The Ether Witch Volume 2

Tam sat beside Eli in the carriage that was trundling its way toward Austice, the air damp and thick with the promise of rain. Despite boarding the boat back to Xava from the Isle of Wittica and returning to the mainland, Finlay Ashowan had remained unconscious, and had not stirred the entire day.

Luckily, the duke had already prepared a carriage for himself, the princes, and Aster back on shore once the ship had landed.

One of the knights close with the Ashowan family—Sir Lewis—had met the battered group on the docks of Xava, and kindly assisted Tam with his father, and the princes. Henrietta had opted to ride with the knight. As it turned out, Henrietta's family farm was on the neighboring land to Sir Lewis, and she had a great deal of questions about the crops for the year.

Tam had then sent them all off ahead with Kraken curled up on his witch's lap. Meanwhile, Tam had gone back to the cottage to find Luca and Penelope in a hidden crawlspace under the cottage.

The four of them had departed immediately.

They couldn't risk the witches following them, though unlike in Zinfera, they could at least travel by the main roads as the knights stationed along the road would help as oppose to attack. In the quiet, Tam raised an issue that was troubling him.

"I thought you were worried about turning into Kasha."

"I sensed your pain, I saw the princes…" Eli replied quietly.

Penelope was asleep with her head resting on Eli's lap, while Luca had also fallen asleep, but with his face splattered across the carriage window on Tam's right. Tam pointedly ignored the smear of drool, while also admiring his son's ability to sleep in such an awkward position.

"It was dangerous," Tam continued, his eyes still stuck on Luca. "I understand why you were worried, but in the future please stay with Luca and Penelope."

Eli's eyes frosted over. "Is that an order?"

The trickle of sweat that gathered and dripped down Tam's back in the span of a breath did so as though it, too, feared for its existence.

He chose his next words with the same caution one might have lighting a cigar whilst covered in lamp oil. "Well… What do you think we should do in the future?"

The silence that followed was weighty.

"I should've just gone and introduced myself as a familiar," she retorted.

"What if they hurt you?"

She was quiet.

Tam wasn't foolish enough to think it was because she accepted his suggestion.

"Remember when we had that fight outside of Wixim's cave about how I told you the rules for engaging in battle, and you were upset that I did not come at it as a discussion?"

"Yes… Yes, I do."

Eli raised an eyebrow at him.

He cleared his throat. "You're right. I'm sorry that I'm not making this a discussion. I was worried about Penelope and Luca being left alone, and you getting hurt while pregnant—also that you were forcing yourself to join the fight when you have been anxious about turning into Kasha. What do you think we should do in the future?"

Eli's eyes drifted over to the scenery rushing by the carriage window. "I will try to avoid getting involved as much as possible while I'm pregnant, but we should try and arrange for Penelope and Luca to have a safe place to hide in case of an emergency."

Tam nodded slowly. "At my family's keep in Austice there are a number of secret rooms and passages."

At this, Eli tilted her head quizzically and her attention moved back to Tam—-Luckily she appeared to have let go of her earlier grievance against him. "That reminds me. Your family owns a multitude of brothels, has aliases, a slew of underworld connections judging from the fear and reverence those madams treat you with… I've come to form the opinion that your family is not nearly as wholesome as you portray yourselves to be to the general public.

Tam grimaced. "That's… Not entirely inaccurate to say. My mother… she has been a… a well informed person for her entire life. And the information she is able to gather and the deals she is able to create has made her rather valuable to the crown of Daxaria. I started helping with her work a few years ago."

"She's a spy for the king," Eli surmised bluntly.

Tam's eyes darted to the children then back at her. He gave her a tight smile to convey that she wasn't wrong, but to maybe not be so open in her thoughts with their charges present.

Eli continued to stare at Tam. She didn't say anything else on the topic, but he could see the thoughts whirring behind her eyes.

Wanting to change the topic as quickly as possible, Tam's eyes fell to Penelope. She looked sweet… Nothing like the sharp tongued child who was too smart for her own good.

"We still need to have a talk with Penelope about stealing my mage crystal for the watch," he began.

Eli looked down at the child in her lap, and started to gently stroke her hair. "I know. She was just so frightened by it, and it was weeks ago that she did it."

Tam tilted his head in acknowledgment. Any time they had attempted to broach how Penelope had seen the battlefield in the future, she would turn rigid, and begin breathing rapidly.

"I don't know if I told you this, but after she and Hamil saw those visions, she actually called me dad," Tam recalled, a smile rising up his face.

Eli blinked, her expression tensing. "Oh."

Perplexed over her reaction, Tam stared at her with a subtle frown. Until it dawned on him what her reaction was revealing.

"Are you jealous?"

His betrothed bristled.

Tam barely stifled a laugh as she avoided meeting his gaze. "Alright, I won't tease you too much."

"Good."

Clearing his throat, Tam turned to look out Luca's window just as the first streaks of rain pattered against the window, blurring the lush fields that were starting to be tipped with gold with the nearing autumn.

"Hopefully the witches won't attack us on the road," Eli said abruptly.

"I doubt they will. They seemed to be spread quite thin." Tam resisted the urge to clear his throat, but Eli still worked out the reason for his slight discomfort.

"Is it because you keep putting witches in the void?"

"Erm… It might be. I mean, some coven members could still be in Zinfera."

Eli lifted her eyebrows dubiously but didn't comment any more on the matter.

In fact, they didn't say much else until the carriage pulled to a halt at an inn, which was around the time Penelope and Luca stirred from their sleep.

Without needing to say a word, both Tam and Eli shared a knowing look.

The children would not be tired for a long time after such a lengthy nap.

Tam wondered about getting them to play a long game of tag…

Stepping out onto the soggy grass, Tam took his time having a leisurely stretch. The air was damp and cool, and the gray clouds above dimmed what little daylight remained. At least for the time being Tam could still see their surroundings clearly enough.

If they got up early and only stopped for a change of horses, they could be back in Austice by in another day. The idea of being surrounded by people who could help protect Luca and having a proper bath in his own tub was starting to make Tam antsy to get home as quickly as possible.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Squinting toward the inn with its multiple chimneys puffing smoke, and the tenor of a good natured crowd inside enjoying their meals, Tam looked forward to getting a good dinner for everyone.

He rounded back to the open carriage to hand Eli out, then Penelope, and lastly Luca before shutting the door and calling a thanks to the driver.

It was starting to feel as though the chaos was at long last coming to an end, and Tam was more than ready to wrap up whatever nonsense the first witch created to get on living with his family. With any luck, Penelope's vision would be wrong, and that would be exactly what would happen.

*

"UNCLE TAM! UNCLE TAM!"

The storm of pounding fists on the door to Tam, Eli, and Luca's room at the inn managed to make all of its occupants raise their heads from their pillows. There hadn't been enough rooms for everyone after the princes, Fin, and the physician had settled in before their arrival.

Everyone's bleary eyes gaped dumbly at the door.

Only Tam was quick to launch himself to his feet to see what was wrong, and upon throwing open the door, he discovered his three nephews outside dressed and waiting.

Before he could even ask if something was the matter, all three princes paraded themselves into the room…

And behind them stumbled in Finlay Ashowan. The duke was pale, and visibly weary, but awake.

Tam opened and closed his mouth, then rubbed the back of his neck. His father wouldn't have known about Eli, Luca, or Penelope being in the room, and the boys hadn't had a proper introduction to anyone either.

Moving his hands to his pockets, Tam did his best to stay calm. "Is everything alright? We all are… Uh…"

"I'm decent."

Eli's voice made Fin jump as his head whipped around.

The house witch blinked, then his eyes fell to Eli's round middle where she had just cinched a robe closed. He blanched.

Tam worried his father was about to faint. "Right. So… There are some things we need to talk about—"

"Who's that?"Asher pointed at Luca's face.

Luca had risen from his palette on the floor and was grasping his hands together nervously as his eyes darted to Tam. Penelope—who was sporting some impressive bed head—stomped over from her own bedding to Luca's side and glared down at Asher.

Antony pointed at Penelope though he at least didn't shove his hand close to her face. "And who's that?"

"Um. You see, I… I had kind of wanted to have a discussion with your grandfather alone first."

"He looks like you, Uncle Tam," Charlie had hung back by the door, but his attention hovered on Luca's face.

Tam's attention homed onto the middle prince.

Charlie's eyes were shadowed, and the way he hunched his shoulders told Tam that it would be a long time for the mental trauma of what he went through would fade.

"It's rude to point."

Penelope's cool tone pulled Tam free of his worries for his nephew, especially once he turned and noted how she had crossed her arms over her chest as she stared down Antony, who frowned in response.

"Well it's rude not to introduce yourself," Antony fired back.

"Kids." Tam raised his voice, drawing everyone's attention to him. "Let's try this again. This here…" he gestured toward Luca. "Is my son. I didn't know about him for the past few years, but he will be living with me and is your cousin. His name is Luca."

"What?" Antony burst out.

"Wow!" Asher shouted with an excited hop.

"Hi." Charlie managed to give Luca a shy smile.

Fin reached out and gripped the corner of the dresser beside the door.

"And this is Penelope. Eli and I are adopting her, but she is actually a distant cousin of yours we found in Zinfera." Tam shot his father an apologetic smile before he murmured. "She is Caroline Levin's daughter. She and her husband sadly died."

Fin swallowed.

Meanwhile the boys stared blankly at Penelope who lifted her chin in the air, as though daring them to say anything.

"And Eli is actually a girl?" Asher asked as he referenced their first, albeit rushed, introduction on the ship. Shortly after they had boarded the boat leaving the island of Wittica, a physician had whisked the boys away to ensure they were not injured.

"She is," Tam confirmed with a chuckle. "But she is also my betrothed and your future aunt."

"Oh Gods."

This utterance came from Eli, making Tam turn to her in confusion.

She blushed, and, while looking incredibly sheepish, went on to say, "I forgot that meant I'd be their aunt."

Tam lowered his voice. "Can't back out now."

"No ring on the finger, no guarantee, Ashowan," she reminded with a slight growl.

Tam laughed again then returned his attention to his nephews. "You can each ask me one question. Then I think your grandfather and I should have a private talk."

All three boys raised their hands into the air.

Tam nodded. "Charlie."

"Is Eli Luca's mom?"

"She did not give birth to him, but she will be his mother by law. Antony?"

"How old are they?"

Tam chuckled. Luca had asked Penelope the same kind of question when they first met.

"Penelope is the oldest, around nine years old, and Luca just turned eight. Asher?"

"Um… Grandma always says, says that I shouldn't ask this kind of question. But—uh—Eli looks round. I mean not really, but kind of—"

Tam spared his nephew—and Eli in fairness—from attempting to phrase the question he was clearly trying to formulate.

"Eli and I are having a baby, yes. She'll be due in the spring."

A dry cough dragged Tam's attention back to his father whose mouth hung open.

Tam felt his cheeks burn.
"Alright. Tam, why don't you and your father go into the room the princes were staying in for your chat. That way I can get dressed behind the screen here," Eli suggested delicately.

She, too, was avoiding looking at Fin.

Tam bobbed his head in assent and gestured to the still open door. "Shall we?"
His father reached up and idly scratched his forehead while clearing his throat. "Yeah. Yes. I would very much like a long private talk with you."

The duke ambled out of the room ahead of Tam, allowing him to share a nervous smile with Eli before following after his father, though he paused in the doorway and addressed the children over his shoulder. "All of you… Play nice."

Luca leaned over to peer around Antony and shot Tam a wide eyed stare that screamed Please don't leave me like this.

Tam tried to mouth You'll be okay, but whether or not Luca understood him was unclear.

Guilt ridden, Tam continued to close the door and take his leave.

If only Luca knew how I'd much rather hang back with him and the monsters… Depending on my Da's reaction, I might be meeting Death a little sooner than I thought.