Free The Iron Butterfly by Chanda Hahn Page A

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