Warriors' Providence (Cadi Warriors Book 2)(79)

Dagaa's mouth opened in shock, then closed it. He nodded curtly to his Daimio and sat back down. This was entirely unprecedented. No doubt this was the first of many repercussions of Providence winning that damn contest. He and Madhava had only themselves to blame for that foolishness.

Dagaa was able to easily concede that Providence was the most experienced person here, but the thought of her risking her tail twisted his stomach in knots.

Madhava growled under his breath also unhappy about Kagan's decree. Dagaa's shoulders slumped in defeat.



Providence

Providence had kept her mouth shut during the last meeting when the regents debated whether to rescue the Toufik. She hadn't felt qualified to tell the Cadi what to do since their decision had overarching effects on the whole of society. However now that Kagan had decided to attempt a rescue, Providence was in her element.

Once the council wrapped their heads around the fact Kagan was committed to going on this dangerous mission the meeting progressed much better. The bulk of the regents were former warriors and were capable of teasing out strategy in war. They approached this rescue as a particularly heinous retreat scenario. It was clear the men were more than capable of plotting out a triage plan in a nasty situation.

All Providence had to do was pose the occasional suggestion or make points based on her own experience back home. When it came to the logistics of space travel Providence wasn't much help. However she did know how to form competent rescue teams and suggest viable drop points given the terrain pictured on the map of the Toufik planet.

Madhava and Dagaa didn't pose any more argument against her going on the mission. They stuck to the topic at hand, treating her as a fellow warrior, but she could tell they weren't pleased, even though they'd be on the same retrieval team.

Providence understood her men's concern, but there was no way she was backing down. It shocked her a bit that Kagan sided with her. Although Providence had a feeling if she hadn't won the position of Prime, he would've sidelined her despite her experience, or at the very least taken her advice but then made her stay home. That aggravated Providence to no end, but since things fell in her favor she wasn't about to argue how foolish the Cadi way of doing things was.

The day grew late and marching orders were disseminated to the warriors to prep the star ships and load up supplies.

As Providence, Dagaa and Madhava left the council room heading for their small house, her men were silent. By the time they entered the door Providence was pissed. She whirled on them.

"I appreciate your concern for my safety. But it's a slap in the face the way you relegate me to the position of female as if my pussy is the sum total of who I am. I trained long and hard and bested more than a few men to earn my position back home and I've been on too many rescue missions to even count." Providence ranted, shaking in anger.

The men stared at Providence in shock as she railed at them.

Providence had wondered why fate had brought her to Cadi. She believed whole heartedly that part of her fate was to meet her men, but she was seeing that another part of it was this mission. If she had been told back home, that she'd have an opportunity to rescue an entire people, nothing would've held her back. She was meant to do this. She felt that conviction as deeply as she felt the love for her two men.

"Providence this has nothing to do with your qualifications. I just can't stand the thought of you being in danger." Dagaa said with a pained expression.

Madhava nodded in agreement. He wasn't as outspoken as Dagaa but they were obviously of the same mind.

"I know you worry for me and I appreciate that, but how does your concern for me outweigh my concern for you?" Providence reasoned. There was a catch in her voice as she spoke. "Do you think I want you going off to that god forsaken planet, putting your ass in jeopardy? It would wreck me if you died. I would sooner be there in danger with you than here forced to live without you. My life would be nothing without the two of you." Providence cried.

The two men crowded around her caging her in.

"I'm sorry beautiful." Dagaa husked, affected by her fear of losing him.

"It’s not like we have children to think about. I'd rather die with my two men by my side than be sheltered like some precious piece of glass."

"I understand how you feel." Madhava rubbed her back. "I would follow Dagaa into a fire if I thought he needed me, and I would do the same and more for you."

"You guys saved me yesterday and only you could do that. But this is what I know how to do. It would tear me apart if I let you go when I know I can make a difference. It would be like you letting me fight that metcor alone when you are the ones skilled and knowledgeable in their temperament and vulnerabilities." Providence explained.