The Foundling
Prologue – The Child
It was a cold afternoon in the middle of November, when the Sorceress Margali Szardos found the child that would change her life forever. Margali had been getting water for the Szardos Circus from a nearby river, accompanied by her two small children, Stefan and Jimaine, when something splashing within the water suddenly grabbed her attention. Margali curiously made her way towards the splashing, and then noticed, to her shock and horror, that something small and furry seemed to be desperately trying not to drown. Margali sighed quietly to herself. It was not the first time that she had found evidence of people attempting to drown unwanted pets within rivers; there would always be those that did not value life, and so would try to destroy that which they did not value. With no small amount of caution, Margali picked up the small creature, and carried it to where Stefan and Jimaine were watching her curiously. Margali placed the creature on the ground, and it was only then that she was able to get a good look at the being that she had rescued. The being was naked, and obviously male, and he looked up at Margali curiously. Margali blinked as she stared at the creature uncertainly, for he was unlike anything that she had ever seen before. He was a little bigger than a cat, and completely covered in very wet, dark blue fur. He had a long, spaded tail, and curious, glowing yellow eyes. There was confusion and uncertainty within his penetrating gaze, but no fear. For a long moment, Margali merely stared at the strange being, and felt completely unsure about what she should do for the best. Then she shook her head suddenly, and realised that whatever else he may be, this creature was obviously an infant, and a very wet and very cold child that clearly needed to be dried and looked after. Margali gently dried the child on her skirt, and then wrapped him carefully in her shawl. She turned to where Stefan and Jimaine were watching her uncertainly, and showed them the strange, blue boy. "What a start in life," she said sadly, "born blue and furry, then barely surviving being drowned. It is terrible what some people are prepared to do."
Jimaine giggled, and reached towards the blue infant. "Kitty!" she said, laughing quietly.
"No, daughter, he's not a kitty," Margali said calmly.
"Then what is he?" Stefan asked, hugging his toy giraffe, Longneck, and watching the blue child cautiously.
Margali sighed, as she examined the strange blue child once more, "That, Stefan, is a very good question," she said uncertainly, "but that's not our most immediate concern. The most important question for the moment is; what should be done with this child now?"
