The Song of Gaál - Four

*** Warning ***

Sensitive situations

Violence; Nudity;

Hard R Rating

Please do not read if you are easily disturbed.

(All characters, places and events reside solely in my imagination.)

The Song of Gaál

…....... Four ….......

As fall changed to winter, the frequency of the early morning inspections dwindled away. Cassava was grateful that the animals were not punished any longer for his wrong doings. Often, in the winter months, Malika would sit by the fire in Master's great room, while the guest played his instruments for Malika's pleasure. At these times, Cassava sat near Malika's feet where she motioned him to stay.

Cassava would raptly watch the talented musician weave melody with his harp. He would watch the musician's dark hair move about as his upper body swayed with the song. He would watch the sharply angled face filled with passion as the hands played and played. He would watch the deep, blue eyes stare into his own as the musician closed his song with a glissando. The sound would always send Cassava's heart soaring and create moisture in his eyes, and he knew that the musician saw this, much to Cassava's chagrin.

  

During a performance in early spring, the door burst open, stopping the music abruptly. Levente walked heavily into the room heading toward Malika. Malika stood and kicked Cassava's leg, a signal for him to stand. Levente's mad eyes watched Malika as she moved before her husband. A crooked smile played on his lips and he displayed a dead animal in his hand.

  

Cassava saw the interaction and his breath caught, the warmth left his body and a chill came over him. Malika grabbed the animal's lifeless form and bending down, she presented it to Cassava, blaming him once more for the horrible display. A sob escaped Cassava's lips when he was forced to stand and look at the animal.

   

“Enough!” A single word, in an authoritative timbre, and Malika stood to face the musician. Malika's face wore a blissful little smile, and Cassava stared at her back, the rage in him welling.

“Kisertet,” Malika began, her voice low and tight with the smile she wore. “The boy is wicked, Kisertet. Do not let his sweet face trick you, dear brother. He is a malicious boy who needs discipline.”   

Cassava stood, staring at the musician. Kisertet. Malika's brother. Cassava felt the floors sweep away from him. His mind churned with the implications of the title Malika bestowed on the musician. He watched as an angry Kisertet eased the harp to the floor. Cassava did not know what to think or how to react. His mind was decided for him as Malika turned to leave the room, ordering Cassava to follow.

Cassava became much more observant and very furtive in all of his actions after the incident with the animal in the great room. He developed a rebellious nature and a quick temper that he tried and tried to control. He perfected his mouse-walk and could move over any floor in the castle without a sound. His personality changes excited Malika immensely. She would often entice Cassava to anger, reminding him of the cat, telling him she knew of Beata and he should worry for his friend.

Her desire to anger Cassava and elicit his reactions gave her reason enough to secure him to posts, beams and beds. As Mistress of Castle Sotete, and owner of Cassava, she did not need a reason for her cruelties or for acting on her fetishes. For the Mistress, the pleasure in causing Cassava pain intensified when she considered her actions as a punishment, whether irrationally perceived or properly warranted. 

Cassava never asked about Beata. He had not seen her in some time, but he never asks Mistress any questions. He speaks to Malika only if directly spoken to, and then only in reply to the question posed him. Cassava is no longer allowed to sleep in the anteroom when Master visits Mistress' bed. Cassava sleeps under the window on the nights Master comes.