The Last Song

master will sell me to the galleys when he finds out what you’ve witnessed. I’ll never see my wife and son again! Don Enrique, may Allah bless his name, frees all of us slaves after we serve him loyally for ten years. I will look for my family as soon as I become a free man. If I am sent to the galleys, they’ll be forever lost to me!”
    He looked so miserable that my heart filled with pity. “Don’t worry. My parents won’t blame you. I’ll make sure that they don’t. I’ll tell them that it wasn’t your fault. You aren’t the only one who didn’t know about the auto-de-fé. Mama couldn’t have known eitheror she would never have agreed to my leaving the house with you.” I held out my hand and he helped me up. “Let’s go and buy the fruit. I want to go home.”
    Mama took one look at my face and demanded to know what had happened.
    I told her about the living nightmare we had witnessed. “Those poor people. Suffering so terribly! How can the Inquisition be so cruel as to burn them alive?” Even thinking about it made me feel queasy.
    Mama patted my hand. “Hush!” she said. “You mustn’t criticize the Inquisition! Somebody might overhear you.”
    “It wasn’t Yussuf’s fault that we went to the plaza. He didn’t know that an auto-de-fé was being held there.”
    She sat down heavily. “Don’t worry about the Moor. I don’t blame him. I blame myself. I forgot all about the auto in the excitement of your father’s homecoming.” She fanned herself thoughtfully for a moment. “We wanted to spare you such sights and we were able to do so up to now because most autos are outside the city. Perhaps it’s good that you saw one and finally know what’s happening. The Inquisition has eyes and ears everywhere. You can’t trust anyone. No one is safe. Yourbest friend today might turn out to be your worst enemy tomorrow.”
    The shock was catching up with me. I felt myself sway.
    “Isabel, you’ve been badly shaken. Go to your room and rest,” Mama said.
    The table was set with heavy silver dishes that held delicacies of every kind. In the place of honor, in the center of the table, the little golden bird in its silver cage sang its silent song. We ate and ate and drank and drank until we couldn’t have eaten another morsel or drunk another drop of wine. Finally, it was time for me to receive my presents.
    Brianda placed a package wrapped in fine white cloth in my hands. It contained the same delicate necklace that I had admired on our last visit.
    “I can’t accept this.” I pushed it into her hands. “This is too fine a gift. I told you before.”
    “It looks much better on you than on me. Please take it.” She handed it back to me.
    “It’s yours, little one,” Tia Juana said, smiling. “Her father will buy her another necklace, one she likes better.”
    “Even nicer than this one,” Diego de Alvarez said, smiling fondly at his daughter.
    Brianda jumped up from her seat and put it around my neck. I ran my fingers over it. It was light as a feather against my skin.
    “You look beautiful in it,” Brianda said.
    Both Mama and Tia Juana nodded their approval.
    Next, it was Luis’s turn. He held out a velvet pouch. In it was a gold bracelet studded with garish green stones as big as pebbles. He slipped it onto my wrist. It was so heavy that I felt I couldn’t lift my arm.
This is how the shackles of a galley slave must feel
, I said to myself. I lowered my eyes so that he wouldn’t guess my thoughts.
    “Thank you,” I mumbled.
    “This magnificent bracelet shows Luis’s regard for you,” Papa said firmly. “You must tell him how much you like it.”
    Mama kept her gaze on her hands, which were clenched together in her lap so tightly that her knuckles were white.
    “Tell Luis how much you like the bracelet,” Papa repeated.
    I looked up and forced myself to smile. “It’s a beautiful bracelet … very … regal!”
    He nodded. “As it should be. Nothing but the best for my betrothed, soon to be my bride. May I reap my reward?”
    I looked at Papa pleadingly. He suddenly became absorbed in his food. Mama was still as a statue. Luis leaned closer. Without waiting for my reply, he kissed me. I turned my head and his lips missed my mouth, landing on my cheek. His lips were cold against my face. Suddenly, I remembered the baby lizard wriggling under his heel in the rose garden and I shuddered. He drew back, his eyes glistening his fury.
    Papa broke the awkward