"Larotir! Larotir wake up for Faranth's sake!" Larotir muttered a threat and jammed his pillow over his ears. No use. "Larotir wake up NOW!"
Larotir winced at the force in his mother's voice. "Why aren't you up?" she demanded, wrenching the pillow out of his hands and throwing it on the floor.
"Because I'm asleep," Larotir replied groggily, still half asleep. "Gimme my pillow back!"
Larsiya replied by whacking Larotir in the head with his pillow. "You were supposed to be up two hours ago! How is your father going to teach you how to run this hold if you don't wake up in time to go to your lessons?"
Larotir groaned as he remebered. "Shards. I'm getting up. I promise. Tell Father I'm late and that I'll be at his study in half an hour."
"He knows that you're late, I don't need to tell him that. Get your lazy hind-end out of bed and get down there!" Larsiya strode out of the room, closing the door so hard that it sounded like thunder to Larotir's tired ears.
Hastily pulling on the first trousers and shirt that he saw, Larotir was racing down the hallways of the Hold within five minutes, one of his boots half laced. He stood panting outside of the door to his father's study for a few minutes composing himself before he knocked on the door.
"That'd better be Larotir," Tagri bellowed from inside. Perfect. Two parents mad at him. He was in for it now.
"It's me," Larotir replied as he walked in, closing the door behind him. He sunk into the chair facing Tagri's desk. "What now?"
Tagri chuckled. "You're not in trouble for once, boy, so don't look so miserable. I just wanted to tell you that I'm leaving today by ship for Green Waters Seahold and you're coming with me. It'll be your lesson in pretending to enjoy someone's company when you really wish they were on the other side of the continent."
Larotir tried to mask his dissapointment. The last thing he wanted to do was go on a boat. He didn't know why, but he'd never liked boats. Or swimming, for that matter. Though he'd never admit it to anyone, he was almost afraid of water. "How fun."
"We're leaving this afternoon, and it'll be a long trip, so I suggest you start packing now," Tagri continued, not noticing his son's dissapointment.
"Well, I'd better get going then, seeing as I have to pack and all," Larotir announced, standing up abruptly. "I'll see you this afternoon."
Tagri said a hasty good bye to his son and then returned to his work. Larotir was greatful to be out of the study, he always felt caged despite the immense size of the study. The books and other various junk cluttering it made it seem much smaller. To Larotir, it also represented the responsibilites that would be his when he became Lord Holder, the part of the rank he preferred not to think about.
When Larotir got back to his quarters, he half-heartedly packed a few of his belongings before flopping back down onto his bed. It was hard to be excited about something he dreaded. In fact, packing made him very tired...
The next thing Larotir knew, his mother had him by the shoulders and was shaking him. "Larotir!" she all but screamed in his ear. "WAKE UP THIS INSTANT!"
Larotir sat straight up, hitting his mother in the nose with his head. "I'm up! I'm up! Shaffit! What time is it?"
"Time for you to be with your father leaving!" Larsiya roared, throwing two large packing bags at him. "I packed for you since you were to busy sleeping. Now go!"
For the second time that day, Larotir fairly flew down the halls of his home, this time racing for the courtyard where his father was waiting for him
After a short runner ride down to the docks, Larotir found himself herded up a gangplank and onto the waiting boat. He wasted no time in finding his quarters and going to sleep. If he was stuck on a boat, he might as well get some sleep.
A few hours later...