Chapter 46 A Disasterous Discovery
The Follies Of Fate
“Hm.” Kasim Jelani nodded his head slowly, his arms folded over his chest, as he remained relaxed in his seat despite listening to Tam’s adventure from start to finish.
He had even confided in the earth witch the dreams he had been experiencing. There didn’t seem a point in leaving those out.
After taking a moment to silently sift through the long tale, Kasim’s judgeless gaze met with Tam’s. “You have nearly succeeded in taking on the fate of the devil.”
The words hung in the air as heavy as a swollen rain cloud.
“How do I take it all?”
Kasim didn’t look surprised, but he did look sad. “You cannot take a fate like that without a key piece.”
“And what is that piece?” Tam pressed patiently as he carefully removed the pot of stew that would accompany the potato pancakes from the fire and set it on the cooking table.
“It needs to be willingly given to you from the one that originally held it.”
Tam locked eyes with Kasim. He felt his desperation well up in him. “Do I have to tell him what I’m asking for?”
Kasim grimaced as he leaned forward once more. “I do not know, but that is not the fate due to you, Lord Tam.”
“I think it is. Remember, my da was told by the Gods one of his children would help a being dear to them.”
Kasim tutted and shook his head. “You are admirable, but that does mean you are about to greet Death once more.”
Hearing it said aloud made it difficult for Tam to hold Kasim’s somber stare, but he did. He revealed all he felt.
“I see.” Kasim’s voice was soft. “Your father and mother will suffer more than you can ever imagine, but… I do know in the same position, their choice would be the same as your own.”
Tam managed a smile. “Thank you for not trying to talk me out of it.”
Kasim uncrossed his arms to rest his hands on his knees. “Your path is not for me to walk. I only ask you to indulge me in one thing.”
Tam straightened.
The earth witch smiled. “Come with me to the courtyard. I wish to see something with your power.”
Blinking, Tam arched an eyebrow. “I won’t be able to do much; I need to conserve a lot of energy for moving everyone out of the void.”
Kasim raised his hand. “I suspect it won’t cost you much at all.” He then stood and proceeded toward the castle door, his hands clasped behind his back.
Before following, Tam placed a lid on the stew and ensured the bread rolls were somewhere Kraken couldn’t easily access.
His father’s familiar had been in a downright nasty mood ever since he had woken from his nap and realized what Tam had done.
The familiar had barely spent any time with him, though he did often sleep near Eli’s feet as she recovered.
The two witches made their way out to the only span of grass and greenery that had survived the move to the void. With the eerie overhead light of unknown origin and no breeze to rustle the plants, the space felt like an illusion.
While Tam had expected the earth witch to take him into his beloved greenhouse, instead Kasim turned to face Tam in the middle of the courtyard.
“You described feeling a part of the forest in Zinfera when you fell apart in your void. Did you hear the life and earth you joined in these times?”
Tam balked. “Uh. Not really. It was closer to what I’d call torture, and so I was a little preoccupied.”
If Kasim found this detail disturbing, he didn’t relay that in his face.
“When an elemental witch requires nature to shift its existence for their will, it is a conversation. When you force it upon them, it uses more magic,” Kasim explained simply.
“When I speak with my plants—” He crouched down next to a pink cyclamen.
“—I tell them what I need and why. I hear their voices speak to me in response. Your father isn’t as adept at hearing the plants in his home, but he does sense their desires, and they work cohesively to that end.
I am most curious to know what kind of conversation you would have. ”
Tam glanced around at the greenery, suddenly feeling rather bashful. “Are they angry?”
Kasim chuckled. “No. Confused. Intrigued, and a bit worried. They miss the roots of the King’s Forest. They all speak together through their soil,” he explained, his dark eyes falling to the plants fondly.
“Does stone or air speak?” Tam wondered aloud as he stared at the walls of the castle.
“My sister-in-law, Sky, may she rest in peace, said the winds would speak to her. They were her close friends. As for stone…” Kasim trailed off, a thoughtful smile on his face. “I only hear rumblings, but I would not be surprised if you heard a word or two.”
Silence fell between the two men as Tam stared around the beautiful courtyard. He wasn’t entirely certain why, but he was feeling rather nervous. “I suppose I should probably try this sooner than later. Asher is a banshee when he’s hungry.”
Kasim chortled a little but didn’t try to hurry him along.
Closing his eyes, Tam reached out with his abilities.
It was odd having the castle already be a part of the void, similar to the feeling of wearing a tunic inside out. However, it did allow him to sense the plants without the need to dissolve.
As usual, Tam felt the materials of his surroundings, the cool leaves, and rough stone… It was quiet without the wind, so he did not hear any rustling leaves, but their smell remained as earthy as ever.
Hello? he called out in his mind, already doubtful that he would hear anything the way Kasim described.
Quiet continued to reign; there wasn’t even a shudder of life.
“Friend?”
Tam jolted in shock at the whispery voice that responded in the hush.
“New friend?”
“Funny!”
“Strange.”
“Goddess? No. Hi!”
Tam’s heart raced as the voices grew in number. He struggled to think of what to say, and the longer he took to find the words, the louder and greater in number the voices became.
“Look! Look!”
“Magic!”
“Smelly.”
“Quiet human!”
“See you!”
Tam was vaguely aware that despite there being no breeze, the plants had begun to rustle around him in waves.
I hope you aren’t upset, but… I’m the one who made the sky dark, he finally managed to sputter out in his mind, his disbelief bringing a tremor through his fingertips.
There was another pause among the voices.
“Sky dark!”
“Why?”
“Sun soon?”
“No!”
Tam flinched as the rush of voices echoed more loudly than before. The conversation continued to whirl around him, forcing his awareness to back away from it. When he brushed against the stone, he heard a sonorous, low groan add itself to the cacophony of sound.
Snapping himself free of the awareness, Tam found himself panting. The flood of noise had made the very air he breathed feel smothering.
“I take it you heard them?” Kasim asked lightly.
Tam swallowed and nodded.
Kasim smiled knowingly. “It is as I thought. You described your power as everything and nothing. So it stood to reason that everything included everything. You are the ally to all of nature. You are the most powerful witch I have ever met. In a way, you embody your coven’s motto better than any other.
Nature is all; without it we are nothing. ”
Tam recalled reading that phrase on the stained-glass window in the archive room, as the words had needled deeply into his mind…
“I still don’t know that I can recharge my magic without rest, and besides… I’m not sure that being incredibly powerful with the elements and void will be as useful in this particular situation.”
Kasim strode a little closer to Tam. “I don’t know about that. Someone of immense power like yourself often has a great deal of options at their disposal.”
“You mean like threatening covens and people into forgiving me for abducting them and taking away the castle?”
“Mm,” Kasim sounded out with a look of disagreement. “More that you might offer your abilities to help the world in exchange for leniency.”
“Indentured servitude?” Tam asked bitterly.
“Being indentured makes it sound as though you have no choice. You would have a choice, and you may even be able to help the world become better.”
Tam considered this. It was a valid point.
As his mother would say, he needed to play the hand he had been dealt to the best of his ability. And right now, he had quite a few powerful cards in his hand. The only issue was that those cards could cost Tam what he wanted: his peaceful life with Eli and their family.
Then again, perhaps he should focus more on the matter of his imminent death before considering how to handle his legal troubles.
“I see you have much to think about.” Kasim interrupted Tam’s musings while bowing ever so slightly in order to catch his eye.
“However, I do have one final question. Would you mind signing a letter I plan on sending home to Lobahl in the near future, relaying the details of your time with the young pair Bes and Hamil?”
At this, Tam hesitated. “Er… Why?”
Kasim didn’t hide his seriousness. “They should not have left Lobahl. They did so illegally, and as a result have relayed far too much about our kingdom. I am glad it is you who has heard it, and not another, but all the same. This serious offense needs to be reported.”
Tam winced. “I did coerce them a bit into it.”
“Lobahlans are trained not to crack under the kind of mental and verbal traps you used,” Kasim informed him sternly.
“I understand you feel guilt for your part in this, Lord Tamlin, but as Lobahlans they are taught from a young age how severe a crime it is. They should have gone through the proper channels to leave Lobahl.”
Clearing his throat in discomfort, Tam turned toward the castle doorway while rubbing his neck. “If you say so.”