The temperature of the mountain air had dropped several degrees and they stayed close together rubbing their arms to keep warm. They longed for their warm beds back at the Dwarven Chicken. Jex and Ray trudged through the snow behind Nimer in hopes that he knew where he was going. They could only last so long without falling to the bitterness of frostbite in their toes and fingers.
Jex remained in awe about what had happened. He turned to Ray with a calming smile. "I know you were scared, but think about it. I'm practically a beast tamer now. I can take on any dragon I want to!"
"I don't think that's true, Jex," Ray answered quietly.
"It certainly isn't," Nimer notioned. "Even as the Dragon king, it will take practice before you are able to whisper to dragons and control their minds. Drakhorion Flamebane had to learn that power over time as well. You'll have to awaken to that power just like everyone else."
Ray frowned. "How was that dragon an awakened soul? I don't fully understand."
"He was more than likely shape shifted into his dragon form," Nimer answered. "Dragons have the ability to be human or dragon depending and some dragons tend to stay in their dragon form for long periods of time. Though one should be careful, some dragons who fall prey to their own beast are stuck in that form for eternity. It all depends on their ability to control their magic and powers."
"And here I thought that souls could only awaken into humanoids," Jex added.
"That information is false," Nimer answered. "Some may be humanoid but some also possess a beast-like form. Gods are the same way. They will take the form of the god once and a while"
"Fascinating," Jex said with childlike wonder. "Will I be able to transform into a dragon like that one?"
"Eventually, if you are able to control your magic better," Nimer said. "Your illusion magic is very miniscule at the moment. Drakhorion Flamebane had an abundance and was able to take the form of a large red dragon with golden eyes but it takes a great deal to control that much magic. I wouldn't bet on being able to for a long while. We need to rebuild the kingdom and find the rest of the key with haste."
Ray blinked, realization sparking in her mind. "Does that mean I am Queen Seraphina Emberwing?"
"I am unsure at this time but my suspicions have yet to be proved wrong," Nimer admitted. "That is why we must find the shards and complete the key before Zinlar finds it. If you are the queen to Zaniah there are some things that need to happen first in order to solidify the kingdom."
Jex tilted his head in thought. "What sort of things need to happen if she is the queen."
He looked over his shoulder. "Well you two will need to get married, of course."
Jex and Ray stopped dead in their tracks and both raised their voices in unison. "Married?!"
Nimer stopped ahead of them and turned, crossing his arms. "Yes, what did you expect? To run a kingdom alone? Not produce an heir? Kingdoms require a union."
"Produce an heir?" Jex asked rhetorically and glanced at Ray. He couldn't tell if her face was red from the cold or the comment itself. She was avoiding eye contact at all costs.
"You told me this is what you wanted Ray," Nimer exposed her.
"No!" Ray barked stubbornly and snuck glances at Jex and twirled a strand of her hair. "I mean…yes."
Jex stared at her, clueless. "You mean, this whole time you wanted to just start a family with me? Is that why you wanted to go home?"
Ray bit her shivering lip and gathered the courage to look him in the eyes. "I love you, Jex. I don't know why you didn't see it. It's not you, it's me, and I didn't want to be selfish."
Jex softened, sliding a cold hand onto her cheek. "Ray, I'd never think of you as selfish, ever. I just want you to tell me how you really feel."
"Well if you two feel the same way, would you like to plan a marriage?" Nimer asked, soiling the moment.
Both of them turned frantically to their guide then looked at each other. "Not yet," Ray said quietly.
"What are you waiting for?" Nimer asked, suspiciously.
"I want to confirm that I am Seraphina Emberwing. Jex deserves to have his true queen," Ray admitted and turned away from Jex, her eyes stinging.
Jex turned her face toward him. "I don't think I'd be happier with anyone else. You are my queen no matter who you awaken to. Please Ray," He lowered down to his knee into the deep snow. and took her delicate hand in his.
Ray covered her mouth. "Jex…"
"Will you marry me?"
Ray couldn't say no and nodded. "Yes, a thousand times yes." She leaned down, kissing him.
Nimer smiled, satisfied and turned away from the two waving them off and walking away. "I'll let you have your moment.
Minutes of passion came and passed and the two had shown their love deep in the snow. They rejoined their guide who was sitting a ways away on a rock waiting from them to finish kissing and fondling.
"If you two are finished, we can continue on our way," Nimer said, pushing them along.
"We do have a question," Jex spoke up as they walked. "How long have you been searching for the kingdom to rebuild?"
"Centuries," Nimer said casually.
"Hold on, centuries?!" Ray shreeked. "Nimer! How old are you?"
He cleared his throat. "I don't think it matters. Age is a number and I find it irrelevant."
"It does matter! What are you awakening into that makes you centuries old?" Ray insisted.
Nimer ran a hand over his face, mumbling curses under his breath. "I am not telling you how old I am," he said putting his foot down then waved the torch in Ray's face. "I will have you know, my awakening keeps me looking young. That is all you need to know."
Ray mocked him, talking with her hands then turned up her nose. "Fine, keep your secrets, old man."
Nimer appeared unamused and his eyes rolled in his skull. "Moving on," he said and continued to lead them onward.
A few hours passed before they breached the top of the hill that shadowed Locgres. Nimer ditched the torch he carried in the snow not to raise any alarm or suspicion from those who stood on post. The lights of the city welcomed them and their chilly bodies and they entered through the gates under supervision of the town guard. The two men who stood on either side of the door watched them carefully, heads pivoting around their necks as they kept wandering eyes on the three.
Jex waved to them in a friendly manner earning a small wave back from one of the guards. The streets of the city remained busy even into the night as drunken citizens tumbled out of the doors of different pubs and inns. Shady folk stuck to the shadows, watching the three with intense eyes before turning away to their gambling games of dice and cards.
It wasn't long before the Dwarven Chicken was in view. The three burst through the door, sighs of relief escaping their breath when the warmth of the fire thawed them nearly melting them into puddles. They soon found their way back toward their room they had booked the night before.
Ray plopped down on the soft mattress face first and Jex and Nimer slumped into chairs.
"I hope we never get captured by goblins again," Jex said tiredly, staring up at the ceiling dismally.
"Won't be the last time," Nimer warned. "If not goblins, something else entirely."
"I don't want to think about it," Ray groaned in response. "What will we do about our horses and other things?"
"We'll have to search for them in the morning," Nimer answered, pulling off his boots and jacket. "I'm sure my horse will be easy to find. He's smart and usually seeks me out instead. Your's, I'm not too sure."
"Is your horse an awakened soul?" Jex asked curiously.
"Actually yes," Nimer answered. "He was a normal horse but now has some sort of consciousness and awareness. Animals too can awaken."
Ray sat up, pulling the piece of cloth from the end of her braid and let her soiled hair fall about her shoulders. "I figured animals had souls as well," she admitted.
"Most if not all do, but not all are keenly aware of it," Nimer informed.
Jex scratched his chin in question. "Speaking of souls, what are we going to do about Rin and Canin?"
Suddenly, Nimer clutched his chest and clung tightly to the arm of his chair. Breaths heaved from him and he hung his head.
"Nimer!" Ray cried and Jex and herself were at his side with worry on their faces. "Nimer, are you alright?"
"It's Ravathor…" he managed to get out before trembling. He lifted his head bewildered. "He's awakening."