Chapter 46 A Disasterous Discovery #2
The two men gradually meandered their way back into the castle.
Tam stowed his hands in his pockets as they walked.
In his head, he turned over his new discoveries: that he could interact with the elements the same way elemental witches could, and that making requests as opposed to muscling the elements into doing what he wanted would consume less power.
A new question occurred to him.
“Why could I not hear the voices of the plants before? Wouldn’t I have felt some pull from the elements earlier in my life?”
Kasim allowed his eyes to drift upward pensively.
“I cannot know for certain, but my guess would be that you hid from your power for years. You are only now becoming acquainted with it. As all witches are advised, you would need to spend time with your element, questioning what it means to you.” Kasim looked at Tam.
“What does everything and nothing mean to you?”
Tam gave a wry half smile. “Pretty sure the answer is in the question.”
The earth witch continued staring at Tam expectantly. His response was evidently lacking.
Letting out a sigh as they rounded the corner to the kitchens, Tam gave the question a bit more consideration.
“Everything feels overwhelming. And loud. I’m not someone who really enjoys excess. I like my privacy and space. So I guess I find nothing… freeing.”
“Well, this power is rooted in who you are as a person, Lord Tam. So perhaps ask yourself: Is it possible to find joy in a life, or world, of everything? Is it possible there is an everything place you simply haven’t found to center yourself in?”
A deprecating laugh escaped Tam’s mouth. “I’ve never been in the right place.”
“Says who?”
At this, Tam opened his mouth and closed it, then cleared his throat. “It’s no secret that I’m the black sheep of the family. Even my sister and parents have told me to change, or try to be different.”
“Is it that they wanted you to be different, or that they wanted you to feel happy and to no longer fear yourself?”
At this, Tam couldn’t quite bring himself to answer. He considered all the times his parents had encouraged him to meet people, or to have friends. To talk to them about what was happening, or to stay a little longer for a family meal…
“However you leave this world, Lord Tam, I do wish that you leave it knowing you have always had a very important place here. And to see that it is possible to find a balance between answering a calling and being happy.”
Tam felt emotion declare war on his throat, so it took him a little longer than normal to form his next words. “Thank you… Kasim. Can I ask why you never joined the king’s inner council? Even Hamil and Bes indicated you were incredibly important back in Lobahl.”
Kasim’s reaction to this reminder of his past was a mix of a smile and a grimace.
“I imagine you will understand me better than most, Lord Tam, when I say that at home, bureaucracy got in the way of what I wanted to do. Here? I tend to my plants. I see my family. I have the funds to do what I please. I try whatever I wish to try with my work. Here in Daxaria is where I found my own freedom.”
“Do you agree with what the covens are trying to do in separating from the monarchy? I heard Lobahl isn’t that different in how its government is set up. Hamil and Bes mentioned sects?”
Kasim shot Tam a rather dry look that indicated he wasn’t going to be as easy to prod answers out of as the two young runaways had been, which made Tam grin roguishly and give a boyish shrug.
Still, Kasim did answer the initial question.
“It’s not a bad idea to have a safe place for witches to train and to examine where their talents would best settle.
However, I think the coven’s approach of severing their connection with the kingdoms and the people has been sloppy and has caused fearmongering and discrimination.
My understanding is that the first witch is in a hurry to see this through. ”
Tam turned over this opinion in his mind, then went on to say, “I was surprised at how cavalier both Bes and Hamil were at the mention of the first witch and the devil. It sounded like the children of the Gods lived among the Lobahlans for a long time.”
Kasim did not comment.
By this time, they had reached the kitchen, and unsurprisingly, the two men found that it was occupied by none other than the three princes and Luca.
All of them were sniffing the air and watching the pot of stew with great interest. Asher was on his knees on one of the stools leaning over the table, while Antony was at his side already hoisting the lid off the pot.
Luca and Charlie stood a short ways off, watching nervously.
“I leave here for a moment, and you raccoons are already prepared to eat everyone’s meal!”
Asher leapt out of his seat as Antony set the lid down with a clatter, and both Luca and Charlie whirled around with wide, nervous eyes. The anxiety melted from their faces, however, when they noted the way Tam grinned at them.
Luca came forward and threw his arms around his father’s waist.
Tam’s hand came down and ruffled Luca’s silky black mop. “Where’s Penelope?”
“With Eli,” Luca answered before releasing Tam and stepping back.
Tam nodded and made his way over to where the bowls and plates were kept. “Alright, I need the fastest boys I know to tell everyone dinner is ready. Which of you do you think will tell the most people?”
“Me!” shouted Antony, puffing his chest out. “I’m the oldest!”
“Not anymore!” Asher shrieked in delight. “Luca’s older!”
Luca blushed and inched closer to Tam. “I-it’s fine, I want to stay here and help my dad.”
Asher and Antony shrugged and bolted from the kitchen.
Tam regarded Charlie expectantly, but when the boy didn’t take off like his brothers, he felt his good-natured expression dim. “Charlie, would you like to help Luca and me divvy up dinner?”
The prince nodded.
Tam shared a knowing look with Kasim, who quietly made his way over to the bread box and distributed the rolls.
Tam wished he could do more to help Charlie through whatever darkness he was still struggling against following his time with the coven, but unfortunately…
Tam didn’t think he had much time left to help anyone.