The Song of Gaál - One

*** 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

.............. One ............

Cassava DelGado lived within the walls of Castle Sotete most of his young life. At the tender age of five, Cassava and two other children left the village with Levente Tolvaj, Master of Castle Sotete. Levente had been watching the children in the village below the castle for seven years, since his marriage to Malika Katarina Gaál. Levente hoped he would find a dark haired, dark eyed male child each time he approached the village. This was no small task since the people of the secluded, mountainous lands that surrounded Castle Sotete were often fair haired and blue eyed. Levente would take a child occasionally to service the castle and he would leave a gift for the village in return, but he had yet to find the child he wanted.   

Following a trip to the neighboring county, Levente Tolvaj turned his horse down the narrow path leading to the smallest village on his lands. He called out to the elders as he approached and was greeted by a stoutly woman. A small group of children cautiously followed behind the woman. Levente nodded to the elderly woman, his glance never really touching her, and he peered around her at the children.

   

At the sight of Cassava's smudged face and bare feet, Levente's dour face split into a smile. The smile did nothing to appease the nervousness of the children. The curve of Levente's lips was more grimace than smile, set in a ruddy face, partly obscured by lengthy, pale hair. The children unwittingly took a step backward, seeing a vision from nightmares before them. The village woman ushered the children forward for inspection; she knew Levente had come to claim more children for the castle. Joined by her elderly husband, the woman twisted her hands together while the two men discussed the trade.

   

The deal sealed with the promise of new livestock for the village, both elders turned their faces from Levente, telling themselves that the gleam in Levente's eye was reflection and nothing more. The village needed the two cows promised by the Master of the Castle; they did no need the three hungry children, especially so when one was not their own. 'They will have fair lives at the castle,' the village elders assured each other as they brushed gooseflesh from their arms. None glanced in the direction of the dark castle that sat high on a hill. None watched as the guardsmen swept up Cassava and the two other children. None turned to wave farewell when the small group began their journey to the castle. Not a sound was heard from the children.

Upon arrival to the castle, Levente Tolvaj dispatched the older village boy to the stables with the stable master and sent the small girl to the kitchens with a maidservant. 

Cassava stood stiff and still, flanked by Levente's guardsmen, suffering Levente's glaring perusal. The frowning smile never left Levente's face and Cassava did his best to avoid looking directly at him.

Levente finally spoke, after what seemed an eternity to a five year old, 'Bathe him and take him to Mistress Tolvaj.' Levente ordered the burly guardsman standing behind Cassava. Levente decided that giving the boy to his eccentric wife would be an entertainment for her and he would have the boy close at hand. Chuckling to himself, Levente walked away, satisfied with the arrangement and applauding his own cleverness. What better guard for the boy than dear, little Malika?