The Ether Witch

Tam and Eric Reyes stood outside in the wintery air that was only just starting to soften its cold edges in favor of spring. The two were perched at the edge of the front courtyard of Tam’s family keep where they could look down the cliff to the icy waters of the Alcide sea.

“I owe Eli more debts than I care to count,” Eric started casually.

Tam stiffened.

“Try working with him for a year. By then, if you still don’t think it’s a fit, I’ll find somewhere else for him, but it’s hard with the coven already being displeased with Kat becoming queen. Witches aren’t supposed to be in positions of power,” the prince reminded offhandedly.

Tam didn’t bother stating that he knew all this and had his own fair share of headaches surrounding the coven and his inheriting a dukedom… Even if he had never disclosed the exact nature of his magical power as a mutated witch to them. Though he hoped as Katarina flexed her talents of being incredibly frustrating they wouldn’t pay him much thought.

“Are they still trying to determine who succeeds you in the event of your death?” Tam tried to change the subject.

“Yes… They still think Charles should take the throne. Apparently, despite his golden eyes, they think he has so little magical power he may as well be human…”

“Antony’s abilities should become obvious soon.”

“We think so, too, but he honestly shows no disposition toward any specific element. We know he’s a hellion like his brothers which some witches think could be indicative of a power, but with Kat as their mother, I’m inclined to disagree and state that’s just his personality.”

Tam didn’t need to laugh. The comment was more factual than joke by that point.

“Well… Time will tell. I’ll give Eli a fair chance. Though, I want to know his parentage.”

Eric grimaced.

Tam almost locked eyes with his brother-in-law as a result.

“He will reveal that eventually.”

“That is a great deal of trust in someone who works alongside kings and lords but doesn’t have much to back him up.”

“The way Eli looked at you I would’ve thought you two knew each other,” Eric mused lightly, though his hazel eyes were sharp on Tam’s face.

Tam gave his head a slight shake. “I probably just startled him when I sat down across from him.” The future duke turned to face the prince more squarely, and spoke directly to him with his hands in his pockets. “My concern about Eli is that there is something dangerous about him, or his history that will come back and give me more paperwork. I don’t want to judge him. I just don’t want any headaches.”

Eric laughed while staring out at the sea. He looked tired, and his short beard gave him an even wiser appearance. “With how quiet you try to keep your life, it’s a miracle you survived a childhood with Kat.”

Tam didn’t say anything else in response. He wasn’t asking for much in terms of credentials or background from Eli. Future dukes usually had a baron or trusted viscount work with them for the role… Not that any would be employed under Tam, what with his social reclusivity, reputation for endless working, and his father’s commoner origins…

But he hadn’t really wanted another noble working for him anyway.

“Your father knows a little bit about Eli’s background, as does His Majesty Brendan Devark, and both think it’ll be a good fit. I just promised Eli long ago he could tell who he wished barring extenuating circumstances or people on a need to know basis.”

“How am I not on a need to know basis when I’m his employer?” Tam asked without bothering to hide his irritation at being left out of a decision and information that would directly impact him.

Eric clapped a hand on Tam’s shoulder, still smiling. “Give him a bit of a break. He has even less say in his fate than you do right now. At least let him trust you on his own terms.”

“But I can’t trust him on mine?” Tam’s eyes darkened, and Eric became momentarily taken aback.

“Gods… Sometimes you’re so much like your Da it’s scary.”

Tam said nothing, rather he turned and strode back to the keep without another look back.

It wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last that his family did what they believed to be the right thing. Regardless of how he, the black sheep of the family, felt about it. They had never really overcome their impression of him that he was to be managed due to his struggles socially, and in large spaces and crowds, even after taking on much of his father’s paperwork.

He knew it came from a place of love and well-meaning, but it often made it all the harder to speak up more firmly…

It didn’t make it any less annoying though.

*

Tam sat in his father’s office with his back comfortably resting against the well worn brown leather of the chair. The room was quiet, the flames in the stone hearth had dwindled low, but the late morning sunlight had warmed the room despite the tall peaked glass windows overlooking the sea and pale sky that let in a faint draft.

A rustic mug of black coffee sat a short ways past Tam’s right hand, its steam still curling prettily in the light.

Taking in a slow breath, Tam felt the corners of his lips lift despite the letters in front of him coming from a viscount and a baron who were interested in arranging a marriage between Tam and their daughters whom he had never met.

Peaceful mornings with coffee, the smell of parchment, and the sun shining outside…

They were some of the small pleasures Tam allowed himself to openly enjoy while alone.

Despite it usually only taking place when he was surrounded with work, the coiled tension in Tam loosened, and he felt more at ease.

It was one of the many reasons he tended to enjoy his lunches there.

Alas, the dark blue painted door with its black, squeaking latch and hinges wailed the arrival of an intruder.

Tam quenched the urge to immediately tense, and dropped the letter back on the desk, already hoping whoever it was–most likely one of his parents– wouldn’t ask about what it was he was reading.

It turned out to be his mother. The odds of her coming in and not asking were next to none.

“My son, are you forgetting something?” the duchess greeted with a tight smile as she clasped her hands in front of her gold patterned skirts.

Tam frowned and blinked.

With Kat’s coronation coming up it was entirely possible there was something he didn’t know about…

Was he supposed to send money to a moonshine merchant? Or was it that they required another letter from the Coven of Wittica he had forgotten to send…?

Annika cleared her throat, and from behind her, out stepped Eli.

The young man gave a quick bow to Tam and kept his eyes lowered.

He wasn’t exceptionally tall, though he was taller than the duchess… Not that that said much.

“You forgot to tell your assistant what you need his help with,” Annika informed Tam still wearing a smile, but Tam could tell she wanted to wave a finger in his face.

The future duke stood from his seat, his hands finding his pockets as he addressed his mother. “I don’t have any work he can help me with right now. I’m just tending to… personal correspondence.”

“Shouldn’t your assistant know about your personal correspondence. As your personal assistant?”

Tam gave his mother a very firm look.

She knew why he had reservations about trusting the lad, and she of all people should’ve understood them. In all of their espionage work together she had always been the one reminding him to be very wary of people. The slight eyebrow raise she gave him argued that he should be able to get information out of Eli because of his secret outings and work. Tam’s irritable, quiet huff said that he didn’t need to have more work inspecting someone who worked so close to him.

“You were going to reject the viscount and baron anyway,” Annika returned the silent argument her son gave out loud, revealing she already knew exactly what he happened to be reading.

“Did you read my messages?” Tam asked, an edge entering his voice.

“No. I took a guess because the viscount and baron tried to speak to your father and I at the castle yesterday afternoon about whether you’d seen their letters yet.”

Tam looked at the ceiling.

Sometimes, he hated living and working in close proximity to his family.

… Alright he hated it often.

“Eli, feel free to go have a seat by the fire, I’ll have the maids bring you up a cup of tea. I’m sure you and my son will want to familiarize yourselves with one another. Now, if you will pardon me.”

The duchess gave a cordial smile to Eli, then swept out of the room, closing the door behind herself.

Tam’s gaze moved to the stone fireplace as he released a very careful breath that he hoped could maybe dispel some of his anger as it was starting to stir his magic up. Plunking himself down in his chair he rubbed the back of his neck, then his temple.

“Sorry, Eli. I don’t mean to be an arse. I just don’t like people I don’t know being thrust at me,” the young lord acquiesced, though he couldn’t quite bring himself to look at his assistant yet.

“It is no problem, my lord.”

Tam grunted the instant Eli used the term ‘my lord’, and while he knew he should’ve apologized, needed to take a moment to rub his eyes.

“Please… have a seat… by the fire. I will… continue… working.”

“If you like, my lord, I would be happy to write the rejection letters on your behalf to the viscount and the baron.”

Shaking his head with his eyes still closed, Tam waved the young man into the room by the chairs.

“Look, I’m sure you’re brilliant, and you probably don’t want this job either–”

“I am grateful for Duke Finlay Ashowan’s assistance.”

Tam stopped, his gaze snapping up after Eli’s wooden response, freezing the young man on his journey to the armchairs by the fire.

“Wait… You…” Tam stood. “You don’t want the job either.” A smile broke out across the future duke’s face that made Eli lean away, his eyes still averted.

“My lord, I am of course grateful that I-”

“No, no. No, no. You don’t want to be here, correct? Then you don’t have to be here! I’d be glad to find you a place where you can do what you prefer! I know my Da said something about the coven giving you issues, but I don’t mind creatively adjusting some paperwork and you enjoying a job you actually want!”

Tam rounded the desk feeling absolutely elated.

His father and mother couldn’t object if Eli really didn’t want the job!

The assistant flinched and gripped his hands together tightly in front of himself.

“N-No, my lord. If I’ve offended you, o-or you think I’m unsuitable for the role, I apologize. I will work hard to make up for my shortcomings.”

Tam stared at Elicarefully…

The young man really hadn’t sounded all that happy to be there, but he definitely was desperate to stay there.

Odd.

Tam dropped his head dejectedly.

Perhaps he was becoming a little too secluded and difficult as he got older…

“Look, Eli, I-” Tam lifted his gaze to stare straight at the young man, and then was surprised into falling silent once more. He stared at the shape of Eli’s jaw, the freckle dotting the top of his right cheekbone, his thick black hair and thin neck… Then he looked down at his torso…

Eli nervously glanced at Tam, and hastily looked away again when he realized how studiously he was being watched.

“Good Gods. How in the hell did no one catch on that you’re a woman?”

The Zinferan stumbled backwards in shock. “W-What do you mean, my lord? I am Eli, from Zinfera. I-I am eighteen years old, and I-”

“Does the prince know about this?!” Tam asked incredulously, his mind reeling with whatever these implications meant.

Eli’s wide eyes jumped upward. “I’m not a woman! I swear!”

“Eli?”

“Yes, my lord?”

“You don’t have a bobble in your throat, you still have a high pitched voice despite being eighteen, you don’t have any facial hair-”

“That is not uncommon in Zinfera!”

“You don’t even have a mustache. Eli. I am absolutely certain you are a woman, and I’m wondering how in the hell no one thought I’d notice– wait. Is this a prank? From Kat? It is, isn’t it? She bet her husband how long it’d take me to notice you were a woman for fun. Of bloody course. Now that I’ve figured it out, does this mean you actually have a position with Prince Eric and not me?”

There was a tense moment of silence.

Then Eli collapsed onto her knees, bowing. “Please… Please do not tell anyone.”

“You’re jesting. Everyone has to–” Tam stopped talking when he saw how Eli trembled.

“Oh. Godsdamnit. No one actually noticed? Shit. Please don’t bow. Godsdamnit, I’m sorry! I-I had no idea! My sister likes to play pranks, and I thought this was one of them!” Tam was already dropping down to a crouch as he rambled, while holding up his hands in surrender.

“Please… Please do not tell anyone. Please. I’ve hidden this since I’ve left Zinfera… If people find out… it means it might be easier to find me…” Eli explained in a near shout.

“Okay! Alright! Not a problem! I won’t tell anyone! Please just… stop… bowing.”

The end of Tam’s words were then punctuated by the brisk opening of the door.

One of the maids, Olivia was her name… She stopped dead in her tracks at the sight before her.

She stared at Eli, who was still bowed on the floor, then at Tam who had his hands outstretched in the air.

“Erm… is this a bad time…?” Olivia asked squeakily.

Tam cringed. “Just a bit. Leave the tea on the small table and that’ll be all, thank you.”

The maid gave an uncertain nod, then proceeded into the office, set the tea tray down on the table between the armchairs in front of the fire, and took her leave, her eyes already darting to the hall as she left.

“Godsdamnit she’s going to tell my mother.”

“You think she heard us?!” Eli sat up, fear and desperation in her eyes.

Tam’s hands finally lowered as he stared at her. “No… but she’ll think I’m being a real dungpile to you.”

Eli nodded in understanding, and while grimacing settled back onto her haunches.

“You… You swear you won’t tell anyone…?”

Tam couldn’t fully hide his sardonic expression. “How… in the world… does no one see you are female?”

“Well… I think the Troivackian king knew by the time I left, but Zinferan women tend to be a little easier to disguise…”

“Women who disguise themselves as men always decrease their age. Are you also older than eighteen?” Tam asked pointedly.

“You know a lot of women who disguise themselves as men?” Eli returned instead of answering.

Tam gave her a tight smile. “Stories for another time. So. How old are you really?”

Eli’s shoulders hunched. “Twenty-five.”

“Mhm. Alright… And… Prince Eric does not know?”

“No, he doesn’t.”

“So… Does the Troivackian king know all your secrets?”

Looking to the ceiling, Eli frowned pensively. “I don’t… think… so…”

Tam started to rub his face again while Eli tried to sift through what appeared to be a great volume of secrets she was hiding about herself…

Well… so much for a tranquil morning.