The Iron Butterfly (Iron Butterfly #1)(65)

“Yes, I do have a question.” I was so distracted by all of the fuss with the monkey and excited about finding a book about SwordBrothers that I almost forgot the real reason I came. I was too scared to ask any of my teachers during class in case I was made fun of. Licking my lips nervously, I rushed out my question with absolute zero finesse. “Um, yeah, well, have you ever heard of a Guardian?”

At the mention of a Guardian, Adept Kambel’s face blanked in thought. “No, I haven’t heard of a Guardian. But I’m making a trip to the ruins next month.”

“Ruins?”

“Ah, yes, the ruins are what is left of the King of Avellgard’s Castle after the Denai War. The Denai rebuilt the city of Haven in a new location, miles from the old castle, in hopes of leaving the darkness and taint of the old monarchs behind. Avellgard’s extensive libraries still survive deep underneath the castle ruins. I’m always hoping to find a new tunnel with books and artifacts to study.”

“You think that there may be something there?”

“Maybe. There are many secret tunnels under there where the Denai hid during the war. I’ll see what I can find. How’s that sound?” He looked exited at the thought of excavating and digging through piles of books.

I was a little disappointed that I would have to wait.

“Sounds great! Can’t wait to hear what you find.” I plastered a fake smile over my disappointment and closed the door after me.





Chapter 27





I showed up for practice the next day but made sure I walked in three minutes late. Kael just growled at me to pick up a weapon and start warming up. The next few days were the same. On the days we actually used power in the Arena, which were few, I would be physically exhausted by the time I reached practice with Kael. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was new to using power, or if it was because it took longer for me to recover than everyone else. But either way, today was not a good day. I was beat and in no mood for sparring, and I couldn’t tell anyone why.

I was excelling at archery. Joss no longer worried about me getting hurt and was oftentimes the one cheering me on the loudest during our shooting competitions. Kael always looked dissatisfied with my results, or angry. Well, he usually always looked angry when he was around me. Swordfighting wasn’t my strength and he took great pleasure in flaunting it.

“Watch your footwork!” he yelled. “Too slow.”

Breathing heavily, I dodged Garit’s downward swing and spun to my right, bringing my practice sword up to strike his side. But Kael was right and I was slow. Garit anticipated my move and easily blocked my swing with the flat of his blade.

“You’re not concentrating!” Kael yelled.

“I am too,” I grunted back as I went on the defensive and did all that I could to keep Garit’s sure swings away from me. I was constantly moving around the ring, trying to stay away from the edges. But I was just dancing to Garit’s tune, and he already knew all of my moves. He disarmed me in the next two moves. I watched in dread as my practice sword hit the dirt, sending a little dust cloud into the air.

Kael’s shadow encompassed my view as he stood over me. “Not good enough. Garit, Thalia, again!”

“I can’t,” I said.

“You can and you will,” he ordered, kicking my sword over to me.

Garit moved to the middle of the ring and waited for me.

“No, I won’t.” Grabbing the wooden sword in anger, I flung it across the yard and walked away. Silence filled the training yard in my wake.

Watch out.

Faraway spoke and I saw through his eyes at the last minute Kael move behind me for an attack. Turning quickly and kneeling, I swept me leg out behind me to try and knock him off of his feet. Kael jumped over my leg swipe easily, landing on one leg and sending a sideswipe kick my way. Jumping back, I retreated again.

“See! You won’t engage in combat,” he taunted. “You keep running from it.” He threw a fake jab at my head and I ducked and circled him again, backing away. Kael’s lip went up in a knowing smirk. He was right; even now I was letting him lead me back toward the training arena. He made a motion and Garit tossed a practice sword to both of us.

“Come on, Thalia. Fight back,” he argued. “You will never overcome anything if you keep letting yourself be the victim.”

“I don’t let myself be the victim,” I retorted.

“Yes, you do. During the training exercise, you fought from a distance. A bow and arrow can only help you so far. You would never have survived the exercise, if it weren’t for me.” Rushing me, Kael swung at me. I blocked and moved away. “You would still be a prisoner if it weren’t for me.” Moving around to block my retreat, Kael tried to egg me on into fighting.

“You’re weak!” he spat. “Pathetic. This is a world where only the strong survive, Thalia. And you will never survive if you can’t engage in combat.” My arms felt like jelly as I tried to continue fighting him, but he was both stronger and faster than me.

Looking at him as he verbally attacked me, I felt the truth of the words sink into my soul like an anchor, and my body felt like it was encased in lead. Kael changed the grip on his practice sword, a signal that he was about to do a dangerous finishing move. “You have to learn to rely on yourself.”