A Wager Of The Heart

49. Contest and answers

:::Charity:::

I watched Kent closely from the corner of my eye as he walked around the edge of the small lake with my sister. He'd been diligently pursuing Geri from the time we emerged from our seclusion this morning. I couldn't decide if I was happy or disappointed by this development. Of course I would say I was happy until I believed it, especially until I believed it. I felt foolish for my disappointment, I knew what I was to him and yet my heart had grabbed ahold of those fleeting thoughts and coaxed them into something more.

I sighed and shoved my feelings down, I would tolerate this just as I promised. It wasn't quiet dismembering my arm but it was much the same concept. I turned away from the sight that gripped my heart with jealousy and faced the pair approaching me. Brandan smiled widely as he sat gracefully on the grass in front of me. My father chuckled and sat down as I could see him on Brandan's side. They'd spent most of the morning fishing as I watched them all from under the tree I now sat at.

"Our food should be arriving soon." Brandan observed looking in the distance to the house. He looked back at me and smiled. "Edi and Amelia disappeared this morning but I made them promise to return before too long."

I laughed and looked to the path. "No sign of them yet. But," I said smiling back at him, "if you are wilting I can always find you some berries in the woods."

He looked visibly uncomfortable for a moment and I was concerned I'd unintentionally offended him until I saw the twinkle in his eyes. "I have heard you have the potential to purposefully feed unsuspecting mortals the wrong berries just so you can watch them grow sick of your presence."

I laughed. "I'd be angry at Geri for telling such lies if they weren't completely true. Besides, the boy had spent an entire summer picking on me no matter what I did."

"So you fed him poisoned berries?" Bastion asked astonished and I laughed only then remembering he'd never heard the story.

Brandan looked contrite as they both watched me formulate my answer. "Well, technically, he snatched them from me because I'd pretended they tasted so good." This confession caused both men to laugh out loud. I still felt the need to clarify. "And I only did it when he started to target Geri."

Brandan whistled and sat back as he regarded me carefully. "How long did you allow that to continue before you enacted your plan?" He asked with a smile on his handsome, sunshine face.

I giggled, gaining the attention of my sister and Kent, who were as close to us as they would come. I sobered once I met Kent's eyes and saw the resentment in them. I cleared my throat and looked back at Brandan, carefully hiding my pain behind a smile. "A whole afternoon."

Brandan barked in laughter as his eyes focused on his friend as well. "I can't decide if you make me glad I have no siblings or if I wished for some." He looked back at me, his face unreadable.

I laughed softly at his admission and watched his playful demeanor return. "I can't attest to a life without a sibling because I was very young when I was alone." Bastion chuckled lightly and I shot him a glance before I continued. "But I can confirm that life with a sister doesn't lack for adventure."

Brandan smiled again but his eyes seemed to look beyond our own time. "I wonder if I would have been protective or been the one requiring protection." He shook his head after a moment of silence and smiled ruefully at my father.

"If it will make you feel better I can fetch a handful of those berries and you can feed them to anyone who has a cross word to say about Kent." Under my breath I added, "Though I'm not sure there are enough berries in the world for that list." Brandan snorted and looked at me with a half shocked, half amused expression. I continued with a devious smile on my face. "I'm sure after our short stay with Geri's grandmother you will have plenty of being a protective older brother and can grow into your old age content."