Alex laid in the bed, one woven blanket pulled over him. He must have been directly above the lower floor's main room as he could hear the brothers talking. He knew he should just give them privacy and try to fall asleep, but part of him didn't want to drift off yet, if ever.
"Something about his story doesn't add up." The gruff voice was Evin, the bull's baritone even whispered practically reverberating through the house. "You're sure about what you saw?"
"Whatever spell was used on him was strong and it was nasty." Geff said in much softer tones that Alex had to strain his new ears to make out.
"But you can't tell what it did?"
"Residue was too faint. But.." Alex couldn't tell if he trailed off or walked too far away so his voice no longer carried. "I don't think he's a bad person, just in a bad situation. Besides, he's kind of cute, don't you think? And that monster between his legs.." There was a soft whistle.
"Geff." The admonition was still a whisper but sharp.
"I caught you looking when he had his head turned. Don't deny it. You've always had a thing for equines." The tone was light and teasing, reminding him almost of the banter between Raf and Roc.
"He's only visiting, I'm sure, and after this he's probably only going to stay long enough to get enough to make it back to Roundbottom."
"Maybe.."
There was only a grunt in response and then, "I'm going to bed." Evin's heavy hooves could be heard clomping on the stairs, through they stopped outside of Alex's room. The door creaked open a little, though he kept his eyes closed. The door shut again and the hoof-clomps continued to one of the other bedrooms.
Eventually Alex fell back asleep. He was back on the farm on the road to Dicktin, chopping firewood, though this time he held the axe and Evin was there instead of Bo, running the logs from the pile to the stump and then to the stack. He swung down and the shock of the strike made his fingers go numb. He tried to grab at the axe but his hand would wrap around the handle. He looked on as his hands, human in the dream, started turning into hooves again. He felt his spine twisting and fell to the ground, raking at the dirt with his hooves as his body was twisted again.
He gave a shout and sat up in bed, the blanket falling off his chest and pooling in his lap. There was a heavy thumping in the hallway and his door swung open wide. Evin's massive frame filled up the doorway, the faint moonlight from the window showing him to be completely naked but clutching his guardsman club in one hand. "What's wrong?" He asked, his tone hard.
"Sorry." Alex could feel his ears drooping in embarrassment. "Nightmare."
Evin relaxed and lowered his club. "Oh.." He seemed to sound a little embarrassed himself.
Alex looked down at his hands, flexing them. The three thicker digits still felt strange, but at least they were hands. "I didn't really tell you what happened, did I?" Alex scooted aside on the bed, making room for the bull to sit. Evin looked back over his shoulder, then stepped into Alex's room, closing the door.
"You can wait if you want. Geff said it was... nasty." Still, Evin took the seat next to him. The bed hardly creaked, it was obviously built with bigger beastmen in mind.
"I was on the road here and came across a stranded elf with a cart. His cart horse had bolted, at least he said it did. I offered to help and then he used a spell on me to turn me into a donkey." Alex looked over to Evin, then back down to his hands. "Completely I mean, four hooves, no speaking, I could think but I think he was using some other magic to control my mind or at least make me obey."
Evin's expression turned dark as he glared off towards the window, one hand tightening around the club in his hand, but his other arm went around Alex's shoulders.
"He hooked me up to the cart and made me pull it into town. After he unloaded his stuff he took me to that alley and.." Alex hesitated. He didn't want to lie to the bull, but Geff had been clear to leave certain parts out. "Left me there. Gave me a few coins for my work. I'm not sure how long I was laying there before you found me."
Evin filled in the blank spot on his own, rubbing Alex's shoulder, probably assuming he meant to say turned him back. Or so Alex hoped. "Bad enough they treat us like animals, doing something like that. I'm sorry. Don't worry about it, me and Geff will protect you. He may not look like much, but he's got more magic than he lets on."
Alex laid back down, and Evin got up to go. He didn't know why but he reached out to grab the bull's hand. "Stay?"
Evin nodded and sat back down on the bed. Alex soon fell asleep.