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Aindreas smiled bitterly at his aunt. “Where’s Father?”
Her eyes widened, looking shocked, but Aindreas saw through her. She was mocking him. She was always mocking him. “Ye mean, he didn’t tell ye?”
“Tell me what?” Aindreas looked between Daniel and Alisa, waiting for someone to tell him what was going on.
“Uncle Duncan left last night,” said Daniel, a hint of surprise coating his tone. “He said it would be just a short trip. We expect him back later tonight or tomorrow. Did he really not say a word to ye?”
Aindreas’s mouth hung open, and he offered a short shake of his head in answer. “How can that be?” he breathed, feeling both shocked and hurt. He tried to replay the night before in his head. They had fought and exchanged words no normal father and son would say, yet Aindreas couldn’t fathom that would be the reason as to why his father wouldn’t inform him of his trip.
“I thought he told ye,” said Alisa sweetly while clasping her hands elegantly in her lap. She looked up at him as if she were queen of all, and he was nothing more than a pauper. Aindreas’s jaw clenched while he attempted to restrain himself. For all he knew, his aunt was correct in the way she treated him.
For he was nothing.
Alisa dabbed at the corners of her mouth with her handkerchief. “Whatever ye may need him for, I’m sure it can wait.”
Aindreas’s hands fisted at his sides. “No, it cannot,” he said between his clenched teeth.
His aunt looked amused. A wicked gleam glinted in her eyes while she tilted her head to the side as if she was soon to give him a lecture on proper etiquette like she once did when he was a young boy. “Well, why don’t ye speak with me? I’ll be sure to give yer father the missive.”
Aindreas smirked. “I didn’t know ye liked to play messenger, Aunt Alisa.”
Alisa’s smile dropped, and her eyes narrowed. “I am no one’s messenger, boy, but I cannot have ye yelling at yer father once more. He’s getting too old to put up with yer immaturity and selfishness.”
“I am only looking out for the clan’s best interests,” Aindreas whispered harshly while pressing his hands against the table, towering over his aunt while scowling down at her.
Alisa scoffed. “The clan’s best interests, Aindreas? Don’t ye mean yer own?”
Aindreas opened his mouth, but Daniel quickly rose from his seat before he could say a word. “Enough,” he said, his voice nearly a shout as the boy looked between Aindreas and Alisa. “Not another word from ye both. I will not have another family squabble ruining my day.” Daniel leveled his glare on Aindreas. “Uncle will be back soon. I’m sure he didn’t mean not to tell ye.”
Aindreas sighed and turned on his heel. “I’m sure he did mean to,” he murmured while striding out of the hall, trying to ignore the stares of the elders and servants while he stalked out of the room.
He didn’t stop until he was in the courtyard, watching the soldiers train and fight while grabbing a practice sword. Without saying a word, he attacked, striking his sword against a soldier’s shield before twirling around and blocking a strike from behind. If all else failed, he could fight. Fighting was the only thing that calmed him, assuaged his fears. It was the only thing that helped after his mother’s death. The only thing that allowed him to ignore his mother’s words, whispering darkly at the back of his head. The only thing that could help him get through the fact that his father had caused his mother’s death.
