The Iron Butterfly (Iron Butterfly #1)(19)

“Syrani, we are on a strict budget and time table. If you want a dress made with different fabric than what the Citadel keeps in stock, then you must bring us the bolts of fabrics yourself,” she replied.

“That’s preposterous. You are the Citadel’s seamstresses. What else are you here for if not to create dresses for me? Besides my father has strict orders that I must be kept happy, which I’m not.”

“Syrani, we are employed by the Citadel and therefore have hundreds of people to clothe and thousands of garments to mend and alter. You should be grateful that they found time to finish your dress. If you are unhappy with it, then I will have them alter the dress again as soon as you pay for the first one.”

“Don’t speak another word. There is no way in heaven that I will be subjected to pay for that piece of trash dress. It feels like burlap and they were sloppy in their work. What can you expect from lowly peasants? They messed up plain and simple.”

Now I could see that Berry was getting angry at the insult to her helpers. “All of our clothes are made from the same material. Those women you are insulting are very talented ladies and I know for a fact that their work is impeccable.” Berry challenged. “Their station in life does not by any means make them less important than you.”

“Not one of them has my bloodline and they will never be equal to me.” Syrani yelled, her nostrils expanded in anger and her eyes darkened.

My mind scrambled for a solution to resolve the problem, but before I could intervene Syrani stormed away and ran right into me.

“Watch where you’re going!” Syrani snarled at me.

“NO! YOU watch where you’re going!” I caught her off guard and she stepped back in confusion. I couldn’t help it, after hearing her berate the seamstress I took it one step further. “Really? A bad dress, maybe you should have had your Father’s household seamstress outfit you before coming here instead of taking advantage of good people. Or does he not know of your extra orders?” I let the smugness show on my face, which made her fume.

“What do you know? You’re so skinny you look like a drowned rat and the only things that a rat attracts are dogs and disease.” And with that she smiled triumphantly and left.

“Ugh, what a horrible girl,” Berry spoke as she came to stand next to me, eyeing Syrani’s retreating figure warily.

“Please tell me that not all of the Denai students here are like that?” I sighed, motioning with my head down the hall toward Syrani.

“Oh no, they are great for the most part. You will find that most of the Denai are easy to get along with. There are only a handful that are as difficult as Syrani. She thinks she’s superior because her family has a long line of powerful Denai. She is actually Adept Cirrus’s niece so she tends to try and throw her weight around before she is even an Adept herself. Who knows, she may well one day become one and then we are all in trouble.” She paused and seemed to really notice me for the first time.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m Berry, I’m the head seamstress.” She held out her hand to me.

“Thalia,” I shook her hand knowing that I liked her immediately.

“What can I do for you, Thalia? I think I owe you one for insulting Syrani. You did what I would never dare for fear of being fired on the spot,” Berry grinned.

The euphoric feeling of telling off an obvious bully disappeared with her statement. I hadn’t realized that my intervention may have consequences of their own. What if the Adepts heard and chose to release me from their protection or threw me out into the streets? Suddenly I felt a little sick and flustered. “Uh, I actually need a few items. I’m to start work here, Tearsa sent me for bedding and a uniform.” I felt as if my face was turning green.

“Oh!” Berry’s smile dropped slightly when she realized the same thing I did, but she recovered faster than me and her smile widened again. “You are going to work with us here? How very lucky you are. I know families that have been trying for years to get a job here. Tearsa is very particular about who gets hired on. You must know someone important or have great references.” Knowing the circumstances by which I was given the job, I decided to make a noncommittal noise instead.

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.