They both lowered to their seats. Kelly lifted a gavel and pounded it twice on a wooden sound block, the last thrum vibrating through the air, wrapping a blanket of impending doom over Thomas’s shoulders. She turned toward Jo. “Let us begin.”
“We belong to one another. As long as we hold tightly to that, we will remain at peace.”
Trial for Thomitus Caelius - Sloth and Gluttony
Nichole laced her fingers together and leaned forward. “What is the first thing you remember, sister?”
Jo paced and sucked her bottom lip in, worrying it with her teeth. “I met Thomas when we were young. About seven, I believe, but we did not join until we were nearly sixteen. His Roman name was Thomitus Caelius. He eventually became a brave soldier for Rome. I thought it very grand, and I saw in him a passion and verve for life that was unrivalled.”
“Did you fall in love?”
“I did. Instantly. I now know it was the draw the mothers placed upon our souls, but back then all I saw was that he was hardworking, honest, and driven.” She blushed and put her fingertips on her cheek as though remembering a caress.
Smiling, Nichole leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest.
Her body language made Thomas wonder if she had already judged him—and not in a positive way. He shrank farther back in his chair, shoulders pulled to his ears. The women were beautiful, yes, but they were also terrifying in the way their eyes swirled when pensive.
Another of the women, the one who had spoken to Kelly before, asked, “And did he uphold those values throughout life?”
“Until the end.” Jo nodded and looked down. “Until…” Tears rolled off the tip of her nose and splashed on the floor, leaving a rainbow of watery colors swirling together. “Oh, Tia, I cannot bear to think of it!” She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
Tears threatened at the inner corners of his eyes as he thought once again about the brutality he witnessed the soldiers dole out on frail, young creatures. Those same men who had promised to find her. He squeezed his hands into fists. Jo was mine, and I failed to protect her. Perhaps I do deserve harsh judgment.
“Take a deep breath, and try to forget the horrors that followed your separation. What we need to know right now is how Thomas changed over time. Do you believe he gave in to sloth or gluttony?” Tia prodded.
Alarm raced through his veins. He knew the answer.
Jo lifted her head and nodded. “Near the end, I believe he did. But I am not sure he is wholly guilty.”
“How can that be?”
“Because, when we became separated by Nero’s guards, Thomas was writing something, and he apologized to me for his laziness during his time with the senate. I believe he was repentant. But I have no way of knowing without hearing his defense.” She sniffled.
Her sisters put their heads together and whispered. When they parted, Kelly nodded. “Very well. We understand, and approve of, your decision to not hasten to judgment. We, also, are baffled by this revelation. While the information and decision brought to the mothers belongs to you, we would like the opportunity to ask him about these things.” She gestured to her right, and another chair appeared. “Please, sit while we hear his tale.”
Tia glared at Thomas. “This is your chance. We will ask, and you are to answer to the best of your ability. I will begin.
“You are charged with the sin of gluttony, among many others. Did you ever partake in excess food or drink? Beyond that, and what interests me more, did you have an excessive desire to consume more than you required for life and happiness?”
Thomas steeled his spine. “While I was young when elected to the Senate, I had seen far more battles than a person my age should have, atrocities the average citizen hopefully never would. My eyes were wide open when I agreed to spy on the Emperor. A large part of the city had burned, and rumors swirled that Nero had set the blaze himself to clear land for a palace richer than anyone could imagine. I was to get close to him, to see if that rumor, and others, were true before reporting back to the Senate. The members were trying to unseat him. My mission was clear. Getting close to Nero was not easy. I had to do things, partake in things, I normally would not have. So, yes, I was gluttonous. I had way too much to drink, ate too much, and became lazy and complacent.”
Her stare bore into him. “You did these things only to achieve your goals?”
Thomas swallowed. “At first, yes. Then, I will admit, it grew easy to have people wait on me, to eat the rich food, to taste the finest wines in the Empire. I lost my way. I am humble enough to say it. I am guilty of gluttony, and not just because it was part of my mission to rid Rome of the tyrant Nero.”
The hard expression on Tia’s face softened to a slight scowl. “Humility will behoove you in this trial, Thomas. Continue to possess it.” She adjusted her robe, clasped her hands, and rested them on the table before looking at him with one eyebrow lifted. “You are also accused of the sin of sloth. While there are many facets to this sin, there is one of which I most wish to hear your defense. Too many think sloth is only about work ethic. It is not. It is about not tackling the difficult situations to attain something good, something valuable to our lives and to those we love. So, I ask you, did you give what you believe was necessary to attain that which would have made your life complete?”
“I failed. Completely and utterly. Josephine was my life. In losing sight of what I was doing in the palace, I lost sight of everything that was truly important. My association with Nero put her in danger, and I fear that she—” Thomas’s voice broke “—was hurt because of me.” Scalding tears carved paths down his cheeks. “For that, I cannot forgive myself. Nor can I ask you to have mercy on me.”
Turning her head left and right, she glanced at her sisters. “He faces many judgments here today. Shall we debate each one and pass judgment sin by sin, or shall we hear him out on each and deliberate, holding our final recommendation until the very end?”
Nichole answered, “I believe we should reserve our judgments, even if made, until the end. Otherwise, we may dishearten him from answering to the best of his ability in the further trials. A man who believes himself to be condemned is a man who will not care if he is caught in a lie.”
They all agreed.
Thomas let out a breath before looking at each of the other women, trying to gauge their facial expressions. They were stoic unless reliving their lives with him. His fate rested in their hands, and he prayed they would be careful in the handling of his soul. Should I dare hope? I deserve every ounce of their scorn.
Jo rose and paced, worrying her lips with her fingers, everyone’s eyes following her. She had the most intimate knowledge of those particular sins because she lived through them, and he knew her words would hold tremendous weight.
“What say you, Jo? Do you have anything to add about your Thomitus? Any questions you suggest we ask so we fully understand how he fared with gluttony and sloth?” Tia asked.
Studying Jo’s face, his eyes had never left her even when Tia was speaking, he steadied his breathing and prepared for the disdain he knew was coming.
"We should query him on the tome he penned while imprisoned.” Jo faced him. “What was its purpose? How many days and nights did you spend writing it? Was it done in repentance or for a more selfish reason?"
Shock hit him like a thousand lightning bolts when she asked that question. It was his last chance to save himself, and he dare not lie.
All eyes turned to him.
He inhaled, hoping his last action would be enough to negate the damage done. “I wrote to my fellow Senators, begged their forgiveness, and provided them details about Nero’s corruption. I also asked for them to come and get Josephine and me. I wanted out.” His voice shook while his gaze held Jo’s, captivated. “I wanted to get her out of there before Nero made good on his threats against her. I was focused in my desire to free her. During the day, I fulfilled the Emperor’s duties, but I spent every evening documenting my findings.”
/> “And, did they reply to you?” Kelly asked.
With some effort, he tore his eyes away from Jo to look at the sister who spoke. “I did pen the document but cannot be sure it was delivered. The palace was overtaken soon after I gave it to a servant who promised to deliver it to the Senate right away. I am not sure that he actually had time to do so.”
Kelly nodded once. “I see. That is enough for me. Jo?”
Eyes cast down, Jo nodded and took her seat. She pulled at her lip with her teeth, and when she glanced up at him, her brows were drawn toward the center of her face, creating a wrinkle on the bridge of her nose.
Silently, he begged for her forgiveness and understanding.
“One who is wisest is often the first to admit he knows nothing.”
Trial of Sir Thomas Russell - Pride
Kelly approached Thomas next. Though he could not read her cool eyes, a slight smile played on her lips. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she leaned forward, kissed his forehead, and straightened. “In our life together, you knew me as—”
“Kelleigh.” He gasped. Regret tore through him, its blade sharp and merciless. What had he done? His love for her had also been great, but it had not been enough to save him from pride. Though she had given him counsel, he had ultimately allowed the voice of his desire to drown her out. He swallowed hard and found he could not meet her gaze. “Proceed with your testimony, my lady.”
Her sigh was soft as she turned from him to face her sisters. The sound’s meaning was lost on him. Is she disappointed in my reaction to her or burdened by the story she must tell her sisters?
Casey smiled at her sister encouragingly. “Tell us your tale, when you are ready.”
With a lift of her head and a straightening of her shoulders, Kelly began. “Sir Thomas, as I knew him, was an artist, a man who could form any metal into the finest of jewelry. He could create such fine settings they were barely noticed other than as an adornment to exquisite gems. When we met, he worked that same magic with my heart.” Her lips twitched in memory. “We married after a brief courtship, and we had a daughter, Marian. She brought light and joy to our lives.”
Kelly paced, her eyes distant with memories. “Thomas worked hard and won the favor of our sovereign Queen, Elizabeth. He became the royal goldsmith, and we moved to the palace. For a while, life was as sweet as it was grand.”
“But what of his sin?” Casey interrupted, leaning forward. “Did he succumb to pride?”
The brief joy that lit Kelly’s face darkened. Her scowl was one of confusion and guilt. “That is not an easy question to answer, I am afraid. Life in Elizabethan England was harsh. Disease ran rampant, and our little family was not immune to it. Marian grew ill with ague. As I held her listless form in my arms, something broke inside me. Though she recovered, and I tried to as well, my fear for her never quite subsided.” Tears filled Kelly’s eyes, and she stole a quick glance at the man behind her. “Because I failed in my role as wife, I did not offer Thomas the support he needed. It is, in many ways, my fault that he failed this test.”
“No, my love!” Thomas surged to his feet, the shackles making it difficult for him to maintain his balance. His weight drove him to his knees, though he clasped his hands before him. “The fault is all mine. You tried to warn me.”
“You will get your turn to speak, Thomas,” Tia said, not unkindly. Sympathy and concern filled her eyes as she looked upon her sister. “Describe this failure, so we may understand your angst.”
Wrapping her arms around her middle protectively, Kelly focused on her sisters and continued. “Thankfully, Marian recovered, but I did not. I fretted she would grow ill again. My world revolved around my daughter, and for that, I often missed attending royal events with my husband or giving him much of my time and love.”
She wrung her hands, her eyes studiously trained to the floor. “The incident Thomas spoke of occurred before Marian got sick. We had traveled to his boyhood home to make final arrangements for his father. It was then Thomas confided in me that he sought fame for his work, his art.”
Once again, Kelly glanced at Thomas. The man, still on his knees, hung his head shamefully. She could not seem to break herself from the sight until she heard Jo’s urging voice. “Go on.”
Turning back, Kelly took a fortifying breath and visibly fought back tears threatening to fall. “I warned him pride was a mortal sin, and no good would come of it. I thought my words got through, but then Marian grew ill…” The tears she had tried so hard to contain made rivers down her pale cheeks, staining her toga in a myriad of colors. “I distanced myself from Thomas, my focus solely on our only child, and it seemed his pride grew in my absence. To add further insult, there was a man by the name of Lord Hale who I allowed to flirt shamelessly with me.” She chuffed. “I was away from my husband, I had just given birth, and I wanted the compliments he gave me so freely. He would commandeer my attention at most every event, and people talked.
“It was so prevalent and obvious, Thomas became worried enough to ask me if I had closeted with the man. I had not, but his concern made me realize my actions were not harmless. I did my best to shun Lord Hale after the warning, but I fear the competition was too much for my husband to handle. He became unstable.”
“And did his actions give way to pride?” Casey asked.
Tilting her head in a slight nod, Kelly said, “Yes. He paid the ultimate price for it, losing his position at the palace.”
“That was not the ultimate price,” Thomas whispered behind her. His voice broke on each word, his ears catching how tortured he sounded.
Kelly gasped at his softly spoken words, but did not reply. Wiping her eyes, she said, “That is the entirety of my testimony as I know it.”
“Thank you, sister,” Nichole said. “Please, take your seat and gather your emotions while we hear Thomas’s side of the story.”
“I…” He shook his head, regret for what his wife missed filled him. “It is best if I tell you of the time after she passed.” After scrambling back into his seat, he hung his head.
All the women nodded and leaned forward on their arms, gazing at him without blinking, their molten, metal-colored irises swirling.
Again, he hesitated, feeling as though he was defending something he should not be. If they had never been forced to return to the place where his father died, Kelleigh would have never been taken by disease. It was his fault she was exposed to the illness a second time.
“Go on, Thomas,” Nichole said.
His heart sank. “Our daughter became the loveliest creature. I married her to a commoner, so in love were they. I could see, when they looked at one another, they were the ideal match. He treated her with love and respect, and they had three children who all married well. The youngest became a duke.”
Tears continued to stream down Kelly's face, but she was smiling.
“Please, do not smile. It was my fault you missed it all. Something I was only able to realize after your death.” Sadness enveloped him like the shroud he had tucked his wife into when she passed. “I begged God for forgiveness every Sunday.” He locked eyes with her. “My ambitions exposed you to the disease that killed you, but I was determined to live a life free of sin afterward.”
Wondering if it would even matter, he groaned and confessed something else. “I never even bedded another, so fearful was I that Marian would be taken as revenge, as you were.”
“The Christian God is not a vengeful being. He allows humans to have lessons they may accept or reject. It is mostly the same with the Pagan gods. Kelleigh’s death was by circumstance only.” Tia narrowed her eyes. “But, if you learned something from it, Thomas, then she did not die in vain.”
He nodded. “I learned much.”
Pressing dainty fingers to swollen lips, Kelly nodded at the man before them. “Thank you for raising our daughter into a strong woman. My heart is lightened in hearing your tale.” She sobered, straightened her shoulders, and banged the gavel once. “Now, we
shall hear from Casey.”
“To be flawed is to be human, and to be humble is to admit your flaws.”
Trial of First Lt. Thomas Anderson - Greed and Envy
Thomas watched as the woman known as Casey approached. The tiny dimple in her left cheek and the way she carried herself immediately flooded his mind with memories of her. He remembered her happiness when they were married, her determination in cleaning up the old shack they had lived in on the back of his father’s property, and the overwhelming anguish Thomas cloaked from her after they lost their first child during pregnancy. He could remember seeing her on the porch swing, belly protruding as she gently rubbed it and sang sweetly. Thomas had been gone too long, but any time away from her was an eternity.
“Casey.” The name tumbled from his lips.
Casey smiled. “He remembers me. He always called me that, while most everyone else called me Cassandra.”
One side of his lips pulled up in a return half grin, but it quickly faded. A few times, his brother had used the nickname, and it made Thomas cringe. Her allure had always taken his breath away, but seeing her swollen with his child transcended his ideas of beauty. She was ethereal. “How could I forget you?”
Immediately, her mouth turned down. “It seems it was not so hard a chore for you back then.” Her frown softened. “At least, in the end. In the early days, you were so good to me. Gentle, loving, kind. When we lost our first baby...” She turned away and swiped at her face before facing him again. “You were always there for me. But you did not come home much after I conceived the second, and you were gone most of the time I carried our child. You chased your father’s acceptance, but you denied your own son a father.”
He hung his head. Her life had been so full of loss. First her parents, and then her first child. Yet nobody would have called her sullen. She never raised her voice against any unfairness; instead, she found the light in everything. Not once had she envied his brother the inheritance of the farm.
7: The Seven Deadly Sins Page 19
