Working together, Jex and Ray managed to get Nimer up to the bed in their room, laying his slumbering form on top of the sheets of the bed. Shallow breaths rolled from his breath and his body remained feverish to the touch.
"I can't believe even just a little use of his magic is doing this to him," Jex remarked, a slight surprise in his voice. "He used to be able to use quite a bit before feeling weak."
"I think he's remained strong for quite some time. He might have been hiding his condition from us for a while, unless we are missing something," Ray said, sitting down on the edge of the bed and studying Nimer's sleeping face. "He's passed out once before but that was a little over a month ago. The further he continues to use magic, I'm not sure if he's going to be well much longer."
Carefully, and with Jex's help, Ray managed to get Nimer's boots and coat stripped off his body and tossed them aside onto a chair beside the bed. She took a rag from the wash bin and ran it under the tap, soiling it with water. She placed it above their guide's brow in an attempt to cool him down.
She turned to Jex, the worry not having left her green-blue eyes since they had arrived. "Can you go downstairs and ask the tender where we can find a healer or a doctor of sorts? We need someone fast."
Jex smiled warmly, his look of fondness bringing warmth to the room. "Of course. I'll be right back," he answered and left the room, quietly shutting the door behind him.
In his absence, Ray pulled the strings of Nimer's shirt loose and pulled his black shirt up and off over his head to dab his body with a rag. She gasped quietly at what she saw the pattern on his skin had gotten darker. The animalistic stripes from Nimer's arms had slowly crept their way onto his chest and taken over his midsection leaving long dark brown streaks across his pale skin. She hesitantly reached out toward Nimer's sleeping frame, her finger tips twitching in anticipation.
"These stripes are like that of a tiger. He has to be Albranis, but why won't he admit it?" she asked herself. She withdrew her hands away from him shaking her head. "I have to respect his decisions if we're all going to get along. It'll just stress him out more to pry." She took another rag and started washing the blood from his hands.
Meanwhile, Jex bounded down the stairs, moving aside every now and then to let a few drunken souls find refuge up in their rooms. He smiled and gave them a friendly nod with a small wave of his hand. The Dwarven Chicken had been the busiest it had been since their stay.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he turned right into the bar area of the tavern. The entertainment has begun for the night. Several people playing instruments stood off in the corner and the loud rumble and laughter of souls filled the large room. Jex surveyed the area, his eyes settling on a table not too far off, accompanied by four adventurers he recognized; the four dragon hunters that accompanied them on their journey the other day. He immediately became distracted and crossed the room walking up to their table. He grinned wide, but before he could say hello, they greeted him.
"Well, well, well, look who hasn't been skinned by goblins after all," Zesam said.
Jex scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Yeah, we sort of found our way out of the goblin camp, luckily in one piece," Jex mused. "Seems you survived as well."
"We're used to fighting several things bigger than tiny green men," Lill boasted, taking a large swig of her tankered. "Where's your girl and your scummy guide? Run off and elope without ya?"
Jex tilted his head thoughtfully. "Not at all. She's taking care of our friend who is down for the count."
"That shady feller? He seemed strong enough to hold his own," Zesam commented with a chuckle.
Jex shrugged, raising his eyebrows a little. "We all have our weaknesses. He's no god."
The four exchanged glances, chuckling amongst themselves. "Gods still walk this plane, but god or not, I wouldn't leave those two alone long. You're bound to lose your girl."
"Poor boy doesn't have a brain. Leave him be," Lill snickered.
"You know I can hear you," he said, but earning no answer from them he sighed and walked away trying not to fall prey to negative thoughts.
His gaze darted to the door when it opened as more travelers and townspeople entered the tavern. A few people of normal stature filed through the door followed by a very tall woman and a short stout man. Jex blinked in recognition.
"Those two must be the two that Ray was talking about the other day," he thought to himself in triumph.
He weaved through tables in a beeline toward their direction, pardoning himself as he passed other people and placed a gentle hand on their backs as he passed to make his presence known to them. He tried flagging the two down with a frantic wave of his hand.
"Excuse me!"
The stout man looked up, his dark eyes shaded by frost covered eyebrows as he gave a grunt and scowled at the farmboy. "Aye, what do ye want, boi?"
"Don't be so grumpy, Kugruth. He's just saying hello," the tall woman said, smiling in Jex's direction. "You look like you're searching for something. What can we help you with?"
Jex returned the smile. "Oh, I just thought I recognized you. My partner said something about two travelers with your description to me the other day."
The dwarf's eyebrows knitted as he squinted his eyes at Jex. "I don't think we've ever met. Why would you be lookin' fer us in the first place?" he asked, crossing his large arms defensively across his chest.
Jex scratched the side of his cheek, looking off to the side. "Well, not you specifically. I'm actually in need of a healer. I have a friend in need of medical attention. You perhaps know of someone that can provide that for us?"
The woman and the man looked at each other, the dwarf's bushy brow raising and lowering in recognition. He turned back to Jex, a little more friendly this time around. "I know a few things about medicine myself. I don't see why I can' help ye."
"That's relieving to hear," Jex said then went on to explain the situation to the man.
The woman also listened intently, her big brown eyes turning worrisome. "And how long has your friend been in this condition?"
"It just became apparent to me recently," Jex admitted with a shrug. "Ray was more aware of it than I was."
"And you said awakening?" Kugruth asked. "I haven't heard that term in years."
"I am more surprised you know what I'm talking about," Jex laughed under his breath. He looked around not seeing any lingering eyes in his direction and he leaned down close to the dwarf. "We may or may not be searching for Zaniah," the farm boy whispered quietly.
Kugruth eyes got wide as he looked quickly in the woman's direction then back to Jex, stammering. "Uh, Kat," he said and turned to the woman. "Do ye mind finding this boy a drink? I'm goin' upstairs to deal with his friend. Best you two get acquainted."
The woman blinked like a curious child, answering, "Oh, okay. I can do that. Would you like some scotch Kugruth?"
"Yes, for later," the stout man answered then pulled Jex aside by the arm as she left to go to the bar. "Your friend wouldn't be Nimer by chance?" he asked in a low, gruff voice.
Jex nodded then tilted his head. "Do you know of him?"
"Do ye know of em," the dwarf mocked, rolling his eyes. "I wouldn't be askin' if I didn't boy. He's one of the gods and he needs to be well. I'm not happy with 'im one bit for what he's done but I'll help ya if it means a better chance to revive Zaniah. I traveled many moons with that man; a lot of us have. The fact that his awakenin' hasn't taken 'im is almost a relief. It shoulda happened years ago."
Jex raised his eyebrows, "Who are you to the kingdom?"
"I'm not part of Zaniah, boy. I watch over Thalindor, the mountain kingdom. Ya should know who I am," Kugruth said with slight urgency.
"I'm sorry, I don't know who you are," Jex admitted.
The dwarf ran a stubby hand over his face. "How much is he keepin' from ya?" He shook his head. "I'm the god Talorak, but I'm the only one besides Nimer who knows I'm a god."
Jex's eyes widened. "Talorak, the raptor god of the mountains."
"Yes," Kugruth confirmed, then looked past the farm boy toward Katalena over at the bar. "If he's waiting for his awakening to kill 'im, I will have to knock some sense into 'im. He needs to know too what happened to 'er."
"You sound angry about it," Jex said, turning to look over his shoulder.
"More than yer tiny brain can comprehend," the dwarf spat, jabbing a stubby finger into Jex's chest. "The man is hopeless, convincing 'imself to give up jus' cause a mistake he made years ago."
"A mistake?" Jex's gaze wandered toward the bar where Kat stood tapping her lip as if she were trying to remember what she was supposed to do in that moment. He pointed in her direction then looked back to Kugruth. "Is she-"
The dwarf nodded gravely. "She's his lover an' he did somethin' I won't forgive to her. An' I'll tell ye the worst of it. She doesn' remember a thing about it."