*ON HOLD* The Airborne Oracles [Book I - Breeding the fire]

Chapter Five

[Phum]

"I can not speak for you fy nghariad," Irgis whispered next to his bride's ear, "only you can ask him to be gentle with you," he explained, feeling Nixie's pale forehead, scalded with heat. Her pale skin seemed to turn translucent as the poison trickled through her body, which planted a constant fearful expression on Irgis' face.

Nixie sensed Nealgo's potion helping her to keep focus more than before; she forced the torment to the back of her head whilst noticing the tribe that waited in anticipation for her to ride her dragon. They did not seem to apprehend the fact that she was nearing what felt like her death, fortuitously Irgis did not leave her side and mounted on the dragon with her. Irgis wrapped his arms around her and secured the cloth around her legs that kept her secured and attached to the dragon. He spoke again, "Come on un hardd, the quicker we do this, the quicker I can take you to rest," he kissed her neck.

Nixie panted, her trembling hands rubbed over the back of Paduss' spine where they sat between the beast's wings. She leaned forward and spoke, "You need to take care of me," the dragon curled his neck to the side to hear her whispers, "you see, I don't feel too well," she explained, mimicking Irgis' way to speak to the dragon like a person, "will you be gentle?" 

The dragon purred and ruffled his wings, he was eager to get out of the cave he has waited in for so long.  "Let us fly," Nixie spoke louder and tightened her hands around the buldges of scales Irgis said she had to hold for support. 

The beast stood up and thumped out the cave. Irgis cuddled his bride as best he could, "Please let her survive this night," he prayed to the sky as his voice was struck with worry.

Nixie felt herself slipping in and out of a haze, trying to look around to where the dragon walked. Her head fell back to rest on Irgis' shoulder a few times. The dragon cried out as announcement before he unfurled his giant wings. Paduss breathed a stream of flames around him, brightening the area on the ground before he started to beat his wings against the light breeze of the night, launching himself upwards.

Nixie forced her eyes to focus as she felt her heart pound in her chest, nervous for the flight. Her legs squeezed tight, her hands holding on for dear life. Irgis' body provided her a touch of heat to her back in contrast with the ice cold wind stabbing her from the front. The dragon roared, flipping in a circle with joy.

"Goo- good boy," Nixie huffed in pain. The dragon straightened his wings and lowered his spine so she could sit comfortable. "Thank you," she whispered as the dragon purred.

"Can we go down now?" Nixie asked Irgis, who sat in silence behind her.

"Nid wyf erioed wedi gweld yn hedfan gyntaf o'r fath brydferth (I have never seen such a beautiful first flight,)" he mumbled to himself in awe, "How did you do it?" he asked Nixie.

"Do what?" she murmured, fighting the urge to close her eyes.

"It's a struggle, the first ride, but The Dark one listens to you with ease already," he explained.

Her head fell back and she forced her words, "I don't know," she coughed.

Irgis could see his bride weakening, "You must fly to a hilltop and let him mark you, then we can go."

Nixie didn't have the strength in her to ask what his words meant, she was content with the idea to discover what it was as it happened. She pushed herself upwards and spoke to the dragon again, "Can you take us to a hilltop?" 

The dragon moaned with excitement, jolting upwards again, making Nixie grab on with her trembled fists. She closed her eyes, trying to keep awake. Her blood felt like it wanted to burst out of her, her organs boiled.