The Iron Butterfly (Iron Butterfly #1)(45)

My throat constricted in nervousness and I felt myself running my sweaty palms on my legs. The Commander was ecstatic; to actually live to see the day where he would not only meet a legendary Swordbrother, but have him train some of his Captains, that was a great honor and privilege.

“Like I said, I had to call in a favor.” Adept Pax’s eyes became distant as if he had become lost in his memories. With a shake of his head, he turned to us again. “But remember, I want Thalia to be under guard as soon as possible. And her self-defense training starts now. Thalia will be the prime target. For I have also promised the SwordBrother a prize if he kills Thalia. It would do her good to be doubly on guard.”

“No!” my mind shouted. “No guards!”

From the shocked looks on Adept Pax and Commander Meryl’s faces, I realized I didn’t think it, but yelled it. I wasn’t emotionally ready to be surrounded by guards; it would be like being in prison again.

“Adept Pax? I know you mean well. But I don’t want to live my life under constant guard. What if we never capture the Septori, will you guard me forever? Someday I will have to rely on myself.” I stood tall, straight and refused to break eye contact.

Under the scrutiny of his dark eyes I could feel myself shrink in size, but I clenched my teeth in determination and refused to back down.

“Well then, you better hurry and learn to defend yourself either with a weapon or with your power.” Turning back to his desk, he dismissed me and began to debate defensive plans for the Citadel.

Stopping myself at the doorway, I turned around and addressed them both in the most determined voice I could muster.

“Adept Pax… Commander, I won’t participate in your training game or agree to be the bait for the assassin unless we change one thing.”

“What’s that, my child?” Adept Pax looked confused.

Pulling on my ruined shirt and holding it away from my body in disgust, I made a disgusted face. “The color of this awful paint. Blood red is impossible to get out.” And with that I left the office with the echoes of their combined laughter following me down the halls.





Chapter 19





“Thalia, where are you?” I barely ducked in time as Garit’s practice blade flew over my shoulder where my head had just been. Scuffling out of the way, my feet kicking up dirt, I moved around to Garit’s weak side. It didn’t matter; he was right, my mind had been somewhere else. He feinted a lunge at my face, swept out his leg and kicked my feet out from under me.

Staring at the clear blue sky, I longed for the day when I could be back inside doing dishes, instead of being submitted to a daily beating.

“Your mind was somewhere else and you lost focus.” Garit stretched out his hand and pulled me up from the ground.

I quit dusting off my pants because it wouldn’t matter. I would be seeing the ground again real soon.

“I’m sorry. I’ll try harder,” I said weakly

“Come, sit.” He motioned to two barrels and I sat on one and waited for him to take the other.

“For you to regain your focus, we first need to address what it is that has you so worked up and scared.”

“I’m not…”I began.

“You are!” he interrupted.

I didn’t like being vulnerable and having to share anything personal, especially to a guy. Even though I didn’t want to admit it, he was right.

“I don’t want to be the target.” I focused on the distant mountains and the shape of the cloud passing over them, so I wouldn’t have to make eye contact. Briefly I gave him a simplified version of my life story. And I had to give him credit, because he didn’t even blink an eye. It was nice to not have an overly dramatic reaction from someone for once.

“I feel as if I’m a scared rabbit just waiting for the hunter to take me out. The thought that I’m going to be hunted down and killed terrifies me. Even if it is just a training game, my heart quickens and my palms go sweaty and I freeze up at the thought. I’m back in the cell all over again and I don’t think I can do it.”

“Bull!” Garit said vehemently.

I turned my head and looked at him in surprise, my mouth going open.

“The only person that can make you be a victim again, is yourself. There is no cage, Thalia, it’s only in your mind.” Garit rapped his fingers against my temple roughly.

Looking into his face, I saw he meant every word. His red blonde hair looked even redder in the sunlight and the small scar on his chin stood out on his tan skin. He tossed me my practice blade. I caught it with ease.

“Thalia, if you don’t want to be the prey anymore, then you can only do one thing. Become the hunter.”

Our lessons changed. Instead of learning defensive moves Garit taught me to go on the offensive and to use every dirty trick he knew. Attack the eyes, or a kick to the groin, quick jabs into the solar plexus to give you time to run away. My size and speed would lend to quick attacks and evasive maneuvering.

I couldn’t overpower any attacker with strength, but if I could keep out of their reach and attack them from a distance, I would have a chance at survival.

We worked every day on hand-to-hand combat and evasive fighting. Then we went over knife techniques, because if I let someone get close enough to me to get caught, I would need a knife.