Page 113 of A Queen’s Game (Aithyr Uprising #1)

Chapter Seventy-Three

Marietta

O n her fourth trip to refill her drink, Keyain finally intercepted Marietta. “Are you fucking kidding me?” he ground out, stepping in front of her.

Marietta sidestepped him like she would do any guy approaching her at a tavern, looking at him over her shoulder. “Something wrong?”

At the bar, she set down her emptied drink on the counter and flagged down the barmaid. Customers swamped the lone worker as the tavern became packed throughout the night.

“Yes, something is wrong. You’re out there making a fool of yourself—of me.” Keyain placed a hand on her hip, the touch more possessive than sweet.

With a dramatic eye roll, Marietta glared up at him. “Look around you, Keyain. When we walked in, people were leaving because you made it uncomfortable. Now the tavern’s packed, and your soldiers are dancing, having fun. They’ll tie that positivity to you.”

“No, they’re amazed that a noble lady could ever stoop so low. Pay attention to your gown; you aren’t dressed to be dancing like that.”

She glanced down at the pearl-studded gown that continued to slip on her chest, shifting it up with two hands. “Funny you have a problem with it, considering you picked it out.” She turned towards the barmaid. “Two more shots and another ale, please.”

The barmaid nodded her head and ducked behind the bar.

Keyain glared at her, annoyance clear in his features. “Do you need two more shots?”

“No, I don’t.” Marietta turned towards him, placing her hands on his chest, grabbing the front of his jacket. “But you do. Listen, you need to lighten up. You’re dealing with people, so act like a person for once.”

Keyain rolled his eyes, but his expression softened, wrapping his arms around her. “You will be the death of me.”

She smirked as the barmaid set down the drinks on the bar. “At least you’ll die having fun then.” She handed the shots to Keyain, watching as he threw them back.

An elven man with feathery auburn hair that contrasted with the green of his uniform approached with a grin. “My eyes must deceive me. Is that the great Keyain Vallynte at the Snapdragon, taking shots?”

Keyain’s face lit up with a smile. “Ryder, how am I not surprised that you’re here?” The two embraced. His name sounded familiar but Marietta couldn’t place it.

“All those times I’ve invited you out,” Ryder said with a mocking pout. “Then to think that after I raced here when word spread at the garrison that you were buying drinks, I find you taking shots without me. You wound me, my friend.”

Keyain rolled his eyes but kept his smile. “Trust me, this night wasn’t my idea.” He gestured to Marietta, pulling her close to his side. “This one insisted.”

“Ah, the infamous Marietta.” Ryder’s grin sharpened.

“And you, the mysterious Ryder.” With furrowed brows, she stuck out her hand. Ryder grasped it, wincing as she shook.

“Quite the grip,” he said, raising his brow at Keyain. “She lives up to her brash reputation.”

“Ryder, not now,” Keyain warned.

“Curious, you’re not the first person to call me brash tonight.” Marietta matched his sharpened grin.

Ryder took a step closer, looking at Marietta from head to toe. “Unsurprising. Though, Adalyn had something different to say about you.”

Marietta’s stomach dropped at the mention of Adalyn, the scowling guard with blonde hair.

That’s where she had heard his name before, at the sculpture garden with the King.

Ryder knew about the almost kiss. “Well, I can say that I’ve known Keyain for a decade now and this is the first I’m hearing of you.

” A saccharine spread across her lips. “Your reputation does not outlive you.”

“Oh, that one hurts,” Ryder said, grasping Keyain’s shoulder. “How does your wife know about your best friend?”

Marietta narrowed her eyes on the pair. She was under the impression that King Wyltam held that title.

Keyain sighed and went to speak, but Marietta cut him off. “Don’t be hurt,” she said, placing her hand on his arm. “Keyain didn’t share most of the details about his life, including his friends.” The glare that Keyain shot her was scathing; she couldn’t help but smile sweetly at him.

“I’ve actually needed to ask you something about your unit,” Keyain ground out, lowering his voice. Ryder’s previous lighthearted attitude dropped to seriousness as he listened to Keyain.

Marietta’s attention turned to the crowded room. A flash of bright blue caught her from the far side, finding Coryn from the Temple of Therypon leaning against the wall, arms crossed, gaze locked onto Marietta.

Marietta excused herself, dodging Keyain’s hand as he went to stop her from moving. The nerve he had to grab at her. Slipping through the crowd, she made her way towards the grimacing Coryn.

“When I heard a noble lady was dancing at The Snapdragon, I thought there was no way it was Marietta,” he said, his expression softening to an easy grin. “Yet, here we are.”

“If anything, I can make my presence known.”

He laughed. “An understatement. I’ve known you but a brief time, yet whenever you step foot outside that palace, people know where you are.”

“Like the Exisotis,” she muttered, taking the spot next to him on the wall, looking out at the crowd.

Coryn raised a brow, looking down at her with his rich brown eyes. “I heard you found Grysella at The Flour Shop this evening.”

“You just know all the gossip, don’t you?”

One side of his mouth ticked up into a deeper smile, revealing a dimple. “Deania does, actually.” He nodded his head to the dance floor where the tiny cleric, clad in her blue tunic, danced with Amryth, the two red-faced and laughing. The sight brought a smile to Marietta’s face.

“Grysella had a lot to say. I have more friends in Satiros than I thought.”

“Come by the temple this week and we’ll talk about that.” He glanced at her, rubbing a hand over his stubbled chin. “We also heard the noble lady had quite the beautiful singing voice, bringing the soldiers to their knees with tears in their eyes.”

Marietta snorted, looking at the crowd in amusement. “That’s partially true, except I brought them to tears with my terrible singing. Can’t be both a goddess’s paladin and a skilled singer. I can only be so many things.”

Coryn shook his head, laughing. “I don’t know about that. You’re also quite the noble lady.”

“Yeah, right. I’m a business owner and a baker, not fit for positions of power,” she said, dragging her gaze back to Coryn. “Though my husband would never let me have any power.”

“He’s a fool if he doesn’t. Look around—you know how to rally people, how to win their hearts. The stories coming out of The Snapdragon were entertaining. ‘ Lady Marietta makes Minister Keyain palatable,’ was my favorite.” The light caught his gleaming eyes and his handsome face.

The music slowed, the sound melodic as the dancers took a reprieve from the fast-paced songs preceding. “That wasn’t my intention. I just wanted to dance,” she said, looking off to the dance floor wistfully.

Coryn held out his hand. “Then dance with me.”

“How do you think my husband would react to me dancing to a romantic tune with another man?” she asked, placing her hands over her heart.

Coryn shrugged, pushing off the wall. “Let’s find out.”

Marietta’s grin sharpened, placing her hand in his. “Good idea.”

They made their way to the dance floor, guards dancing with people not in uniforms. On the edge of the crowd stood Amryth and Deania, the cleric talking fast, using a lot of hand motions, and Amryth bent over with laughter.

“I don’t think I’ve seen Amryth smile this much.” Marietta nodded in their direction.

“She smiles like that anytime Deania’s around,” Coryn said, placing his hands on her hips, Marietta wrapping her arms around his neck. “They’d make a cute couple.”

She hadn’t considered such a pairing. Amryth’s wife died the same night as Tilan, but was she ready to move on? When did enough time pass? Marietta may have lost herself with Keyain, but at some point, her heart would heal enough to enjoy another’s company, or so she hoped.

Coryn moved her across the floor, Marietta smiling at his dancing skill.

His footwork was smooth, graceful. She held his gaze, his skin shining with golden light, his brown eyes near glowing.

An Iros, like her. They’d be working together in the future, whatever that may be.

On instinct, Marietta reached to Therypon’s warmth in her chest, heat blossoming within her.

Coryn furrowed his brows. “Did you do that?”

“Do what?” she asked as a hand fell on her shoulder. Confusion washed from Coryn’s face, replaced with a smirk. Marietta already knew who it was.

“Mind if I cut in?” Keyain ground out.

“Not at all, thank you for letting me borrow your wife,” Coryn paused, “for this dance, of course.” He winked at Marietta as he walked off.

The insinuation would only add to Keyain’s anger, but what was one more thing? A fight from the evening’s antics loomed over her already.

Keyain placed both his hands on her hips, gripping her as his gaze followed Coryn.

“Easy there, you’re going to bruise me if you squeeze any tighter.”

His hands loosened, but his jaw remained taught. “Why is he here?”

“Don’t worry about him. Just enjoy this moment with me.

” Marietta placed her head on his chest, letting the music carry them.

How easy it was to pretend they were in Kentro, that Marietta still helped businesses and Keyain remained a mystery.

Those days were forever gone, and she knew better than to dwell in the past. It was time to let them go.

The song ended, the pace picking up with a new tune, forcing Keyain to dance faster.

She smiled at him, remembering when she finally got him to dance back when they traveled.

It had taken a few months and alcohol, of course, but he would dance.

It seemed silly that such a prominent politician would be self-conscious.

A voice yelled over the crowd, announcing the last call at the bar.

“Is it that late already?” she asked, wiping sweat from her brow.

“It’s been hours, Marietta,” Keyain grumbled.

She laughed, stepping off the dance floor. “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

“Right, fun.” Keyain waved down Amryth, still with Deania, who gave her a quick hug before darting back into the crowd. At the door, Wynn and the other guards fell into step as they left the tavern.

The summer night was refreshing compared to the stuffiness inside of the crowded tavern.

Keyain didn’t send for a carriage, which Marietta was thankful for as she leaned against Amryth, walking the streets of Satiros.

That evening was her reset—her reminder of the freedom, of the life she had prior, a reminder for why she worked with the Queen, getting information for the Exisotis.

Life with Keyain would end—likely her friendships at court, too. Perhaps Elyse would want to leave Satiros, if not going to Chorys Dasi with her dashing man. With Amryth, they could turn their backs on the crown and live in Enomenos together.

Marietta could return to Olkia with the friends who helped heal her heart, who made her jail cell feel like home. She could imagine showing them all the sights of Enomenos. Elyse would love the artistry in Olkia, and Amryth would love the taverns in Kentro.

Perhaps, after everything, Marietta would come out stronger. Yes, losing her husband shattered her heart, her resolve, but she’d come back more resilient than before, proving that Keyain couldn’t break her. To show that Satiros could not break Enomenos.

Grysella was right; Marietta was a martyr, and she would make herself the symbol Enomenos needed.