut close to his scalp.
"I think the females were worried Kali would not accept the children if a non-believer anointed them." Ismat said as he flicked his wrist over the dead. "Little do they understand that such things matter not to the Goddess."
"It is okay. I want to help not make this any harder than it already is. Ismat do you mind if I remove my coat I am getting warm."
"It is fine."
Ismat took the bowl but almost dropped it. Giselle quickly rescued it. He was more tired than he let on. Ismat smiled in thanks as he got a better grip on the vessel. The way his eyes wrinkled at the corners Giselle could tell he was older. Giselle shrugged out of her coat then tied it around her waist.
"Ismat have you had any water lately?"
"Yes little one, it has just been a long day."
Giselle nodded as she quickly bound up her hair then took the bowl back from Ismat. The male looked at her in a strange way. Like everyone else he was preoccupied with her tattoo and the bite at the crook of her shoulder which now had a twin on her opposite shoulder. At least he didn't strip her naked or yell at her to shut-up.