The Ether Witch Volume 2

Aradia lounged at the top of the tallest tower of the Coven of Wittica's keep. The icy wind pierced through the thick wool coat she wore, but she couldn't care less as she kept her face tilted upward toward the sun.

"P-Pardon me, Your Magnificence." The chattering teeth of the earth witch that called to Aradia nearly drowned out her words. "We believe we have spotted the ship that Lord Tamlin boarded with the devil."

Aradia took another deep breath of refreshing cold air. Then opened her gaze and rounded back to the tower roof entrance, where the earth witch stood with the door open.

Once she'd stepped back into the dark stairwell that smelt of damp stone, Aradia grasped a nearby lit torch and proceeded down them. "Where were they spotted?"

"Their ship sustained damage—we believe from the confrontation with Louise and the others."

The first witch continued down the winding staircase.

"They managed to make it to the Isle of Quildon, and presumably are already in Xava."

Aradia nodded to herself. "Alright. And do we have any witches there that can intercept them or watch them from afar?"

"We do… But the citizens are becoming… wary of us. Word is quickly spreading that things have become tense between the covens and the crown."

"Ah." Aradia touched down on the top floor of the tower, its stone walls were barely visible beneath the luscious plants that climbed the walls and ceiling. The windows remained firmly shut against the howling wind, but allowed the sunshine to fill the hall. Aradia deposited her torch in a nearby holder and continued walking on. "Any news on Ansar's ship?"

"He is still more than a week away."

Aradia rounded the curve of the wall, her eyes drifting to a particularly bulbous thicket of fresh raspberries that prompted her to reach out and pluck a handful of the juicy berries. After enjoying the fruit she continued to the next staircase.

"Have the witches in Xava locate Tamlin Ashowan and his family. They are not to approach them. Just keep an eye on them. I will be assembling the ancient beasts shortly, but first I plan on paying the Daxarian king a visit."

"Yes, Your Magnificence."

"Tamlin and his mother will most likely be going to one of the brothels that they own for assistance, but I doubt they will wait there for long."

Aradia touched down onto the next level of the keep, where, instead of inner walls leading to rooms, stone railings with intricately carved spindles opened the middle of the tower to reveal a waterfall pouring down the remaining stories into a fresh pool on the ground. The first witch paused and watched the small clusters of witches around the pool at the bottom as they read, or practiced their magic.

"Bea?"

"Yes, Your Magnificence?"

"Gather who remains of the coven council on the island. We will go over the plan. While I'm not opposed to a battle, I believe our victory can be achieved through negotiations and a bit of quickness."

"When are you hoping to take the devil from Lord Tamlin again?"

"Once I've gotten the king to separate the covens from his rule. By that time, Wixim will be here and can help ensure that even when I've returned to the Forest of the Afterlife he upholds the agreement. There is no point placing another target on our back before that time."

Aradia could feel the coven witch named Bea gaze into her profile, making her gaze cut back to her. "What?"

"Where were you… exactly?" she asked slowly. "In Zinfera when you couldn't be found."

Aradia arched an eyebrow and turned to face her. "I was in a space that Tamlin Ashowan's magic has access to. A void. Of nothing."

Bea, a mature woman in her thirties, shrank back at this answer. "How… How did you escape?"

A fond half smile lifted Aradia's mouth as her eyes drifted to the stone floor. "An old friend helped me."

"Is there any way for one of us to find our way out should he do that to us?"

Aradia paused, then locked her somber gaze with the witch. "No. Not unless he lets you out."

Bea gulped.

Aradia resumed walking toward the next set of stairs. "I'll let the ancient beasts know to be on standby in the event we aren't able to avoid a direct fight."

Blinking herself free of her thoughts, Bea bowed her head once more. "Yes, Your Magnificence."

Aradia's heart fluttered in her chest. Her time in the void had shown her just how wonderful a true rest from the world would be. And she could hardly wait to, at long last, be free of her earthly responsibilities once and for all.

***

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Eli asked from Tam's side.

He didn't move his sights from the building in front of him. "Yes."

The couple stood outside the Rollom tavern. It's pretty arched roof, with its window box overflowing with delicate white flowers. A bustling street lay between where they stood and the round topped, pale wood door with its circular window.

The wooden sign hanging above the crowds of the day read The Rosey Glass.

Tam let out a long breath. "Even though Wixim told us what Luca is, I need to know more. I need to know what exactly happened." He looked at Eli who wasn't quick enough hiding her subtle grimace. "You don't have to come inside if you don't want to."

She tensed, then slowly folded her arms. "Luca is my responsibility now as well. I would also like to hear what this Rosaline woman has to say."

A humorless smile found its way up Tam's face. "Are you agitated because of how she treated Luca?"

Eli frowned. "Of course. He is the kindest child I've ever met, and everything I've heard about his time with her was subpar at best."

Tam tilted his head. "Well, we'll hear what she has to say. But we better be quick. As capable as my mother is, I don't like leaving the kids by themselves."

"Agreed." Eli nodded.

The couple shared a final look of understanding and strode across the street.

Upon entering the tavern, Tam found himself hit with a wave of memories. The last time he had been there had been when he and Rosaline had ended their courtship.

It was still the same warm, welcoming place. With the same light-colored maple wood of the door making up the bar in the center of the small room, floors, tables, and benches. Lanterns that were unlit given the time of day hung upon every post, and colored tiles he knew Rosaline had hand painted hung around the walls and pillars as decor.

The tavern wasn't overly busy given the odd time between lunch and dinner, however there was one large, brutish looking fellow leaning over the bar toward a woman…

A short woman with honey blond curls, and captivating dark blue eyes. She stood with a tankard in hand as she dried it with an old towel.

"---I already told you once, Keseph, go home. Liam won't be happy to hear you've been scaring off customers."

Tam tensed.

Her voice was clear and calm, but her posture was rigid.

"An' I said after one more! For the road! Issa hot day out there! C'mon Rosie. Rooosie," the drunk named Keseph rumbled as he reached out to grab her chin.

Rosaline's eyes flashed as she darted back a step.

"Oy!" Keseph hollered belligerently. He tried to snatch one of the bottles from behind the bar while his other hand shot out to make another grab at Rosaline.

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Tam didn't think. He crushed his boot heel into the back of Keseph's knees, seized the back of his head as he started to fall to the floor, and smashed his forehead off the bar.

Keseph fell to the ground unconscious.

Tam's heart thundered in his chest as he placed his hands in his pockets. He felt how still Eli was at his side.

He should've exercised more control.

Rosaline's face snapped up. She stared right at Tam.

And didn't react.

Tam waited.

And waited.

Then it dawned on him…

She didn't recognize him.

He almost blushed. It had been eight years since they'd seen each other.

"Hi," Tam greeted awkwardly while taking a step toward the bar.

Rosaline backed up another step, her brows twitching in confusion.

A strong hand grabbed Tam's bicep. "Hey. Get the hell out of my sister's—"

Tam had barely turned to see Liam's face when Eli shocked everyone and drove her elbow into his throat, making him drop to the ground with a gasping choke.

"Liam!" Rosaline cried out, tossing the tankard in her hands down on the counter with a clatter as she darted out from behind the bar. "Both of you, get out!" she shouted upon reaching her brother's side.

Tam spared Eli a quick look, to convey his surprise.

She gave a single shoulder shrug.

Turning back to Rosaline, Tam slowly crouched beside Liam, putting himself at eye level with her.

"Let's try this again. Hi, Rosaline. It's been a little while. I used to tell you my name was Joe Voll, and I believe you gave birth to my son eight years ago."

Rosaline went deathly pale, and even Liam stopped trying to gasp for breath on the ground as he turned his purpling face to gape up at Tam.

Tam kept his attention fixed on Rosaline. "Do you think we could have a private chat?"

*

Rosaline clasped a cup of cold water in her trembling hands. She had tied up her hair into a messy pile atop her head, as the three of them sat in the office on the second floor. The small room had a cluttered desk, and two short couches with faded floral upholstery facing each other with a low table between them beside the window overlooking the street.

Liam had begrudgingly left them alone to talk, which really was for the best. He glared daggers at Eli, and Tam in turn had to stare the man down.

Rosaline's younger brother was more or less the same.

"I… I can't believe it's you," Roasline began quietly. Her tired eyes raised nervously. "You're just so different."

Tam didn't comment on that observation.

"How is… How is the boy?" she asked stiffly.

A thorny vine of anger seized Tam's heart that he struggled to ignore. "He's good."

Eli must have sensed that Tam was having a hard time starting the conversation, as she took matters into her own hands. "You briefly explained in your letter why you never named him, but regardless of what your brother's opinion was, it is more than a little peculiar that you didn't."

Rosaline's eyes fluttered over to Eli, seemingly coming out of her daze, and put her cup on the table. "I'm sorry, who are you again?"

Eli arched an unimpressed eyebrow, but didn't comment.

"Rosaline. It is very strange you didn't name him, and furthermore… Hurtful. I'm pretty surprised to hear how Luca lived before he found me."

"Luca," Rosaline whispered.

Tam hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. I named him Luca."

Rosaline swallowed and slumped back into the couch. She seemed… relieved.

"What happened after I last saw you?" Tam pressed.

Rosaline's hands gripped her peach colored skirts. "I… It… It was a little while after you left that I found out about the boy, and I didn't have your real name—as I said in my letter—"

"Rosaline," Tam paused, then leaned forward. "I need the whole truth. I know almost everything I should know about Luca, but… It doesn't make complete sense."

Rosaline's eyes darted to Eli.

Eli stared back coolly.

"I just didn't want to be a mother. You remember that. You knew I didn't want—"

"You could have chosen not to finish the pregnancy when you learned about it. But really, what we are asking," Eli interjected sharply. "Is whether you are lying about giving birth to Luca. Or if someone gave him to you and ordered you to lie about how he came into your life."

Rosaline shot to her feet, her cheeks flushing. "Who the hell are you?"

"Rosaline," Tam called out gently. His dark eyes locking with hers, holding her in place. "I know Luca isn't like most people. I need to know how that happened. Was there an ancient beast that came and gave you the child?"

Her breath audibly stopped.

"If so, you are not in trouble, and I'm not going to do anything about it. I will happily leave here and never bother you again, nor will I send Luca back to you. But I really do need to know what happened."

Rosaline took a steadying breath, then crossed her arms over her chest as she stared at Tam. "Gods… You were so… quiet and not nearly so arrogant."

Tam felt his face harden. "Rosaline. You realize you're not answering any questions."

"I don't owe you any answers. There's the door."

"Rosaline, people are in danger because his history is unclear. I just need to know how Luca came to be."

"Let's see. There was red wine, you had just gotten back from some sort of brawl and we went into my private room where—"

"I'm giving you until the count of five," Eli announced suddenly.

Tam's head snapped round the same time Rosaline dropped her arms back to her sides.

Eli stood. "Someone is trying to kill Luca. This isn't the time for whatever past hurt you've harbored. Now stop being a child and answer the damn questions, or does the safety of your eight-year-old son mean nothing to you?" There was a flash of a gold glint in Eli's eyes that was so quick, Tam wondered if he'd imagined it.

Rosaline's face reddened. "He's evil! Are you seriously saying I should have treated that—"

"Careful." Tam rose from his own seat. "Rosaline. If you truly believe that he is someone dangerous, then you really do need to tell me everything, and if you still refuse to answer, I am afraid I can't keep this matter quiet."

Rosaline glared up at Tam. "And what the hell does that mean, my lord?"

"It is starting to sound like you genuinely believed that Luca could have been capable of doing something horrible. Therefore, it would need to be investigated just who you were trying to hurt."

Silence rang loudly in the air.

"And he's not evil," Eli added gruffly.

Rosaline turned her withering stare at Eli, her contempt undisguised. "Fine. You want the truth? The absolute bloody truth? And once I give it you'll go away and stay away?"

"I promise," Tam affirmed steadily.

Rosaline clenched her teeth as though she still was fighting against trying to kick them out again. But eventually, she gestured back to the couches. "Fine. Sit. I don't want to have to ever talk about this again."