Thirteen Rings

Chapter Six

"What in Oblivion is this?" Sylvia called from the bottom of the stairs after a rapid set of knocks sounded from the front door. "Darius! Get down here!" He cracked open a sleepy eye at the sound of his name.

Am I fuck getting out of bed yet. He thought, letting his eyelid close. Pulling the duvet closer around him, he turned over so he was now facing the wall.

"Darius!" Her voice came again, a little impatient.

No.

"Get up you lazy son-of-a-bitch." Her footsteps sounded up the stairs.

For Gods sake.

"There's something from Mathias that's just arrived." She announced, bursting into his room.

"I'm sleeping." He groaned from beneath his covers. "I'll sort it out later, it's too early."

"It's the afternoon!" She shrieked, yanking the covers from his naked body. "What the fuck!"

Grabbing the duvet from her grasp and covering himself quickly as she covered her eyes, cheeks glowing crimson. "What do you expect me to do about it now?" He growled, glaring daggers at her.

"Start doing something about our little problem." Her voice squeaked. "And put some damn clothes on." Closing the door behind her, she left the room, giving him the privacy he needed to dress.

"Can't even have a stupid lie in." He grumbled to himself as he tiredly pulled on a pair of black trousers. "Why can't you just let me wake up naturally?" A white shirt was thrown over his head before shoving his feet into his boots.

"I could hear you the entire time you know?" Sylvia said as he opened his door. She received a grunt in response. "So what exactly is going on with you and Mathias?"

"He's sent me a dossier of information about the other Bearers." He replied, tiredly rubbing his eyes he lead the way down the flight of stairs.

"So why do we have three huge chests filled with platinum coins in our hallway?"

"For whatever we need to do our job." He sighed exasperatedly, massaging at his temples as a headache began to bloom behind his eyes. "Could you make me some tea please?"

"Don't you think we have more important things to discuss than tea?"

"Sylvia." He sighed, looking her dead in the eyes. "I've just been rudely awakened. I haven't had anything to drink yet. I'm starting to get a headache, so please make me some tea while I figure out what to do with this." He motioned at the three graciously sized wooden trunks. "Please."

"Fine." She sighed, moving past him and into the kitchen.

"You really ought to have a little more patience with people." Lyria said from the living room doorway.

Turning to face her, he replied. "I'm not a morning person, please just be quiet for a moment while I properly wake up."

"So you're rude to everyone after you wake." She stated, a faint smile toying at her mouth. "Then again, you're rude all the time from what I've seen."

"Do you ever shut up?" He asked, glaring at her. An uncomfortable silence spread between them, only to be interrupted by Sylvia bringing him his tea.

"You better wake up after this." She murmured, standing next to Lyria.

"Thank you." He replied, taking a sip, before crouching next to the nearest chest. "So who delivered it?"

"A group of men, they used a cart." Lyria supplied. "There was nothing of interest about them aside from those." She motioned at the crates.