“Leave the child to become used to her mother,” he said sternly. “You shall have plenty of time to play with her later.”
She stuck her tongue out at him and he scowled severely, but the mood was light. With a shake of his finger, he moved past the unhinged door.
Dane was silent the entire walk to Trenton’s room.
“My mother did not have anything to do with your wife’s death, did she?” he finally asked as they approached Trenton’s door.
“Nay,” Gaston replied firmly. “Nor did I. Her death was of natural causes, Dane. Do not worry yourself.”
Dane still looked doubtful as Gaston knocked on his son’s door.
“Go away,” Trenton hollered.
Gaston unlatched the door. “By what right do you use that tone, Master de Russe?”
Trenton looked surprised to see his father, but visibly frowned at Dane. Gaston could sense the hostility, the jealousy, and the pain. Rapidly, he came to a decision.
“Gather your most important items, Trenton,” he said briskly. “Clothes, shoes, anything of sentimental value. You will no longer be occupying this room after today.”
Trenton looked uncertain. “Wh… why, father? What’s wrong?”
He would not allow his son to wallow in grief. The sooner he moved on with his young life, the better, and Gaston had plans for him.
“Nothing, but there is much to do as you lie about here in self-pity,” Gaston said, moving into the room. “Tomorrow, we leave for Clearwell to bury your mother. When we return, you will begin your training alongside Master Stoneley. We will move your items into the troop house this day.”
Trenton moved mechanically off the bed simply because his father seemed so determined that he do so. Blindly, he dug out his traveling satchel and began to gather his things, not even stopping to think what he was packing. He was so terribly confused and hurt that he was simply doing as ordered with no feeling about it whatsoever.
He did not even know why he hurt so much. He knew his mother had not really cared for him, but she had been there when his father wasn’t. She was the only parent he had even known. Now she was gone and he was in the company of strangers, including his father.
His mother had told him that his father did not like children. It was hard to believe when his father was so nice to him, but his mother would not lie… would she? He was afraid and disoriented.
“Am I to start training, too?” Dane piped up eagerly. “Can I move my things into the troop house?”
Gaston thought of Remington’s reaction when he informed her that Dane would no longer be living within the walls of the castle. He furthermore dreaded telling her that he would allow no contact with her son for the first three months, and then limited contact thereafter. If Dane were to be a strong, independent man, then he would have to cut his mother’s apron strings.
Unfortunately, Gaston did not think that Remington was emotionally up to the separation at the moment.
“We shall move your things when Trenton and I return from Clearwell,” he said, putting his huge hand on Dane’s shoulder. “Meanwhile, not a word to your mother. ’Twill upset her to know her son is growing to be a man sooner than she had hoped.”
Dane nodded, a bit disappointed that he could not move into the troop house right away, but encouraged just the same. He so desperately wanted to learn to be a knight.
Trenton had jammed nearly everything he could grab into his traveling satchel. Dane bent over and picked up a pair of leather shoes from the floor.
“Here,” he put them on the bed next to the bag.
Trenton’s face darkened as he picked up the shoes and packed them, avoided Dane’s gaze. Dane frowned; he did not like being ignored.
“Why are you mad at me?” he demanded. “I did not do anything.”
Trenton’s brow furrowed sharply. “I am not mad….I just do not feel like playing with you today.”
“Why not?” Dane scowled. “I want to go fishing.”
“I do not want to fish,” Trenton returned hostilely.
“Then let’s go search the woods for fox pups. I know where there is a fox burrow,” Dane suggested.
Trenton actually looked interested, but his face rapidly darkened again. “I do not wanna.”
