Page 148 of A Queen's Game
“She’s right,” Coryn added, crossing his arms. “This is incredible, but complicated. The King and his court don’t worship the gods. Ever. They oppose those who seek them, which puts you in a dire situation.”
“What does this mean to be an Iros? What will I do?” Marietta asked.
“Therypon deemed you worthy of her gifts. Usually, devotees need to train, pray, and seek the deities to gain their favor. Deania has been an attendant for many years now but she never received her ability from Therypon until she completed her cleric training a few years ago.” Coryn shifted his weight as he crossed his arms.
“So I can do magic.” Marietta stared at her hands.
“Not quite.” Coryn’s gaze shifted to the ceiling. “You’d have to go through the ceremony first, get inked with the serpent’s ash, but this,” he said, pulling down his collar, “is quite noticeable. I’m unsure how the crown would react. The tattoo makes it impossible to hide.”
“They’ll kill me,” Marietta said in a small voice, her eyes staring at the marble floor. “Therypon said if they found out,they would kill me.” Her gaze rose to meet Coryn’s, his lips tugging into a frown.
“I would doubt that, but if the goddess said it, then maybe they’re worse than we thought. A noble becoming an Iros…” Coryn laughed dryly, rubbing his hands on his face. “Therypon sure has a sense of humor, gifting this information after we just received instructions to join Enomenos in the war that Minister Keyain controls.”
“Coryn, that’s not very funny.” Deania chided him that time, frowning.
“I know, and I’m sorry, Marietta. Gods, this is such a mess.” He shook his head. “Communication is sparse between us and the temples in Enomenos, since Satiroan soldiers still occupy Olkia. I’m not sure when we can hold the ritual, so there’s time to figure this out. Therypon wouldn’t have made this so obvious if she didn’t mean for you to become a fully-fledged Iros.”
“But what if I don’t want to become one?” Marietta asked, her throat tightening. It was as if they claimed her choice, just as Keyain did.
Coryn shot a glance at Deania. “We would never force you to become an Iros, but the goddess doesn’t converse with even the best of us.” He stepped toward Marietta, placing his hand on her shoulder. “Marietta, you’re an enigma. We’ve never had someone like you.”
“Can I think about it?” She searched his dark eyes, finding confusion and hurt. “It’s not that I don’t want to, but it’s overwhelming. My life has already changed so much.” Coryn stepped back as she fidgeted with a strand of hair. “First losing Tilan, then adjusting to life here.”
“Mar,” Amryth warned.
Coryn and Deania exchanged looks. “Who’s Tilan?” Deania asked.
“Don’t.” Amryth’s tone was resolute, her expression stern.
Marietta glanced at her friend. “Some things are best kept secret.”
“Perhaps another time then.” The serious look on Deania’s face was off-putting for her cheerful demeanor. “So you are aware, the temple can claim you and protect you, even against the crown.”
“Granted that you don’t break any laws,” Coryn added with a sad smile. “If you ever feel unsafe, you have us.”
Marietta nodded. Not a day has passed where she’s felt truly safe ever since she arrived in Satiros. But Amryth was clear—some secrets need to be left unsaid.
“I heard about them finding the other missing pilinos,” Marietta said to Deania. “I’m so sorry for your losses.”
A tight smile came to the cleric’s face, as if forcing a smile through such pain was familiar. “May they finally find peace. Life in Chorys Dasi wasn’t easy for any of us.”
Marietta’s eyes slid to Amryth. “I didn’t know they were all from Chorys Dasi.”
“There isn’t an official record kept of pilinos refugees’ home city-state,” Amryth said. “Per law, Keyain can’t base any of the findings off of word of mouth, but he’s trying. He’s following up on full elven persons who came to Satiros from Chorys Dasi.”
“And any luck?” Coryn asked.
“No.” Amryth frowned as she stood. “Nothing official, even with the tip about horns and wings.”
Deania’s face darkened to an expression that didn’t fit her features. “The guards laughed at them, said they were crazy.”
“And this friend, they were from Chorys Dasi as well?” Marietta said, sensing Deania’s mood change.
The cleric nodded her head, a smile returning. “Yes, they served an elven family, as I did. We came from a long line of servants to a wealthy family.”
“Yet, here you are in Satiros, cleric to the goddess Therypon,” Marietta said. “I don’t understand how anyone would want to serve a Syllogi elf like that.”
Deania laughed. “There’s good money in it, you know. The elven designed Syllogi so half-elves have little room to grow. Servitude is one of a few lucrative jobs choices for pilinos.”
