The Warrior's Pet(66)

On the opposite end of the field the funeral pyre still raged. No one was ignorant of that fact or what was coming tomorrow, yet the air was still filled with happy sounds. Everyone was in positive spirits.

"So everything is ready." Giselle sighed and leaned into Kagan.

"Yes." He wrapped his arms around her handing Giselle a cup. "Tonight we will honor the dead."

Giselle nodded as she took a sip of something like wine. It wasn't unpalatable like the harsh liquor that had knocked her off her feet.

"Then there will be another ceremony." Kagan smiled down at her looking dark and sexy. "I will address Kali and beg for two favors."

"And what is that?" Giselle asked.

"Success for my people tomorrow and you."

Giselle stared for a moment taking in Kagan's words.

"What do you mean?" Giselle asked her stomach fluttering.

"I think you know my little mate. You agreed to have me. Now before my people and the Goddess we will be bonded." Kagan grinned proudly.

"I don't know what to do. I don't want to screw up." Giselle said nervously. She couldn't believe this would be her wedding and she hadn't even known. "I should've fixed my hair nicer." Giselle reached up horrified she'd been wallowing on the floor less than an hour ago.

"You are gorgeous. All you need to do is say yes when asked." Kagan kissed her forehead before getting up.

"Vidya Cadi!" Kagan bellowed his voice carrying over the entire field. "Let us honor our fallen brethren."

Ismat got up and moved in front of the bonfire.

"Venerable Kali we come before you today to thank you for all the blessings you have seen fit to shower upon your people. We are saddened that so many of your children have crossed over sooner that we were willing to let them go, but all things come to pass according to your plan. And though we are loathe for our loved ones to leave us we know that they are in a better place by your side."

Giselle listened as Ismat blessed the dead similar to funerals back home. Kagan held her close as one Cadi after another came forward and spoke heart rending words about their family and friends. Giselle found herself in tears even though she didn't know a single one of the deceased. She knew the survivors and felt their pain. Giselle couldn't help but mourn for her own loved ones, her parents, sisters and the friends she'd never gotten a chance to say goodbye to and would never see again.

There were several minutes of quiet reflection. When Giselle opened her eyes Kagan was absent as well as several of the other males she knew. She looked around but didn't see him nearby. The air thrummed with anticipation of what was to come next. Everyone was silent, expectant, even the children. Giselle knew Kagan planned to claim her in front of his people but she had no idea what that would entail. It was nerve racking.

Suddenly close to a hundred warrior marched out into the clearing. Their faces were painted similar to the tattoos many of them wore on their bare chests. The warriors wore their long black hair loose. The men stood several rows deep facing the crowd but centered on Giselle.

The boom of a bass drum resounded and the warriors in unison squatted in a wide kneed stance. Giselle sucked in a deep breath staring in awe. One warrior started to chant in time with the slowly building thud. Giselle recognized that it was Dagaa despite the fearsome painted on mask. Charcoal rimmed his eyes and the black lines on his chin made him look like he was snarling.

The rest of the men took up the chant as they stomped then pounded their chests in time with the drum. The warriors performed a mock fight that reminded Giselle of the Haka dance the Maori of New Zealand would do. Giselle's heart was in her throat as the men moved in unison. The sonorous drum beat burrowed its way into her psyche, till Giselle felt like it was an extension of her soul, pulsing and swelling in intensity then just as suddenly it stopped. The men knelt on one knee, splayed their arms wide and roared to the heavens.

The group parted and from behind the fire Kagan approached. He was nude all but a scrap of fabric covering his manhood. Kagan presented an imposing silhouette with the blazing bonfire at his back, his black hair whipping in the breeze. He silently surveyed his people looking every bit the foreboding warrior king. When Kagan's liquid obsidian gaze fell upon her, it flared with passion and purpose. Giselle shivered as goosebumps rose up on her skin.

"Tonight our Daimio offers up to Kali a sacrifice." Ismat bellowed. "May his people and the Goddess find it worthy."

Giselle watched in horror as Ismat pulled a brand from the fire. It glowed white hot as Ismat pressed it to Kagan's chest. Giselle gasped but Kagan barely grimaced, staring stoically at her as his flesh sizzled and charred. When Ismat pulled the metal away from Kagan's chest there was an ornately shaped welt. Ismat reached out and ground a palm full of black powdered paint into the raw mark. Ismat repeated the horrific process and Giselle was ready to jump up and intercede.