Despite the fact they were in way over their heads, in Lord Bennet's opinion, they had an uncanny air about them. Gravel crunched beneath his boots as he strode the path towards them. He looked past the two boys to the mansion. Its occupants ten years dead now, his friends buried so long ago. You were beautiful once, he thought.  

He stopped a few feet away from them. As a noble he had nothing to fear if these two were as common as they looked, gray shirts and brown pants with patches sewn unto parts where there must have torn. 

One of them was taller, with muscles packed into his arms, a more immediate threat. The other was smaller, though he was about even with Bennet There was something in the boy's eyes that gave him pause, as though he was being appraised. He didn't like the feeling. 

"Just so you know, I've never met someone with the gall to break into someone's lands, raid their property, and then invite that person to visit. I assume that is because most thieves are smart enough to know how far they can toe the line." 

The smaller boy raised his hand "Begging your pardon my lord, but we were smart enough not to raid or damage anything in or around the mansion," he raised his hand to indicate the mansion, "You can step in if you like and check."  

A cockney accent, Bennet thought. Should have expected as much. "Yes, lets. Although I would prefer, we go to the sitting room first, so we discuss the situation." 

"Right, better to sit down for this kind of news." The taller one said in baritone, but still common sounding voice. 

The real reason was because the windows were exceptionally strong, and Bennet had brought the key to that room with him. No reason to let them know that. 

Bennet stepped into the Briar's house, a rush of memories accompanying him. He'd run through these halls as a boy with Tobias and Lyra. They would rush from one set of mischief to the next, him tagging along to pick up the pieces. He never hated them of course, even when he was young, he was mature enough to tell who would bother him to piss off. Tobias had confided in him that that was one of the reasons they were friends, although Bennet hadn't understood at the time. He'd been so stupid as a child. 

The two boys led him into the sitting room, the smaller one made himself comfortable on one of the chairs, the taller stood by the door. with his arms crossed. Bennet was the last enter, he shut the door behind him and locked it, not caring for the look the tall lad gave him.  

"I would like to thank you for coming to meet with us today." The small boy said as Bennet sat down. 

"Then do so." He replied. 

The boy flinched, then continued. "I understand why you are apprehensive about meeting us, especially under these circumstances." Their voice went low as they said, "Your friendship with the Briar family was well known." 

 “I would hope it is, but I hope even more, that you will finally get to your damned point."  

The boy shrugged and said, "I am the heir to the Briar's estate." 

The words took a moment to make sense. "Pardon?"  

"My name is Jerick, my friend guarding the door is called Theo, and I believe I am the son of Tobias Briar, and the heir to the Briar estate and lands." 

The shock wore off, giving way to suspicion, and then to anger. "Tobias and Lyra had one child only, a baby girl named Clara. I know you aren't them, because they died with their parents in the Culling." 

Bennet placed a hand on the sword to his side, a physical threat, and started gathering his magic. 

"It's true, I'm not them. But it's not because I'm lying. I believe I was the son of a mistress, of a maid, or perhaps even a visitor to the estate." 

"My friend loved his wife, do you honestly expect me to believe this. Why reveal yourself now anyway? Why wouldn't lord Briar tell me of these things? Explain yourself boy. Bennet drew his sword. He heard a creak of wood behind him, but the boy, Jerick raised his hand, halting his friend.  

"I learned I was not who my mother always told me I was only a few months ago. We lived in the streets of the nearby city. I had no father." He smiled sadly. "A bastard twice, can you believe it?"  

Bennet scowled and the smile vanished. Jerick continued, "My mother was...less composed as she neared her death. She would rave about how the man she loved had betrayed her, abandoned her. I heard her speak the name Tobias, one of the last things she made before she died. I connected the dots and upon investigating this mansion with Theo, I deemed it to be true." 

The boy locked eyes with Bennet, eyes burrowing into him. There was a sadness in those eyes, as had been in the smile. "Fifteen years ago, the Briar family died, the methods and mean unknown, all dropped dead. With them, died their magic. A magic I now possess." 

Jerick held his palm out, a thin wisp of mist beginning to form. No, Bennet thought, please no. The wisp rose into the air, hovering over the hand. A single drop of water fell. On contact with the hand there was a small snapping sound, and a pillar of ice had formed in the boy's hand.  

Tobias, you complete arse. 

Jerick plucked the pillar off his hand, holding it between his forefingers. "There was a manual upstairs, in the study. I read it and…" 

"Stop, stop. I believe you." Bennet cried. He needed time to think, if he had to look at the boy's sad eyes once more, he would scream.  

Nothing was making sense. His best friend had been a whore, had Lyra been aware of this. Was he doing it with other girls, had it been obvious, and he and Lyra were the only ones not to notice? The thought was too much to bear. 

Bennet placed his head in his hands, he felt a headache coming on. Tobias was...a trickster. No doubt about that, Bennet had a patch of skin on his arm that was permanently red, from when one of the tricks had gone too far. Tobias had apologized over and over, for the entire week. He was a man to admit his mistakes when they happened, take on whatever consequences would come.  

Bennet raised his head, eyes narrowing. Lyra had been no fool. She'd had spies everywhere, the week after her death, in the midst of his grief, he'd been visited by about ten, whose orders had been to follow him after their master's death. If anyone would know about her husband having an affair, it would be her.  

In fact, how was the renewal ceremony even functioning after fifteen years? 

But if Jerick was lying, to what end? Was he trying to trick Bennet into allowing him full rights to the land, for his own purposes, or even for one of the other nobles?  

He studied the boy. How much of this was an act? Was that smile a calculated move or a genuine show of expression. Were those eyes full of concern or were they studying, gauging his reaction? 

"I believe," Bennet said, "That there is enough evidence here to argue that you could...Tobias' son." 

"He made the ice, what more do you want?" A voice behind him said. 

Bennet wheeled around in his seat, he'd forgotten the other one, Theo, was still there. 

"The lord is allowed to have concerns." Jerick said. "This must be hard on him." 

"Yes. You know, I don't think I got an answer to my earlier question. Why reveal yourself now?" He waved his hand dismissively as the boy started to speak. "I don't mean, where you came from. Why admit to being the son of a noble family, when you already had a life before this, with friends." He indicated Theo.  

"Life on the streets wasn't easy Lord Bennet Most of the houses were, and still are, shanty houses. There's no infrastructure. When it rains water seeps into the house, I've known some to just collapse in on themselves. Not to mention the gangs." 

"Life in the courts is dangerous boy. It's not something to just insert yourself into lightly. I guarantee you, whatever life you have now is safer." 

The lids on Jerick's eyes fell for half a second, Bennet read a great contempt in that move. Then they opened back to normal.  

"I... won't argue about that with you, lord. But that isn't the reason I want to do this. My family, the Briar's, owed a great many debts, didn't they?" 

"I heard rumors they were asking for resources and loans near the end, yes." Bennet answered. 

"Well, my family made man promises, and when they died, though not their fault, they left those promises unfulfilled. My goal, if you will help me, is to see those debts and promises fulfilled. To clean the slate and restore the honor of the Briar's back to what it once was, and beyond that." 

"Do you have any idea as to what those debts even were. How much money, or time, or services rendered would be needed to pay those back?" 

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"That doesn't matter," Jerick said and stood. Passion filled his voice. "When my parents left their oaths unfulfilled, people suffered. The nobles who realized on their help to live and fell when they fell. The nobles who gave them money and more who were never able to recover. The poor people like me and my friend, who never received the aid promised to us. I want to fix all of that. And I want your help to do it, because regardless of the love you once held for my parents, I believe you to be a good man. I believe you will do what's right." 

The boy seemed to have used up all his energy for that speech, he collapsed back into his chair. 

That speech had been downright pandering. Jerick was making obvious appeals to Bennet's honor. "The love you held for my parents." As though that wasn't meant to be an indirect reminder. This boy, and his friend, were obviously charlatans! 

Yet the boy seemed genuinely tired from his outburst, emotionally drained.  

What if the boy was telling the truth? Maybe he had spent too long idolizing the memory of his friends. Tobias had been no saint, and Lyra had her ditsy moments. And though he had inherited their land, he had done nothing with it. Leaving the place, a living memory. 

The boy's words could be fake, but they seemed real enough. The words could be lies, yet they sounded so much like what Tobias had said, when he was still a youth. 

Bennet stroked at his beard, contemplating. "How much support would you be looking for?" 

Jerick perked up, "Not much. My friend and I only wish to reclaim this mansion and the surrounding lands. We plan to sell off most of the belongings." Bennet flinched, this seemed to go unnoticed. "We have plans for the finances, don't worry. I only have one thing more to ask of you."  

Jerick stood, then dropped to one knee. "Would you take me as your ward, and teach me to control my powers?" 

"You can't do that yourself?" Bennet asked, putting what little suspicion he had left into the words. 

Jerick blushed. "I'm not sure what I should be able to do right now, everything is new to me. I've only had these powers for maybe two weeks." The boy went quiet. 

Bennet considered his options. He could tell the boy that no, he wouldn't give him the land or take him as his ward, he still had doubts. He could accept the boy as the true heir to the Briar lands, but that might be putting someone unfit to rule in a position of power. Briar turned his choices over in his head. Weighing the choices.  

"I will grant you wardship, under a condition. Instead of being an independent lord, you will become my vassal. You will have control over your lands, but I will hold the power to take these lands, and any power you might gain, away if I deem you unworthy. Do you accept?" 

Jerick frowned, he looked past the lord, to his friend at the door. Bennet kept his gaze focused on the boy. He nodded his head, resolute. "I accept this, my liege." 

"Good. I'm leaving now, but I will return tomorrow with documents. I want this to be official." 

"That's good my lord." 

"Quite. Would you like me to keep this a secret? I won't be able to hide you forever but-" 

"That won't be necessary. It's better to be honest now and give the other houses as little reason to scrutinize us as possible right now." 

"Alright. I will return tomorrow." He looked between the two boys. Both looked to be of common birth, but they still had that air of confidence about them. That could be dangerous, a close eye would need to be kept on them, their stories checked, and double checked until the truth was uncovered. 

Bennet left the estate wary, but with an undeniable spring in his step. As troublesome as the circumstances were, it was nice to believe he might have some part of his friends back. 

-Break-

Jerick looked over his old room. It was a small and squat room, the floorboards rotten with age and there was an undeniable stench of must in the air. Combined with the days, it made packing his and Theo's few belongings almost unbearable. He heard a zip from behind him, Theo had already finished with is bag, and was panting faintly. 

He looked at Jerick and a smile crossed his face. "Hoo boy. Sure is hot today." Jerick frowned at the overacting. Theo grabbed an empty glass and held it in front of him. "My lord." 

"Stop." 

"Could I ever trouble you, my lord. I understand your busy my lord. Sitting there, watching while I pack everything-" His voice dropped back to normal "Thanks for that by the way." 

"I'm tired. 

"-But could I please, beg your lord for the smallest drop of water." 

Jerick said nothing, but mist gathered in his hand, faster than the wisp he had gathered a week ago. -Crack- A rough sphere appeared in his hand. He lobbed it at Theo's head, who side stepped. 

The ice smashed on the ground, breaking into pieces. Theo frowned at his friend and in a monotone voice said, "You'll be the first to die in the revolution."  

They both broke into grins. "It wouldn't have done you good any way" Jerick said. "Even in this weather it would take a couple minutes to melt." 

"I would have improvised." 

"How?" 

"I would have rubbed it on my ba-" 

Footsteps, coming up the stairs. They went silent, a reflex honed from years of living on the streets. The footsteps stopped outside their door. They waited in silence. 

A rhythm of knocks on the door. Jerick breathed a sigh of relief "You can come in." He called. 

A petite girl entered the room, with mousy brown hair and a scowl on her face. Ventra. She looked between the two of them, staring intensely. Her gaze slowly dropped to the now melting ice scattered around the floor. 

"Is that ice?" 

"Yes."  

"In this temperature? Where'd you get it?" 

"I made it with my magic." Jerick said, seeing no reason to lie to his friend. She hadn't known what they were doing, in fact it had been about two weeks since they had last been together. 

"So, it's true then. You're nobles now." 

"Just him." Theo said, and pointed. 

"I see. Might as well get to the point. So, have you always been a noble, and have you been lying to me the last few years?" Ventra asked. 

"Ventra look-" 

"It seems to me that two people I trusted might have been lying to me. I'm not mad – I'm a little mad." She amended, with a wave of her hand. "I just want to know the truth." 

Jerick took a deep breath, "Alright, the truth is that yes I am a noble, and am now a ward to lord Bennet." 

Ventra started shaking her head. "But" Jerick continued. "The truth is that I have no business being there." 

"And why's that?" Ventra asked. 

"Because I'm not a member of the Briar family. I lied." 

Ventra frowned, she picked up a piece of ice. "But you can use the magic?" 

Jerick held out his hand and materialized another rough sphere of ice. He held it out to Ventra, she cupped it in both of her hands and was staring at it in wonder. Jerick used to look at his magic like that, nearly a month ago now. Had he really become so used to it already? 

"Wait, but this is the Briar's magic. Doesn't this prove your part of the family?" Her brow was furrowed in genuine confusion. 

"It's more complicated than that." Jerick admitted. 

"No, it isn't. Here, I'll tell the story." Theo said, a little too quickly. Jerick didn't like the sudden enthusiasm. 

"So, you know the old Briar estate, that's about a day's walk from town?" 

"Technically the new one, now right?" 

"Doesn't matter. Well, Jer and I thought we could go there and pilfer a few bottles form the mansion's vineyard. That Benet guy had been keeping the mansion exactly how it was for years, o we thought there would still be a few bottles left at least. We were going to get a few bags and bring some of the bottles back to sell. Keep a couple for personal use, you savvy?" 

"Why wasn't I invited on this trip?" 

"Well you drink too much as it is." Jerick said. 

"I DO NO- I do actually. That's fair." 

"We saved you a bottle anyway." Jerick took out a bottle and tossed it to her. She caught it one handed. 

"Aww, thanks." 

"Anyway, we didn't want people knowing where we were going. Everyone round here knows we spend time together. If we all went, people would get suspicious." Theo said. 

"People already were suspicious. I had that creep gang lord Nicol ask me where you were. Told him to fuck off, nearly got in a fight. You're welcome." 

"Alright, so that plan didn't work out, but it's not important. We spent the day walking to the mansion, and scouted the place out make sure there were no guards around. There were none, so we went into the mansion, and find the vineyard. It was a thing of beauty. Rows near as tall as this building. We looked around, trying to find any good vintages, even though we really didn't know what the fuck that even was. Here's where things get crazy. 

"Jer, here, found a secret room near the back of the vineyard. It was hidden behind one of the shelves." 

"How'd he knows it was there. 

"The floor was tilting down to it, like with a safe room. I thought there might be something special back there-" 

"So, he had me help move the shelf. Wasn't much in the room. There was a bench bolted into the wall, a couple candles that hadn't been lit in ages. And" Theo held up one finger, "A cupboard, with a bottle in it." 

"Hold on, I think I see where this is going." Ventra turned to face Jerick. "Did you actually fucking drink form a bottle hidden in a safe room, that you knew nothing about." 

Jerick tried to think of something that wouldn't make him look like a complete idiot. "Yes." He had failed. 

"You absolute nonce." She walked over and swatted him on the side of the head. 

"In his defense, we had already drunk some of the stuff down there, and it seemed fine enough." 

Ventra turned, eyes wide. "And I'm the alcoholic?" 

"Yeah, and that's what happened. I drank from the bottle, passed out for a day, then when I woke up, I could use the Briar's family ice magic." 

"Jeez, that's some strong stuff." 

"I don't think it was alcohol. When I drank it, it tasted weird, metallic almost. When I woke up, I was coughing blood." 

"Are you okay now?" Ven asked. 

"He is." The said. "I helped him back on his feet. He collapsed out of nowhere, and I took him up to one of the bedrooms. He seemed fine; despite the fact I couldn't get him to wake up. It was a relief when he finally did." 

"I see. Do you still have the bottle?"  

"No, I checked the bottle when I woke up, but it was empty. I don't remember taking that big a swig either. I think when I drank it, it disappeared." 

Ventra tilted her head one way, then the other. "Alright I don't think you would lie about that, seems a bit convoluted for you too." 

"Hey, we're good at telling lies. Fooled that old idiot Bennet didn't we." 

Jerick put his head low and said, "I still feel kind of bad about that." 

"You know what, let's talk about that. Why are you too even pretending that Jerick is a noble? I understand not telling people about the bottle a dhow you got your powers. But why not hide them, and stay here?" 

Jerick stood. "Because here sucks Ven." 

"Hey! You watch your mouth, don't go acting like you're too good for the streets just because you have these powers." 

"That's not what I'm talking about." Jerick went to the window and looked out on the street. It was filthy, with broken cobblestones and shit piled up beneath houses. There was meant to be a group to clean the streets, but the nobles had stopped paying them. The rest of the shanty houses surrounding them were similarly stripped down and decapitated.  

"We shouldn't have to live in these conditions, but we do anyway. I'm going to become a noble so that I can get enough power to fix this. One of the other noble's care about people like us. They're more focused on playing their games in their mansions, with huge fucking vineyards for drinks they won't use in their lifetime, while we can't even get our water pump to walk half the time." 

Jerick turned to her. "I'm not doing this because I want power Ven, I'm taking this risk so that kids won; have to grow up like we did." 

"We grew up fine." But her voice was small, she knew it was a lie.  

"Ven? Do you trust us?" Theo spoke up. 

Ven started fidgeting with her hair, it was ratty and slightly knotted. "I... don't know if it's worth the risk." 

"It is, Theo and I can fix things. I'm not going to be like the other nobles." 

Ventra looked up at him. "Promise?" 

Jerick smiled, "Promise."