Nidian slowly pried his heavy eyelids open to gaze at the sunlight flooded room. The second story of the tavern lined perfectly with the sunrise. He rubbed his face to loosen up the sagging feeling in his cheeks. After he and Malles had snuck into the tavern they had gone straight to bed. But Nidian was without the journal. Malles had taken it to dive into whenever he had a moment without interaction with Nidian, something they both suspected would arouse suspicion. He wanted to run into the other room just to check in but they agreed to only meet at a few points throughout the day. The bed he was in was softer than anything he had slept on in his life, his lithe form consumed by the sponginess of its construction. It must have been stuffed with feathers.

  A gentle knock on his door made him sit up straight. The door creaked open and Ae's head poked inside, "Oh good, you're awake."

  She opened the door the remainder of it's path and welcomed herself inside. Nidian watched her make her way to the chair on the opposite side of the room. She was in causal clothing. No armor, no weapons. Just a gray dyed leather top cut off above the elbow and a pair of marbled fur breeches. Nidian was still in the same clothes. By the time he had gotten to bed he was too tired to slip out of them. Even though his vision was a bit fuzzy from the brain fog it was clear on her face she was anticipating something.

  Her lips tugged up in one corner smugly. "Comfortable?"

  The question wasn't out of genuine curiosity, it was obvious he was. He felt like he was laying in the clouds.

  "Very. Never slept on something so soft." He admitted as he pulled his back against the headboard. She seemed borderline pleased to hear his response.

  "Good. You were gone for quite some time. Almost began to wonder if you took off on your own again."

  Nidian scoffed quietly, "Yeah right, after what I saw yesterday I'd be an idiot to piss you off like that. Besides you said you'd help me get there if I still wanted to go. Figured I could trust you a little. You saved my hide three times after all.."

  Ae leaned back in the chair, crossing her legs, "Eh who's counting. You think about the offer?"

  He gave a subtle nod, "Yeah, I want to stay for a bit. Like you said, I can do a lot of good out here."

  He could see Ae's face brighten, silently thrilled by his decision. Though the excitement wasn't shared in her tone.

  "Good." She stood back up and walked for the door, placing her arm along its edge. "Breakfast is down stairs. Torrel has some chores for you, behave yourself while I'm gone alright?"

  Nidian swung his legs over the bedside and sprung to his feet, "Wait where are you going?" He asked her as he buttoned up his tunic frantically.

  Ae didn't stop moving, calling out as he chased her down the hall, "Out for a bit, lot of folks washed up here yesterday and we need more materials for tending to their injuries." She seemed to pick up her pace, rounding the corner to descend the steps to the first floor.

  "Wait up!" Nidian rushed after her.

  "You're going out to collect supplies?"He followed, sliding across the smooth wooden floor, swinging around the banister and grabbing at her arm. Ae stopped abruptly and looked down at his grip on her bicep before gazing warningly at Nidian who swiftly retracted his hand. "Sorry- I uh. I was just gonna ask if I can come with.."

  Ae brushed her arm off where Nidian had touched it and put a hand on her hip. "I appreciate the enthusiasm but no. Going out of town is me time. I get to get away from everyone for a bit. If I don't get my me time I get grouchy."

  "You get grouchy?" Nidian retorted.

  "What?" Ae narrowed her eyes and leaned in toward Nidian, taking a step up the stairs toward him.

  "Nothing!" He dismissed as he shrank under her gaze. "You time, got it! Makes perfect sense!"

  Ae pressed her lips together and hummed to herself in debate. She pulled back and finished the flight of stairs, "Torrel I'm heading out, make sure Nidian doesn't burn the place down." Nidian hopped over the last few wooden steps as the front door was loudly shut, the eyes of several morning patrons fell upon him. Torrel was smiling across the dining area as he wiped down a tankard.

  He swallowed firmly feeling the flocks of eyes on him as he made his way past the tables and over to Torrel's bar counter. He slid over a stool and put a hand up to cover his face. "Why is everyone staring at me?"

  Torrel chuckled heartily and cracked a wide smile as he watched the others return to their drinks and meals. "Cause you touched Ae and didn't lose any of your fingers. Kind of an unspoken law around here."

  Nidian ran his fingers through his hair and pulled and a few tufts, "Seriously? And no one wanted to tell me?" He grumbled.

  Torrel fetched a plate full of little pastries topped in a jib fruit drizzle and set the wooden dish next to Nidian's head as he slammed it on the bar top. "It's kind of common sense kiddo. Don't know what to tell you. But she must want you around considering you're in one piece. Now eat your breakfast before it goes stale. Jimu puffs don't stay fresh long." Torrel pointed a fork toward the frazzled young man who had sat up to eat before setting it before him.

  Nidian picked up the utensil set on the plate and began eating. The moist, rich flavored dish was unlike anything he had eaten back home. The way the baked moss fell apart, the fruit juices that had absorbed into its fibers gushing forth in a rush of tart joy. Torrel was gratified as he watched Nidian tear into the meal.

  "Pretty hungry huh?" He tittered.

  Nidian shook his head, "Not more than usual, but this is amazing! Did Malles make it?"

  Torrel nodded, "Yeah he prepped a few before heading out to fetch firewood for the evening. I was going to ask if you would go assist him in bringing it back with him. He might appreciate the hand."

  Nidian wiped his lip of the residual dark red syrup and stood, taking his plate in both hands. He glanced to the left toward the basin other dishes had been set next to atop a keg in the kitchen. Torrel took the plate from his hands insistently, "I'll handle the dishes boy don't worry bout that. Head on outside and just follow the road south. Big ol lumber yard, Malles should be there."

  Nidian nodded as he made his way outside. The air was humid, distant waves of rolling clouds, the scent of fresh cut fir trees filling his lungs with bliss. The streets were far more busy today. Dozens of mavericks roamed about with baskets and bags, moving supplies from a traveling caravan that had stopped in the center of town.

  As he approached the wagon blocking his path he heard the city folk begin to whisper amongst themselves. A few stray looks glanced at him as he brushed past them. Out of the corner of his eye was a paper nailed to their cart. It was a bounty from an anonymous client. "Wanted...fugtive Hoharoan.." He nearly choked himself on the words as they registered in his mind. That couldn't have been him. He sharply gasped and pushed forward toward the lumber yard. Inside his chest was another tsunami of pure panic slamming onto the shores of his sanity. Everytime he finally began to maintain a regular heartbeat something had to send it back into an adrenaline rush. He dragged himself along the gravel path that stemmed from the main road, throwing his arms against the wooden fence to stabilize himself as his lungs continued to spasm.

  He tried to dismiss it, it could be anyone right? There's no way it was him, but yet nothing else made sense. Through the storm of anxiety his primary goal flashed in his mind. He needed to get the journal back. He followed the fence to the opening and set eyes on the knurled log Malles had mentioned. Per their plans the journal should have been underneath it. To his dismay the spot was void of the sensitive documents.

  Nidian cursed under his breath and slammed the log down in frustration. They agreed it would be left under the log. Malles told him he knew Torrel would send him to help with the wood. Why wasn't it here? Did Malles take it to Ae? Did he get taken by someone who wanted it? The slew of terrible possibilties forced his knees to buckle. He slid along the wall of logs and rested his head against the coarse bark.

  "Pssst." A voice hissed from the right. Nidian carelessly tilted his head toward the call. Malles was up in one of the trees just outside the yard. He quickly scrambled to his feet and leapt up into the air, catching himself on the lowest branch. With swift movements he pulled himself up two more limbs to where his friend sat.

  "Where's the-" Nidian started as Malles held the journal out to him.

  "Sorry to worry you. Earlier today I noticed Balak shadowing me. Didn't want him getting his hands on it. I lost him in the crowd back there and hid here."

  "That psycho drunk that almost killed me yesterday?" Nidian felt his gut twist even more. It must have been double knotted at this point.

  Malles nodded, "Yeah, the very one. I don't know what he's up to but he's been stalking me all day. Where's Ae? It might be a good idea to stick close to her for a bit.."

  Nidian slumped against the trunk of the tree, closing his eyes and listening to the gentle rustling of the leaves. "She's gone for a bit. Collecting supplies."

  Nidian waited for Malles to respond but received only silence. He opened one eye and saw him staring down at the crowd. "What is he doing..." He asked himself. Nidian crept over along the thin tree limb and glanced over his shoulder. Balak had stopped at the cart. Nidian's heart dropped out of his chest when he watched the spiteful brute rip the bounty from the wood. His vile one eyed gaze looked over it, and a cruel smile spread on his bloodied lip. Malles looked at Nidian with worry as he saw his expression sour. Balak was headed straight for the tavern.