Page 6 of A Queen's Game
Either the nurse didn’t hear Marietta, or she ignored her question.
The glare of a dagger. The look of fear in Tilan’s eyes. The memory flashed before her, as clear as the night it happened. She said husband. Did Tilan survive?
Were they at an infirmary in Olkia? Why wasn’t Tilan in the carriage with her? She was alone from what she remembered. Or was she? His throat would need intensive healing—is that where he was?
But who would hurt them? They were known and liked in Olkia, Marietta more so throughout Enomenos. Tilan would know. He always had an answer to her questions.
The nurse returned with food and water. Marietta’s stomach rumbled, unable to recall feeling such hunger as she shoveled food in her mouth. The quality surprised her for an infirmary. “Where are we?” Marietta asked between mouthfuls as the nurse fussed with her bedding.
“Satiros, my lady.”
Marietta’s stomach churned as she set down her fork. “Satiros?” Why would she and Tilan be in Syllogi, the elven-ruled lands west of Enomenos?
The nurse’s mouth moved, but her voice became garbled. Marietta blinked as her body grew heavy. “What?” Marietta asked. She forced her eyes open, the weight of her lids too much to handle as she sunk back into her pillows.
In the doorway, a figure appeared, a man’s voice speaking. Calloused hands took her own—Tilan. It was Tilan. Mariettatried to open her eyes, to fight off the sleepiness, but darkness overcame her once more.
The sleep was dreamless; the occasional voice broke through her sedation, but the words were meaningless. More than anything, Marietta felt nothing—not the time slipping by, not the pain in her body, in her heart. There was nothing. The pleasant darkness consumed her.
Marietta’s eyes opened as someone left her room, glimpsing red hair tucked behind elongated elven ears. She called out, but her throat was too dry to make a sound.
Attempting to lift her head, she fell back to the pillows, the weight too much for her neck. She tried to move her arms, but they too lacked the energy to move. The bandage remained around her middle, but the pain was bearable.
Tilan was coming. Marietta needed to know he was alive despite what she saw that night.
Rousing her strength, Marietta failed to sit up. She tried again and again, wanting to get up, needing to move. Her limbs were like the boughs of a sapling—weak, unable to support any weight.
The nurse bustled through the door. “Oh good dear, you’ve woken again. I’m sorry you missed your husband. He’s away for the day, but he’ll be back tomorrow. I’ll make sure not to overdo your dosage this time,” she said in an assertive tone. “The traveling medic said that your drugs burned through your system on your ride to Satiros, but you would’ve had more on your bones then.” She gestured to Marietta.
She glanced down at her unrecognizable body—frail, bonier. Her curves fell flat beneath the fabric of her shift. With wide eyes, Marietta stared at the nurse. “How long have I been here?” she whispered.
The nurse put her hands on her hips. “Oh, I don’t know. About three weeks since they brought you to me.”
“Three weeks?”
“The healing wracked your body. Your injuries were severe enough that we had to ask the temple for additional help. Can you believe we had a temple attendant here to help heal you? You took quite the fall down the stairs. The soldiers said that they’ve never seen someone fight like that with the inhalant in your system. They said you were quite the beast, expected for a half-elf.” She laughed and moved to the doorway.
“Wait, what happened?” Marietta’s chest tightened as she tried to recall the events that led her to that infirmary bed.
“Don’t worry, my lady. Your husband will stop by tomorrow. He wants to be the one to tell you everything.” She winked as she closed the door behind her.
The day dragged into evening and Marietta was alone with her thoughts. Sleep was a reprieve from the back and forth pull in her mind—Tilan. Was he alive? Injured as he was, would he be able to speak just three weeks later? But the nurse said her husband. Tilan had to be coming.
The following morning, Marietta woke to the nurse. “My lady, your husband is on his way down.” She left without another word.
Relief flooded her with a heavy sigh. Marietta wanted to hold Tilan and to know what happened. Who was it that attacked him? Why were they in Satiros instead of Olkia?
Heavy footfalls sounded from the hall, pausing at her door. She watched the handle turn, her face smiling in anticipation for Tilan. The door crept open, revealing who stood beyond.
Her face fell, a sudden coldness hitting the core of her body as she realized what had happened. In the doorway was not her husband but Keyain Vallynte.
Chapter Four
Marietta, Before
Enomenos was beautiful. Each city-state had a personality, a claim to the world, and Marietta considered herself lucky to work in each of them.
The river city-state, Rotamu, had the best ale and the most breweries, where a person could try a new drink every night for months on end. To the north, Avato had frigid winters that contrasted with its citizens, who possessed warm hearts in the mining communities. As a blossoming artisan city-state, Olkia was home to the best craftspersons in the region. Notos to the south had beautiful weather, sandy beaches, and a collection of the most curious people. As the major port city, many world-travelers came to and from the seaside city-state.
