“DO YOU SWEAR upon your sister’s life, and all which you hold dear, that what you’ve said is true?” the king said to John, who still knelt upon the floor.
“Yes, Your Grace. Every word.”
Myles watched John’s shoulders sway, for this interrogation had gone on some time.
“And do you swear you have told the whole of it, with no omission?”
John nodded. “Yes, Your Grace.”
His voice never quivered, and he did not plead for mercy. For that, Myles was impressed, but perhaps it was naïveté that stilled John’s limbs, and he simply did not realize how close he was to the chopping block.
The earl remained steadfast, standing next to John, and Myles felt oddly bereft watching from the side.
“Stand up,” the king said at last, and John rose to his feet.
James stepped close, so close John leaned back, but held his footing. “You will aid us in capturing each man on that list,” said the king. “You will testify against each one, even your own brother. When you have done this, and only then, will I decide upon your fate.”
John nodded and nearly buckled, but the earl’s hand reached out and held him steady. “And what of my sister?” John asked.
A frost invaded Myles’s veins and traveled to his heart. This was the question he had longed to ask, yet feared the answer.
The king’s eyes went round, and a breath came fast between his lips. “Your boldness knows no bounds.”
“I mean no disrespect, Your Grace. I only wish to ensure her well-being. She had no part in this, and I would not have her suffer for my actions. Or Simon’s either.”
The king stared hard, as if hoping to read all the secrets in John’s mind, and then he turned that glare on Myles. “Your wife has caused a bit of trouble on her own, has she not?”
The frost in Myles turned to ice. “Only at the start, Your Grace. She has become a most loyal wife.”
“Would you trust her with your life? And mine?”
The king’s words twisted like a dagger to the chest, and Myles’s heart split in two, for though he loved Fiona with his entire being, he could not in that moment guarantee she had been honest. His hesitation was enough to cast doubt.
“Just as I thought,” said the king. “You are wise, Myles, to withhold your trust from any woman. Especially a daughter of Hugh Sinclair.”
Panic seized him. No matter her offenses, imagined or real, Myles knew in that instant he would never give her up. “I do trust her, Your Grace.” His voice came out strident, burning in his throat.
King James shook his head and cast a glance toward the earl. “You Campbells have a peculiar weakness for Sinclair women.”
“I trust the lass myself, Your Grace,” answered Myles’s father. “Though we did not get on too well at first, I am convinced her loyalties follow those of her mother.”
“Then she shall have a chance to prove it. Now, take your seats. We have much to plan.”
The hour was late when Myles arrived at the chamber where his wife and Vivi waited. Fresh relief washed over him at the sight of her reclined upon a chaise. Vivienne held a finger to her lips to silence him.
“She only just fell asleep,” she whispered. “Let her rest, for she is overwrought with worry.”
But his wife sat up at the sound of his footstep. “Myles?”
He crossed to where she rested and sank down on a knee before her.
“What news have you of my brother?”
“He is fine, for now, but the king has set conditions. When they are met, John’s fate will be determined.”
“So the king has yet to trust him.”
Myles tipped his head. “Do you blame him?”
“No.” She gave a tiny sigh. “’Tis justice, I suppose. I would not see John punished, but he made this bed, he and Simon.”
Her words brought some relief to the pressure in his chest, and he moved to sit beside her on the chaise. Vivi sank down into a nearby chair.
“There is little hope for Simon. You must prepare for that.” Myles spoke the words with great regret, for he would spare her of that knowledge if he could.
Her lips trembled. “I know. It was no easy thing for John to turn him over to the king. Nor I. His actions may be wicked, but he is my brother, still. He sought only to serve my father, even after Hugh’s death.”
“Save that sentiment from the king, Fiona,” he whispered as if the ears had walls, for indeed they might in a royal palace such as this. “Sympathy for any traitor is a crime in James’s eyes. And your fate is not yet set.”
Fear and surprise in equal measure played upon her features. “The king doubts me as well?”
“He trusts few, and this news has left him reeling.” He squeezed her hand but said no more.
“And what of you? Do you despise me?” she whispered.
He held himself back for no more than a breath, for in his heart of hearts, he knew she was innocent. She might have fought and run and led him on a chase when first they met, but for all of that, honesty had been her cloak and her weapon. She had professed to love him, and he believed her.
“Despise you? You, who I adore? You, who are giving me the greatest gift of all?” His hand slid forth to caress her abdomen and their child.
Hasil (
Bahasa Indonesia) 1:
[Salinan]Disalin!
"Apakah Anda bersumpah atas adik Anda hidup, dan semua yang Anda pegang sayang, bahwa apa yang Anda katakan benar?" raja berkata kepada Yohanes, yang masih berlutut atas lantai."Ya, rahmat Anda. Setiap Firman."Myles menyaksikan John's bahu bergoyang, untuk interogasi ini telah pergi pada beberapa waktu."Dan apakah Anda bersumpah Anda telah mengatakan seluruh itu, dengan tidak ada kelalaian?"John mengangguk. "Ya, rahmat Anda."Suaranya tidak pernah bergetar, dan ia tidak memohon belas kasihan. Untuk itu, Myles terkesan, tapi mungkin itu adalah naif yang ditenangkan oleh John's tungkai, dan dia hanya tidak menyadari seberapa dekat dia bakal talenan.Earl tetap teguh, berdiri di samping Yohanes, dan Myles merasa aneh berduka menonton dari sisi."Berdiri," berkatalah raja terakhir dan John bangkit berdiri.James melangkah dekat, begitu dekat John bersandar kembali, namun diadakan pijakan nya. "Anda akan membantu kami dalam menangkap setiap orang pada daftar itu," kata raja. "Anda akan bersaksi terhadap setiap orang, bahkan saudara sendiri. Ketika Anda melakukan ini, dan hanya kemudian, aku akan memutuskan atas nasib Anda."John mengangguk dan hampir lemas, tapi tangan earl's mengulurkan tangan dan menahannya mantap. "Dan apa adikku?" John bertanya.Frost menyerang Myles's vena dan bepergian ke hatinya. Ini adalah pertanyaan yang dia ingin bertanya, namun takut jawabannya.Raja mata pergi sepanjang, dan napas datang cepat antara bibirnya. "Keberanian Anda tidak mengenal batas.""Maksudku tidak hormat, rahmat Anda. Saya hanya ingin memastikan kesejahteraan nya. Ia tidak ada bagian dalam hal ini, dan aku tidak akan dia menderita untuk tindakan saya. Atau Simon baik."Raja menatap keras, seolah-olah berharap untuk membaca semua rahasia diingat Yohanes, dan kemudian ia berbalik bahwa silau pada Myles. "Istri Anda telah menyebabkan sedikit kesulitan pada dirinya sendiri, dia belum?"Embun beku di Myles menoleh ke es. "Hanya di awal, Anda rahmat. Dia telah menjadi seorang istri yang paling setia.""Anda percaya dia dengan hidup Anda? Dan saya?"Kata-kata raja memutar seperti keris dada, dan Myles di jantung terbelah dua, karena walaupun ia mengasihi Fiona dengan seluruh makhluk-Nya, dia bisa tidak bahwa saat menjamin dia telah jujur. Keraguannya sudah cukup untuk meragukan."Sama seperti saya pikir," kata raja. "Anda bijaksana, Myles, untuk menahan kepercayaan Anda dari setiap wanita. Terutama putri Hugh Sinclair."Panik menangkapnya. Tidak peduli dia pelanggaran, khayalan atau nyata, Myles tahu dalam sekejap bahwa dia akan pernah melepaskannya. "Aku percaya padanya, rahmat Anda." Suaranya keluar melengking, pembakaran dalam tenggorokannya.King James menggelengkan kepala dan melemparkan pandangan ke arah earl. "Anda Campbells memiliki kelemahan aneh Sinclair perempuan.""Saya percaya lass sendiri, Anda rahmat," menjawab Myles's ayah. "Meskipun kami tidak mendapatkan terlalu baik pada awalnya, saya yakin dia loyalitas mengikuti ibunya.""Maka ia akan memiliki kesempatan untuk membuktikan hal itu. Sekarang, mengambil kursi Anda. Kami memiliki banyak untuk merencanakan."Jam adalah akhir ketika Myles tiba di ruang yang mana istri dan Vivi menunggu. Bantuan segar dicuci dia melihat dia berbaring di atas kursi. Vivienne dipercayai jari bibirnya menghentikannya."Dia hanya tertidur," ia berbisik. "Biarkan istirahat nya, karena dia terlalu tegang dengan khawatir."Tapi istri duduk pada suara langkahnya. "Myles?"Ia menyeberang ke mana ia beristirahat dan tenggelam ke bawah pada lutut depannya."Berita apa Apakah Anda saudaraku?""Ia baik-baik saja, untuk sekarang, tetapi raja telah menetapkan kondisi. Ketika mereka bertemu, John's nasib akan ditentukan.""Jadi raja belum percaya padanya."Myles Tip kepalanya. "Apakah Anda menyalahkan dia?""Tidak." Dia memberikan napas kecil. "'Tis keadilan, kurasa. Saya akan tidak melihat John dihukum, tapi ia merapikan tempat tidur ini, dia dan Simon."Kata-katanya membawa beberapa bantuan tekanan di dadanya, dan ia pindah untuk duduk di sampingnya di kursi. Vivi tenggelam ke bawah ke kursi terdekat."Ada sedikit harapan untuk Simon. Anda harus mempersiapkan untuk itu." Myles berbicara kata-kata dengan sangat menyesal, karena ia akan cadangan pengetahuan itu jika dia bisa.Bibirnya bergetar. "Aku tahu. Itu ada hal yang mudah untuk Yohanes untuk menyerahkan dia kepada raja. Juga saya. Tindakannya mungkin jahat, tapi dia adalah saudaraku, masih. Ia mencari hanya untuk melayani ayah saya, bahkan setelah kematian Hugh.""Simpan sentimen dari raja, Fiona," ia berbisik seolah-olah telinga memiliki dinding, karena memang mereka mungkin di Istana seperti ini. "Simpati bagi setiap pengkhianat adalah kejahatan di James's mata. Dan nasib Anda tidak diatur belum.Ketakutan dan kejutan dalam taraf dimainkan atas kecantikannya. "Raja keraguan saya juga?""Ia percaya sedikit, dan berita ini telah meninggalkan terguncang." Ia diperas tangannya tetapi mengatakan tidak lebih."Dan apa yang Anda? Apakah Anda membenci saya?"dia berbisik.Dia menahan diri kembali untuk tidak lebih dari menarik napas, karena di dalam hati hati, dia tahu dia tidak bersalah. Dia mungkin telah berjuang dan menjalankan dan membawanya ke chase ketika pertama kali mereka bertemu, tapi untuk semua itu, kejujuran telah jubah Nya dan senjata nya. Dia mengaku untuk mencintai-Nya, dan ia percaya padanya."Menghina Anda? Anda, yang saya suka? Anda yang memberi saya hadiah terbesar dari semua?" Tangannya meluncur keluar untuk membelai perutnya dan anak-anak mereka.
Sedang diterjemahkan, harap tunggu..
