The Ether Witch Volume 2

Tam stared out over the crowd of castle occupants.

He numbly acknowledged their expressions.

Fearful, angry, worried, uncertain…

Oddly, faces he had known his whole life suddenly seemed foreign to him.

"So you'll let us out of the castle, but not back in?" a nobleman called up to Tam as he stood above them on the stairs.

Tam locked eyes with the man, who stiffened as a result. "Yes."

"It won't hurt?" a maid asked next.

"No."

"Are you possessed by the devil?" a knight shouted next.

Tam didn't even bat an eye. "The king has had a misunderstanding, and until it gets sorted, I am keeping Elisara and my children safe."

A flush of murmurs ran through the crowd before fizzing out.

A figure stepped free of the crowd and gazed calmly up at Tam.

Hannah.

Tam felt his stoic mask slip ever so slightly as he looked at his father's friend.

"Tam, you magicked an entire castle and its people for the sake of your own family. That's—"

"No one is hurt. No one will get hurt. But if I didn't do this, people would be harmed. This was the safest option."

"Now, Lord Tam," Lord Les Fuks stepped from the crowd. His cheeks were already bright with discomfort. "It is a mite selfish to inconvenience an entire court and its serving staff."

"Are you fine with the death of my son for the sake of your comfort?" Tam asked coldly.

Les Fuks flinched.

"I saved your own son, Aster, days ago, Lord Les. I hate to have to ask for a favor when I would've thought it was the decent thing to do, but it seems like that is what I have to do right now." Tam put his hands in his pockets to hide their trembling as a result of his weakened state mixing with his anger.

An uncomfortable silence fell back over the castle occupants, and Tam had reached his limit.

He didn't expect anyone to be on his side. He'd given up on that notion. He just hoped they wouldn't be actively against him either. "I will go talk with the princes to see if they'd like to stay or be with the king and queen. By the time I return, those of you that wish to leave, please be here."

Tam turned at his conclusion and began climbing the stairs.

"This is treason!"

Without looking, Tam knew it was the knight who had spoken out earlier.

He didn't bother addressing the comment.

The room was already holding its breath.

He didn't need to add any oil to the fire.

The sound of quick, light footsteps behind him told Tam that Hannah was coming up to follow him. This move most likely helped people feel a bit calmer, as the head of housekeeping behaving as usual must have made him seem less threatening.

"Hey, Tam," he heard Hannah say softly at his side.

He didn't slow his pace as he took a right.

"I understand that you are trying to protect your family, but there is a better way to do that than this."

"I'm sure there was a more elegant way of handling it, but for the sake of expediency, here we are," he informed her in a businesslike tone.

"Tam, you're going to get arrested for this," Hannah pointed out, her steps quickening to keep up.

"They can try to," Tam countered casually.

Hannah paused in their conversation as she let that response sink in. "I can tell you've been through a lot since you've been gone, Tam. I'm glad you've found people you love. People you want to call your family."

"I don't want to, I do. They are my family." Tam ascended the next set of stairs that would take him to the floor where his nephews most likely were. After speaking with them and moving the people who wished to leave he needed to go retrieve Luca and Penelope and take them to Eli.

He didn't like leaving them alone in their room that was locked from the inside, but he hadn't trusted the crowd he'd faced.

"So that's it? You're done with all of us? You won't listen?" Hannah's words were louder than before.

A fresh, sharp bite of anger gripped Tam. "And did you ever listen to me?"

"Tam! Of course we listened to you! I—"

Tam laughed darkly and kept walking.

Hannah didn't remain at his side.

When he reached the chamber his nephews waited in, he found two guards standing at attention. He approached to knock, only to have them take a step closer to each other.

He stared. Did they know what was going on? Would he have to repeat himself?

Sighing, Tam reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose before calling out. "Boys? Mind coming out? I have to talk to you?"

"Lord Tam—" One guard started to say, but the door banged open before he could finish.

Asher bolted out straight to Tam, throwing his arms around his legs. Antony and Charlie followed closely behind.

"What's going on, Uncle Tam?" Asher asked gravely with significantly more maturity that surprised Tam a little.

With a hand resting atop Asher's head, Tam proceeded to explain exactly what was happening to his nephews, and the decision they needed to make.

The guards behind the children paled.

Tam ignored them.

"We want to stay with you, Uncle Tam!" Asher declared.

Tam blinked in shock. "Uh. Really?"

A corner of his heart warmed.

He looked to Antony and Charlie, expecting them to pull Asher free and tell him they couldn't stay with him.

Only the older boys were staring up at him with the same firm resolution.

"Of course, Uncle Tam. We protect people. That's what people with Ashowan blood do," Antony said matter-of-factly.

"You aren't hurting anyone. You're saving people," Charlie agreed with an added shrug.

Tam's lips twitched. His throat suddenly ached with appreciation. But… He knew what he needed to say.

"Boys, your… Your parents are worried about you. You should go to be with them."

"Yeah, well. They made us worry and we just had to wait. They can wait a little, too," Antony pointed out with an uncharacteristic curt tone. "How about we go guard Luca and Penelope?"

Tam clamped his mouth closed.

It wasn't right that his nephews stay with him and not their parents.

And yet… He didn't think he could push away the only blood relatives that didn't bat an eye at staying by his side.

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"Let's go to their room."

"Your Highnesses!" one of the guards blurted. "Please return to the king and queen! This is not a safe place right now!"

Antony turned and looked at the guards, but it was Charlie who spoke first. "Of course it's safe. It's Uncle Tam. He always keeps us safe. You forget yourselves. You are dismissed."

The imperial voice he used was alarming, but evidently hard to argue against, and so the two guards shared uneasy looks with each other.

"Oy! Tam! My favorite godson! Good Gods, I took one quick nap in the council room and suddenly everything has gone to the pigs! What's happening? I'm hearing some very strange things!" Tam looked up to see Harris striding toward him hurriedly.

Tam sensed the guards relax with the duke's presence.

When Harris came to a stop a few feet in front of Tam, he studied him in the white light of the void that poured in through the windows.

Understanding passed through the duke's eyes, followed by stoniness. "I take it things aren't alright?"

Once again, Tam relayed the events, and this time included Eli's precarious state.

The duke's serious expression turned somber. "Ah." He let out a long breath. "I'd like to go see Eli for myself. Mind if I join you as you go pick up the children and go to her?"

Another piece of ice in Tam's heart thawed as he realized Harris wasn't challenging him either, but was staying at his side.

He swallowed with difficulty and nodded.

Asher and Charlie each grasped Tam's hands, and so the small group set off, leaving the guards behind who still looked stuck in indecision.

When they were out of earshot, Harris spoke again, though he still lowered his voice. "Tam, do you have enough power to send more people back through out of the void? You don't exactly look in the best shape."

"I'll get through this. No matter what."

Harris was quiet for a few moments, then said, "You know, I'm sure Kasim Jelani is still here… He might be worth speaking to."

At the mention of the Royal Botanist, Tam frowned in confusion. "Why?"

"He has… a different understanding of magic than the Wittica Coven. He might be able to help you recharge somehow."

Tam considered this. "I doubt he will want to help me. Most of the people here are already saying I'm committing treason."

"Eh. Who hasn't? Your sister commits treason all the time."

"Yeah, but she's the queen."

Harris blew a raspberry in the air. "Whatever. Honestly, though, Tam. From what you said, your family was protecting you. I know you felt that they should have been there with you with Eli, but it sounds like they were holding back the king from acting immediately."

"Eric wasn't budging. And my parents are loyal to the crown, and my sister won't wage a battle against her husband."

Harris snorted.

Tam pressed his lips together. "Okay. She might."

"Tam, if it came down to it? Your parents would choose you over the crown. Especially with something like this. Of that I have no doubt."

A weary breath left Tam. "Maybe," he conceded. "But even if there was the slightest risk? I wasn't taking it."

"Fair enough." Harris turned to look at Tam as they walked. "You're a good dad, Tam."

"And a great uncle!" Asher contributed brightly.

Tam managed a smile down at his youngest nephew, and even noticed that Charlie was squeezing his hand a little more tightly in solidarity as Antony nodded in agreement.

"We'll all come through this, and next thing you know, we'll be making jokes about that time you stole a whole castle over a couple pints. No performance issues on your end, that's for certain! Chin up, lad," Harris clapped a hand on his back with a small chortle. "We just have to sort this all out."

Gratitude filled Tam, and while he didn't say anything, Harris's eyes twinkled in acknowledgment.

"Harris why…" Tam trailed off, uncertain what he was even about to ask.

"I remember being all alone, Tam. I remember being alone against the world, and I remember when I found out I had people at my back. I know how much it's worth. Besides, you're practically my nephew-in-law! Embracing this new family relation with a bit of treason seems perfectly right in my mind."

Tam issued a quiet snort.

"Did the physician say how long it would take for Eli to recover?" Harris asked, his former levity sobering.

"In two weeks we will know."

Harris grimaced. "Two weeks? That's a long time to keep the castle in the void. Plus there is the important matter of food."

Tam nodded. "I know. I'll have to work out the logistics of this soon."

Harris didn't say anything else on the matter as they descended the first set of stairs. However, he then posed another interesting question. "Tam, what do you think everyone is doing outside of the void? I remember you saying the outside moves at a different time…"

Tam's exhaustion was starting to make his steps heavy, but he tried to fathom what chaos was unfolding outside with his parents, sister, and brother-in-law.

"Rallying forces. Camping out. The first witch might even join them so that the moment I reappear they seize me."

"Mm," Harris agreed wordlessly. "Who knows? Maybe your father is diffusing the situation as we speak!"

Tam shook his head. "My father is a force to be reckoned with, but even he has his limits."

The two men and princes touched down on the final set of stairs that lead to the castle entryway where a large group of people milled about, their voices a clamor in the stone space.

No one seemed to notice their arrival, so Harris helped by lifting two fingers to his mouth and letting out a shrill whistle.

The room fell silent.

"The princes have asked to stay in the castle. Everyone who wishes to leave, please move to my left."

Everyone save for two dozen people obeyed. Amongst the group that wished to stay was Hannah, Captain Taylor, Lord Les Fuks, the elderly Lord Dick Fuks, Mage Keith Lee, and a few other familiar faces to Tam. Some knights remained with their captain that he was less familiar with.

Tam took a fortifying breath, and started to lift his left hand, when one of the angry nobleman from earlier called out.

"You will pay for your crimes, Lord Tam! I always knew there was something off about you!"

Tam felt his expression turn to iron.

However, he was spared having to respond by Harris.

"Wellington, you're the dodgy end of a rotten tomato who skims off the top of what your vassals pay in taxes. Shut up."

Tam gaped at Harris.

But the duke waved his hand dismissively while turning his nose dramatically into the air. "Go on Tam, void him. Or de-void him. I don't know. Do your thing."

If it were another, less dire day, Tam would've laughed, but for now, he obliged, and waved his hand.

It took significantly more effort than the last time he had shoved a group of people through the void, and this time, he felt a strong headache thrum against his skull and his gut roil. He almost couldn't push them out the other side. Clenching his teeth, he gave off a hiss, and shoved with all his might.

They were out.

And he was suddenly very light headed.

"Ooh, now. I don't recommend fainting," Harris murmured. "The ones who stayed behind might not be here to support you. So how about, I just throw my arm around you here, and I go see about having Kasim meeting you up in the room Luca and Penelope are in, hm? I'm quite certain that void or not, Kasim is still in his greenhouse."

Tam grunted in assent, and allowed the duke to half carry him as he stumbled drunkenly away from the eerily empty castle entryway.

His thoughts were becoming sluggish and disjointed, but he allowed himself to relax just a fraction onto Harris.

Just until he could stand on his own again.

Then he would check on the children.