Page 146 of A Queen's Game
Coryn closed the door behind him as he ushered Marietta into the room. As before, he wore his blue tunic beneath his armor. “Saw you two walking up the steps but I was surprised when you weren’t in the chapel.”
Amryth pursed her lips, waiting as Marietta took her seat. “Mar, can you tell them what you told me in the carriage?”
“That I can’t remember if Therypon had ears?” Marietta narrowed her eyes, confused on why she’d have to repeat it. “Why’d you tell me to stop talking in the carriage?”
“The other part.” She crossed her arms, leaning into the couch.
“That I saw her when I prayed?”
Deania and Coryn exchanged surprised glances. “You saw Therypon during your prayer?” Deania said, scooting to the edge of her chair. “You’re sure about this?”
“Well, yeah, she looked identical to the statue. And when she spoke—”
“She spoke?” Coryn interrupted. “As in, she told you something?”
“She told me a few things,” Marietta said, turning to him. “We had an entire conversation, but it was in my mother’s herb garden.” Marietta turned back to Amryth, who looked as if she’d be sick. “Is that not normal?”
“No,” Deania answered, her grin growing. “Marietta, only those who are Iros receive visions like that.”
“And even then,” Coryn said, leaning forward with his arms resting on his knees, “not every Iros converses with the goddess, let alone does it on their second time praying.”
“I don’t know what Iros means.” Marietta’s heart skipped a beat at their range of emotions.
“Iros are paladins of the gods, chosen to be their elite warriors for unique causes.” He rubbed the scruff on his chin as his gaze was lost in thought. “Usually only those who are an attendant to a god or goddess are claimed as an Iros. It’s a rare honor and holds the highest respect in the temples.”
Coryn shifted to the end of his seat and reached for the hem of his shirt, pulling it up to expose his torso. Gods, he was muscled. It took her a moment to notice that inked onto his dark skin were two intertwined snakes through a lattice of X’s. The tattoo extended from below his hip up to his neck, ending in twin snake heads. “Those of us who are Therypon’s Iros share the goddess’s mark inked into our flesh. The sign of the Iros is this, the goddess’s serpents.” He let his shirt drop and leaned forward on his knees once more. “Once that ceremony is complete,” he said, holding out his hand before him, “we gain control over both of Therypon’s domains—healing and pain.” White light emanated from his fingertips, then gave way to black crackling energy.
“That’s a lot to hear,” Marietta said, blinking at the magic. Her friends in Enomenos had never shown her that. “But I’m not an Iros. I’m not an attendant.” She craned her head to Amryth. “I’m not any of that.”
Amryth shook her head with a shrug. “You’re a lot of things, Marietta, but I can honestly say I know no one else who’s had a vision that early.”
“She should pray in the hand!” Deania said, jumping out of her seat. “Right now, actually.” She pulled Marietta up from her seat.
“In the hand?” Marietta asked.
“Yeah, in the goddess’ giving hand within the chapel! It’s normally what attendants do when they’re seeking a more meaningful prayer with the goddess.” She led Marietta to the door, Coryn and Amryth in pursuit. “All Iros are claimed in her hand.”
Returning to the silent chapel, fewer devotees occupied the benches. At the front, the statue of Therypon loomed over Marietta as she approached.
“All you do is kneel in her hand,” Deania said, guiding her over. “Then you pray as you did on the bench. Got it?”
“Not really.” Gods, what did they think would come of this? Perhaps Therypon knew Marietta needed help, so she had manifested. Marietta wasn’t an Iros, couldn’t be. The idea was ridiculous.
Stone bit into Marietta’s bone as she knelt, the pain not unbearable, but she was unsure if she’d be able to clear her mind enough to speak to the goddess. She tilted her head back, facing the statue. With her mind focused on ignoring her uncomfortable seated position, she let her conscious fade, reaching for the Therypon’s warmth. The pain in her legs subsided, and her vision went white.
First came the eucalyptus and peppermint scent, then the white faded and she stood in the center of her bakery’s kitchen in Olkia with Therypon standing across from her. A choking sob built in her throat at the sight of her home, at the place she felt most herself. A knowing smile came to the goddess’ face, her onyx skin glowing and her long black waves blowing though there wasn’t any wind.
“Welcome, Marietta.”Her tone was still affectionate and earthy, comforting and familiar.
“My goddess,” she said with a bow of her head. “Thank you for giving me a direction.” She looked up, glancing around the kitchen, her hand falling onto the wooden countertop. “For giving me one last time to see my home.”
“Who said it would be the last time you saw it? Things, as they are now, won’t be as they are in the future—nothing is set in stone.”
Marietta’s heart skipped a beat. “You said you know my future. Will I return to Olkia? Will I be free of Satiros?” At her anxiety, the goddess glowed with golden light. A comforting warmth settled deep into Marietta’s chest, and she held onto it, savoring it.
“That will always be a possibility, but only if you seek the truth. You came to me today, not for your goal, but answers. What do you seek?”
She reflected on the conversation she just shared with Deania and Coryn. “They say I might be an Iros because you speak to me. Is that true?”
