“I don’t care if you’re interested in men or women or sheep, Leo. I only want you to be loved and happy.”
He rolled on his side and poked Tressa on the nose. “I am. You bring me joy.”
Tressa rolled her eyes. “That’s not what I mean and you know it.”
“I have loved in the past,” Leo rubbed his goatee, “and I have lost. If I meet another whom I desire, I’ll act. Until then, it’s not worth discussing.”
A winged insect landed on Tressa’s hand. She held still, mastering her breath. Slow and steady. “Do you see it?” she whispered, not wanting to scare it away.
“It’s beautiful,” Leo said. “You know what they say about butterflies, don’t you?”
“This is a butterfly?” Tressa had heard of them from Granna, but they didn’t have any in Hutton’s Bridge. At least not alive. In the town hall, a few specimens were pinned to a board, kept safe from dust and the ravages of time by a thin layer of glass. She hadn’t ever imagined the stiff, thin wings could be so glorious once brought back to life. To her, they were ugly, the color faded from their wings, stiff as bones. “What do they say about them?”
“Some think they are the representation of a soul immediately following death.”
“That’s beautiful and morbid.”
Leo laughed quietly. “They also represent change, metamorphosis. I think it’s appropriate for one to visit you now.”
Tressa watched the winged creature as it took flight so effortlessly, gliding on the wind without another care in the world. She envied it. Her life had never been easy, but it had never been so hard as it was now. If her metamorphosis worked, she might have a chance at a normal life. If not, then a butterfly might visit her loved ones. Well, loved one. There was no one other than Bastian. Leo, yes, but he was a new friend. He’d move on without her. His life wouldn’t be disrupted. Bastian’s would. At least she hoped it would.
“How long until the summer solstice?” She’d lost track of the days since leaving Hutton’s Bridge. Time was no longer linear. It advanced in spurts and dragged on interminably on other days. Her job at the inn was a daily form of servitude. Patrons needed to be served every day of the week. There was no day for rest. All of her free time was spent with Leo.
Even Ira assumed she and Leo had coupled up. They kept up the ruse, knowing it was the only way they could justify spending so much time together. They’d also perfected the art of the fake embrace. At any given moment, Leo would grab Tressa and bury his face in hers. He never actually kissed her, or even showed any interest in doing so. His mastery of disguise extended to even the smallest nuance.
Tressa had seen people walk away from them, their faces red, obviously embarrassed at interrupting such a tender and intimate moment. Sometimes Tressa felt their guilt so deeply, even she blushed when Leo would release her. As if their public display of affection was something to be kept behind closed doors.
Leo stood up, brushing the dirt off of his jerkin. “You have only two weeks left, Tressa.”
Her heart pounded. Two weeks wasn’t enough. There would never be adequate time to prepare for this challenge.
“There’s something else I haven’t told you.” Leo hesitated, scratching his goatee.
Tressa sat up, resting her elbows on her knees. She didn’t bother with the dirt, knowing she’d only be covered in it again soon enough. “What? Am I to defeat the dragon in battle too?”
Leo’s fingers stayed on his face, rubbing the stubby hairs methodically in circles. “Sometimes men lose their lives trying to join the Black Guard. That wasn’t the case when Stacia’s mother ruled. She insisted on fair fights. Stacia, however, prefers to be surrounded by cutthroats and cheaters. These men are not only soldiers, they are murderers in her name. She not only tolerates it, she encourages it.”
“I wish I could say I was surprised.” Tressa rubbed her hands together. The blisters stung. She didn’t ignore it. Instead, she internalized the pain, using it to fuel her fire for revenge. She flexed her arm just to remind herself how far she’d come. One-armed pushups were easy now. She could carry more and more at the inn. Leo had warned her against showing off. Drawing attention to herself and her strength was the opposite of what they were trying to accomplish.
“Are you prepared to kill?”
“Yes.” She said it without hesitation or fear. She’d seen how easily they’d taken Connor away from her. They deserved what they had coming.
Leo held up his sword, motioning her to rise. Tressa stood, shook out her legs and fell into a ready stance, her sword pointed at an angle. He moved around her in a circle. Tressa didn’t take her eyes off of him. She was cautious, knowing he was about to teach her a lesson. She’d learned to judge him quickly and his disguises no longer fooled her as they did others. He’d performed in the inn many times for the same men. It was always a different show and no one was the wiser that the same man stood in front of them night after night.