Page 28 of War Hour

Ardis looks at me to answer, and I bite my tongue, staring back at him with hard eyes.

If he wanted to use what I accomplished to gain favor with Drytas, he could do so. I’d rather be punished for failing.

When I say nothing, Ardis answers, “We did.”

My heart sinks.

Lord Drytas’s pacing halts, frozen. His eyebrows raise toward his hairline as he looks between me and Ardis before sitting back on his throne. “You did?” Drytas asks, anger draining from his tone.

Ardis nods, bowing his head respectfully. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ardis gesture for me to do the same, and I do, lowering my gaze as if I’m remorseful for my actions.

Malicious compliance if there is such a thing.

“Well, then, that certainly changes things, doesn’t it?” Lord Drytas looks between us, a hideous smile tugging at his lips.

I will forever regret the day I did anything to please this man.

“Show me, then.”

My stomach drops at Lord Drytas’s demand. Could I still summon the shield? I managed it in the streets, but I had wanted to protect Doireann and Thoman from a real threat.

Ardis steps in. “She already pushed herself further than I would advise. Perhaps we could delay—”

“Show me,” Lord Drytas growls, some of his excitement giving way to anger.

Ardis backs away, giving me a short nod.

Preparing myself, I tug at the strings in my heart that vibrate in anger or fear, plucking them until my chest feels tight. Pride fills me when I realize I’ll be able to bring it out.

The shield cascades, dripping at the top of Drytas’s crown, surrounding him in a wide circle. It flickers as I struggle to hold it, but Lord Drytas doesn’t seem to care or notice.

Eyes gleaming, he announces, “This will work perfectly.”

As I let the shield fall, breathing heavily, Belthan mutters in Lord Drytas’s ear, who nods before waving him away.

Locking in on Ardis, Lord Drytas continues, “Ardis, I will ignore your actions in the lower streets, as you have provided exceptional results. That will beall, Ardis.”

Ardis bows before making his exit, and I move to follow.

“You have not been dismissed, Lysta.”

Ardis exchanges a look with me as he passes by, and his concerned expression remains imprinted in my mind, even after the doors have closed after him.

Holding my hands together behind my back, my nails dig into my skin, leaving tiny crescents.

Standing, Drytas moves to walk the hall, circling me. “I owe you my gratitude, Lysta. Because of this development, my plan will move up to a more convenient timetable.”

I risk a look at Belthan, hoping for some hint of what Drytas is going on about, but he gives me nothing, letting me squirm in anticipation.

“With our Trial, notusable,”Drytas says, leveling a glance in my direction, “we need to explore other options immediately. Lest other courts feel we are vulnerable. All it would take is one whisper to get through our walls, and we’d be at war fighting for my court against all of Aloria.”

My heart races, pulsing deep in my neck like a clock counting down. It’s unsettling to hear Lord Drytas acknowledge the other courts, especially when sharing the same breath with the word war. Were they worse than Drytas? How could they not be if he feared them? Ardis must have had some reason for leaving his own to come to Valor.

“We leave in two days. My Generals have been scoping out our path ahead for the last month. We will head first for the Court of Virtue, as it’s closest, then east from there. We’ll bring every able Untrialed and an infantry of the Guard. With their Trial at our disposal, Valor will be the strongest court there is and ever will be.”

Drytas comes to a stop in front of me, and I school my worried expression, stomach in knots.A cold sweat clings to my skin, and I swallow thickly.

“And you, Lysta, will be by my side to push the Untrialed forward and prevent anyone from leaving until I have what I want...”

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