"This was most impressive." Madhava gestured to the battlefield complimenting Kagan. "Your pet didn't betray you even while surrounded by the enemy." Madhava looked Kagan in the eye showing him just how impressed he was that Giselle hadn't broken down. Kagan hugged Giselle close.
"And how did you toss a male twice your size?" Madhava asked Giselle in awe.
"It's called Judo." Giselle replied.
"It's a fighting art from her planet. You know Madhava Giselle here may be a little female." Kagan smiled down at Giselle. "But her people have been at war even longer than we have." Kagan nodded to field and forest indicating who had planned all this.
Light dawned in Madhava's eyes as they flew to Giselle. Kagan couldn't help but smile. Woe to the male that underestimated his little mate.
"Hey that's nothing to be proud of." Giselle elbowed Kagan. "Lots of people died here today."
Kagan sobered up. Giselle was right. He was gloating over their victory and the fact that his mate was a little fighting menace while others had given their life. It was just too amazing to conceive. Not only had they beat an army that started out twice their size but Vigdis had fallen.
"You are right beautiful." Kagan admitted humbling himself in respect for the dead.
"My people bickered and slaughtered each other by the hundreds of thousands over one thing or another. And let me tell you, if you want a reason to come to blows you will always, ALWAYS find one, land, resources, religion, race, revenge you name it." Giselle railed. "Don't do that to each other. End this foolishness. Figure out a way."
The warriors stared at Giselle in stunned silence as she begged them to make peace. She was quite a sight. Kagan could never quite believe how someone so delicate and stunning had such fight and forgiveness in her at the same time.
"I had no clue what Vigdis had done here. I don't expect you to spare me but know that I had no involvement in the atrocity that happened here." Madhava insisted and Kagan believed the male.
"My little mate is right we must find peace before it's too late. It was the Jurou Biljana that sold Vigdis the weapon that killed the entire city. Make no mistake, they will wait for us to weaken ourselves and then swoop in. If not the Jurou Biljana then some other opportunistic species."
"United we stand, divided we fall." Giselle said with a funny smile.
"So what do we do about them my little warrior?" Kagan asked Giselle referring to the surrendering enemy.
"A great leader wields mercy and forgiveness just as adeptly as steel." Giselle offered.
Kagan turned to Madhava who stood expecting to be executed at any moment.
"Can you bring yourself to offer up your allegiance to me." Kagan demanded resting the point of his sword in the dirt.
Madhava looked at him in surprise. The warrior bowed his head then placed one fist to his chest as he dropped to one knee.
The rest of the Scelus Cadi warriors followed suit much to Kagan's surprise. They were then joined by Kagan's men. Kagan looked around to see hundreds of men kneeling. He then turned to Giselle.
Without her none of this would have come to pass. Giselle had opened his eyes to so many things. Not only had she shown him a way to defeat his enemy but had also reminded him of the reason they fought to begin with, the safety and security of Cadi as a whole. Giselle saw past his foolishness and forgave him for the way he treated her. In the process she proved that not only was she his equal but she may well be the better warrior. Giselle was most definitely one of Kali's own, sent from afar to bring love into his life and change his world. For all those reasons and many more he would worship at her feet till the end of his days.
Kagan placed his fist on his chest and knelt at his pet's feet bowing his head to Giselle, his beautiful bonded, his love.
12 Epilogue - Attacking with Fire
Giselle
Giselle looked out over the market place as she stood by the entrance of the giant tent. There were so many Cadi warrior gathered in the auction tent and outside casually milling about. It was shocking to think that all these men both Vidya Cadi and Scelus Cadi alike were gathered here for one purpose.
News of Vigdis quo Carnager's death had spread fast. And despite concerns the Scelus Cadi had taken the news relatively well. She and Kagan traveled with Madhava and the remaining Scelus Army through the Scelus Cadi provinces reassuring the people that Kagan, their new Daimio was not the same kind of tyrant they were accustomed to under Vigdis' rule. In fact Madhava had turned into Kagan's biggest champion much to their surprise. It seemed the male had been waiting to serve a Daimio worthy of his respect. Kagan did not disappoint.
Giselle and Kagan watched as the Jurou Biljana unloaded the last of the Toufik from their ships.