Page 149 of A Queen's Game
“Then why’d you leave?”
“Well, it was fun until it wasn’t,” she said with a sheepish smile. “I fled to Satiros because I made the family angry, and then had to join the temple for immunity. The family sent the Chorys Dasi guard after me.”
“King Wyltam told me that they don’t allow other city-states’ guards into the city,” Marietta said with furrowed brows. “Why would youhaveto join a temple once you made it to the city?”
Deania hesitated, glancing at Coryn.
“Well,” Coryn said, running his hand over his chin, “that doesn’t prevent the city-states from hiring elven civilians to, uh, apprehend refugees inside the city’s walls. It’s a loophole.”
Marietta’s heart sank to her stomach. “Why would they come after refugees? What’s the difference between a refugee and a pilinos moving to Satiros?”
“The laws state anyone can move between the city-states of Syllogi, but only with the proper paperwork.” Distaste laced his features as he locked eyes with Marietta. “Of course, that process is unending and most pilinos never get the paperwork approved.”
“Does that mean pilinos can’t even visit the other city-states?” Marietta said, anger tinging her tone. She thought of her life in Enomenos and how often she would travel freely and regularly.
“Again, with the proper paperwork, they can, but must follow a strict set number of days to return by,” Coryn said. “Which most pilinos use that time to give themselves a head start to fleeif their situation merits it. Others don’t even get that approved and leave the city themselves.”
“Once they arrive,” Deania said, pulling Marietta’s gaze, “only some are hunted down. Not allowing guards into the city slows the process and protects those who have committed no crime; yet, those of us who did, they send bounty hunters for us. Our only option is to join a temple.” She gave a weak smile. “Not even the Queen Agnyssa of Chorys Dasi would go against the temples, so we gain immunity.”
Gods, what crime could Deania have committed? But did it matter? No, not when the elven forced pilinos to the city-state in which they lived. Not when stealing was, unfortunately, some people’s way of surviving. That much, Marietta could assume.
“The pilinos who went missing, are the bounty hunters taking them?” Marietta paused, hesitant to add, “And killing them?”
“We consider all visitors suspects at the moment,” Amryth said. “The guard is investigating all possible legal avenues.”
“We’re lucky Minister Keyain has a soft heart for pilinos,” Deania added, the corner of her lips curling. “Without you, Marietta, the whole situation could’ve been worse.”
Marietta stilled, her breath caught in her chest. “But they’re being attacked because of me.”
Deania gave a small, dry laugh. “I can understand why the guard thinks that, but I’m sure you’re just a convenient distraction. Something else is going on.” She shook her head. “You should get back. Keyain will be worried.”
Coryn clapped her shoulder again, walking to the door. “As for becoming an Iros, you have time to decide. Just don’t take too long. I’ll reach out to the others so they can arrive in time for the ceremony.” He gave Marietta a weak smile. “That is if you decide to accept.”
Iros. A paladin. To a goddess.
The thought was laughable. Unbelievable. Utterly ridiculous. But she saw Therypon—again. Her deep onyx skin, long raven hair. Gods, even thescentof her was so vibrant, as if Marietta truly saw the goddess in her bakery.
What did it mean? Therypon said she would be of importance, at the thick of it all—that her choices would lead to death.
In the carriage, she rubbed her palms on the skirt of her dress. Death, no matter the cause, was never easy. Even deaths from old age left marks on Marietta’s heart, lingering longer than she wished. To think that death would be so known to her that Therypon called it her friend was nauseating.
The goddess was clear. Marietta was only her Iros for the person she was yet to be, for decisions she had not yet made, and to know that any choice she’d make would end in death paralyzed her.
Devote yourself to me and you will earn the strength to deflect your enemies.
Was it possible that becoming an Iros would save her? Impossible when the obvious tattoo would lead to Keyain and the King finding out. They would kill her. Her breath hitched as she steadied herself on the carriage wall, the cab suddenly too small and suffocating.
“It is incredible,” Amryth said, breaking the silence. “This is just my opinion, but it isn’t the worst idea, becoming Therypon’s Iros.” She paused, offering a smile. “If you claimed immunity from the temples, you could leave Keyain and the palace. You could go home to Enomenos.”
Marietta closed her eyes, mustering a deep breath. Home.
Her home was Olkia, with Tilan. Returning without him, without retribution, would be unsatisfying. As long as Satiros occupied Olkia, what home did she really have?
“If King Wyltam keeps approaching you—”
“The King is fine,” Marietta said, cutting her off. “He’s kind to me.” As kind as a foreign king who attacked her home and maybe slaughtered its population could be. Gods, she shouldn’t defend him, yet he understood Keyain.You can’t chase after him every time he’s angry.
How many times had the King done as such? If he loved Keyain, then he knew the temper. Chasing after him only enabled his behavior, and she was aware of that.
