Page 136 of A Queen’s Game (Aithyr Uprising #1)

Chapter Ninety-One

Marietta

H ours later, the door to the suite opened, the call of Amryth’s voice far off. She came into view, and Marietta stared at her friend, unable to hear her words. Amryth slapped her in the face. “Marietta,” she hissed. “Snap out of it. What in the gods happened?”

Marietta shook her head. “A mage attacked the Queen and me, and when I fled, Keyain found me in the tunnel. And Tilan.” Her throat constricted.

“Gods, what about Tilan?” Amryth sighed.

“He’s alive. In the dungeon. He was alive this whole time.”

Amryth swore, her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. “Marietta, I know you’re in pain, but we need to go.”

Marietta ignored her and instead shoved the Tilan’s notes into her hands. “These are Tilan’s creations,” she whispered.

Amryth gave her a look before reading the papers. She flipped from the first page, her jaw dropping. “Deities be damned.”

She dropped the papers, her own hands shaking.

“Marietta, listen to me. I know you’re feeling a lot right now, but we need to get you to the temple.

They need to perform the ritual to make you an Iros before Keyain advocates for you.

Him and the King plan for you to testify against the Queen.

We need to go. Now.” Amryth grabbed Marietta’s hand, pulling her up from the couch.

“How will we get out of here? They’re guarding our only ways out.” Marietta said, frowning.

“I have an idea,” Amryth whispered, edging near Keyain’s office.

Marietta stood near the fireplace, waiting for Amryth’s signal. Amryth walked into the office, approaching the guard stationed there. “Hey, did Keyain say anything about—” A light flashed, followed by the smack of a body hitting the floor. “Go,” Amryth called.

When she turned the corner, Marietta saw Amryth standing over the unconscious body of the guard. “Quick, help me undress him. We only have so much time to disguise you.”

Marietta darted forward, taking the armor and clothes from Amryth. Marietta removed her dirtied dress, stepping into the uniform that was too big for her, the elven man’s boots too loose, but they would suffice.

“Let’s go,” Amryth said, lighting the light globe from her pocket. The two raced down the spiral staircase. At the bottom, Amryth held up her hand, listening. The tunnels had quieted, the commotion of earlier calming down. “This way.”

Marietta remained close to Amryth as she made her way through the tunnels, staying alert. By some blessing of the gods, no one intercepted them as Amryth slowed her gait, listening on the wall. She pressed her hand against the brick, and a section of the wall shifted away.

They stepped into a closet lined with cleaning supplies and other odds and ends. “Keyain told our unit about the tunnels and the ways to access them. The late queen had them bricked over during her reign, but a few ways to enter and exit remain.”

“Convenient for us,” Marietta muttered.

Amryth leaned against the door to listen. “Only if his other guards aren’t patrolling it.”

Marietta sent a small prayer to Therypon that they weren’t. Everything else from their plan had gone sideways.

Amryth waved her over as she cracked open the door.

A small room with tables and chairs sat beyond.

“Act as if you’re a guard and stay close.

” She loosened her posture and walked to the room’s exit.

Without another word, she entered the hallway beyond with Marietta in tow.

Beneath the hood of her cloak, Marietta tried to keep her breath even as nervousness kept her on edge.

A few guards milled about, some acknowledging them with a nod.

The gate beyond the palace doors appeared as they rounded a corner.

She sighed in relief. It was just like the first time Amryth took Marietta to the temple.

The sun crested over the buildings, bathing the city in the golden morning light.

Though early, the city beyond the gates bustled.

Amryth must have timed their escape for the shift change with the guard as they slipped in with a group of soldiers heading out for duty in the city.

Amryth kept her hand on the small of Marietta’s back.

Marietta held her breath, her eyes wide as the gate neared.

They crossed the exit, the whitewashed buildings coming into view. She exhaled, smiling at Amryth. “How did we do that twice?”

“I don’t know, but we need to hurry. We’re on borrowed—”

Someone shouted behind them. Marietta whipped her head around to see a guard pointing in their direction. The guards in the group next to them snatched Marietta’s arm. “That’s them!”

Amryth grabbed her hand, tugging her free, and they sprinted into the city.

She dragged Marietta along at full sprint, the too-large boots causing her to stumble.

Behind them, the guards neared, closing the bit of lead they had.

They raced towards the temple, pushing people in the crowded streets out of their way.

Her chest heaved, a stitch threatening her side, cursing herself for not having Amryth’s conditioning.

Marietta panted as Amryth slowed her gait, taking in their surroundings. Alarmed expressions from city folk eyed them. “Go on ahead. I’ll try to throw them off.”

“No, please don’t!” Marietta grabbed for her arm.

Amryth dodged her hand, turning around to face the guards.

Marietta took the opportunity to duck into a crowd.

People yelled at her as she hastily made her way through, her gaze searching for guards.

A hand grasped her shoulder, yanking. “I told you to spread out.” Marietta’s eyes grew wide as a stocky elvish man addressed her.

Thankful for her hair covering her ears, she responded, “I think I heard a commotion coming from that direction. I can cover this area if you want to provide backup.”

He gave her an odd look. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Sir?” Marietta added.

“Don’t be disrespectful to your superior officer. I’ll deal with you later.” He took off in the direction that Marietta had sent him.

Relief flooded her body with a sigh, taking a moment to catch her breath. Though it was still the morning, the summer weather was hot, especially in the full guard’s uniform. Marietta wiped away the sweat that stung her eyes.

The temple wasn’t much further. If Marietta could gather her strength and make a break for it, granted, she ran into no one else. The goddess must have been watching over her; that interaction with the guard was too close for comfort.

Marietta took off again, jogging down a side street.

It should connect her to the road next to the temples if her memory served her right.

Ache spread through her legs with each step, swearing to the goddess that if she made it out alive, she would train to never be weak again.

Heat flared in her chest, causing Marietta to laugh.

Therypon watched over her. As a response, the pain in her legs—even her lungs—subsided, the warmth lingering instead.

She turned the corner and resisted collapsing to her knees. Rows of guards in Satiroan uniforms surrounded the temple’s entrance, keeping a clear perimeter around the steps. Already, a crowd formed in the street’s square, yelling at the guards.

Gods, she couldn’t break through that crowd, not without drawing attention. Marietta swore, staying to the edge of the street, reassessing her position.

Figures of blue stood at the temple’s entry, swords drawn and shields raised as a handful of guards approached.

In the crowd below, robed attendants from the other temples joined, jeering at the blockade.

She leaned against the alley wall, her heart sinking.

She tried to remember the route Ryder took when she last visited the temple.

Their carriage had traveled from the south, and Marietta was north of the temple. Perhaps if she—

“There you are!”

Marietta jumped, turning to run as Deania peeked up from behind her.

“Deania, thank gods. What’s going on?”

“Keyain ordered the guards to surround the temple once he realized you were missing. I’m lucky I found you. Where’s Amryth?”

Marietta frowned. Of course, he did. “She used herself as a distraction so I could get away.”

Deania nodded her head. “I can get you to the temple. I don’t trust the guard to put up with Coryn and the other paladins much longer.”

Marietta followed her through the back alleys, ducking behind barrels whenever footsteps sounded.

“They won’t expect you to make it this far, so the back alley should be unguarded,” Deania murmured, her eyes searching in front of them.

She stuck out her head, checking the street that sat between the alley they were in and the one behind Therypon’s temple.

Deania motioned for Marietta to follow as she took off running.

As they dodged bystanders walking along the street, someone gripped Marietta’s arm.

“She’s here!” a guard shouted. Small but quick, Deania jumped in front of her, grasping the man’s exposed wrist. Solid black filled her eyes as dark, crackling energy released from her hand.

He cried out in pain, trying to fling Deania, but she held on.

“Run!” Deania screamed.

Marietta sprinted to the alley, leaving her friend behind.

Cerulean banners waved from the upper floor of the temple, encouraging Marietta forward.

She glanced back, realizing Deania hadn’t followed.

Gods, first Amryth, now Deania. If they were caught, if something happened to them because of her—no, she had to focus.

At the opposite end of the alley, two guards appeared.

Marietta swore, her legs pumping faster as she raced toward the temple—toward the guards, too.

She was so close to the back wall of the temple grounds. She just needed to get on the property.

Relief flooded her as she reached the gate, pulling the handle. But it wouldn’t budge. She frantically tried again, the guards closing in, yet it remained locked. Marietta took a calming breath, staring at the wall. She’d have to climb.

Her nails chipped as they dug into the mortar, her feet slipping as she struggled to find a hold, yet she climbed and continued to rise, cresting the top and seeing the temple gardens from the other side. “Help!” she screamed towards the temple, attendants in blue appearing in the windows.

A hand wrapped around her ankle, ripping her from the brick. Marietta crashed onto the cobblestone with a groan. Shaking off the stinging pain, she lurched to the side, throwing off the guard, but a second seized her, pinning her to the ground. “Run, tell them we got her.”

One guard took off running. The other grabbed her by the hair, holding her in place. “You’ve made quite a disturbance, haven’t you?” The guard laughed, pulling her to her knees.

Marietta turned to spit in his plump face as someone’s foot slammed into it. The guard released Marietta and Amryth jumped on him, the kick stunning his reaction, and she landed a second blow to his nose with a sickening crunch.

Deania came running up behind her, arms flailing towards the temple. “Open the gate!” she screamed. “Open the gods damned gate!”

Amryth grabbed the guard by his collar, head-butting him, and dropped back onto the path. “Mar, go!”

She darted, but the guard reached out, snagging her ankle. Gravel stung her face as she fell, just as a group of guards charged the alley.

Amryth swore as the guard kicked out at her, and she launched on top of him. “Go!” she screamed again.

Deania grabbed Marietta’s arm, helping her to the gate as the group of guards approached, the first meeting Amryth’s fist as she held the line. Deania threw Marietta towards the door as she turned to help Amryth.

Marietta dove through, crawling away from the entrance. There was a flash of black, followed by Amryth and Deania racing through the gate.

Deania held up her hands, her fingertips glowing white. “On behalf of the Goddess Therypon, I declare Marietta Vallynte and Amryth Sulyng under our protection!” A white barrier appeared in the fence’s gap where the door should be, the guards slamming into it.

“Quick, close the gate,” Deania ordered two attendants who remained off to the side, mouths agape. Deania wiped her hands off on her pants and looked up at Amryth and Marietta. “Well, wasn’t that fun! I haven’t had to fight like that since I fled Chorys Dasi.”

Amryth stood, offering Marietta a hand, eyes lining with tears. She pulled Marietta into a tight hug. “Thank gods. We did it. You’re safe.” Her voice was thick with emotion.

Marietta hugged her back, squeezing, unable to believe it herself. Amryth, who saved her once, had saved her again. “I don’t know how to thank you,” she said, a lump rising in her throat. “You risked everything for me.”

“I couldn’t leave you there, not after all you’ve been through with Keyain. But we did it; you’re here. We’re both here, and we’re safe.”

They pulled back, Marietta using the heel of her hand to wipe away her tears. “I’m forever in your debt.”

Amryth shook her head. “No, Marietta. You’re my friend, and you needed my help.”

“I’m here for you, always. Okay?”

Amryth nodded her head, new tears forming in her eyes that fell down her cheeks.

“I know this is emotional, but we need to move and find Coryn,” Deania said, her hands ushering the two inside.

They wound their way through the temple, heading underground to a room where they found Coryn pacing.

“Thank the goddess,” he said as they walked in, his left eye swollen and red.

“Coryn, what happened?” Deania said, approaching him.

He shook his head. “Keyain’s here. There isn’t enough time. The ceremony is long and we have just enough Iros to perform it.” He sighed, pulling Marietta into a hug. “I’m glad you made it.”

“I only did because of these two. Amryth distracted the guards that followed us from the palace. And Deania—what even was that? When you grabbed the guard and then the flash of black?” She turned to Deania as she fussed over Coryn’s eye.

“Pain is the other domain,” she said, sighing at Coryn’s injury. “I expelled energy that flares their nerves, so they feel as if they’re injured, in theory.”

“Enough.” Coryn jerked away from her touch. “Right now, I need to get Marietta to the ceremony. When they learn she made it to the temple, they’ll order a King’s summons, and I don’t doubt they’ll try to infiltrate the temple looking for her.” He held out his hand for Marietta to take.

She grasped it, looking at Amryth and Deania as she left. “Thank you both again-”

Amryth smiled. “No time, Mar. Get going.”