The Iron Butterfly (15 page)

“How do you want me to do that?” I asked.

“Pretend to be a Denai.”

“You want me to lie? I look nothing like you!” I scoffed loudly. Almost too loud, since Lorna winced and looked around. My head spun at what she wanted me to do. I was unsure about this; I didn’t want to deceive anyone. I was already an outcast as it was. And how was I to fit in? All of the Denai were beautiful, some more than others, but I knew that I fell short in that category. By my looks alone, no one would believe I was a Denai.

“Yes, do what you must, but hide what you are from the others.”

“But what am I? How can I pretend to be a Denai, if I’m not? How do you expect me to live this lie and attend classes and not participate? I don’t want to hurt anyone any more than you do. In fact, I would take it all back if I could.”

“I’m sure you will figure a way to practice, without harming anyone?” She looked at me slowly. Her eyes trying to convey what she couldn’t voice.

My head was reeling with hidden meanings and implications. “But you heard the rest of the Adepts, I’ve been forbidden, without their consent.”

Adept Lorna’s eyes softened and she whispered as if to herself. “Exactly, without their consent; I’m sure there is someone you know that is crazy enough about you to help you, if you let him. Just don’t let the others know. But you need to practice.”

“NO!”

Lorna’s eyes blinked at me in surprise. “What do you mean, no?” She hadn’t expected me to argue with her.

“Exactly that. No! I refuse to use Joss that way. I will find another alternative.” I was beginning to hate myself.

“Fine, do whatever you want. I was only trying to help you,” she snapped.

“No, I think you are trying to use me too. And I won’t have it.” I stormed off. Not even caring where I was headed as long as it was away from her, away from everyone. It was too much; the politics, the schemes, the lies.

I wandered for hours until I ended up back at my room. I was actually sad to have to say goodbye to it. And even though I would be transferred to what would be my third room since my stay at the Citadel, I had felt the most at home here, with Avina’s bright chatter to break up the quiet depression I could send myself into if I wasn’t careful.

I moved to the closet and removed my few belongings and felt a moment of alarm as I realized I didn’t know where the gift I bought for Berry went after the attack.

My hands flew to my pockets and found them bare. I conjured a picture of it lying in the street being trampled by the horses and I felt my heart plummet. I slowly closed the closet door holding my possessions when I caught something sitting on my pillow. On closer inspection it was the satchel I had thought lost. Oh, Avina! Thank the stars; she must have picked it up.

Forrest announced his arrival with a quick rap on my door. Depositing the pouch gently in the basket on top of the rest of my belongings, I paused quickly and scribbled a note to Avina, explaining that I was being moved into the student wings and not to worry that I hadn’t disappeared. I was worried she would return to see a barren room and fear the worst had happened to me. Maybe it would have been better if I hadn’t made it out alive. Quickly I pushed those negative thoughts aside.

Grabbing the basket of my belongings, I carried it out the hallway and followed Forrest to my new room.

Since my duties never included housekeeping, I never ventured into the housing wing for fear of running into Syrani, but I was taken aback immediately by the difference. The servant’s halls were simple and useful in their placement. Nothing extravagant was needed. As soon as I entered the student’s wing, I noticed the opulence of a runner lining the hall, adding a feeling of warmth to the stone floor.

Forrest stopped at an end room and opened the large wooden door into what I first thought was another meeting room because of the vastness of it, but then on closer inspection realized it was to be my room.

The room was huge with high vaulted ceilings, and being that my room was the end of the hall it was the largest. Windows filled my room with light and looked out onto the quiet rolling meadows of the gardens and horse’s field. I could hear running water from the fountain below and the sound was soothing. The room had the largest bed I had ever seen, covered with a down comforter in a soft, pale blue color with a sturdy, dark trunk at the end of the bed. The walls had simple, pale green paisley wallpaper. A sturdy, wooden desk and bookshelf aligned one wall while a fireplace with a plush, blue reading chair was on the other. The window seats were adorned with pale yellow pillows. A small table and chairs were tucked away on one side with rugs covering the floors and a large armoire completed the room.

I was frozen in awe, and had to look at Forrest to make sure he had taken me to the right room. It wasn’t just a room; it was living quarters. Of course, I shook my head in realization, this is where I would live, study, and eat for the next few years. The Adepts would want to make their students as comfortable as possible. The room wasn’t overly extravagant, just large. And since there were so few students, I wouldn’t even have to share. I thanked Forrest again as he left, bobbing his head, and I turned the big key in the lock. I put my belongings in the trunk and headed toward the window seat.

The other students would be heading for a noon meal but I decided to skip the meal altogether. It would be too awkward with too many questions and I wasn’t ready to face Joss. It was too soon to go from serving breakfast to having servants. Letting everything from the past couple of days sink in, I stared out the window at the countryside and wished to be wholly human again.

Chapter 11

When my growling stomach finally forced me out of my rooms, I darted to the kitchen to grab some food, thankful that it was still the weekend and classes would resume tomorrow. So the place was deserted, almost. Taking a peek into the kitchen, I saw Donn tending the fires and laying out the bread to rise for tomorrow. Breathing a sigh of relief, I entered and sat at the kitchen table and waited for him to notice me.

“Ahh, so the prodigal has returned.” He smiled and pushed a tray of leftover meat and cheese toward me with a loaf of rye bread. Cutting the bread in half, I put a couple slices of ham and cheese between the bread and took a bite. “Sorry, Donn, things have been kind of weird lately,” I said, sucking my fingers dry of the sweet ham’s juices.

“So I heard. Believe me, Tearsa has been on the rampage since it happened.” He turned his back to me and pulled out a cup and pitcher with yellow-pink liquid. “Try this; it’s my new recipe. He poured me a cup and my eyes went huge at the blend of sweet and sour taste. I coughed a little in surprise. Pounding my back with his meat cleaver of a hand, he asked, “Too much?”

“No, it’s perfect,” I replied to his obvious delight. “Why is Tearsa upset?”

“Well, she’s in a quandary; you went from kitchen help to permanent guest overnight. Your status has changed. She is in charge of making sure you have everything you need, but at the same time she resents it. “

“I’m still the same ol’ Thalia.”

“Yeah, but now you’ll be making new friends and ordering us around instead; almost like you turned traitor.” This was the most that Donn had ever said to me, but one remark did sink in.

“I’m not a traitor!” I took my plate over to the wash bin and started washing it.

“No, but you will be so busy with your new life that you will forget your old friends.” He brought over a towel and handed it to me to dry off my dish. “Just don’t forget about us.”

“Never, Donn. I will be here many nights sneaking food out of your pantry.” As I said it, I reached my hand to the bowl of fruit on the table as he grabbed a spoon and playfully whacked the back of my hand.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.” Donn studied me and frowned. “I’m surprised. Most Denai gifts appear at a much earlier age. You’re what, seventeen? You must be a late bloomer, or something.” He had no clue how close he was.

“Or something,” I mumbled under my breath and waved goodbye.

Leaving the kitchen I saw the door for Berry’s rooms and I remembered her gift. Running back to my new room, I grabbed her gift and brought it to a delighted Berry.

“I’m so excited!” She bounced in place with pleasure. “I can’t wait to see what colors I can come up with. It’s so much cheaper to dye my own material than it is to purchase it. You must introduce me to this Ruzaa.”

“I will, I promise you. The next opportunity that we have, we shall go together.” I told her a shortened version of everything that has happened in the last couple of days and she sat wide-eyed with disbelief. When it was time for me to go, she ran and gave me a couple of her old outfits to wear now that I wasn’t a servant and told me to visit often.

Walking back to my room at the end of the hall, I noticed that my door was opened and slightly ajar. Feeling a hint of trepidation I peeked into my room and looked around and didn’t see anyone. With a sigh of relief I went to my armoire to hang up the clothes. When I opened the door, a body dressed in black flew out of the armoire screaming.

Chapter 12

The attacker grabbed me and knocked me to the ground. Letting out a yell, it was soon squelched as the wind was knocked out of me from the force that landed on my stomach. I tried to pull free from the weight pressing down on me and struggled to push the attacker off, when I heard giggling. Looking closer, I saw that it was nothing more than Avina in her kitchen uniform.“I
so
scared you!” she cackled. “You were white as a ghost.” Jumping up she put her hands on her hips triumphantly.

Regaining my composure, I leaped toward my bed and grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at her head.

“MMMPHFF!” she said as it hit her full force in the face, knocking her braid sideways until it landed on her head in a comical fashion.

With a wild gleam, she raced toward the window sill and grabbed a cushion which started a round of pillow war until we ripped one of the pillows and a spray of down feathers flew around the room. We looked like half-plucked chickens when a loud knock on the door came.

Still laughing, I opened the door to see Syrani with blonde hair piled high and a fake smile plastered on her face. Her face turned annoyed as soon as she saw me.

“Well, I’m surprised to see you here. I hope the new student isn’t going to have you whipped for destroying their room?”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, pulling a stray feather out of my hair. Avina ducked behind the door so she could peek through the crack and spy on Syrani.

“Well, I heard that there is going to be a new Denai. I came to introduce myself to him and to offer a private tour. Do you know when he will be back?” Her smile was plastered on her face again.

“Umm, Syrani, I think you’re mistaken. The new student that is enrolling isn’t a boy.” I wondered briefly if this was the tactic she used on Joss. Offering to be the tour guide and latching herself onto him. If that was the case, she was in for a surprise.

“Oh,” her smile dimmed a bit. “Well, that’s okay. We could always use more girls, as long as they know my rules.”

“Rules?” I asked, puzzled.

Avina began to make funny faces and it was becoming hard to keep a straight face.

Syrani was getting impatient. “Of course rules.” She counted off on her fingers. “Rule number one, stay out of my way and we can be friends. Rule number two, stay away from my boyfriend, Joss. Rule number three…remember rule one.” She paused for effect. “I heard rumors that this new Denai is unique and no one’s ever seen anything like them. I mean after all they were given the largest rooms in the housing wing.” She tried to peer around my shoulder to look into the room.

By now, Avina was doing a frumpy impersonation of Syrani ticking off her rules and I couldn’t help but giggle.

“I’m very sorry, Syrani, but I don’t think the new student is going to be able to abide by your rules.”

Her beautiful face snarled in reply. “Why ever not?”“Because…” I couldn’t help it, it was too easy. I plastered the biggest, fake smile on my face and threw my voice into a higher pitch similar to her own. “I’m the new student.” Before she could form a retort, I slammed the door in her face.

Picturing her standing on the other side looking at the wooden door made me erupt into a fit of giggles. Avina hooted in laughter. But when we finally calmed down a bit, I thought about what I had just done and a large lump formed in stomach. I had just humiliated my biggest enemy.

Chapter 13

Whoever thought that I could slide into the classes without causing a fuss was crazy. Syrani had a head start and had spread some pretty ugly things about me to the other students. I was avoided like the plague. There were some curious stares and a few whispered comments, but no one welcomed me or asked my name.

A training schedule had been sent to my room the night before with a stack of books, and I glanced over it in relief to see that it seemed pretty harmless. I had History of Calandry, Ancient Denai Languages and a few hours in the arena.

Nothing that shouted; hey you’re going to learn to destroy the world. I still didn’t see what good it would do to take classes, considering I really didn’t believe that I had any significant powers.