Page 96 of A Queen's Game
She would leave that suite, whether Keyain knew it or not.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Marietta
Within the hour, Amryth arrived. “I came as soon as I could,” she said, leaning against the doorway to the dining room. “Is everything alright?”
Marietta swallowed hard, pacing back and forth. “Keyain won’t let me leave.”
“Do you want me to talk to him?”
“It won’t matter,” Marietta said, pausing. “The King visited me, told me that the law allows for me to go to the temples, but even his visit didn’t convince Keyain.”
Amryth stared for a moment, watching Marietta with a blank expression. “So you sent for me,” Amryth said, pushing off the doorway, hands clasping before her.
“Yes,” Marietta whispered.
“Though he’s my superior.”
Marietta faltered her stare, biting her lips as she paced once more. Gods, this was a terrible idea; she was too loyal to Keyain. Amryth was the obvious choice, but not the only one. The King might visit again. He might overrule Keyain on the matter, but what if he didn’t visit? What if he couldn’t be bothered by amiserable half-elf like her? Gods, when did she start thinking of herself that way?
“Marietta,” Amryth snapped. “Did you even hear what I said?”
“No, but I don’t want to put you in a position—”
“I’ll take you.”
Marietta’s heart stopped once more. “What?”
“I’ll take you to the temple.”
“But Keyain—”
“You have a right to visit the temple.”
“What if he demotes you? If you lose your position?”
“Well, I’m already breaking his rule of not visiting you,” she said, offering a tight smile. “I do what’s right, regardless if my superiors believe it is or not.”
Marietta nodded, her chest swelling. “How do we do it then?” she asked. “How do I leave?”
“Don’t worry. I came prepared.” Amryth undid her green cloak, flapping it out. “How fast can you change?”
After changing into a simple dress that hung on her now thin frame, she met Amryth by the door. “Whatever happens, just follow my lead,” she said, not waiting for Marietta to respond. She stepped into the hall with Marietta in tow. The guards posted outside paused, exchanging glances.
“No one said Lady Marietta would leave the suite today, Amryth,” said a male with rich, dark skin and a scowl fixed on his features.
“Special instructions to get her on a walk since she hasn’t left in weeks,” she said, placing her hand on Marietta’s back to encourage her to go.
The guard glanced at his companion, a lighter-skinned male with a similar scowl and a hooked nose. “Makes sense. We were wondering how sick she was. Glad to see you up, my lady.”
Marietta nodded, trying to smooth the confusion from her face. The guards were always posted outside the door, so it made sense that they would notice something was wrong. Did they seriously believe her to be sick? Is that what Keyain told them?
Amryth ushered her away before she could respond. With luck, they exited the Noble’s Section without encountering anyone. Within a few minutes, Amryth stopped in the Central Garden. She handed her cloak to Marietta. “Put this on.”
Marietta took it as the rain began to fall, the cool droplets dotting her skin. She gasped at the sensation, casting her face towards the sky as she donned the cloak. Gods, when did she last feel the rain on her skin? The wind in her hair? Without another comment, Amryth pulled up Marietta’s hood and took her hand, dragging her through the garden towards a part of the palace she didn’t recognize.
Guards in similar cloaks walked past, some with intent, others milling about with laughter in their throats. The sight was almost overwhelming, seeing that many bodies at once, though they stayed in the halls. She tried to focus on Amryth’s back, not to stray too far behind as they raced towards the exit.
