The Ether Witch

Jumping down from the carriage, Tam gave a cursory glance up and down the street to ensure there really was no one around.

He was pleased to see that all that greeted him were shadows from the walled yards with their trees fluttering in the nighttime wind.

“I’ll be here unless someone comes and asks questions. Then I’ll go two streets down to the left and wait there,” Eli whispered from the driver’s seat.

Tam gave her a short nod of his head while avoiding looking directly at her.

He needed to focus, and any glimpse of her in that moment given what had happened only a little earlier, would have him bumbling around in a haze of drunken happiness.

Moving swiftly along the wall on his left, Tam made his way to the corner, paused and listened, then risked a quick glance around the bend to see the guards standing a short way down in front of Lord Guk’s doors.

Tam eyed the branches of the cherry tree that extended over the stone wall, then took five measured steps back… Followed by another three… Then one step forward before turning to the stone wall, jumping, grasping its top, and hoisting himself up and over.

He landed where he had hoped to: right behind the golden swan in the garden.

Staying in a crouch behind the statue, he waited to make sure there were no sounds of alarm.

Then he waited even longer just in case someone glimpsed him and was still watching.

Tam continued to stay low and crept forward under the servant’s walkway, the sounds of the night all he could hear…

Eventually he reached the very same corner he and Eli had stood at barely a week ago.

It was a fantastic vantage point, and so, Tam slowly came to stand, while continuing to observe around himself.

All he needed to do was get into Lord Guk’s room, then once he knew which was his, the next time he came, all he’d have to do would be to break into that balcony.

No one was in the garden, and that made perfect sense. Lord Guk was supposed to be out with Lord Yangban, Jeong, and Bong at a local tavern or brothel, which meant they wouldn’t return for a long time, so most likely the staff would be resting before preparing late night food and libations.

Taking a left into the nearest darkened hallway, Tam stopped after five steps as soon as the scent of cooked fish and spices overcame his senses.

This must lead back to the kitchen. Which means there should be a hall to lead to the dining room. Too risky… If only I’d had more time at the party to learn the layout… Bong and Jeong couldn’t even see much as they were reluctant to leave Eli…

The thought of her name brought a smile to Tam’s face as he rounded back toward the exit.

Though upon noticing this he gave his head a firm shake.

No. He could be happy later.

He paused at the doorway to the courtyard, again checking the garden surroundings, and proceeded to walk along the wall, though he lowered his head in a subservient manner in case anyone glimpsed him from afar, while trying to keep track of his surroundings out of his peripheral vision…

Let’s see… A house this size… and the best view would undoubtedly be on the south side toward the sea…

Tam lamented that from this guess, he’d have to cover more distance while trying not to be noticed.

He had guessed that Lord Guk would’ve placed his quarters on the north side as someone who tended toward nightly excursions. It stood to reason that someone who went to bed late, rose late, and would want to avoid being awoken by the sun and to have better control over the temperature of their room, but Lord Guk proved to prize the luxury of the view over his own comfort…

Well, while indulgent, he was still a competent man. If he knew to appreciate the view, then he could put his discomfort aside.

Tam managed to find a doorway that led to an unlit hall, and he was relatively certain he spotted a set of stairs on the far end.

Slipping into the shadows, he continued padding farther into the house, his ears honed for any small noise that could signal someone coming.

Once he got to the end of the hall, and found that he had successfully located the stairs, Tam started his careful climb up, tentatively testing each stair for squeaks and creaks that could pierce the silence and reveal his presence.

It took him far longer than he would’ve liked, but it turned out the stairwell he used was the servants in a bad state of disrepair. The second step had a nasty squawk, and the fourth and fifth sounded like they were about to collapse… Following that, the seventh had a small whine, and the eleventh, while it didn’t make a sound, had a loose nail popping up.

The man should spend a fraction of his decorating costs and get this death trap sorted. Tam grumbled in his mind upon reaching the top of the stairs.

However, he didn’t get to think about this for long as voices sounded out just a few doors down from where Tam stood.

Quickly, Tam reached for the first door across from the stairway, but found it was locked.

Then the second door was also locked.

Turning back around, Tam risked going closer to the voices to reach the next door, but he was rewarded and relieved to find not only was it open, but dark and empty as well.

Which was perfect, because no sooner had he dropped down behind the wooden paneling, when the glow of a lantern moving past the papered door appeared coming from another room, and drifted by as two maids talked amongst themselves about how they hoped they wouldn’t have too much to clean up in the morning after Lord Guk brought back some new party with him…

Tam kept himself pressed against the solid wood of the wall, and waited until he heard the Gods awful stairs herald the descent of the two maids.

Letting out a steadying breath, Tam then took stock of the room he found himself in.

It looked to be a guest room.

But not just any guest room…

He eyed the lavish furniture and wall hangings. The gold goblet by the bed that had a purple silk coverlet…

Then he spotted the desk that sat right in the middle of the room.

Glancing once more over his shoulder to make sure he didn’t see or hear anyone nearby, he made his way over to the desk, and took in the start of the letter that rested there in the faint light from outside…

Your Highness,

Junya remains as we hoped. Busy, and mostly unconcerned by the increase of activity in the desert…

Tam’s heart bounced.

He was in Lord Yangban’s room.

Tam’s hands flew to the stack of letters, and immediately began reading through them while also grateful to the white moonlight that came in through the window.

At first, he intended to glance through them looking for any specific mention of incriminating actions.

But given the regular dates of many of the letters, there were some missing.

Tam scoffed. Of course they were hidden… At least he had learned where they should be hidden thanks to his mother.

He started knocking under the desk, excitement and intrigue heightening the tension with his every breath.

There wasn’t a secret compartment there…

He eyed an ornately carved box with a golden latch and hinges sitting atop a dresser, and while casting another cautious glance at the door, he stood and plucked it up.

It turned out to be an easy puzzle box that Tam figured out to open by pressing the eyes of the two panthers on either side of its length, releasing the bottom latch in the shallow, narrow compartment which, sure enough, revealed the rest of the letters.

Dropping back down, to the patch of moonlight, Tam resumed reading, only he found so much more than he was ready for…

A soft laugh of disbelief escaped his lips as he read one particular missive that had clearly been read and reread multiple times… But as Tam reached the bottom of the page, his face paled, and his gut churned.

There was a very big problem…

And he needed to alert his family in Daxaria as soon as possible.

***

Tam hadn’t explained anything to Eli when he had climbed into the carriage. Nor had he said anything at all other than,

“We need to get back, and we need to have a meeting with Jeong and Bong as soon as possible.”

He could tell that she had wanted to press the matter but there was an air of panic and grave worry Tam knew he must have been revealing that stopped her from doing so.

Even once they had returned and Eli had changed into a dress just in case Haewon had woken up, she didn’t ask any questions as she had waited at Tam’s side while seated at the dining table.

It was late by the time Bong and Jeong stumbled in. Tam momentarily worried they were too drunk to talk to, but it was too important to hold off.

“Mr. Vooooolll,” Jeong whispered in a near whine. “Can we have snacks for this?”

Tam didn’t say anything as he waited for Bong to quiet down, as he was emitting a prolonged, labored grunt as he exerted the effort to sit down at the table.

“Did everything go *hic* as planned?” Bong asked, his eyes fluttering.

“It did, but I learned something that makes this entire venture significantly more dangerous. We might have to return to Daxaria on the next boat out.”

Eli sat upright, her eyes blinking wide.

“The first witch has not only escaped Troivack with the help of concubine Soo Hebin, but she is now here in Zinfera.”

The stunned silence dragged on, and no one could bring themselves to say a word.

“I don’t know that I can trust the coven here either– there was mention that the first witch may have helped Soo Hebin earn their loyalty.”

Tam felt Eli recoil at his side, the fear in the air around her palpable.

Bong cleared his throat and struggled to enunciate his words. “How… Did you learn this?”

“I found Lord Yangban’s letters between himself and the concubine, but that isn’t the only thing I discovered.”

Jeong leaned forward, his red face filled with wild panic. “What more could there be? That’s awful enough!”

Tam swallowed. “While we wondered if it were just rumors… It sounds as though there really is a dragon here in Zinfera. And Soo Hebin knows where it is because the first witch told her.”

No one could speak under the crushing weight of what seemed like a sound win for the evil woman who was aiming to take over Zinfera…

Bong leaned forward, resting his arms on the table, his glassy eyes somber.

“Alright… Here *hic* is the plan. Tomorrow. You… And you, dear… dear Eli. Get on a boat, and go to Daxaria. Tell them… What is happening. We will… Write about everything and sign our official names so there is proof for your king. Jeong… And I… Will finish crippling Lord Guk best we can, and then return to our father. He *hic* Godsdamnhiccups–” Bong muttered to himself before continuing. “Will contact… the coven. If they lie about things… Or if the coven is divided in their alliance, he will… figure it out.”

Tam nodded. That plan made the most sense.

Especially if the first witch had, like Lord Kim, happened to hear about the rumors about Tam’s incident with the pirates that led to the rumors starting about him being the devil…

If he was in danger, Eli and Luca were also in danger, and he would not take any risks with their safety.

“I’ll wake Haewon and let her know,” Eli said, bowing her head. “Then, my lord, I’ll join you in our room to start packing.”

Tam gave her a nod of affirmation, and the two of them stood.

Jeong and Bong struggled to do the same, and at one point Bong fell onto his back and couldn’t get up– much like a turtle, and so Tam and Jeong stayed behind to try and help him to his feet, but deemed it a thankless task when they heard the first snores echo from the man.

“The world might as well be ending and he will still sleep through it,” Tam murmured while setting Bong’s arm down by his side.

“Aah.” Jeong, hearing Tam’s lament, waved his hand dismissively. “Better to be rested than stressed as you die.”

Tam blinked at Jeong who blinked back in response, and with a sigh that did bring with it a begrudging smile Jeong clapped a hand on Tam’ shoulder.

“You know… I will miss you two. Once this is all over, you should move back to Zinfera,” Jeong lamented.

“Ah, I would, but my nephews would kill me.”

“They sound wonderful,” Jeong said sincerely. “I’m sure they’ll love Luca.”

Tam smiled genuinely. That was true.

At the very least, while he was gravely concerned about everything he had learned, he was looking forward to seeing Antony, Charlie, and Asher again.

With another wave, Jeong took his leave, and Tam managed to quietly make his way back down the hall toward his own room to start packing.

Though in the cool, silence of the night, uneasiness was settling into Tam’s mind… And there was something else in the air that made him think that things may not go quite as smoothly as Bong planned.

But without any idea of what else could be done, Tam pressed on with the necessary tasks to prepare to leave Zinfera in order to call for help as there didn’t seem like there was anyone they could fully trust when the stakes were as high as the heavens themselves.