Thirteen Rings

Chapter Three

"You seem in a good mood this afternoon." Sylvia commented as she entered the kitchen to Darius whistling as he nursed his steaming mug of tea. "Have you only just woken up?"

"Long night." He smiled, regarding her curiously, daylight from the window pouring over her sculpted features. "Going somewhere?"

"Just to the market." Wrapping her cerulean scarf around her neck, she raised an refined eyebrow at him. "Want to join me?"

"I'll pass, thanks." Downing the last of the tea, he rose from his seat at the table. "I've got my own business to see to."

"Like helping with the food shop isn't your own business." She scoffed, throwing on her violet coat. "How do I look?"

"Stunning." His neck cracked as he rolled it. "As per usual."

"So what is it you're doing today?"

"Getting in touch with the people that hired me for the job last night." He sighed, reaching for his trenchcoat. "They told me where to find their contact, only problem is, I could be waiting for hours."

"Sounds thrilling." She grinned, heading for the front door with Darius following in her wake, pocketing the necklace.

"I hate jobs with parts like this."

"You're the one that decided to be a professional thief."

"It's almost like I could have been anything I wanted." He countered, blinking into the sunlight as exited their house. "What with taking you in and needing a decent house at the same time for it, it's almost like providing a home for a fourteen year old would have been easy if I'd gone into smithing."

"I'd have been content with a simple flat."

"Well I wouldn't have been." A brisk wind brushed over them and he pulled his dark coat tighter around him. "I wanted to do right by you."

"And why is that?" She asked, glancing sideways at him as they made their way down the hill.

"I saw someone who'd just lost her parents and took pity on her." He replied flatly, keeping his gaze ahead.

"I can tell when you're lying, you know."

"So can I." Letting out a long breath, he spared a glimpse to the sky, watching as a lone cloud drifted across the sapphire expanse.

"Are you ever going to be honest with me?" Disappointment laced her voice as they continued on their shared path.

"One day." He promised, putting one arm around her and giving her a reassuring hug. "When you're older."

"You're not that much older than me." She responded disheartedly, taking a deep breath to recompose herself as they began to come across groups of people heading in different directions along the road.

"I've got to head towards the Temple of Mishran." Changing the subject, Darius released her from his embrace.

"Stay safe." She replied without looking at him. "I don't want to have to clean blood out of the carpet again." A faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"That was one time." Darius laughed, playfully shoving her.

"Well it better not be a second time." Pushing him back, slightly harder. "Something always happens to you at the temple."

"Not this time."

"You literally say that every time." Laughing, she continued. "You got arrested last time."

"In my defense, that was entirely your fault." Grinning, he protruded his tongue at her.

"How in th- you know what? I don't even want to know how your mind twisted that into being my fault."