The Ether Witch Volume 2

Kraken swatted Henrietta's knee.

She regarded him with a raised eyebrow.

The emperor had been brought in by the sailors last night, in the protection of a watertight trunk.

Kraken bopped her knee again.

"Again, I can only speak to chickens," she repeated. "And we left that witch I had turned during the attack with the Zinferan crew. I could turn the duchess into one for a bit again if you'd like?"

Kraken gave a quiet huff of annoyance.

Henrietta sighed in equal exasperation as she finished pinning her braid in a crown around her head. "You'll probably have to wait until we all reach the mainland, Empurror, I'm sorry."

Evidently pleased that the chicken witch had at the very least addressed him properly, Kraken rubbed his face against her skirts and rounded back over to the window of the room.

A knock at the door had Henrietta rising and straightening the small vest she had buttoned over her faded rose-colored dress.

Opening the door, she found the Zinferan princess, Elisara, peering at her in that unnervingly direct way of hers. "Grab your things, we will be leaving before lunch."

Henrietta slowly nodded.

Elisara turned, her expression smooth and uncrackable. Her tan pants and light blue tunic complimented her skin, making her seem to glow. Her straight black hair was freshly washed and tucked behind her ears, and for once she didn't have a child at her side. It made Henrietta realize how frosty of a woman she normally was.

"Excuse me?"

Elisara swung back around.

Henrietta almost backed up a step, but instead clasped her hands in front of herself. "Kraken keeps trying to talk to me."

The princess waited.

"If you could try speaking to him in your beast form, that might be best. I'm not sure that the duchess would much appreciate being a chicken again," Henrietta finished with a nervous laugh.

Elisara stared blankly at her, then dropped her gaze to Kraken who appeared in the doorway. "We'll figure out a way to talk soon. There is some news, and we need you."

Kraken blinked slowly and trotted down the hall to her side.

"Uh, right. Right…" Looking over her shoulder at the room, Henrietta belatedly remembered that until a day ago she'd been a prisoner, and therefore had no belongings that she could've left behind.

Scurrying after the princess, Henrietta touched down onto the tavern floor, and spotted Eli seating herself down in front of a plate of eggs, and thick slices of brown bread that made Henrietta's mouth water.

"I'll get your plate in a moment, dear."

Henrietta nearly jumped out of her skin when the tavern keeper brushed by her on her way to Bes, Hamil, and the duchess—who looked like she was asleep atop the table—who were eating their own breakfast in a quiet corner off on their own.

In the pale light of the cloudy day, Henrietta took in the tavern as the previous night she had been too exhausted to take a proper look. It was sparse, with its white washed walls were bare save for one crude painting of a lone tree and a span of green grass in a wooden frame. The benches and four tables were made of the same wood as the floor, but were built to take a beating. They were heavy, but well crafted. The fireplace was already lit, and helped heat the air that should have been much warmer given that it was the summer time. Despite this, there was still a chill that would kiss at one's nose.

"Henrietta."

The stern voice of the Zinferan princess called Henrietta's attention back to her.

"Ah, yes." She scurried round the table and seated herself down across from her. "Where are the children?"

"Penelope and Luca are washing dishes to compete and see who is faster at it," Elisara explained bluntly.

Henrietta balked. "Er… That's… Helpful of them."

"Hardly. It was the only way they would stop fighting about it."

"Oh, now, I disagree." Johanna reappeared with a steaming plate heaped with food that she set in front of Henrietta. "They are being marvelously helpful in my opinion! Your children are absolute delights, ma'am." The innkeeper beamed.

A startlingly bashful smile instantly bounced to Elisara's face as she blushed. "Thank you."

With a wink, the innkeeper turned and disappeared back through the round door in the back left corner that was propped open—presumably it led to the kitchen.

"How can I be of help…?" Henrietta asked slowly while nervously plucking up her cutlery.

Elisara busied herself taking a generous, crunchy bite out of her toast with its vivacious raspberry jam; her eyes fluttering closed as she openly savored the food.

Henrietta felt her nerves settle a little more around the woman, and so she too partook a little in her meal without hurrying the conversation.

"Have you ever been to the Isle of Wittica?" Eli asked crisply.

Henrietta bobbed her head as she loaded her fork with the sunny scrambled eggs. "A bunch of times."

"Good. Do you think you could draw the access points to both the island and the building layouts? Tam has been there himself, but only twice."

Henrietta paused, taking another bite, her fork slowly lowering as it dawned on her just why such a request would be made. "I… I wouldn't recommend trying to do what I think you're trying to do…"

Elisara raised an eyebrow, unbothered. "Oh, the witches that are most likely guarding the isle won't attack us."

Henrietta's eyes narrowed warily. "Why not?"

A mystifying look rose on the woman's face. "Because it has come to my attention that there is a sacred rule that cannot be broken amongst anyone. Witch, ancient beast, or even Aradia."

Henrietta blanched.

The princess plucked up her second piece of toast and took her time enjoying another bite before explaining.

"No one can harm a familiar."

***

Tam stared at the cottage as the wind whipped at his clothes relentlessly.

There were dried flowers tied to the shutters, and all along the fence at his back left by people coming by to glimpse the humble beginning of Finlay Ashowan.

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And humble it most definitely was.

The entire cottage could have fit in the dining room of their keep in Austice.

Tam eyed the ghostly remains of what would have been the garden off to the right side of the house. He could see a rake and hoe rusting and scattered on the ground. Those had most likely been left behind by one of the people who had attempted to live there.

Fidgeting, his heart thrumming, Tam approached the front door of the cottage.

He clasped the handle, and pushed the chipped door open. It wailed, and stuttered, but granted him entry.

Stepping into the dark room, Tam was instantly greeted with a face full of cobwebs that had him briefly reeling back to swipe at his eyes.

With the webs cleared from his face, Tam stared around the room. He spotted the old cooking table that was covered in half melted candles—evidently others had come inside to continue their perusal, and behind it was the stone and plaster fireplace that sat cold.

The door to the tiny room to Tam's left had fallen off one of its hinges and lay harmlessly amongst the dust and debris. A forgotten rocking chair caught his attention with its broken spindles.

So this is where Da came from.

A tightening sensation bloomed in Tam's chest.

"Dad?"

Tam jumped at the sound of Luca's voice as he whirled around and saw his own son staring up at him from the cottage doorway curiously.

"Luca! Is everything alright?" Tam breathed after regaining his composure.

Luca peered around the room before entering after his father and proceeding to close the door behind himself with great effort as a strong gust of wind tried to buffet it back.

Tam watched, amused by his son's efforts, then noticed that his pants were starting to look a few inches too short. Had he really grown that much already?

"Everything's fine, but Grandma wanted me to tell you that the boat to take us to Rollom will be here soon."

"Right… A boat…" Tam hesitated.

Gods help us… Hopefully we don't find out we're having twins or I'm swearing off ever getting on another boat for the rest of my life.

"What is this place?" Luca continued over to the cooking table before his eyes jumped up to a far corner of the room. He suddenly frowned.

"Your grandfather used to live here when he was growing up," Tam explained.

Luca's attention didn't shift from the corner, his face still.

"Is something wrong?" Tam ventured while drawing closer.

"Bad things happened here."

Tam froze. "What?"

Luca started to blink rapidly, his face flinching. "They were so sad… And scared…"

Swallowing with difficulty, Tam touched Luca's shoulder. "They had good years later. Did you hear about Finlay Ashowan's father from someone?"

Tears spilled from Luca's eyes as he shook his head adamantly while backing away from the corner.

"No. I can… I can feel it."

Tam dropped down to his knees as he gently grasped his son's shoulders. "Luca, look at me. It's alright. No one is sad or scared here right now."

Tam had just lied.

Luca sensing the emotions that had been felt in a place from long ago was alarming in more ways than one. The most important of which being that sensing emotions in any capacity was a power of the devil's. Was it starting to manifest in Luca?

"D-Dad, can we… Can we please leave?"

Tam tried to give an encouraging smile but failed, so he simply nodded and stood back up while making sure to grasp Luca's hand.

Once they were back outside in the fresh air, Luca's troubled mood seemed to ease away a little, but not fully.

Tam struggled with the decision to tell Luca more about the cottage and why he might feel what he did, but… Ultimately decided he should know. Maybe it would help him feel less upset.

So, with a long breath out, he began. "Your grandfather, Fin, was scared of his own father. Fin's father, Aidan Helmer, was not a good man, and he would hurt his wife and son. He was someone who believed that because of the kind of witch he was, that he was better than humans and mutated witches, and therefore those that weren't equal to him he could treat badly."

Luca squeezed Tam's hand. "Kind of like…" he paused, tears coming back to his eyes. "Kind of like how people look down on bastards?"

Tam's worry turned to horror. His hands started to tremble as he reached up and brushed back Luca's hair that fluttered in the wind.

"Your great grandfather and those people that say those kinds of things? Are wrong. No one in this world is born beneath someone else. A person's life is not worth less just because of how the entered their world without any of their input. The Goddess doesn't spurn a common man for being common. A human for not being a witch. Or a child like you who… Who should have had his dad this whole time." Tam felt his own tears rise as his voice cracked. "Never. Never think you are less than anyone, Luca. Or that you don't deserve kindness, or good things."

"But I…" Luca struggled to form words as a sob choked itself from his throat."I'm broken. I wasn't born right."

"There is no right way to be born, Luca. Not as a person. We all just live the best we can, but everyone—everyone, deserves to be raised with love and not being looked down upon, do you understand?"

"I feel wrong things though! I know bad things! Things people don't want other people to know, and I don't… I don't mean to! I'm evil! I shouldn't know those things! Even the-the Goddess! They-they say she would never give another person power over minds or feelings, but I can feel things… I know things—"

Tam enveloped Luca in a hug. "You can't help what you just know, Luca. It doesn't mean you aren't a good person. Just because someone smells something bad, doesn't mean they are responsible for the smell itself. You haven't used how other people feel to hurt them, have you?"

He could feel Luca shake his head against his shoulder.

"See?" Tam's voice was a whisper. "That's my boy. I'm proud of you, Luca. You've always been a good boy. And I love you no matter what, Luca. That will never change, and I will never leave you. I promise. You are not evil. You've never been evil."

Luca's sobs overtook him, rendering him incapable of speaking.

Tam's own tears spilled over as he held his son, refusing to let him go until he was ready.

He couldn't make up for the years of pain Luca had endured in this life or the others. But Tam hoped that Luca could feel how he no longer had to be alone. He wasn't anything more to Tam than his child, and as his father, Tam would move worlds for his son.