The Iron Butterfly (30 page)

“I had wanted to do that yesterday before…” he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence without bringing up the horrible events.

“I know,” I whispered lamely. I didn’t want him to speak of it either. I buried my forehead into his chest to take comfort and let him hold me close as I tried to battle with the emotions that began to overtake me.

“I can’t tell you how worried I was when we couldn’t find you. It was then that I realized how stupid I had been. I know I had said I wanted to be your friend, but Thalia, I lied. I’m not happy with being just your friend.”

I pulled back and opened my mouth to speak but he pressed his warm hand over my lips and hushed me.

“Don’t say anything, I know you. You will try and deny what we have, but the feelings I have won’t go away Thalia. So it’s better if you don’t say anything at all right now. I want to talk to you tonight, meet me after the Council Session by the arena.”

I nodded numbly. Joss quickly kissed my forehead before pushing me back into the hall and toward the Council room. I stopped a few paces in front of the Council hall doors so I could catch my breath before entering. The guards at the door watched me silently, knowingly and opened the double doors so I could go in. “You almost didn’t make it,” the guard on the right winked at me. “Another minute and you would have been late.”

My cheeks burned and I tried to put all thoughts of our kiss from my mind. It was hard, but once I remembered the importance of why I was here, I was able to settle the harried beating of my heart. But just barely.

Entering the main Council room I was astounded at the vastness of it. The room was a giant circle with raised boxed seating for each of the twelve clans, Guilds and Adepts; each clearly marked by banners. The viewing section was a small boxed area closest to the entry doors. The round room created equality among the clan leaders because there was no obvious head of the table. In the middle of the room, on the floor, was a small dais for the speakers. The room echoed easily because of the high vaulted ceilings.

Sliding into the viewing section, I sat among a few of the older Denai students. A few had quills and parchment, obviously prepared to take notes of the proceedings. I turned to Tydus, an older Denai, with small spectacles and brown hair and asked him if he had been to one of these before.

“Of course, I’m the council recorder. You?”

“Uh, first time.”

Tydus frowned. He obviously took his studies very seriously.

Queen Lilyana came forward to address all of the Clan Leaders and Adepts.

“We are here today because of an incident that can no longer be ignored.” She paused for effect. “And that is the persecution of our people, Denai and Human alike. Someone has been kidnapping the people of Calandry and performing heinous experiments on them. This will not be allowed and will not be tolerated. We don’t have all of the facts yet, but we have found the remains of an abandoned prison, where these crimes have taken place.”

I sat up straighter; this was the first I had heard of them finding the prison.

“We could not find the ones who are doing this, the ones known as the Septori, because we were looking for them in our land. It seems that they are not locals, but come from Sinnendor.”

Silence befell the room and then loud rumblings were heard as everyone began to talk at once.

“Impossible!”

“How can that be?”

“How do they get past Sinnendor’s elite?”

“Is Sinnendor behind this?”

The Queen raised her hand and the room fell silent again. “We don’t know how much King Tieren knows, for the Septori were hiding underground right along the river that borders both of our lands. But there were numerous paths that led straight into Sinnendor territory from the Septori’s hideout. We cannot lay blame without proof, and right now we don’t have any. I will not risk another war without more proof.”

Heads bobbed up and down in understanding. A few murmured disagreement and I was careful to watch those boxes closely. I couldn’t help but notice that throughout the whole proceedings there were two clan sections that remained empty. One was for the Skyfell clan, their Clan Leader’s wife was ailing and their leader refused to leave her side, so he sent his deepest regrets about his absence.

Leaning over to Tydus, I asked him about the other empty box.

“Oh, that’s for the Valdyrstal Clan. They’ve never acknowledged the actual delegation of the Council and have yet to ever make an appearance for a Council Session. Supposedly their clan leader, Bearen Valdyrstal, is extremely against any Council business and progress. He is supposedly even anti Denai.”

Something about the name made my pulse start to race. “But why do they continue to keep a spot for him on the Council then?”

“Well, they are one of the larger clans, and because of that and by clan right, they are allowed to have a vote. By his absence, his vote is automatically cast as a negative.”

“Where is this clan from?” I could feel something deep inside start to stir.

“Their lands cover the parts of the Shadow Mountains and the Ioden valley that borders the northern edge of Sinnendor.”

There was definitely something, a memory, a flicker of snow, of mountains. Sitting back from me, Tydus ended the conversation as he quickly scribbled notes on his parchment to catch up with what he had missed during his explanation.

Leaning back as well, I tried to adjust my weight in my chair to find another comfortable position, but no luck. The chairs were meant to be uncomfortable and to keep people awake during these proceedings. But I was now desperate to find out what I could about the Valdyrstal clan. I couldn’t sit still.

After two more hours had passed, Adept Pax stepped forward to address the missing children. Before he could go on the Council room doors opened, and one of the most fearsome looking men I have ever seen strode through the doors. Large, muscular, outfitted with dark furs and brown leathers, he looked like he was ready to battle the cold. On his back was a very large battle axe. His long dark beard covered a hawk-like nose. The retinue of men that came behind him was equally dressed in furs of all shades and kinds. A few wore wolf and bear pelts, and I could see one man wearing the red furs of a fox.

Their battle gear and leather armor looked out of place amongst the formal robes each of the Councilmen was currently wearing. The leader strode into the room, showing no fear and stood before the Adepts, not saying a word. His gait and demeanor looked familiar to me, but I couldn’t place where I knew him from.

“Bearen Valdyrstal.” Adept Pax stood up and addressed the giant of a man. The council erupted into titters of frenzied whisperings. “We are honored that you have decided to join us for the Council Session, albeit a bit late.” A few snickers were heard from Bearen’s men.

“You do realize that weapons are forbidden in the Council Rooms? And if you had been here earlier, you would have had time to change into your formal robes,” Pax stated stiffly.

Bearen showed his teeth then in what could only be considered a pass at a smile. Something I could tell didn’t come very easily to him. “Come now, friends,” he said in a slight accent, holding his hands out in an imploring gesture to the Council. “I am here now, and you must excuse my lateness and forgive me for my attire because we just rode in. We thought it…” he paused for a second, “prudent to come right away rather than miss more of the proceedings because of our lack of grooming.”

A barked laugh came from one of the men standing behind Bearen. Bearen spun and gave him a dangerous look. The laughter stopped and Bearen turned back to the Adepts and Council and waited patiently.

Adept Cirrus leaned over and spoke to Adept Pax. “Very well,” Cirrus went on. “You may take your seats. But be forewarned for next time that you will come in appropriate attire and be on time.”

Bearen then did the most amazing feat. He bent his large form into a deep and mocking bow. My eyes widened in awe and apparent horror at the disdain he showed to the Council Members. Walking past me to his seat, his men following close behind, Bearen caught me staring at him. Stopping abruptly, his lip lifted in an obvious attempt at another smile, but came out a sneer, before heading into his assigned box seats. My palms started to sweat as I felt his continued stare long after I looked away.

“It seems to me,” Adept Kambel said and stood up, looking over his notes, “that someone has been stolen or kidnapped or ran away from every large Clan, except for…” Dropping his parchment, Kambel stooped down and tried to pick it back up and in the process, knocked his glasses askew. Placing them back stubbornly on his nose, he looked at his parchment one last time before going on. “Except for Valdyrstal.” He looked pointedly at Bearen, who was leaning back in his chair at that moment with his large boots stretched out before him and resting on a chair in front.

“Do you have anything you would like to add?” Adept Cirrus asked.

Bearen slowly stood up, lifted one foot off of the chair and turned to address the council. His deep voice rumbled in the room. “Ay, we have only lost one child, my daughter, but unlike you, we have actually found her.” Turning his hawk-like nose and deep blue eyes toward me, his next words dragged out into eternity, searing into my memory. “Hello, Thalia.”

Chapter 30

My hands started to shake and I grabbed the banister in front of me to steady myself in case I should faint. I stared at the man across from me who seemed familiar, yet at the same time, was a stranger. The family resemblance in our hair and eyes was undeniable. The joy that I thought would surround me at the thought of finding my family turned into trepidation.

All of the Adepts stood up at once and began talking. Tydus reached over a hand and slapped me on the back, making a joke about pretending to not know the strongest clan in Calandry and then being the Clan leader’s daughter. My eyes never left Bearen, who grinned at me in triumph as he walked down into the center of the room.

“Brothers!” his deep voice rang out. “I have been looking for Thalia for months and had only recently heard rumors that my daughter had shown up in Haven. I came to the Citadel not to participate in this year’s Council Session, but to retrieve my daughter.” Pointing a finger at me, he beckoned. “Come daughter, we shall return home.” Moving toward the exit, all of Bearen’s men stood up in formation behind him.

Pax Baton’s voice roared after him, “Stop! What do you think you are doing, taking one of our students and leaving?” Pax leapt from his box and strode toward Bearen and his men.

Bearen Valdyrstal turned on him in a flash and placed one large hand on Pax’s chest as a small knife appeared in his other. “Don’t come any nearer,” Bearen spat. “You know my viewpoint on Denai and your training program. How dare you take my daughter and bring her here into this filth!” Turning, Bearen spat onto the ground. “Now she must return home and be cleansed. She doesn’t belong here with your kind; she belongs with us, her family.”

The word family brought my head up in surprise. Maybe I had brothers and sisters, a mother. The urge to follow Bearen to find my family became overbearingly strong.

Pax lifted his hands in an unthreateningly manner. “Forgive us, we did not know that she was your daughter. There are quite a few things that have happened in the last months with your daughter that you should be made aware of.”

All of the Denai in the room could take out my father if they wanted too, but Bearen kept the knife far enough away from Adept Pax to not warrant an attack. I saw that despite his anger, he did possess wisdom.

“Ay, nonetheless I will be informed. But this is a family matter. She’s underage, and must come home with me.” Pushing Pax and sheathing his knife, he looked to me. “Let’s go, Thalia.” He turned, holding out his large hand to me.

Pausing, I stood frozen amongst all the clamor and commotion, taking in my father standing before me. I tried to bring to life any memories at all; and I couldn’t. His eyes darkened at my hesitancy.

“You either come now, or don’t come home at all. Ever.”

That did it. Spurring into action I stepped down out of my seat and made my way over to Bearen and his men, and at that moment, Bearen reminded me of Kael. The clansmen formed a protective ring around me and I followed the fur-covered back of Bearen out of the council room. Pausing in the hallway, I turned toward my room to get my things.

“Leave ‘em. Anything you have has now been tainted by them,” he growled. We walked into the courtyard and made our way to the stable, where a herd of the largest, sturdiest horses I had ever seen stood. These must be the Valdyrstal’s horses.

Making my way over to Faraway’s stall, I grabbed his bridle and reins and began to saddle him. One of the clansmen followed me and was about to make a remark, when I cut him off.

“I will not leave without my horse,” I gritted out, showing my teeth the way I had seen Bearen do. The clansmen grinned and laughed out loud. “It seems our vixen still has her temper,” he chuckled, and moved away.

Where are we going?
Faraway asked.

“Home, I think.”

Saddling Faraway, I followed in line behind Bearen, and once again the clansmen formed a protective circle around me. Whether it was for my own protection or to keep me from running away, I wasn’t really sure. By this time quite a crowd had gathered. The assembly was dismissed, and the word had spread throughout the keep. Students kept pouring out of the hallways and peering out windows.