The Warrior's Pet(74)

The Scelus Cadi warrior made so much noise as he escorted Giselle through the forest, Dagaa and Stone didn't have a hard time following him. Giselle's pale face turned this way and that looking around nervously. She knew Kagan's men were out here but didn't know exactly where.

Giselle was shoved into a slightly larger more lavish camp than the rest. Stone melted into the darkness to notify the others of the location leaving Dagaa to watch over Giselle. This was his prime target, the others knew what to do. Dagaa was conflicted. As Giselle's Second Dagaa was ready to storm in and take her back by force, but that would get them all killed. Instead he watched hoping Giselle didn't give up any information under duress.

"So why exactly was my stolen pet wandering the forest at night?" Vigdis asked the warrior as he tugged Giselle away from the male.

"I do not know Daimio. She just stumbled into our camp." The warrior said nervously.

"And why is she cloaked?" Vigdis huffed as he tugged at the clothing Giselle wore.

Giselle pulled back, yanking the material from Vigdis and tucked it around her with a cold shiver. The male just chuckled and pushed her back.

"She does speak. You could ask her." Madhava suggested as he looked shrewdly at Giselle.

Vigdis snorted then shrugged. "So pet what were you doing in the forest?" Vigdis demanded but didn't look as if he expected much.

"Escaping." Giselle said without batting an eye.

Dagaa almost snorted at the quick lie she offered up.

"Escaping? To where?" Vigdis laughed.

"Anywhere I don't care. Look what the bastard did to me!" Giselle sobbed in outrage as she showed them the new brand on her shoulder then covered it quickly.

Vigdis eyes widened at the warrior's ink.

The brand hurt like a bitch Dagaa knew. It would be a good reason to runaway, but Giselle had done that to herself. She looked terribly stricken and indignant. She played her part so well she almost convinced Dagaa that she was fleeing. Giselle was a wily female.

"That son of metcor put his name on my pet!" Vigdis raged. "First, he steals what is mine then he brands her." Vigdis shook with anger. He was holding Giselle too tight Dagaa could see by the way she flinched. "Where is that bastard now?" Vigdis asked her as he gripped her arms.

"I don't know." Giselle said innocently.

"So how did you manage to get free?" Madhava asked as he eyed Giselle.

Madhava was cunning and shouldn't be underestimated. Any warrior that did found themselves at the losing end of the warrior's blade.

"He wasn't paying much attention to me. Do you have any idea how many dead bodies there are in that city?" Giselle shook her head in disgust. "I figured this was as good a time as any."

Dagaa smiled. Giselle was playing the ignorant pet yet feeding them information that made it seem like Kagan was preoccupied with the tragedy that had befallen Nazario.

"Well don't get any ideas about sneaking off." Vigdis tugged Giselle to him and pawed at her breast.

Dagaa watched her cringe.

"I won't unless you plan on branding me too." Giselle replied looking meek. "That was awful. How can you possibly stand it?" Giselle asked as she touched the marks on Vigdis' skin.

Dagaa knew Giselle too well. The cunning woman was attempting to stroke Vigdis' ego. She never ceased to amaze him. The fact she wasn't a blubbering mess was enough to earn his admiration. Dagaa wished he could go in and rescue Giselle but that would betray their operation. He hated that fact. If anything happened to her Kagan would be devastated. But there was nothing to be done, the little warrior was on her own till a better opportunity presented itself. Dagaa prayed that Ismat was right, and that Giselle was indeed blessed by Kali.





11 The Battlegrounds




Giselle

It was as cold as a witch's titty, even the adrenalin coursing through Giselle wasn't keeping her warm. She wished she'd put on warmer clothes. Then again she was lucky she had her clothes still. All it would take was one of the enemy seeing the bite marks on the crook of her neck and her little charade would be over.

Giselle sat in quiet anticipation as many of the warriors dozed and the others that were supposed to be keeping watch talked openly about the upcoming siege on the city. Vigdis had retired to a tent that was too large for the small clearing while his commander Madhava kept watch. He seemed to be the only one doing his duty.

She hoped little Sabin was okay. She had to assume he was since no one was reporting a lost boy amongst the camps.

A howling sound echoed in the distance. Then several more responded deep in the forest. Giselle shivered knowing that the call hailed the beginning of the attack.

"It was foolish to run away. Those things you hear could tear you limb from limb." Madhava commented as he looked out into the night.