Page 115 of To Free a Soul
“W-E-L-D-I-R,” Nathair mimicked, his orbs brightening.
His offspring moved his right fist in a knocking motion to signal ‘yes’ that he was happy. ‘Yes’ and ‘no’ were the first things Weldir had taught him. It gave them the most basic wayto communicate, and not utilising a nod or a shake of his head meant Weldir couldn’t accidentally misunderstand him.
Pride radiated through his mist as he watched Nathair repeat the alphabet seamlessly, as if he hadn’t just been taught for the first time. It revealed the depth of his intelligence, his memory, and that Weldir had been right; all the souls he’d consumed had increased his humanity tenfold.
“H-E-L-L-O,” Nathair finger spelled.
Weldir waved at him in return, as that was a common way to greet a person in any language and culture – and even how the Elvish did it. Nathair grumbled and waved back, and likely committed it to memory.
Mischievous humour made Weldir’s mist shimmer with vibrations. “I can teach you how to say ‘fuck you’ as well if you like.”
Nathair knocked his right fist in the air.
Weldir lifted his middle finger while keeping the rest of his fingers down. A chuckle left him when Nathair not only mimicked him, but shoved his big hand through his misty head. Nathair answered with his own throaty, chesty chuckle – which sounded different to the laughter that used to radiate from his mind.
Then Nathair groaned as his orbs flickered white, and he shuddered deeply. He lifted both hands around the sides of his serpent skull but didn’t grab it, as there was a chance he’d try to crush it by accident.
Which would kill him – forever. Had Nathair’s body not locked up into a seizure while Weldir was forced into a catatonic state, his offspring could have torn at his own soul and destroyed himself entirely. A slip of luck, all things considered.
Weldir watched his offspring struggle to keep a human memory at bay and listened to how his heavy breathing grew more laboured. He said nothing, made no note of it, nor did hebring attention to it when Nathair managed to pull it back with his shoulders drooping.
Weldir didn’t even ask if he was okay, as that annoyed him.
Nathair’s orbs flashed an embarrassed reddish pink, and he tipped his face away slightly to hide it.
He didn’t need a voice to tell Weldir how much he hated this, and hated how he’d done this to himself. It was obvious in his body language, and he hada lotof body.
“Weldir,” Lindiwe’s voice practically growled.
I find it rather cute when she does that.She tried to show she was mean and scary, and it merely tickled his humour.
“Yes, Lindiwe?”
Nathair was used to him answering her in his presence.
“I just watched Jabez take Orpheus’ offering and fucking run off with her into the Veil,” Lindiwe said, and when he brought up a viewing disc of her, the image of her looking at her own much smaller version became apparent.
A small offspring with a maned-wolf skull rested in her lap and used her dress as a hammock while they napped. They’d been with her for quite some time, and it was the first they were intending to place in South Unerica. Weldir had finally expressed his desire to begin this venture once more, and Lindiwe had accepted immediately.
It gave him the impression that she’d missed it.
“I believe you said you wouldn’t interfere.”
“I know what I said.” She stuck out her bottom lip. “But Iwarnedthem years ago, and you’d think after I destroyed his last castle, they’d take the hint and stop. I don’t know how he’s getting through the salt circle. He can’t when Orpheus is there.”
“Didn’t you say that the offending person has to have hostile intentions? If Jabez has figured that out, and he means no harm to the human directly when passing through, then...”
“Conniving bastard.”
Weldir made sure she couldn’t hear his chuckle.I like it when she’s all twisted up like this.Of course, only when it wasn’t directed at him.
“You’re in another part of the world, and I’ve told you that I don’t wish for you to engage him again.”
He was still furious she’d lost anarm– no matter that it was temporary in the end. No amount of harm to her was worth Jabez’s demise, no matter how she, or he, wished it for the safety and security of their offspring.
“I’m sure I can think of something where I don’t actually need to fight him.”
“So long as he doesn’t harm you, you may do as you wish.”
