CHAPTER 47 - THE ACCUSED
"Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope.
" ISAIAH 5:18
Mackis arrived at the pavilions with a light heart, having just confessed his true identity to Elise. He saw Lady Ignacia, a concubine and confidante of his late father, smiling at him from a distance. 'She must not recognize me from fifteen years ago,' he thought. However, his intentions to comfort his sister were misconstrued. Lady Ignacia treated Mackis with great kindness, inviting him to dinner in Kitara’s pavilion under the guise of comforting her. Kitara prepared a lavish meal as a token of gratitude for his unwavering support during her recovery. Mackis managed only a few bites of his meal before a sudden, irresistible heaviness overcame him. He fell into a deep sleep and slumped over the table.