thoughts. “Where on the hill did you bury her?”
“Halfway down, at the edge of the crevice, where the soil is deep and the undergrowth is at its thickest. As I said, I took great care to make sure the grave would never be found.”
Garcia nodded begrudgingly. He was not going to waste time searching for a grave. “Your reasoning might be sound. Let the people think that both children were spirited away.” He nodded again but was still outraged that the common pup in front of him had made this decision on his own.
David waited. His fate was in Garcia’s hands now. He either believed the story or didn’t and was veiling his thoughts. He wanted to punch the man until blood spouted from his ears. His disregard for the three lives supposedly taken revolted him.
Thinking about the little girl and unwilling to be in Garcia’s company a moment longer, he asked. “May I take my leave now?”
“Yes, but go straight to your barracks.”
David bowed his head in gratitude.
Garcia held out a purse, heavy with coin. “This is an offering from the duke,” he said with some resentment. “Take it.”
David felt bile rise in his throat. The duke could shove this coin up his noble arse, he thought. “I’m not a paid assassin. I will not accept this blood money.” And he wouldn’t become indebted to the duke, who had just ruined his life and damned his soul to the fires of hell. “I have killed for His Grace this night, but only because I’m afraid for my family. I did what I did because he ordered me to, but make no mistake: I am a murderer. I deserve to go to hell, not receive a reward.”
“You dare to refuse the duke’s kindness?”
“I do.”
“You will insult him.”
“He’ll recover.”
For a moment, Garcia was pensive as he stood watching David gently rock the infant, who was opening his mouth and searching for milk.
“Take the purse or not; it’s up to you. Your refusal won’t ease your conscience, if that’s what’s bothering you.”
“Nothing will ease my conscience, and of course it bothers me!” David hissed at him, and then snapped his mouth shut.
“Sanz, what you did was for the glory of Sagrat. Thanks to you, the duke has an heir. You should be happy that he asked you to serve him.” Spreading his arms, he suggested, “The benefits of your actions this night far outweigh any distastefulness involved … surely?”
David refused to answer.
“I’m sure your family will be grateful to have this money,” Garcia continued. “I wonder why you’re not thinking about their welfare instead of your misguided principles.”
“My family’s well-being is all I think about,” David retorted.
“Then I suggest you take this gift. Life has a habit of giving, only to take away when we least expect it. Fate toys with us. It tricks us into false securities and makes us careless, and then one day it kicks us to the ground. You might have a good life now, but who knows what calamities may befall you and your family in the future. Take the money.”
“Your Honour, I will take nothing from you. I’d rather cut off my hand than accept anything from yours.” Expecting to be struck again, David tightened his grip on the baby. When no slap came, he relaxed his muscles, and said, “The infant needs warmth and milk. I suggest you look after him or you might be the one with a difficult future.”
Garcia’s eyes narrowed. “Remember this, Sanz: you’re still breathing, but only because the duke ordered me not to kill you,” he said with a voice crackling with anger. “For some reason unbeknown to me, he trusts you. Don’t disappoint him. If you do, he will crush you and your family like ants – and no one will care but God.”
David handed the baby to Garcia. Garcia looked at it for a second and then sneered at David, “You are a murderer. Don’t ever forget that. If you speak of what happened here, I will make sure your mother, father, and brothers
“Halfway down, at the edge of the crevice, where the soil is deep and the undergrowth is at its thickest. As I said, I took great care to make sure the grave would never be found.”
Garcia nodded begrudgingly. He was not going to waste time searching for a grave. “Your reasoning might be sound. Let the people think that both children were spirited away.” He nodded again but was still outraged that the common pup in front of him had made this decision on his own.
David waited. His fate was in Garcia’s hands now. He either believed the story or didn’t and was veiling his thoughts. He wanted to punch the man until blood spouted from his ears. His disregard for the three lives supposedly taken revolted him.
Thinking about the little girl and unwilling to be in Garcia’s company a moment longer, he asked. “May I take my leave now?”
“Yes, but go straight to your barracks.”
David bowed his head in gratitude.
Garcia held out a purse, heavy with coin. “This is an offering from the duke,” he said with some resentment. “Take it.”
David felt bile rise in his throat. The duke could shove this coin up his noble arse, he thought. “I’m not a paid assassin. I will not accept this blood money.” And he wouldn’t become indebted to the duke, who had just ruined his life and damned his soul to the fires of hell. “I have killed for His Grace this night, but only because I’m afraid for my family. I did what I did because he ordered me to, but make no mistake: I am a murderer. I deserve to go to hell, not receive a reward.”
“You dare to refuse the duke’s kindness?”
“I do.”
“You will insult him.”
“He’ll recover.”
For a moment, Garcia was pensive as he stood watching David gently rock the infant, who was opening his mouth and searching for milk.
“Take the purse or not; it’s up to you. Your refusal won’t ease your conscience, if that’s what’s bothering you.”
“Nothing will ease my conscience, and of course it bothers me!” David hissed at him, and then snapped his mouth shut.
“Sanz, what you did was for the glory of Sagrat. Thanks to you, the duke has an heir. You should be happy that he asked you to serve him.” Spreading his arms, he suggested, “The benefits of your actions this night far outweigh any distastefulness involved … surely?”
David refused to answer.
“I’m sure your family will be grateful to have this money,” Garcia continued. “I wonder why you’re not thinking about their welfare instead of your misguided principles.”
“My family’s well-being is all I think about,” David retorted.
“Then I suggest you take this gift. Life has a habit of giving, only to take away when we least expect it. Fate toys with us. It tricks us into false securities and makes us careless, and then one day it kicks us to the ground. You might have a good life now, but who knows what calamities may befall you and your family in the future. Take the money.”
“Your Honour, I will take nothing from you. I’d rather cut off my hand than accept anything from yours.” Expecting to be struck again, David tightened his grip on the baby. When no slap came, he relaxed his muscles, and said, “The infant needs warmth and milk. I suggest you look after him or you might be the one with a difficult future.”
Garcia’s eyes narrowed. “Remember this, Sanz: you’re still breathing, but only because the duke ordered me not to kill you,” he said with a voice crackling with anger. “For some reason unbeknown to me, he trusts you. Don’t disappoint him. If you do, he will crush you and your family like ants – and no one will care but God.”
David handed the baby to Garcia. Garcia looked at it for a second and then sneered at David, “You are a murderer. Don’t ever forget that. If you speak of what happened here, I will make sure your mother, father, and brothers
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