Page 233 of A Queen's Game
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 makeyou 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 outof 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 painin her legs—even her lungs—subsided, the warmth lingering instead.
