HIS MOTHER SAT in front of the wind

HIS MOTHER SAT in front of the window, the muted sunlight from the window making her a silhouette so he could not see her face.
“Forgive my interruption, Mother,” he said, crossing the room swiftly and giving her a fast kiss on the cheek, “but Father is awake. He’s asking for—”
His words faded away like the smoke of an extinguished candle, for in the chair opposite his mother sat Fiona. But not the one he’d known, with the mud and the wild hair. Or even Fiona from the chapel steps wearing a threadbare gown years past its prime. This Fiona was magnificent in a bejeweled gown of satin, with her hair fashionably styled and her face free of grime. He stole a quick glance at the hands resting in her lap, checking for an emerald ring and a bandaged finger, just to be certain it was indeed her.
It was.
He stuttered a moment, for she’d caught him wholly unawares. “Uh...you, Mother. Father is asking for you.”
His mother rose at once, murmured something to Vivienne, and then moved toward the door. “You’ll excuse me, Fiona. Vivi will look after you today. Myles, are you coming?”
Myles looked to his bride. She was lovely, he must admit to that. And what man would not be befuddled by cleavage such as hers? But now was not the time to ponder such a question, for his father waited. He gave Fiona a nod and could have sworn he saw a hopefulness in her face, but it was gone as fast as it had come, and she quickly looked to the floor.
He hesitated, for he owed her a greeting and was not so swayed that he could not carry on a simple conversation.
“Are you faring well, my lady?” His voice scratched a bit in his throat, and he coughed to clear it.
She didn’t look at him again, only lifted that stubborn chin of hers. “Well enough, my lord.”
Damn the girl. Only she could make so simple a phrase smack of insult. You could scrub her clean and polish her up, but she still hissed like Fiona Sinclair.
He turned to his aunt. “Vivi, see that Lady Fiona’s things are moved to her own chamber.”
Vivi smiled, humor curling in her voice. “To which things do you refer, Myles? All she has is my dress and your fine Campbell name.”
Christ. He hadn’t thought of that. The girl’s trunks were abandoned, left by the road to make room for his father in the cart. He scowled at Vivi. She was enjoying his discomfiture far too much. That one needed a husband of her own to torment. He held his voice steady. “Will you see to it that she gets some things and then keeps them in her own room?”
“There is no other room. But I shall be most pleased to obtain for her all the items a lady needs,” Vivienne answered.
’Twas obvious his aunt meant to make a plaything of his irritation. Ignoring her was his best plan. He stepped closer to Fiona.
“My father’s health is precarious,” he said to his wife, “and I must see to his needs. Vivi will help you settle in. You understand, of course.”
“Of course.”
He paused. There was more he thought to say, and so much more he needed to ask, but his mother was out the door and halfway to his father by now. Fiona would have to wait.
He turned and strode toward the door, calling over his shoulder, “Behave yourself, Vivi.”
“I mean only to help, Myles,” she called after him.
He snorted as he stepped from the room. His aunt was as duplicitous as his bride. He could fight two men at once on the battlefield and be certain of his victory. Defeating two women was another thing entirely.
Entering the antechamber with his mother, Myles crossed himself and whispered a prayer. God willing, his father would be hale and hearty again soon, but for now, he’d settle for having him awake and lucid.
The room was full, with both the surgeon and priest in attendance, along with Tavish and a handful of servants.
“He’s been asking for you, Marietta,” Tavish said, meeting them at the threshold of the door. “I told him you’d be right along.”
She nodded and crossed the room in a rustle of satin, sitting gingerly upon the bed. She pulled Cedric’s hand into her own and kissed his fingertips.
His eyes opened at the touch, and the faintest of smiles graced his lips.
“Mari,” he said in a voice so faint it was nearly swallowed by the room.
Myles watched his mother lean closer toward the earl. “How are you feeling?”
He sighed and closed his eyes once more. “Like the horse rode me.”
Mild relief tapped Myles upon the shoulder. His father had maintained his sense of humor, though he must be in the gravest of pain. “What happened?” Cedric whispered.
Myles stepped closer and sat down in the chair near the bed. “There was an ambush, Father. A few miles north of Inverness. Do you remember?”
Cedric’s face twitched, as if drawing up the memory inflicted more pain. His eyes opened once more. “I remember leaving Sinclair Hall. And the girl running. Did you find her?”
“Aye, we did. She is here at Dempsey.”
His father drew in a long, rattling breath and eased it out, coughing a bit.
“Get him some water, please, Tavish,” Marietta said. “Cedric, you mustn’t trouble yourself about the girl.”
Myles prompted gently, “Father, do you remember anything about the attack? Few of them escaped and only one captive lived, though he was useless for confession.”
His father’s eyes floated shut once more. “My arm’s a little sore,” he murmured, and drifted back to sleep.
Myles saw his mother dash a tear from her cheek. He squeezed her forearm just above where her hands clasped his father’s. “He’ll be fine, Mother.”
She nodded, dabbing at a second tear, and rose from the bed. “Father Darius, I wonder if you might join me in the chapel. I should like to pray while my husband rests.”
“Of course, my lady. Let me escort you.”
She took his arm, and they left the chamber. Myles stood and joined Tavish near the fireplace.
“We cannot wait for his memory to return, Tavish. Even if it does, it seems there will be little he can tell us.”
“Aye, it would save us a world of speculating if he’d recognized one of them, but I doubt he can add to what we already know.”
“Which is nearly nothing. And we cannot wait for answers to come to us. The time to act is now.” He was laird while his father was incapacitated, and he must think like the leader of the Campbells. ’Twas a heavy burden, but one he’d trained for all his life. “The king must be informed. Choose your men and ride to Stirling at first light.”
He nodded. “My pleasure. Lord knows it’s better than sitting here on my arse while my brother sleeps and our enemy plans another attack.”
Myles smiled. “Or you could stay here and pray with my mother.”
A rolling snort came from his uncle. “Prayer is for women and old men, lad. God put a sword in my hand for a reason. He knows I do my praying on the battlefield.”

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

IBUNYA SAT di depan jendela, sinar matahari teredam dari jendela membuatnya siluet sehingga dia tidak bisa melihat wajahnya."Mengampuni gangguan saya, ibu," katanya, persimpangan kamar cepat dan memberinya cepat ciuman di pipi, "tetapi ayah terjaga. Dia meminta — "Kata-kata yang memudar seperti asap lilin yang padam, untuk di kursi berlawanan ibunya duduk Fiona. Tapi bukan satu ia akan dikenal, dengan Lumpur dan rambut liar. Atau bahkan Fiona dari langkah-langkah Kapel mengenakan gaun tipis tahun masa lalu Perdana. Fiona ini sangat mengagumkan di bejeweled gaun satin, dengan rambutnya ditata modis dan wajahnya bebas dari kotoran. Ia mencuri sekilas pada tangan beristirahat di pangkuannya, memeriksa cincin emerald dan jari bandaged, hanya untuk memastikan memang dirinya.Itu.Ia tergagap sejenak, karena ia telah menangkap dia sepenuhnya tanpa disadari. "Eh... Anda, ibu. Bapa adalah meminta untuk Anda."Ibunya mawar sekaligus, bersungut-sungut sesuatu untuk Vivienne, dan kemudian pindah ke arah pintu. "Anda akan maafkan aku, Fiona. Vivi akan terlihat setelah Anda hari ini. Myles, kau datang?"Myles tampak pengantinnya. Dia adalah indah, dia harus mengakui itu. Dan apa pria tidak dapat membingungkan dengan seperti miliknya? Tapi sekarang tidak waktu untuk merenungkan pertanyaan seperti itu, ayahnya yang menunggu. Dia memberikan Fiona mengangguk dan berani bersumpah ia melihat hopefulness di wajahnya, tapi itu hilang secepat itu telah datang, dan dia cepat melihat ke lantai.Dia ragu-ragu, karena dia berhutang padanya salam dan adalah tidak begitu terpengaruh bahwa dia tidak bisa melakukan percakapan sederhana."Apakah Anda faring Yah, wanita saya?" Suaranya menggaruk sedikit di tenggorokan, dan dia batuk untuk membersihkan.Dia tidak melihatnya lagi, hanya mengangkat dagu yang membandel dari miliknya. "Cukup baik, Tuhanku."Sialan gadis itu. Hanya dia bisa jadi sederhana frase menampar penghinaan. Anda bisa menggosok nya bersih dan memoles dirinya, tetapi dia masih mendesis seperti Fiona Sinclair.Ia berpaling kepada bibinya. "Vivi, melihat bahwa hal-hal wanita Fiona akan dipindahkan ke ruang sendiri."Vivi tersenyum, humor di suaranya. "Hal-hal yang dilakukan yang Anda referensikan, Myles? Semua dia adalah baju saya dan Campbell nama Anda baik-baik saja."Kristus. Ia tidak memikirkan itu. Batang gadis itu ditinggalkan, ditinggalkan oleh jalan untuk membuat ruang untuk ayahnya di Shopping cart. Dia merengut di Vivi. Dia menikmati discomfiture nya terlalu banyak. Yang satu diperlukan seorang suami sendiri untuk menyiksa. Ia memegang Suara mantap. "Akan Anda melihat itu bahwa ia mendapat beberapa hal dan kemudian membuat mereka di kamarnya sendiri?""Tidak ada tidak ada tempat lain. Tapi aku akan paling senang untuk mendapatkan untuknya semuanya membutuhkan seorang wanita,"Vivienne menjawab.' Sungguh jelas bibinya dimaksudkan untuk membuat karena kemarahan yang ditimbulkan iritasi nya. Mengabaikan dirinya adalah rencana-Nya yang terbaik. Ia melangkah lebih dekat ke Fiona."Ayahku kesehatan berbahaya," katanya kepada istrinya, dan aku harus melihat kebutuhannya. Vivi akan membantu Anda menetap di. Anda mengerti, tentu saja.""Tentu."Dia berhenti. Ada lebih dia berpikir untuk mengatakan, dan jauh lebih ia perlu bertanya, tapi ibunya adalah keluar pintu dan setengah ayahnya sekarang. Fiona harus menunggu.Ia berbalik dan berjalan menuju pintu, memanggil atas bahunya, "Bertindak sendiri, Vivi.""Maksudku hanya untuk membantu, Myles," dia memanggil setelahnya.Dia mendengus tatkala dia melangkah ke dari ruang. Bibinya adalah sebagai ganda sebagai pengantin perempuannya. Dia bisa melawan dua laki-laki sekaligus di medan perang dan memastikan kemenangan nya. Mengalahkan dua perempuan adalah hal lain sama sekali.Memasuki ruang depan dengan ibunya, Myles menyeberangi dirinya dan berbisik doa. Insya Allah, ayahnya akan hale dan hangat lagi segera, tapi untuk saat ini, ia akan menetap untuk memiliki dia terjaga dan jelas.Ruangan itu penuh, dengan ahli bedah dan imam hadir, bersama dengan Tavish dan sekelompok hamba."Dia sudah meminta untuk Anda, Marietta," kata Tavish, pertemuan mereka di ambang pintu. "Saya mengatakan kepadanya Anda akan tepat bersama."Dia mengangguk dan menyeberangi kamar di gemeresik dari satin, duduk di hati-hati atas tempat tidur. Dia menarik Cedric's tangan ke dalam dirinya sendiri dan mencium jari nya.Membuka matanya menyentuh, dan sama sekali tidak tersenyum menghiasi bibirnya."Mari," katanya dengan suara begitu samar itu hampir ditelan oleh kamar.Myles menyaksikan ibunya bersandar lebih dekat ke arah earl. "Bagaimana Anda rasakan?"Dia mendesah dan menutup matanya dengan sekali lagi. "Seperti kuda naik saya."Bantuan ringan disadap Myles atas bahu. Ayahnya telah mempertahankan rasa humor, meskipun ia harus berada di hadapan sakit. "Apa yang terjadi?" Cedric berbisik.Myles melangkah lebih dekat dan duduk di kursi di dekat tempat tidur. "Ada penyergapan, Bapa. Beberapa batu di utara Inverness. Apakah Anda ingat?"Cedric's wajah twitched, seolah-olah menyusun memori ditimbulkan lebih sakit. Matanya membuka sekali lagi. "Aku ingat meninggalkan Sinclair Hall. Dan gadis berjalan. Kau menemukannya?""Aye, kami melakukan. Dia ada di sini di Dempsey."Ayahnya menarik di panjang, napas berderak dan menyelinap keluar, batuk sedikit."Mendapatkan dia beberapa air, tolong, Tavish," Marietta berkata. "Cedric, Anda jangan repot-repot tentang gadis."Myles diminta lembut, "Bapa, Apakah Anda ingat apa-apa tentang serangan? Beberapa dari mereka yang lolos dan hanya satu tawanan hidup, meskipun ia tidak berguna untuk pengakuan."Ayahnya mata melayang menutup sekali lagi. "Lenganku 's sedikit sakit," dia bersungut-sungut, dan tersesat di kembali tidur.Myles melihat ibunya dash robekan dari pipi nya. Ia diperas nya lengan di atas mana tangan menggenggam ayahnya. "Dia akan baik-baik saja, ibu."Dia mengangguk, menyeka di kedua air mata, dan bangkit dari tempat tidur. "Ayah Darius, aku bertanya-tanya jika Anda mungkin bergabung dengan saya di Kapel. Saya ingin berdoa sementara suami saya bersandar.""Tentu saja, saya lady. Biarkan saya mengantar Anda."Dia mengambil lengan, dan mereka meninggalkan ruang. Myles berdiri dan bergabung dengan Tavish dekat dengan perapian."Kita tidak bisa menunggu ingatannya kembali, Tavish. Bahkan jika itu terjadi, sepertinya akan ada sedikit ia dapat memberitahu kami.""Aye, itu akan menyelamatkan kita dunia berspekulasi jika ia telah mengenali salah satu dari mereka, tapi aku ragu dia bisa menambahkan untuk apa yang kita sudah tahu.""Yang adalah hampir tidak ada. Dan kita tidak bisa menunggu jawaban datang kepada kita. Waktu untuk bertindak adalah sekarang." Dia adalah laird sementara ayahnya tidak mampu, dan ia harus berpikir seperti pemimpin Campbells. ' Sungguh beban berat, tapi satu dia telah dilatih untuk sepanjang hidupnya. "Raja harus diberitahu. Memilih laki-laki Anda dan naik ke Stirling di cahaya pertama."Dia mengangguk. "Saya senang. Tuhan tahu lebih baik daripada duduk di sini pada pantat saya sementara saudara saya tidur dan musuh kita rencana serangan lain."Myles tersenyum. "Atau Anda bisa tinggal di sini dan berdoa dengan ibu saya."Snort bergulir berasal dari pamannya. "Doa adalah untuk perempuan dan laki-laki tua, pemuda. Allah menempatkan pedang di tanganku karena suatu alasan. Dia tahu saya lakukan saya berdoa di medan perang."