"I think I know those three. One of them was my age, and a friend of mine." His hatred for Raoul burned fiercer than ever.
Pierre said, "For a long time now there have been no words at all between Raoul and me."
Auguste said, "It was my coming here that turned you against each other."
Nicole spoke up. "Not you. Raoul has had a grudge against Pierre for as long as I can remember."
Elysée said, "Yes, Raoul has many quarrels with me—over land and how it is to be used, our paying the Sauk and Fox for it, the Fort Dearborn massacre. Yes, you are part of it, Auguste, but there is much more besides."
Auguste shook his head. "But before I came, Father and Raoul were speaking to each other and the question of who would get the estate was settled. And it still can be. Father, after you are gone I will go back to my people. You can tell Raoul that, and there will be peace between you."
With pain that tore all through him like lightning burning through a tree, Auguste realized that he had committed himself to stay here as long as his father lived. His Sauk family and loved ones were in terrible danger four days' ride from here, and he wanted to be with them. But he couldn't leave Pierre now. His fear for Sun Woman and Redbird and the others in peril, his shame at not going to help them, would be a terrible torment, but he would have to endure it. He could not leave his father to take his first steps on the Trail of Souls alone.
Pierre reached out suddenly and seized him by the wrist.
"You must not leave, even after I am gone. You must stay here as my heir."
Auguste gasped as the enormity of what Pierre was saying hit him. Heir! He tried to stand up, but Pierre's grip held him fast. Just as this huge house and all the land around it would hold him captive, forever parted from his people.