Page 23 of A Queen’s Game (Aithyr Uprising #1)

Marietta trailed the Queen up the stairs.

“As the Minister of Protection and leader of the Satiroan army, your husband holds a very prestigious position in our court. As such, you do as well. You will be the subject of many conversations,” she paused, glancing back at Marietta.

“Be cautious; rumors catch like fire around here.”

Marietta blinked. Minister of Protection?

Without a chance to process, servants opened a set of double doors at the top landing. The Queen’s voice cut through the chatter, gesturing to Marietta. “Ladies, ladies! I brought a special visitor with me today.”

A half dozen ladies all sat together, their eyes turning to Marietta as her body froze, resistant to following the Queen. This was a trap. The note may have been in Marietta’s best interest, but the Queen had her own motives.

For a moment, Marietta thought that perhaps being off drugs in front of the ladies could work to her benefit—they could help her get away from Keyain; but, when she looked at their sly expressions, she knew they would be of no help.

They became starved dogs just tossed fresh meat.

Their intention wasn’t to help but entertain themselves.

Marietta slowed her breath as she crossed the threshold, holding her chin high.

She just had to get through this tea time, then she could find another way to escape.

Telling the ladies the truth—that Keyain had abducted her—might make them question her sanity.

After all, Keyain was their Minister of Protection .

Marietta was a meek half-elf in their presence.

“Come, Lady Marietta. Sit with me,” Valeriya said, taking a seat at a small table with two chairs. Marietta crossed the space, noting the women of the room. They wore tight gowns like her own, adorned in layered chains and necklaces. Dark powder lined their eyes.

The veranda was airy, with a tall ceiling.

A humid breeze rolled in from the rain, wafting scents of wisteria, jasmine, and lavender.

Below was a small garden of tumbling greenery.

Beads of mist trailed off an invisible barrier protecting them from rain.

At first, it confused Marietta, then she remembered—they had magic in Satiros.

The room held uncomfortable silence as Marietta took her seat.

She forced a smile, trying to regain her composure.

After all, how many times had she walked into a room full of strangers and won them over?

Those times were of her own free will and not after Keyain abducted her, dragged her to Satiros, and drugged her into a stupor.

Such nervousness was as foreign to her as the city-state she found herself in.

The Queen broke the silence with a clap of her hands, going around the room and introducing the ladies. Marietta said a silent prayer to whichever god blessed her with the gift of remembering names.

The ladies were part of the Queen’s Court, all wives or daughters of various important nobles in Satiros.

None of them held office positions themselves, which was irksome.

In Emonemos, all genders held positions in the city-state governments.

The leader of the Enomenos Unionization Council, the coalescing group between the city-states, was a human woman.

Yet here in Satiros, it became clear that the ladies sipped tea while the lords waged war.

Such a backward custom—not unlike their views.

The room held their breath as the Queen introduced one young elven woman, Lady Elyse Norymial.

Her hair was the color of dark honey and her skin a warm bronze.

With taught shoulders and fidgeting hands, Marietta recognized her nervousness.

Odd—she seemed put off by Marietta’s presence.

A lady with pale blonde hair, Lady Grytaine, wife of Minister Royir, leaned in to whisper something to Elyse.

Whatever the whisper contained made Elyse blanch.

“So, Marietta, how are you faring today?” asked one of the ladies, pulling Marietta’s attention away. The lady had tight black curls that were artfully tousled and dark skin that contrasted beautifully with the silver of her jewelry.

“Much better, Lady Ymorea. Kind of you to ask,” Marietta answered, keeping control of her voice.

“You were out for some time. Such injuries must have been horrid,” Ymorea said, her face pouting with concern. “You’ve been in Satiros for over a month now and we’ve only had a handful of chances to talk to you.”

A calm disposition remained on Marietta’s face as shock registered internally.

How had it already been that long? “The nurses kept me sedated for most of my time here, saying my injuries were quite dire, though I’m not sure the extent of them.

My husband said the wounds were too painful for me to be awake.

” Disgust spread from her stomach at the thought of calling Keyain her husband, but she was only playing the part of his wife.

“That sounds like Keyain, does it not?” Grytaine turned her to Elyse, who snapped her eyes shut with dread clear on her features.

Ymorea cleared her throat with a small laugh. “Grytaine, did your father ever find his servant? I’ve heard six other pilinos abandoned their families this week. Can you believe it?”

Grytaine scoffed, turning to Ymorea, hands splaying across the tabletop. “It’s absurd! My father still hasn’t heard from the wretched half-elf after three days. Now that one of them has become a lady, they forget their place.” She hesitated as the room’s attention shifted to Marietta.

From across the table, the Queen’s lips pursed; but she remained silent. After a long breath through her nose, checking her anger, Marietta said, “If there are so many missing, something is wrong. Have you tried contacting them or sending word to their home?”

The ladies stifled their laughter, a few exchanging looks as Grytaine regained her composure. “We don’t chase down the help. If they want their wages, then they show up for work, and if they don’t show up, then they’re no longer employed.”

“So you’d rather have the help ,” Marietta said, sarcasm lacing her tone, “come sick into your houses than to stay home? Is it that unbelievable to have sympathy for the ones who serve you? Consider taking a step out of your privileged shoes and put yourself in their position. There’s a reason they didn’t come to work and I doubt my presence prevents them from wanting an income. So if—”

Queen Valeriya placed a hand on Marietta’s arm. “This topic has grown inappropriate for such a time.”

Marietta bit back her annoyance from leaving her point half-finished. Marietta wished to push back at the Queen but hesitated at her amused expression. With a deep breath, she let it go. A rant was what the ladies hoped for, and Marietta had handed it to them.

“Instead, Marietta, you could tell us how you and Keyain met?” Lady Tryda, an older woman with dark skin and gray marking her temples, asked.

Deities damn Keyain. Such questions were why he needed to help her prepare. What had he told the court? What lies had he shared? Half-truths were better than an obvious lie, or so she thought. Would they believe their ‘Minister of Protection’ was her bodyguard in Enomenos?

With a sigh, she turned to Tryda. “I traveled between the Enomenoan city-states for work, which was dangerous to do alone. Keyain and I met during a meeting with a male for a guard position.” It wasn’t a lie; Keyain was there when she met Alyck.

“Common life is just so fascinating,” said Grytaine, who looked near the same age as Elyse. How large was the age gap between her and the old man she had met earlier? “What type of work did you do?”

“I connected businesses with one another, helping to find suppliers and buyers. Sometimes I would help with managing their finances,” Marietta answered, holding her chin higher after Grytaine said common.

“You’re quite young to have your own business.

” Ymorea leaned on one arm, looking at Marietta wistfully.

“And to think, our Minister of Protection sweeps you off your feet, and you never have to work again. It’s a story out of a feyrie tale.

You must have been excited to leave your working life behind. ”

“The opposite, actually,” Marietta said as servants made their way between the tables to serve tea.

Laughter filled the room once more, Ymorea clapping her hands with delight. “Your husband failed to mention your humor.”

Marietta furrowed her brows, and for once, she was at a loss for words. The ladies didn’t take her seriously, dismissing her completely. She took a deep breath through a forced smile and turned to take a sip of her tea, thankful for a distraction.

“If only Elyse knew Keyain had married.” Grytaine hid a sly smile behind her teacup.

“None of us knew,” snapped Elyse, her face turning scarlet.

“Of course not,” Grytaine answered, “but you and Marietta could become friends, being so close in age. Unless your relationship with Keyain is too problematic for Marietta.”

Marietta narrowed her eyes. “What part of it was problematic?” Gods, was Keyain sleeping with this poor girl, leading her along when he planned to drag Marietta to Satiros?

Tryda cleared her throat. “Keyain should be the one to explain that situation, Marietta.” She paused, looking out to the rest of the room, her age giving her an air of authority.

“Again, ladies, remember that Marietta was gone for quite a while.” She turned back to Marietta.

“Keyain was unsure if you would be alright after the humans held you in captivity for so long.”

Marietta paused mid-sip, lowering the cup as she stared at Tryda. “Perhaps I misunderstood. You think I was in captivity?” What in the gods did Keyain tell the court?

Worry flecked across Tryda’s features. “The humans captured you, my dear,” she said, each word slow as if Marietta didn’t understand. “You do remember why you weren’t with Keyain all this time?”