Page 119 of War Hour

“There’s no need for that, Severin. This young gentleman was sent by mistake,” Lord Gennady says in a calm voice.

Severin curses under his breath as Belthan whips around. At the sight of him, Belthan scrambles, holding Lord Gennady further over the edge. The crown on Lord Gennady’s head falls at the steeper position, dropping off the balcony. I don’t even hear it land.

“Back up!” Belthan yells, wide eyes flickering between Severin and his sword. “Back up, or I’ll drop him!”

Severin growls, gesturing to Belthan with his sword. “You drop him, and you’ll be dead before he hits the ground.”

Stepping out from behind Severin, I hiss, “He’ll drop him anyway.”

Belthan’s eyes ignite when he catches sight of me. A wicked smile spreads across his lips. “Lysta, you’re so far from home.”

Swallowing thickly, I shout back. “I could say the same about you, Belthan.”

He shrugs, and Lord Gennady dips with the movement. “When Lord Drytas asks something... I answer!”

Moving to the opposite corner of the room, I try to draw Belthan’s attention away from where Severin stands. Heart pounding in my ears, I pray that he can reach Belthan before it’s too late.

“Is that why he’s safely away from the fight?” I ask. “What is he having you do that he couldn’t do himself?”

Belthan bristles at the accusation. “He’s asked me to prove my loyalty—to my court. He’s going to make me hisHeir.” He smirks when my eyes widen, continuing as he straightens with pride. “And all I have to do is eliminate the lord that threatens to breach our walls.”

My brows furrow. Did Belthan believe that? From our interactions in Falland, I had assumed he was intertwined in Drytas’s plans from the beginning, but now it seems he has been just as misled.

“Lord Drytas is using you, Belthan. No one is going to attack Falland. It was all a lie, a lie he used to makeus,” I gesture between him and I, “his citizens afraid to do anything against him.”

Belthan falters, his smirk falling as he considers my words. “Lord Drytas is making us stronger. He knows what’s coming, and I want to be on his side when it does.”

Everything moves in slow motion, drawing out every agonizing second. Belthan shoves Lord Gennady, letting go of his grip on the front of his shirt. And as the Lord of Truth falls over the balcony’s edge, Severin shouts, lunging forward. Belthan disappears in a blip, teleporting away before Severin can even touch him.

Severin and I both reach out for Lord Gennady as he disappears over the balcony wall.

I stand my ground, as he rushes to check over the ledge. Severin freezes, mouth agape as he looks down, to where Lord Gennady sits a few feet below, propped on a slab of my shield.

Severin’s wide eyes find me, jaw hanging in bewilderment.

Struggling under the weight, my knees shake, and dark spots flicker across my vision. “Can you—can you grab him? I can’t hold this for long.”

As if struck by lightning, Severin jumps into action. Moving to straddle the stone wall, he leans down to grasp the neck of Lord Gennady’s clothes, before yanking him back over the edge onto solid ground. They both slump, backs pressed to the balcony wall as they stare at me.

I release the shield, sinking to my knees in exhaustion. Adrenaline courses through me, and with no one to fight, it shakes my hands. Panting from exertion, the three of us exchange a look.

Once I’ve got my breath, I ask the question bouncing around in my head. “Evander?”

Lord Gennady’s mouth tightens, shaking his head. “I went to head off anyone going for the Trial, but they were already inside. I haven’t seen Evander since we arrived.”

Dropping my head back, I curse at the ceiling.

Severin barrels forward,slamming his shoulder into the barricaded door leading to the Trial hall for the fifth time in a row. He stifles down a groan of pain at the impact, the only indication of his hurting being the way he winces when he pulls away.

“Severin, you stubborn mule. That will not work,” Lord Gennady huffs as he eyes the door like it is his one true nemesis.

We can hear yelling on the other side, hinting that the Trial has been lost. Severin changes tactics, slightly winded from his failed brute force method of entry. Sliding his sword into the gap of the doors, he tries to pry the doors open.

After several failed attempts, I interrupt Severin, who looks ready to jump the window and walk the ledge to the door. “May I?” I ask, gesturing with a small disc of a shield held between my hands.

Severin glares at me through his brow before stepping aside reluctantly. Raising his sword next to me, Severin nods when ready to attack the first thing he sees once through the door.

My shield slams into the doors, breaking them off at the hinges until they topple outward. When the dust clears, six people stand on the other side—only two guards. From the other fours rugged appearance, I would assume Untrialed. My guess is only confirmed when I spot no Trial tattoos.

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