The Ether Witch

Tam stood outside the council room with the other members of the meeting while Lord Dick Fuks’s son, Les, tried to convince the elderly man to return to his chamber and put clothes back on. Lord Dick, who was wildly proud of his name as he believed it built character and notoriety, had ensured that the tradition of terrible names be passed down the line. With his son being named Les Fuks, and his grandson Aster, going by his nickname, Ass Fuks.

While the new earl, Les, had loathed the tradition, his son, Aster, devoutly sided with his beloved grandfather.

As Lord Dick Fuks had aged, he had grown even more outlandish in his behavior, and for a while, many weren’t certain if it was simply the former earl being eccentric, or if he was perhaps falling into the terrible mental decay some men at his impressive age succumbed to. However, in the past year, it became clear that he wasn’t cooking with all the ingredients… Much to Les Fuks’s dismay. Before, there had at least been some sliver of hope of keeping his father toeing the line of appropriateness, but recently… That was not the case.

So, as Les Fuks waged another long battle with his father, Tam faced off with an equally infuriating parent of his own while Eli stood off alone to give them privacy.

“Why the hell have I been working my arse off helping you run this dukedom if they are just going to take the title and lands right back? Does mum know that they are proposing this?” Tam demanded, his voice quiet, but angry.

“I haven’t told her yet because I thought you should hear about it first,” Fin started softly. “Tam, to be honest, I’m a little surprised that you care this much about it. You hate all of the public appearances the role requires. Not to mention the work… If you become a viscount, you still have a title, you wouldn’t have to worry about traveling to check on the schools as the next diplomat would be taking over those duties, and you would have to be the worst gambler to ever live to squander the money your mother has saved.”

Tam didn’t say anything as he stared blindly down the hall where the other council members and the king milled about as they waited to resume the meeting.

Emotions were burning in his throat, and he was considering gnawing on his tongue to try and force it to form words properly to better express his thoughts…

“Did you really think I’d be relieved to hear that because I have a problem with my magic, I cost our family this title?”

“Tam, it isn’t your magic that’s the problem. It’s that you aren’t disclosing what it does. After what happened with your sister in Troivack, it makes sense for the sake of safety that they would want to know what your abilities are.”

“Despite all the work I already do and have already accomplished for the coven? Does my word that my abilities aren’t a threat to anyone other than myself mean nothing?”

“Tam… Are you absolutely certain that your abilities can’t harm anyone? Without a shadow of a doubt?” Fin’s blue eyes were intent on his son’s face. Tam could hear the sincerity in his father’s voice as well. He could tell that if he answered that he was absolutely positive he knew the range of his magic, his father would support him in fighting against the council…

But he couldn’t promise that.

Tam swallowed.

Seeing this reaction, Fin’s expression filled with familiar pain that Tam could see out of the corner of his eye. It was the same, worried, loving expression he had seen countless times whenever the issue of his powers came up.

“I’m on your side, Tam. I know you’re a smart man, and that you just want to protect the family, but what if something happened while you were investigating the schools? You know we deal with vulnerable people all the time.”

“Right. I get it.”

“I will fight the council and the coven to ensure you keep the title of duke, and-”

“Don’t.” Tam turned, his magic in his chest rattling, wanting to be used… “I’ll figure something out. It’s me they have a problem with, not you. You just focus on your retirement plans with mum.”

“Tam, no matter what, I’m your father. I am here to help regardless of title, or age, and it doesn’t mean you aren’t capable if you need help from others. Trust me, if it weren’t for other people I know I-”

“You never would’ve been able to be with mum. I know. I know you just want to help. I know everyone is just trying to figure out what’s best for me, but I’m not a child. I’ll decide that for myself.” Tam didn’t wait to hear his father say anything else and instead stalked away from the council room, not caring at all that he didn’t ask to be excused by the king.

*

Down the hall, seeing that her employer was leaving, Eli nervously started shuffling after him, however, she had to pass Fin, and the duke held up a hand, stopping her.

“Maybe just give him a bit of time. I also was hoping to speak and apologize to you about asking you to return to Zinfera.” Fin gave a strained, sheepish smile.

Eli fidgeted with the seam of her trousers as she bowed.

“May I request that I excuse myself from accompanying Lord Tam to Zinfera, and instead remain here in Daxaria to offer my assistance to you, Your Grace?”

“This is more Eric- His Highness’s idea than my own. I understand that, like my son, you yourself have things you’d much rather keep to yourself, and I can’t imagine what you have lived through. I’ve already argued these points with His Highness. I think right now the prince is desperate to have someone he can trust and that knows the Zinferan empire.”

Eli didn’t answer immediately, her eyes remaining lowered as it dawned on her then. “Even if I wasn’t serving Lord Tam… His Highness would’ve requested I go.”

“I think so. I can arrange for you and the prince to speak more privately tomorrow if you like,” Fin offered while raising his hands.

The duke appeared to disagree with the idea of sending his son and assistant to spy on the Zinferan kingdom… though as much as Eli appreciated that, doubted the duke was being considerate toward her and more so his son. After all, why would she matter when the greater powers of Daxaria said otherwise?

That was always how it was. She was shoved around wherever anyone with more power willed it. She just had to survive and make the best of it until she could be free…

“Thank you, Your Grace, but I’m sure His Highness will speak to me if he thinks it is worthwhile.”

Fin stared at Eli as she bowed. A funny half smile tugging up the corner of his mouth.

“You know… I think you and Tam might do really well together.”

Straightening, Eli kept her chin lowered. “I appreciate your confidence in me, Your Grace. I hope that Lord Tam feels the same way.”

Fin nodded idly, though his gaze remained studious on the assistant. The measured distance that Eli placed between everyone was peculiar…

“Pardon me, Your Grace, I will go see if I should call for the carriage to take Lord Tam home or not.”

Blinking out of his thoughts, Fin slipped both his hands in his pockets and nodded before saying, “Of course. I will see you back at the keep this evening unless my daughter invites me to dinner.”

Eli bowed once more in response, then turned and proceeded to follow where she had seen Tam disappear.

*

Tam sat with his back against the knight’s barracks with his eyes closed.

It was one of his favorite places to have a moment to calm down, as it reminded him of Captain Antonio, the former Daxarian military leader who had been like a grandfather to him and his sister before his death more than a decade ago.

With his magic no longer tearing at his insides, and his breath slow and even, Tam reluctantly started to turn his mind to the council meeting… Until he sensed another presence.

He didn’t have to open his eyes to know who it was. “You found me quite quickly.”

Eli peered around and let out a small breath of her own. “I would’ve come faster, but your father wanted to speak with me.”

The note that entered her voice prompted Tam to look up at his new assistant.

There was grimness in her eyes, and a trace of anger given the way her jaw was clenched…

“If you really don’t want to go to Zinfera, you won’t have to.”

“The prince wills it.”

“Then he can go if he wants it so badly. I thought you two were friends.”

“As much as a prince can be friends with a refugee,” Eli countered mildly.

Tam paused. As accepting as Eli was forcing herself to seem, he could tell there from the hardness behind her eyes her true thoughts…

“Daxaria isn’t like Zinfera or Troivack. Commoners and nobility are quite close here… I mean, just look at my father and mother. He was the cook.”

Eli didn’t say anything in response, but Tam could tell she didn’t fully buy that for a second.

Deciding not to prod at what was undoubtedly a sore subject, he instead rubbed his face while leaning forward.

“I’ll probably be in Zinfera for a few months… Could even be a year or more. Especially if they want me hunting down a dragon. Just tell me where you want to work and I’ll find a way.” Tam pushed himself to stand while Eli continued staring out across the sea of lush green grass and at the pristine blue sky.

“My lord, I… I wanted to say thank you earlier, but I didn’t have the chance until now.” Eli turned suddenly and bowed.

Tam cringed away from the action. “Gods, for what? Or do you mean about not revealing one of your secrets?”

“I mean for objecting to my being forced back to Zinfera.”

The lord momentarily balked as he then recalled what had occurred in the meeting…

“It’s fine. Just so you know, you could’ve said the same thing. If you want something you need to say so.”

“I’m not in a position to-”

“Yes. Yes, you are. You are not a slave. You are a person. A person who has done nothing wrong and has had enough forced upon you.”

“I’m not a citizen of Daxaria. I can still be thrown out.”

“The instant you were placed in my family’s care, that stopped being a possibility.”

“Unless you or your parents decide to send me back.”

“You’d have to do something remarkably terrible for us to do that.”

Eli finally looked at Tam, and just like on the first day she had arrived at his keep, when it was hard for him to look away, he found his attention trapped. Why did she feel so familiar, and comfortable? It was easy to look her in the eyes…

“You know… I’ve been thinking…” Tam started clearing his throat and breaking off the moment. “Battling against people shoving us around is great, but… I think we could also maybe have a bit of fun in the meantime.”

Eli frowned. “What are you suggesting, my lord?”

“Please stop calling me that,” Tam insisted the second the words left her mouth. “Tam is fine. If we’re in proper company, I understand, but for the love of the Gods it is painful to hear.”

She raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to finish explaining himself.

“As for a bit of fun… My family, and the prince, threw us together because they don’t know entirely what to do with us, and because we are both known for keeping secrets. Yes?”

Eli nodded slowly.

“What if we, through our combined efforts, give them a bit of a headache using these reasons against them?”

The assistant rounded on Tam, her head tilted. “Why would we do something so pointless?”

Tam looked to the sky with a sigh. “Juvenile act of rebellion? It’s rather cathartic, and furthermore… I think it might help to stop people thinking they should be deciding our fates for us.”

“A mere prank is going to assert dominance over nobility– including the prince?”

Tam grinned and lowered his gaze to look at Eli, startling her with his smile. She had heard rumors he was handsome, but hadn’t paid much attention to that kind of information until she found out just how true it was in that moment…

“Come now, you have to know better than anyone that the prince is being a donkey. What I’m suggesting is some harmless fun, where no one gets hurt, and better yet… We both maybe get a little bit closer to what we want.”

Eli opened her mouth to give a resounding no, when Tam leaned forward, his hands in his pockets, his face still smiling, and his eyes twinkling.

“So? How about it? As my assistant, do you think you can help me?”