As the Humvee raced down the road empty night road back towards the capital city Darlington Lottie happily drove the car forward while Bryson used a bit of magic to take control of the accelerator and the break. Lottie was actually a bit too short to properly peer over the steering wheel while controlling them so Bryson though it would be safer for him to take control of that.

Still, thankfully due to the late night in a very rural area the middle of the night there was not much traffic and the fact that Lottie legitimately knew what she was doing, the drive wasn’t too chaotic. Not that Lottie wasn’t trying to add more chaos to it.

“Can’t you speed it up?” She asked as she happily drove along.

“Why do you want to go so fast anyways?” Bryson said as they travelled down the road.

“That guard is looking for us, and he probably will call others to help.” Lottie said.

“Besides getting back a bit quicker would be nice.” Reynard said from the back.

“Hmm, that reminds me.” Bryson said with a grunt as he pulled out his Communicator and dialed a number. After a single ring it was immediately picked up.

“Bryson! How are you dear?” His mother Duchess Coldwater greeted him sweetly, “Isn’t it a bit late for you to call me? Did you miss mommy so that much?”

“Uh, that’s not the reason mother.” Bryson said taking a moment to absorb all that positive energy that he was not prepared for, “You mentioned how the fourth prince and third princess had gone missing.”

“Yes, have you discovered any news?”

“Yes, I found them.” Bryson said.

“You did? Where are you now?” Duchess Coldwater said in surprise.

“In a car driving back. They're seated in the back.” Bryson responded cooly.

“A car? Bryson are you driving? We agreed that you would only be allowed to drive in public area only after you turn fifteen and get a licence.” She said extremely disapprovingly.

“I’m not driving!” Bryson said quickly.

“Then who is, don’t tell me you’ve asked the royal family to drive for you!” She said sounding aghast.

“Of course not!”

“Then who’s driving?”

“It’s… uh, it’s…” Bryson stammered out suddenly finding his heart pounding as he was under interrogation and did not want to give her the honest answer.

“Yes?” She said expectantly.

“… It’s Frost.” Bryson said quietly.

“But your maid is back at the manor.” Duchess Coldwater said sounding confused.

“No… it’s the other Frost.” Bryson mumbled out.

“Oh, okay.” Duchess Coldwater sounding unbothered.

“What?” Bryson said while blinking in confusion.

“It’s alright for her to be driving you.”

“What? Why? I’m a much better driver! She’s also a few months younger than me!” Bryson complained.

“But Phillip praises her driving skills and as good as you are Bryson, you need to be responsible. Besides driving can be dangerous and you are my baby. I can’t risk you getting hurt.” She lectured.

“And you’re saying that Frost is responsible enough to take care of me.”

“Of course.”

“Unbelievable.” Bryson grumbled.

“Anyways, about the prince and princess?” Duchess Coldwater said recalling why Bryson called her.

“Oh right. Yes, I found them exploring the wilderness and am now bringing them back. Should I send you coordinates to meet us on the way mother?”

“No, need, I can just track your Communicator. We’ll be meeting you halfway through.”

“Alright, how will we know it’s the people who you sent?”

“You’ll see a very large mass of cars blocking the road. They are very important people after all.”

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

“Right.” Bryson said nodding his head, he shuddered to think what would have happened if it was that guard had called in finding the Alvidors. Just how much hot water he be in right now.

“Anyways dear, I’ll see you in an hour! Love you! Bye!” She said before Bryson hung up.

“Why did we run away from that guard?” Reynard asked once Bryson stashed away his Communicator.

“Because if anyone was going to take the credit for finding the two of you, it would be me. Especially since I sort of left your discovery unreported for over a day.” Bryson said, “By the way, you will keep quiet about that right?”

“Well if they found out we convinced you to let us run around we wouldn’t be in a much better position.” Mallory pointed out.

“Besides, we had a lot of fun. It was great meeting the both of you, thanks for the experience!” Reynard said with a grin.

“I suppose I do work for the crown huh?” Bryson said with a grunt as Lottie continued driving.

***

The Goddess of Heroes Afa sat alone at a dining room table as she enjoyed a beautiful looking steak and a glass of the finest wines. It was a candle light atmosphere and she had her favourite love song being performed on the stage of this restaurant she rented for herself.

As she was near the end of her meal she heard a knocking at the door to the restaurant. She gave a bright smile as she knew who this was, “Come in.” She beckoned.

Slowly creeping out the door was a incredibly thin looking woman with long disheveled hair and large rimmed glasses that magnified the bags under her eyes. The extremely pale woman crept her way over to Afa with a few papers in her hands.

“Ugh, not to close.” Afa said raising a hand to signify for her to stop.

“Yes, of course, Great Goddess.” The woman said meekly nodding her head.

“Now, has Hallow begun gathering the two new heroes?” Afa asked as she sipped her wine.

“Yes. He will be back soon.” The woman said eyes glued to the floor.

“Good. Ah, soon when they head to the academy and have to clean up all the messes Bryson causes.” Afa said smugly.

“By the way Great Goddess, Prince Reynard Alvidor has met with Bryson.”

“Good.” Afa said nodding her head, “Bryson will need a member of the royal family to manipulate. This first meeting should be able to plant the seeds of blackmail early on. Was Princess Mallory there as well?”

“Yes.”

“Very good. One for Bryson to use and the other for Bryson to victimize. I can’t wait for my heroes to save her. Ah, how romantic, saving a princess from the monster. I wonder which one will be her prince charming.” Afa said with a giggle.

“Go ahead Bryson, go ahead and damn yourself with getting involved with royalty.” She said as she drained her glass.

***

“It is rather convenient that you managed to find the two.” Duchess Coldwater praised Bryson, “Though we did get a report that almost sounded like you were fleeing with them.” She said with a hearty chuckle.

“That guard was simply trying to take the credit for my work. I couldn’t allow that.” Bryson said with a shrug.

Bryson and his group had drove for a little while longer before an entire parade of cars met them in the middle of nowhere. It was evidently the search party, and some of the members of the party included his mother as well as the king and queen.

While the king and queen were busy questioning their children, Bryson had to deal with his mother. Lottie was lucky enough to skate by and was currently hanging out with Kristel and Florence who for some reason were brought along as well.

“Good for you Bryson to immediately bring them back, very responsible of you to do so.” Duchess Coldwater said as she peered into Bryson’s eyes.

“Yes… of course.” Bryson said with a quick nod.

“I suppose I won’t need to investigate how long they stayed and where then?” Duchess Coldwater said giving Bryson as knowing look.

“No, I don’t think you do.” Bryson said darting his eyes away.

“Well, seeing as they seem to be in high spirits, no harm has been done.” Duchess Coldwater said with a happy smile.

“By the way, where is father?” Bryson asked.

“Asleep, it’s late and he trusts you Bryson.” Duchess Coldwater said stroking his cheek.

“Mmm.” Bryson said as he leaned away from his mother’s grasp. As he did so Mallory and Reynard approached.

“What is it?” Bryson asked.

“We have to go now. So We’re saying our goodbyes.” Reynard said awkwardly.

“I see, hope you don’t get into too much trouble.”

“It’s not going to be too bad.” Reynard assured him, “But I just want to say thanks, it was really good meeting you.”

“It was not an unpleasant experience.” Bryson said nodding his head.

“Um.” Mallory said looking a bit nervous.

“What’s wrong?” Bryson asked.

“You’re going to The Academy right?”

“When I’m fifteen, or I guess a couple of months before I turn fifteen at the start of the fall season.” Bryson said with a shrug.

“Then we’ll likely meet again.” Mallory said sounding hopeful.

“If you’re heading there as well then I suppose.” Bryson said shrugging.

“Then here.” Mallory said as she quickly placed something into Bryson’s palm. Looking at it Bryson saw that it was a simple ribbon.

“What’s this?” Bryson said looking at it.

“Hand it back to me when we meet again.” Mallory said with a charming smile.

“Oh, alright.” Bryson said before stashing it in his jacket pocket and paused for a brief moment as he felt it would be rude to end it like that, “Here.” He said as he awkwardly dug through his pocket to dig out his The Six-themed playing cards and took out a queen of hearts and handed it to her.

“Let’s trade back at the Academy.” Bryson said offering it to her.

“Oh. Thanks.” Mallory said with a smile she couldn’t hide and a light blush on her cheeks.

Unbeknownst to Bryson his mother stood behind him with the most excited grin on her face. As Mallory and Reynard then bowed and said their goodbyes, Duchess Coldwater’s amusement only soared as she noticed who crept there way over to Bryson afterward.

“You seem to have gotten along well with the princess.” Florence Marsh said in a neutral voice as she eyed the interaction between Bryson and Mallory.

“Uh, I guess.” Bryson said as he looked at Florence quizzically. There was something off about her, he just couldn’t tell what.

“Are you keeping that ribbon?” Lottie said approaching him on the other side narrowing her eyes at where Bryson stashed the ribbon.

“It would be rude not to.” Bryson said with a shrug, “Though not sure if we will meet even at the Academy.”

“Okay.” Lottie said sounding a bit relieved at what Bryson said.

Bryson squinted at the two not understanding this strange tension that was in the air, “I’m going to wait in the car, you are free to join me if you want.” Bryson said as he left.

“Wait for me Lord Bryson!” Kristel said quickly following him with the other two slowly following behind as they looked back at the princess.