The Iron Butterfly (Iron Butterfly #1)

Berry opened the door she was standing in front of and entered. I immediately noticed the wooden sign depicting a needle and thread hanging above the door to her workrooms.

The room consisted of table upon table of workspace and at each table sat two or three young ladies in different stages of sewing projects. Along the wall were shelves with a wide selection of bolts of fabrics, from colored silks from far countries, to homespun fabrics, linens and furs. Various baskets held buttons, ribbons and lace. The room was well lit from various skylights in the ceiling and numerous sconces lined the walls to keep it well lit into the night.

Berry entered a back room and came back with a basket full of various cloth items. “Here you go. You have bedding, sleep clothes, underclothes and uniforms, but we will have to get those adjusted after you put on some weight.” A slight blush rose to her cheeks. “I can tell you haven’t had it the easiest, but believe me, after a couple of weeks of the Citadel's food, you will fill out alright.” She began to giggle and covered her mouth with her hand.

Berry pointed me toward my room and made me promise to come back and visit her. But even with directions I was still lost until I spotted Forrest and asked him if he knew were Avina’s room was. He nodded his head and took me there without a word.

“Thank you so much, Forrest!” I squeezed his arm in thanks and I saw a blush come to his withered cheeks reminding myself to not overlook the silent servant.

Taking the bedding and setting it on the bed I went to the closet and started to hang up the night clothes, when I noticed the other items that Berry had slipped into my basket. There were some ribbons, a small hair comb and a bar of sweat smelling soap. Bless her! I made a promise to myself to buy her a present in town when I got my first wages, but first I had to get to the kitchen. I quickly changed into my uniform. It was a sturdy, simple blue skirt, white chemise and gray bodice. She had included an apron as well. I donned the uniform with the same boy boots I had before and hoped my skirts would cover the fact that they were still a little big.

Fully dressed, I hurried in the direction of the kitchen. After a few wrong turns, I found the back entry and was immediately put to work doing dishes. I was awkward at first and didn't work fast enough. When it came time to serve the students I spent the whole time hiding in the kitchen and ate lunch with the rest of the servants at a long worn wooden table.

One of the cooks named Donn introduced me to the rest of the kitchen staff and I got to meet Avina, a short girl who looked about fourteen with red braids and freckles. I smiled at her and watched her grin back at me in delight. After how bad my luck has been lately I figured it was a Godsend that I got someone young who was happy to have a roommate instead of someone like Syrani.

Dinner followed the same routine, working in the kitchen preparing food, or stoking the ovens. Tearsa handed me a peeling knife and I was put to work peeling potatoes for the soup. My punishment, I believe, for being really slow on the dishes. Before long the heat of the kitchen got to me and I was covered in sweat, soap and soup, when I heard the students begin to enter the dining hall for dinner. I ached to catch a glimpse of Joss but at the same time I was embarrassed.

Joss was the one constant in my vastly changing world, but the way I treated him the other day would guarantee a change in our friendship, if we even had one anymore. But the thought that we were both still at the Citadel gave me the hope to go on and try and make a new future here for myself.

When dinner began to die down, I took a peek into the hall to see if I could spot him. I froze in shock at seeing a room full of Denai. I had never seen so many beautiful people in one place and it took Avina giving me a nudge to bring me back down from the visual high.

I searched for Joss, and sure enough his tall frame was surrounded by a bunch of girls vying for his attention. As a new Denai, he couldn’t help but draw a crowd. His good looks drew the female Denai and among the flock of skirts, a familiar blonde held his attention the most.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and duck into the kitchen before he saw me spying. What could I say? She was gorgeous, even if she was mean spirited, and it sure looked like Syrani was laying on the charm.

After dinner, the kitchen staff again ate together, and I deftly avoided too many personal questions with quick one-word answers. After a few questions they got the hint to not pry; everyone except for Avina, who in her childish exuberance didn’t know when to stop with the chatter. Her questions followed me back to our room where I crashed in exhaustion onto my bed after I changed into my nightclothes. I didn’t even bother to make the bed with the clean linens Berry had given me earlier in the day.

Avina changed and crawled into her bed explaining that because she was a baker’s assistant she worked really early and she would try and not disturb me. Yawning, I assured her she was fine and I rolled over and looked out the window at the moon.

My thoughts drifted toward Cammie and how Avina reminded me so much of her. And the brooding Kael, even if he was rude, I still prayed that he was safe. Then I thought of Darren and hoped he would be home to see Melani soon and that he could forgive me for treating Joss and him cruelly. Had it only been a day since I had come here? It seemed like it had been weeks since I left Joss and Darren's care. So much had changed in a day.

Chapter 6

The following weeks became a routine of working in the kitchen or running errands. Even though I would have preferred to work outdoors, I didn’t dare ask because the Adepts had done so much for me. Each week they would meet with me in their office and I would hear what they had to say about their search so far.

At the first weekly meeting I met Adept Cirrus. He was an even-tempered man with blonde hair that he wore long in a ponytail, and I would guess his age to be in his late forties. He was seriously concerned with what had happened, and wanted to hear the story again from me personally and not just repeated from the other Adepts.

His summons came to my room in the form of a sealed note delivered by Forrest a few days after he had returned from his trip. Entering his round office I was surprised at the difference between his opulently decorated rooms and Lorna’s simple design aesthetic. Adept Cirrus’s office had heavy gold drapes hanging from the four windows overlooking the grounds. His walls were a deep green covered with paintings from every era, while a crystal chandelier hung in the center, mysteriously illuminating the room without help from candles. Tall bookshelves lined his walls, on which sat very heavy books neatly organized and manuscripts. The smell of books and rosewood assailed my nose. His desk was clean except for a journal which he had opened with a quill ready in his hand, and I felt a moment of hesitation. He gestured to a plush maroon chair that I sank in with weariness and almost disappeared deep into the cushions. I studied Adept Cirrus warily as he studied me.

“I really don’t want dig up all of this again,” I told him. “The memories are painful.”

“I completely understand, Thalia. And we can stop whenever you want to. But I was really hoping to record everything that happened so I can personally look into it further.”

I raised my eyebrows in question. He recovered quickly. “So that we can catch this person and make him pay for what he did to you. This should have never happened to begin with and I want to make sure it never happens again. And to do that, I need accurate notes of everything you can remember.” His voice became slow, fatherly-like.