A Family Wager

As Bryson sat next to the car window staring outside and watching the world go by, Kristel sat on the other side and seemed to be more scared than before. Bryson did his best to try and ignore her. But the constant cowering was getting on his nerves.

 "What?" Bryson said exasperated.

"Eep!" She squeaked out.

"What is wrong you? Why are you so jumpy?" Bryson asked clearly annoyed.

"Um…" She said before trailing off, eyes darting away from him.

"Answer me." Bryson said sternly.

"Y-you're, B-B-Bryson C-Coldwater, r-right?" She stammered out.

"Yes?" Bryson said unimpressed by her reaction.

"Are you going to kill me?" She said fearfully.

"What?" Bryson said in utter confusion.

"Did you feed me so you could f-fatten me up?" She said curling up into a small ball.

"No. Why would I do that?" Bryson said getting annoyed.

"They say that you do." She said visibly shaking at this point.

"Who does?" Bryson said glaring at her, which only proved to make the situation worse.

"I-I was told stories back at the orphanage!" Kristel cried out.

"Explain."

"They s-said that Bryson Coldwater is a demon raised by the Coldwaters. A monster that skulks a-around. No other nobles dare g-go n-near…" She lost her voice as she watched Bryson get angrier and angrier as she spoke.

"I-I'm sorry!" She wailed covering her face in a vain attempt to protect herself.

While Bryson was emitting unbridled fury and Kristel was in absolute terror, Lila was trying not to burst out in laughter watching this. Remember Lila, you're driving. You can't start laughing and cause a crash. She tried reminding herself as she continued to drive back to the Coldwater estate.

***

"S-so, you aren't going to kill me?" Kristel asked as Lila parked them inside the massive Coldwater parking lot basement.

"For the last time no. What good would that do me?" Bryson said annoyed.

"O-kay." Kristel said nodding her head. It had taken nearly the entire one-hour drive back home to calm both Bryson and Kristel down and get on the same page. Though Kristel still was worried, but she at least stopped crying. Bryson also seemed to have eased up on his anger.

"But I don't get it." She said.

"Get what?" Bryson asked as Lila opened the door for him to get out.

"Even if the stories they told me in the orphanage aren't true. Why are you being so nice to me?" She asked with a sniffle.

"Because you can be useful. Come on get out." Bryson said beckoning her out of the car.

"But what can I do?" She asked as she crawled out of the car, "I'm not good at anything. It's why I was raised at the orphanage."

"Your parents said that to you?" Bryson asked in disbelief.

"No, but why else was I raised in an orphanage." She said gloomily.

"They could have passed away." Bryson said.

"They're alive, my caretakers told me how they dropped me at the orphanage." She said her eyes beginning to well up.

"Uh." Bryson said unsure how to approach this.

"Then they were wrong." Lila said approaching Kristel, "Their opinions aren't important, all that matters is that you're here. Here's a chance for something better." She said giving Kristel a reassuring hug.

"Right." Bryson said awkwardly as he shoved his hands into his pockets watching them. He assumed that Lila had had similar conversations with Lottie in the past. It must not have been easy. He thought before saying, "Well let's try to figure out what happens next with you with my family."

***

As Bryson, Lila and Kristel waited in the hallway to Duke Coldwater's office, Bryson was trying to give a very pale-looking Kristel some advice.

 "Bad news Bryson, looks like the Earl found their car." Lila said as she checked a message on her Communicator.

 "What? How?"

 "According to what I've been told, it seems that the car was hidden in that area we were searching." Lila said.

 "Ah, great." Bryson groaned. Well there goes my chance of ending my punishment. Bryson said as he looked over to Kristel.

"Stop shaking." He said.

"S-sorry." She said as she looked like she was about to throw up from stress.

"Look." Bryson said with a sigh, "They won't hurt you. Just stay quiet and I'll take care of it. You'll be fine. You have my word."

She gave a small nod just as the head butler of the Coldwaters opened the door, "Lord Bryson, your family is waiting."

"Family?" Bryson asked confused.

"Yes, both of you siblings have heard that you have brought a guest and want to observe the meeting." He said with a polite nod. But Bryson could see the amusement he had in his eyes knowing that a show was about to be put on.

"Great." Bryson muttered as he led the way into his father's office. Opening the door he was surprised who awaited them. As expected, both his parents were there, but joined with them were also his two siblings, Sable and Gilles relaxing in the room. All of this was accompanied by various guards and servants, including Nico Reese. Bryson could even see Primrose, Bryson's magic teacher in the corner with the pixie Coni Pinop.

"This is a lot more people than I expected." Bryson said.

"Well your maid informed us of some interesting news. We had to tell the rest of the family." Duchess Coldwater said sweetly as her eyes drifted upon a still-nervous Kristel, "So this is the girl you've fallen for this time. She looks like she hasn't had a bath in weeks." She said studying her.

 "I didn't fall for her." Bryson grumbled, "And yes, she was on the streets for around a month. Do we really need everyone to be here?" Bryson complained.

"I'm just surprised that you were dumb enough to pick up a stray." Gilles chirped, "Aren't you still busy being grounded?" He asked before looking over to their mother, "I thought Bryson wasn't allowed to do these stupid things anymore."

"Oh my gods." Bryson groaned in annoyance, "Are you still upset over the fact that I took that stupid dragon quest over you?"

"Am I still annoyed? Of course! You screwed up! If I took it, I would've gotten to a pet dragon to take with me when I leave!"

"How did I screw up? I have the dragon, she's just in another realm of existence! You know why? Because she is a massive dragon! We can't just house a dragon around here." Bryson argued back.

"Now, now. This is not what we are here for." Duchess Coldwater said calming them down, "But Gilles made a good point. Bryson, why did you bring this poor thing over? I understand that she may not have had a good month, but we are not charity."

"I think she has potential." Bryson explained, "Not as a mage per se but more like a physical fighter."

"Why do you expect that?" Duke Coldwater said leaning in interested.

"I, uh, sensed it." Bryson said.

"You sensed it?" Duke Coldwater said slowly.

"Yes." Bryson said with one small nod.

"Hmm." Duke Coldwater grunted glaring at Kristel who had become deathly pale. Duke Coldwater's inky black eyes somehow became darker.

Bryson recognized that his father was casting some type of identification spell. I don't think I've ever seen Father cast an identify spell in-person before. At least I got his attention. Bryson thought.

"Interesting." Duke Coldwater said after a moment. Ceasing his spell he then addressed Primrose, "Your opinion?"

"Oh, let's see." Primrose the horned Anthousai flower spirit said a bit surprised at being called. She approached Kristel who flinched a bit as this strange magical humanoid creature bent down towards her. Primrose gave one quick glance over to Bryson before raising a hand over Kristel's head and casted a spell.

A second later she rescinded her hand and rose back to full height. A look of curiosity was on her face as she looked over to Bryson again, who shrugged in response. Primrose gave a small smile at his response.

"Lord Bryson is not wrong. There is potential in her." Primrose said addressing Duke Coldwater, "Though I don't believe she's unlocked any of her powers yet, so I have no way of knowing how good she can become."

"How old are you girl?" Duke Coldwater asked, voice shaking her to her core.

"T-twelve." She said avoiding eye contact and staring straight down on the floor.

"She's a bit old." Duchess Coldwater commented, "Unlikely to be extraordinary if she starts training now."

"That isn't necessarily true however Duchess Coldwater. She would have a late start but still could blossom to quite the fighter." Primrose said.

"She doesn't really look that special does she?" Gilles said glaring at the scared girl, "I'm mean look at her, she's about to wet herself." He said with a laugh.

"Bryson." Duke Coldwater said, "While she does possess some ability, we don't know how capable she can become. It is unlikely that she will be anything special. As your mother mentioned we are not a charity, we cannot just accept her."

"Yeah, seriously you want a pet Bryson get a dog." Gilles said mockingly.

"Can it Gilles." Bryson snapped.

"Or what?"

"Settle down both of you." Duchess Coldwater said sternly, "No fighting. Bryson, normally your father and I would be willing to let her go through a trial. But this girl is a special case."

"Why?" Bryson asked.

"Because when you contacted us about her, we dug out her file." Duchess Coldwater said.

"Ah." Bryson said with a grimace.

"She has stolen from a noble, a noble that gave her a place to stay. She is not to be trusted." Duke Coldwater said tapping at his monitor as he read her file.

"I didn't do it!" Kristel blurted out. A single look from Duke Coldwater caused her immediately to quiet down and stare back down on the floor.

"She said she didn't do it." Bryson said more confidently.

"And you believe her?" Gilles scoffed.

"She could have been framed, the missing item was never found. So that means that she didn't tell them where it was. Why wouldn't she do that if she got caught?" Bryson argued.

"Hmm." Duke Coldwater simply grunted.

"Still doesn't mean that she's any good." Gilles said.

"What if you're wrong?"

"As if."

Bryson paused for a moment as he prepared what he was going to say next, "What if I can prove it."

"How?" Gilles said looking amused.

"You have a team already prepared that will depart with you when you turn fifteen right? You'll start an adventuring guild somewhere in Kralokor?" Bryson said.

"Yes? Your point being?"

"I want to challenge you." Bryson said. The whole room stopped and looked at the two Coldwater boys.

"With what?" Gilles said leaning in, looking as if he was going to pounce on anything the moment Bryson showed any weakness.

"Your birthday is in a year, at that time she fights one of your potential party members." Bryson said coolly meeting Gilles gaze with an unflinching one.

"A year? To train her to defeat someone older than her? Are you crazy?" Gilles laughed.

"How many are as good as you? Or even close?"

Gilles took a pause and seemed to think a moment, "Maybe a couple."

"But you have a bunch of potential guild members not nearly as strong as you. Yet they have been approved to join you."

"Yes."

"What if she beats one of them? Someone near my ability can do that."

"You think that she can be as talented as you?" Gilles said eyes full of amusement.

Bryson took a brief pause as he tried to figure out how stupid he was being right now. Logically he should just let the girl go back to the streets. But that didn't sit well with him and more than that, he was annoyed at Gilles.

"Why not? I'm willing to bet on it." Bryson said shrugging.

"Bet what?" Gilles said, "Why would I say yes?"

"I help finish all the extra paperwork you need to register for the guild." Bryson said.

 "Okay." Gilles said suddenly very interested, "I can agree with that."

Both Duke and Duchess Coldwater shared a look. After having a silent conversation between themselves, Duke Coldwater spoke, "What would happen if you win?"

"I want that yeti fur jacket." Bryson claimed boldly recalling the prize Gilles got instead of the dragon.

"Gutsy. Deal." Gilles said folding his arms confidently.

"Just one moment." Duchess Coldwater said, "While your father and I do support this sibling competition. We would like to place a few caveats."

"Of course mother." Bryson said though he was getting nervous about what they might say.

"In order for you to properly train this girl you will require more freedom. Which means that you would be ungrounded earlier than we want." She said looking down at her son.

"Yes…" Bryson said not liking where this was going.

"So in order to have you be punished properly, you will be no longer grounded. But the girl will not be given access to the Coldwater areas or resources."

"Wait. What?" Bryson exclaimed as Gilles grinned from ear to ear, "No way! That's not fair! Where am I supposed to go and who am I supposed to get help from?"

"Only those working for the Coldwater household are allowed to access our resources. She is not one of those workers. Not yet." Duke Coldwater said coolly, staring at Bryson as if challenging to speak up.

"What about Marsh? She's given all our resources!" Bryson argued.

"She works for us dear." Duchess Coldwater said kindly.

"The other Frost? Phillip teaches her."

"Sir Phillip has taken the girl as a protégé." Duke Coldwater said as Phillip gave a small bow.

"She's registered here as a servant?" Bryson said confused.

"No. She is registered an apprentice for Sir Phillip's other occupation." Duke Coldwater said, not needing to imply what that other occupation was.

"Looks like I've already won." Gilles said.

Nico Reese who had been standing guard watching this suddenly raised his hand, "Your Grace, may I interrupt?"

Duke Coldwater looked over to the young man curiously, "What do you want to say sergeant Reese?"

"At my current rank and title, I am allowed to have myself a squire. If I were to take this girl as my squire, would she then be allowed to use the Coldwater resources?" He said.

Duke Coldwater nodded his head in approval, "I will allow this."

"What?" Gilles hissed staring daggers at Nico who continued to look straight ahead at Duke Coldwater.

"Loyalty is important." Duke Coldwater said addressing Bryson. It seemed that Bryson had passed a test he wasn't aware of. Bryson could only nod in response.

"Very well. In one years time, a competition will be held. One potential member of Gilles's guild will face Sergeant Reese's temporary squire. She wins, she we officially be sponsored by the Coldwater family." Duke Coldwater announced, "You may now leave."

One year. Bryson thought. One year for this.