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

Chapter Twenty-Four

[Dauddeg pedwar]

[Irgis POV]

"You should have seen her face brother," Irgis shook his head. The agonising pain he felt within him was a reflection of his wife's turmoil. "She was convinced I would hurt her," his breath hitched and he shut his eyes.

No amount of physical pain, as he experienced with the wound in his upper leg, amounted up to crushed weight his heart felt. He could not even imagine what Nixie must feel.

Nealgo motioned for Irgis to sit still, "I cannot tend your wound if you keep fidgeting!"

Irgis huffed, "Have you not listened to one word I said?" Irgis crossed his arms with a raised brow. "Maybe it would be best I leave her in peace."

The healer did not answer. Instead, he placed a concoction of herbs and oils on the bloody wound with a bit more pressure than what was needed according to Irgis' taste. He hissed and clenched his fists as he awaited the sensation to pass.

Just as he thought Nealgo finished bandaging up his leg, Nealgo flung back his arm and hunched over Irgis. His fist made first contact with the sore spot on his upper leg as he punched down on the wound.

It felt as if all the air got stripped from Irgis' body and he fell over on his side, "For woe sakes! Why the sard did you do that for!" he yelled. He could feel himself losing his temper in an instant. If his leg did not hurt as bad, he would fling a fist towards Nealgo for doing that.

Nealgo bent down and lifted his brother's chin up, "You fool!" he smacked him over the head, "You think the pain you feel hurts?" he hissed and stood up, "This is nothing!"

Irgis rubbed his head and frowned at Nealgo, "What on earth are-"

He cut him off, "Your wife is out there, in a pain far worse than the pitiful wound she inflicted on you to escape! You experience one setback and you think of leaving!" he pounced up and down the tent, "Perhaps I have not made it clear in the past, but she will die if you leave her to fend for herself!"

His hunchback brother seemed disturbed. The expression on his face was evident of a man who had enough. Who wanted to have his word.

Nealgo turned to a sitting Irgis and shook his head, "Of course she thinks you will hurt her, because that is what that witch has made her believe! You chase after her like a maniac, she probably expects the worst!

She needs your presence to transition without harm. If we leave her be, the child will be the death of her!" he flung his hands in the air, "It is time for you to reconsider your strategy! We do not have time to waste! I will not allow you to lose the one thing that is most important in this life!"

He pushed forward and lifted Irgis by the shirt, "You will find her! You will make things right!" he spat and dropped Irgis, "You have the one thing our people craved for centuries and you allow a foul witch to take that from you!"

Nealgo took a step back and wiped the sweat that had formed on his forehead. He breathed heavy as looked at Irgis with furious eyes. The raging fire marched around in his eyes. He inhaled a last breath and shook his head, "Damn chi chi! (Damn you!)" and turned to walk out the tent.

Irgis sat there, with widened eyes, in silence. He had seen his brother's anger once before, but it did not compare to the outburst he lived through now.

When Nealgo learned of Gredula's poisonous potions that was used to seduce Irgis during his escapade from Corpt, he showed an anger unmeasurable towards Gredula. He hated the woman for what she did to Irgis. He was set on finding an antidote to fight the potion.