The Iron Butterfly (Iron Butterfly #1)(73)

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.

“HO!” Someone yelled and the horses started moving.

“Wait!” a familiar voice interjected. “What’s going on?”

Turning in my saddle I saw Joss running out of the main hall at a sprint toward me. Joss was stopped short by the clansmen wearing fox fur, who quickly pulled a sword and pointed it at his throat. Joss’ throat bobbed nervously as the sword rested calmly against his Adam’s apple. The caravan of horses stopped.

“Where are you taking her?” he asked bravely.

“None of your business; this here is clan business and you are not clan,” Fox Fur retorted.

Joss’ eyes sought mine for an answer.

“Home,” I answered softly, feeling a catch in my throat at the thought of leaving him.

“But you are home?” Joss stated, refusing to blink and break eye contact. “You belong here.”

“No, I don’t. Not really.” I broke eye contact first as I looked down at my shoe and then back up. “Joss, I don’t remember anything up until a few months ago. I need to find out who I am and where I come from.” A stir followed my answer as the crowd parted and Syrani stepped forward and grabbed Joss’ arm possessively.

“Joss,” she purred. “Let the sewer rat go home with the smelly dogs, and then it can be just the two of us again.”

Whether it was her verbal attack on me or the Valdyrstal clan, I wasn’t sure, but Fox Fur spurred his horse forward and knocked Syrani down into the mud, spewing a few unknown curses at her in his native tongue.

It startled me to know that I understood what Fox Fur had said to Syrani, and it wasn’t pretty. Trying to hide my grin behind a straight face, I looked into Joss’ handsome one and rode Faraway over to him, amazed that the clan members let me through. I could see Bearen astride his horse ready to be on the move.

“I’m sorry, Joss. I have to go,” I spoke quietly.

“Will you come back?”

Looking over my shoulder at Bearen’s stiff posture, his body language spoke volumes, speaking what he would never voice aloud.

“I don’t know? Maybe, someone needs to come back for Council Meetings, but I can’t make any promises.”

Joss took another step forward to try and reach up to touch me, but Fox Fur moved protectively to my side and Joss backed up, giving him a look of pure hatred.