Chapter 5
A Weigh-In from the Wisers
T am and Eli sat at the farther end of the council room table that, as Eric’s coronation neared, had grown more crowded.
At the head sat King Norman Reyes, the wise king of Daxaria, who had streaks of brown along his temples; his pointed beard looked much the same it had nearly thirty years ago, save for its lack of color. Age spots had appeared around his cheeks in the past five years, and his hands had become whorled, but the brightness in his hazel eyes still spoke of his quick mind.
On the king’s left sat his assistant, Mr. Kevin Howard. The man was incredibly competent, but he had a distaste for the unpredictable and chaotic parts of life. Meaning that he had a special sort of relationship with the current duke of the Ashowan family—Finlay, the house witch—since the duke had a highly developed skill set when it came to stirring up all kinds of unprecedented occurrences.
Kevin Howard, now in his older years, had thinning white hair that still waved in places much as it had in his younger years. His dark-blue eyes remained sharp and intelligent, but were placed behind a pair of round, gold spectacles he wore because his vision had begun to blur with age.
On the king’s right sat Finlay Ashowan. The duke was just past his mid-fifties and yet looked forty at most. This was a side effect of the curse his mother, a healing witch, had cast long ago to bring him back to life—the steep cost of such a spell being both her life and Finlay’s vastly expanded lifespan. The curse element being that it was unspoken but widely known that Fin would outlive his beloved wife, and even possibly his own children. Fin’s hair was still the same brilliant red it had always been, save for the white touching his temples, and his slanted almond eyes remained their electrifying light blue.
Beside the duke sat Captain Taylor of the Daxarian military, a man with a bushy salt-and-pepper beard. What hair remained on his dome-shaped head was a mere quarter inch long. He was a large man, and as he had aged, his muscles had given way to softness; talk of his retirement was growing more and more prevalent. While a bit socially clumsy, the soldier had a knack for rallying his men, and he also held a longtime friendship with Duke Finlay Ashowan, as once upon a time he had been sent to the house witch’s kitchen to serve as an aide as punishment for his abysmal behavior.
Beside the king’s assistant sat the prince, Eric Reyes, who looked as serious as ever, his arms folded as he sat back in his seat listening to the proceedings, his short dirty-blond hair was tidy and his beard cropped short. He had grown strong and hearty since his time in Troivack seven years ago. If anything, the soon-to-be king had only trained harder, thanks to his wife being overly enthusiastic with the sword.
Beside the prince was his friend and temporary assistant, Marquis Morgan Linsey, a nobleman in his thirties with light-brown hair, a lean face with freckles, and pale-brown eyes.
Finally, there was the visiting leader of the Coven of Wittica, Louise Riddel, a bespectacled woman in her early fifties with chestnut-brown hair and glinting green eyes. She had come into her position three years prior. She had a kindly round face, but the tightness with which she pinned her hair hinted at a disposition that might be a bit fierce.
“Lord Tamlin, thank you for joining us,” the king called out regally.
Tam bowed his head. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
He and Eli sat side by side at the farthest end of the table, away from the rest of the council.
“The reason we summoned you today is to try to make some headway with the coven’s concerns regarding you and Her Highness Princess Katarina taking over positions of leadership and power, when doing so is outside the lifestyle that witches should be following, according to the will of the Goddess.”
Tam nodded in understanding.
“It has been decided that Lady Katarina will no longer be a member of the Coven of Wittica after her coronation at the end of this month,” Louise Riddel informed Tam, her tone dignified and ambiguous about any personal feelings she might have on the matter.
Tam straightened in his seat and frowned. “Why is my sister not here when this decision is being made?”
“She was,” Eric replied calmly, drawing his brother-in-law’s eyes to him. “She left shortly before you arrived due to some… issue… with the princes.”
The council became momentarily awkward. Everyone looked pointedly around the room with its many bookshelves and tapestries.
Tam couldn’t help but briefly speculate what his nephews’ new source of mischief was. Surprisingly, it couldn’t have involved anything happening with the banners in the front hall—he would have seen them.
“So Her Highness agrees to no longer be a part of the coven?” Tam continued after taking a quick breath and dragging his mind away from his sister’s children.
“Yes. Of course, the princes are not expected to forgo their education from the coven should they prove to have abilities themselves. However, come the time of abdication and the naming of an heir, choosing the child without magic may become the precedent henceforth. At this time, however, the coven still holds the position that should any one of the three princes prove to lack any magical ability, by default he should be the next king,” Louise explained. “If two of them do not have magic, the eldest will resume the throne.”
“Are you wanting me to relinquish my place in the coven as well then?” Tam guessed. In all honesty, he had never felt all that attached to technically belonging to the coven. The only issue was that it subsequently brought up another important matter.
“Given that the Ashowan duchy gained its title in part thanks to its service to both the coven and the crown, your dismissal as a member of the coven was not our first inclination.” Louise paused and glanced at Finlay Ashowan, whose stony expression warned Tam that whatever was coming next would not be good.
“However, you have not disclosed what your own magical abilities are, and while we understand that they are traumatic in nature, we do insist that you disclose any details you have about them, especially given the fact that you would be acting as a diplomat between the coven and the crown.”
Tam felt an iciness twist his gut. His teeth clenched, and it was a brutal battle within himself to look and sound cordial.
“I understand that I would be in a position of great importance, taking part in the affairs of both the coven and the court here in Austice. However, I don’t use my magic. Why does it need to be disclosed?”
“For the sake of the sensitive information you will be tasked with, but also for the safety of your king and fellow witches.” Louise Riddel didn’t look hateful or suspicious when she answered Tam, but she didn’t look sympathetic either.
Tam felt his magic stir in his chest, and a new inner conflict started to tear at him.
“And if I refuse…?”
The tension in the air mounted, and Tam could sense Eli stiffening at his side.
Louise Riddel’s thin lips pursed. “Then I am afraid we cannot condone you acting as the next diplomat of the coven. Sadly, this has other implications as well.” The coven leader looked to the king, who was regarding Tam with an equally somber expression.
“Some council members are arguing that the dukedom should cease to exist after your father retires.”
Tam’s right hand curled under the table as potent anger surged forward. It was in no way helping his battle against the magical power already tugging painfully at the center of his chest.
“I have worked tirelessly for the dukedom since my father received the title. I have carried out all requests. Without his presence I’ve been a part of several negotiations involved with the Coven of Wittica. My preference not to reveal my abilities has never been an issue before. Why is it a problem now? Have my contributions and work not been satisfactory?” Tam’s gaze bored into the coven leader’s face.
The lines around Louise’s eyes tightened as the air around Tamlin Ashowan took on a darker edge. “That is because up until your assumption of the title, your father would accept responsibility should anything happen. Once you are named duke and diplomat, however, that is no longer the case. Your abilities will be kept private between those who need to validate that you are not only in control of your magic, but that it does not pose a threat should something like what happened to Her Highness Katarina Reyes in Troivack happen to you.”
An elite knight in the Troivackian court had attacked Katarina by throwing the potent drug known as Witch’s Brew into her face, drugging her into a state where she lost control of her abilities.
Tam didn’t bat an eye at this argument. “My sister had disclosed her powers, and when the attack happened no one knew what to do.”
“But there was some understanding. Luckily, your father was able to intervene back then. But we don’t know if your powers are so great that even Duke Finlay Ashowan cannot combat them.”
“I’m not a threat.” Tam’s voice was hoarse. His skin prickled as he resisted the magic continuing to rise in his being.
He needed to leave. Immediately.
“Wouldn’t Lord Tam be stripped of all titles by that logic?”
Everyone in the room was startled, as the interruption had come from none other than Eli.
With everyone still momentarily stunned, she bowed her head and continued. “You spoke about stripping his title of duke. Would his mother’s former viscount house also be stripped?”
“That position was not specifically created to also bear the responsibilities to the Coven of Wittica, so no. He would still hold Viscount House Jenoure,” Norman assured while eyeing Eli with a little more interest.
Fortunately, Eli’s interruption had given Tam enough time to get a hold of himself. “Is this condition the only way I can inherit the dukedom? Or is there something else the coven would accept?” He didn’t bother hiding his displeasure.
Giving a slight bow of her head, Louise responded, “At this time, that is the official and firm position of the coven.”
Inside his skull, Tam’s magic began an unholy buzzing as he sifted through any excuses he could use to get out of the meeting. Then the king spoke.
“There is another matter that we were hoping to discuss with you today, Lord Tam.”
Tam forced himself to look at the ruler, and instantly felt his furious emotions ever so slightly soothed in the face of the man’s gentle eyes.
Norman had always treated Tam kindly, and did his best to speak with him privately rather than in a group setting. It was a consideration that Tam had always appreciated, and he admired how observant and patient the king was.
“The Zinferan emperor has fallen silent.”
Tam knew without looking that Eli had turned pale.
“He has been in poor health for years, and has outlived what all his physicians predicted. This means his court has had plenty of time to become divided. There is the expectation that a new ruler will soon be named, and there is even talk of the capital moving.” The king stared at everyone grimly. “Zinfera has long been our ally, but this power struggle suggests great change. What is even more troubling is that his concubines are engaging in horrific acts, and, unfortunately, we do not have the grounds to officially intervene without risking a war. Sadly, the emperor is too proud, and his mind too compromised from his sickness, to listen to reason. However… we now have an excellent reason to become involved before there are any developments that may sour our dealings with them, with the help of Troivack.”
Tam was relatively certain Eli had stopped breathing.
“Ancient beasts not seen since the first witch loosed them have been spotted in Zinfera. Allegedly, there is a dragon.” Norman’s gaze subtly moved from Tam to Eli, then to Fin.
Tam turned to his father, who gave his son an unreadable glance before returning his attention to the king.
“We need someone to investigate and gather proof of the dragon’s existence, and to do so quietly.”
With growing dread, Tam realized where the discussion was going.
“Lord Tam, Eli…” Eric started softly. “I have proposed that the two of you be the ones to gather the evidence we need while learning more details about what exactly is happening in Zinfera between the higher ranked nobility. Duke Finlay is too recognizable and would be discovered quickly, as he has traveled several times to Zinfera’s court. Tam, with your black hair and the shape of your eyes, you won’t be as noticeable. You, of course, will have assistance from Lord Jiho Ryu, your father’s friend.”
“Why does Eli need to return? Wasn’t sh— he promised that he’d never have to return?” Tam demanded while his assistant’s shoulders curled forward.
“Thank you for bringing that up, Lord Tam,” Louise Riddel interjected.
Tam’s gaze slid slowly to the woman. He was starting to feel a deeper dislike toward the coven leader.
“Your new assistant, much like yourself, has requested that he never has to share what his magical ability is.”
“So? He doesn’t hold a position of power,” Tam bit back sharply.
“It makes acquiring Daxarian citizenship difficult, because he has also refused to share his parentage.”
“He worked alongside the Troivackian king with no issue in the past seven years. Again, why does it suddenly matter now?”
“He was little more than a prisoner as they investigated the former Duke Sebastian Icarus’s dealings,” Louise Riddel supplied.
“Eli was captured, enslaved, threatened, Gods know what else, and then proceeded to help in the investigation voluntarily, while also serving the king without having any real freedom, and you think this is somehow his fault and needs to be punished?” Tam’s voice had risen and gained a deadly edge.
Everyone leaned back in their seats.
Even rarer than Eli talking was Tam speaking loudly to anyone who wasn’t his sister.
“Tell me, who here has fallen off a horse headfirst recently?” he continued acidly.
“Part of the process to complete his citizenship is that he serves as an assistant,” Eric interjected calmly. “That means he needs to go with you, Lord Tam. We are also hoping he will be able to provide insight and information that will help you during your time in Zinfera. Neither of you will be expected to make a formal announcement of your arrival or attend court.”
Tam said nothing.
He could tell this wasn’t a request.
So he looked at Eli—and almost flinched.
She was staring at the prince, her eyes filled with betrayal, and hurt.
Eric at least had the decency to look apologetic toward his old friend.
Furious, Tam lowered his gaze.
He could refuse to take on this task, but that would work against his case to remain as the heir to the dukedom—especially as the new coven leader seemed determined to find out what his magic was, one way or another.
No one in the council room seemed to feel particularly good about the way things were going. Judging by the look on the king’s face, he was debating whether he should press the matter or change the subject, but he was spared a decision when the door slammed open amid the loud objections of the guards.
Everyone’s heads whipped around to see…
Lord Dick Fuks. The former chief of Daxaria’s military. The man was legendarily mad as he was brilliant.
He stood with his arms straight out as though presenting himself, in his full one hundred years of wrinkly glory…
Completely nude.
“Fear not, Your Majesty! I’m here for the council meeting!”
Everyone truly was at a loss for words.
At least they were momentarily distracted from the tense discussion when faced with the legendary Lord Dick Fuks and his low-hanging fruit basket.