Page 230 of A Queen's Game
“How would I have made a difference when the group of ministers I inherited is already distrusting of me?” Wyltam cocked his head, his dark hair falling to the side. “Tell me how I, the King of Satiros, could do as you did to help the pilinos? Never could I sneak away like that, nor understand the social nuances in The Weeds—but you did. I let you take the coin, and I hid the loss from my ministers. By pretending to be distant and careless with my position, I allowed others to make a difference.”
“So, me putting my safety on the line every time I stepped out of this palace was from your doing?” Valeriya spat, feeling her anger rise. “Don’t act as if you let me; it was my own doing.”
“I see that,” Wyltam said, his words clipped, “but I made sure you were safe.”
Valeriya scoffed, shaking her head. “You don’t care about me. You don’t care about your city—or anyone.”
“That’s not true,” Katya whispered, lifting her head to stare at Valeriya.
“Oh, so now you speak.” Valeriya hated the anger in her tone, but finally, Kat looked at her. Her sharp nose. Her bright eyes. Even though she scowled, she was stunning. Fierce. Emotion choked Valeriya’s voice. “Give me a reason to trust you after… after this.”
“Because Nastanya tried to execute me.”
Her words fell like a hammer to her chest. That couldn’t be true. “My sister would never.”
“Auryon would.” Katya swallowed, her gaze hardening. “I told you the Chorys Dasi prince was rotten. He’s corrupted your sister—corrupted Reyila. Together, they passed a law that moved pilinos to be subservient to the elven, just like the rest of Syllogi. Like Chorys Dasi.”
A wave of nausea washed over her. Auryon was a touch sullen, but he wasn’t that corrupt, was he? Then again, if he took over ruling Reyila… Nastanya wouldn’t allow such a ruling. “I don’t believe you.” Even as she said the words, Valeriya knew they were a lie. Dread weighed down her stomach, her limbs. Nastanya deceived her because of Auryon—because the plan all along must have been to give power to Chorys Dasi. Her hand shook as she brought it to her mouth, feeling the bile rise
“Why do you think I’m here, Valeriya?” Katya asked, gesturing to the room. “Why do you think I’m working with Wyltam? With Satiros? I had to flee Reyila because your sisterand her husband sent mages after me. Master Arkym gave his life to get me to Wyltam safely. All the pilinos nobles of Reyila have been executed.”
Valeriya shook her head, furrowing her brows. “Nastanya’s closest childhood friend was a half-elven lady. You’re saying she executed her?”
“Trylien is dead.” Katya swallowed hard. “They’re all dead because Auryon planted his seeds of distaste. Reyila is now just an extension of Chorys Dasi. The Reyilan Crown is an appendage of theirs.”
Valeriya closed her eyes as the tears welled, dripping down her cheeks. If this was the truth, then Nastanya was in trouble. Her sister devoted herself to their queendom and thrived on the diversity of their people. She was proud of Reyila and carried the crown with that pride. What happened? What changed?
Doubt crept its way into her head, the image of her sister and Reyila shattering. She looked at Katya’s intense stare, the passion brimming in her features. She turned to Wyltam, her husband, who never showed emotions; yet had a concerned frown marring his face. And like that, she understood.
Valeriya never ruled the game; she was a player in it.
“How long?” Valeriya asked, swallowing back her emotion. “How long ago had this happened?”
“Four years,” Wyltam answered.
Valeriya nodded her head and glanced at Katya. “You’ve been here for four years and hid from me.”
“How could I reveal to you I was here when you’d tell Nastanya?” Katya pleaded. “I know how much you love your sister. Fuck, I loved her, too.” She mussed her short-cropped hair as she flung herself on the couch. “I tried to help her, Valeriya. I tried to tell her about Auryon, but it placed a target on my back. If they learned where I was, they’d hunt me down. I uncovered too many of their secrets.”
Valeriya closed her eyes as her thoughts raced. If Auryon had corrupted Reyila and now the Chorys Dasi Prince controlled her home, what did that mean for the plan? The sudden panic left her breathless. The Chorys Dasians orchestrated this and now, they would seize Satiros.
Her body felt far away as she spoke, staring at the empty hearth. “If what you say is true, then Satiros is in grave danger. I gave Chorys Dasi everything I took, and they’re using it to plan an attack.”
“I know,” Wyltam said, drawing her gaze. Her husband’s stare was unwavering. “What we need to know is what information you passed to them or Reyila.”
“And not to the Exisotis?” Valeriya asked.
“I’m curious about that, but what you don’t know, Valeriya, is that I’ve been working towards uniting Satiros with Enomenos. Right now, I am arranging talks with the leader of the Exisotis.”
She stared at him, her jaw slacking. “What are you talking about?”
“For the past two decades, I have been working to unite Satiros with Enomenos and the Exisotis. In doing so, I hid everything from my ministers.” He shifted in his seat, his dark eyes locked on to her. “I want to break Satiros away from Syllogi and adopt the practices and beliefs of Enomenos so we can grant pilinos an equal station.”
“That’s ludicrous,” Valeriya said, laughing though she felt no humor. “You can’t achieve such a thing, not on your own.”
“I will achieve it,” he said with quiet confidence that Valeriya didn’t realize he possessed. “Marietta is the key to that plan’s success.”
“How does she play into this?” Valeriya asked.
