Page 247 of A Queen's Game
She nodded, leaning on to him as they left the room, heading down a hallway. Light shined through the only open doorway, Wynn leading her to it. Inside, the King sat behind his desk with his attention absorbed by the papers in his hands. Wynn walked her forward and eased her into a chair in front of the desk. He sat in the one next to it.
Wyltam looked up from his papers. “How’re you feeling, Elyse?”
“Like shit.”
Wynn snorted at her response, and the King smiled.
“Unsurprising, considering what happened.” Wyltam set down his papers and turned his full attention to her. “Elyse, I would like to thank you. What you did took bravery and because of your actions, we secured your father before he escaped.”
Secured her father? She frowned, staring at her feet. There was something with her father, but what was it?
“In the face of fear, you chose to denounce the males you once called friends and ensured the capture of your father afterthe abuse he has brought on to you,” he said, drawing her gaze back to him.
Males she once called friends?
“Over the past couple months, you have proved time and time again your loyalty to me and you have my full-hearted trust.” He moved a velvet box to the center of his desk, opening it to reveal a golden broach of the Satiroan crest. “With that in mind, I’m raising your status from Lady of the Court to King’s Administrator. Similar to the first position I offered, you will be my eyes and ears still, but the responsibilities shifted. You won’t just work in foreign courts, but the Satiroan Court as well.”
She shook her head. “I don’t understand what’s happening.” She paused, looking at her hands. “I don’t remember what happened.”
Wynn leaned over, his hand holding the armrest of her chair. “Do you remember the Chorys Dasians attacking you? Or when you were in Wyltam’s study with your father?”
Elyse furrowed her brows, her mind catching up to their words. Brynden—no, Prince Azarys—tried to take her to Chorys Dasi. And her father…. Her breath came sharp as it all came back, staring from Wynn to the King.
“Do you remember Fulbryk’s second principle?” King Wyltam asked, his fingers tapping against the box.
“Magic is manipulation of aithyr through the will of the mage, not through the will of aithyr. Don’t let aithyr win,” she recited.
“Aithyr won, and you lost control. When Wynn found you, you were in a frenzy and nearly killed your father.” The King sat back, his eyes staying on Elyse. “You’re to remain on magicsbane for the next few days to clear the aithyr from your body, ensuring that your mind stays intact, but I have to be honest with you, Elyse. Given what happened to your mother, I’m worried about your sanity.”
She remembered the sensation of letting go, of letting the energy take over. Her face heated with shame, realizing her mistake. Now, the King thought she was crazy. Maybe she was. Did she really see Azarys in that book? Was he really abeast man? She shook her head, realizing she couldn’t tell the King, not without her thinking she was insane. “But you offer me a new position? What if I’m compromised completely?”
“You aren’t,” Wynn said. “The process can take years, so it just means we need to be conscious of your training going forward. If you want it.”
Elyse turned to him; she wasn’t too far gone. “Of course I want it.”
The King laughed, a slight smile pulling to his face. “Between sitting in on my meetings and mage training, you’re going to have a busy few months. Especially with the two wars.” His smile faded as his eyes found his papers once more.
“Two wars,” she said. “As in, we’re now in two wars?”
The King nodded, exhaustion clear in his features. “Not only are we fighting with Enomenos and the anti-Syllogi group, but also with Reyila, backed by Chorys Dasi.”
Elyse’s limbs numbed. War. With Chorys Dasi. “What happened? Why Reyila? Chorys Dasi isn’t attacking because of me, are they?”
“No,” he said. “There was an assassination attempt on Marietta. Queen Valeriya sacrificed herself to save her.”
“What?” She sat forward, not registering the words.
“Because Valeriya was hit, most believe it was an attempt on her life. Reyila’s sources claimed I orchestrated her death because of the rumored affair with Marietta.” His jaw ground as he looked at the stack of papers again. “Which is to say it is just that—a rumor. Now, the queendom released an official notice that they are moving against Satiros.”
As if losing Queen Valeriya hadn’t been enough on top of Azarys, there was also another war. Tears blurred her vision as she hastily wiped them away. Marietta and Wyltam may have kissed, but they hadn’t done more than that. Elyse knew Marietta enough to know she would’ve said something.
“There’s one last piece,” Wyltam added, picking up the papers. “Marietta is to go to trial for conspiracy of treason, acts of treason, failure to follow legal protocol, and now murder of Valeriya.”
Elyse jumped out of her seat. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. She wouldn’t have done any of those things.”
“Marietta is guilty of handing off sensitive information that she stole from Keyain.” The King’s dark eyes found her. “Now my ministers look to offload the war with Reyila by sentencing her to death.”
She shook her head, her hand coming to her mouth. “They can’t kill her.”
