Page 46 of War Hour

Ardis chirps in.

“There’s nothing wrong with you being here, Lysta. How about you sit, and we’ll go over everything?”

Was it a common duty for Sar and Ardis to have to soothe over Torryn’s abrasive personality? How tiring of an endeavor.

Plopping in the seat across from Torryn, I smirk at him in silent victory.

Torryn raises an eyebrow at me.

My expression doesn’t invoke the reaction I expect.

My mouth falls in confusion until Torryn drags his gaze down my body, hovering near my knees. He looks at me pointedly, and I follow his gesture to see the slit in my dress has shifted upward, revealing the tip of the dagger and a portion of my upper thigh.

I fling the skirt over my exposed leg, my cheeks burning. Refusing to meet his amused face, I rejoice nothing indecent had been showcased.

I’m used to trousers.

Torryn starts, “A judgment hearing is a big thing, and they are going to tear Lysta and my testimonies apart. We need allies right now, not enemies. We can’t have any of us raising red flags that we can’t be trusted.”

“It seems like you already aren’t trusted here.”

The words tumble from my mouth before I can bite my tongue and shove the retort down. I internally wince, wishing I could reach out and take the accusation back.

Torryn’s face gives nothing away. Instead, he leans back, propping his ankle up on his opposite knee casually, as if he hadexpected the strike. He glowers at me. “If you have a question, share. I may be able to read your mind, but I’d prefer to save it for emergencies. It’s really an unpleasant experience.”

Ignoring his attempted barb, I push, “Every step of the way, you’ve deceived me, lied to me, and now, when I’m literally in the lion’s den, you are keeping information from me. Information that could cost me my life.” I stare Torryn down, looking deeply into his eyes. “Information that risks everything I’m trying to do.”

“If I told you everything, you’d be running for the hills, forgetting all about your little hero mission. I’m giving you the information you need, and beyond that, you’ll just have to trust me.”

I scoff. “Trust you? When most of the people in this place are scared to death if you look their way? Do you know what’s being scrubbed off your entrance right now? I need more.”

“Torryn”—Sar winces—“maybe you could—”

“No, Sarielle. Leave it alone,” Torryn says, raising his voice. He stands, running his fingers through the top of his hair. Leaning in, his eyes dare me to continue. “Ask.”

“Why do they fear you and your court? Why was your father sentenced to judgment?”

“Because they should, Lysta. They should fear me.”

I recoil from him, surprised at his blunt statement.

“My father did terrible things to his people and then he got greedy and tried it against the other courts, too. They have every right to have some lingering concern about my presence here. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have bigger things on my plate than comfortingyou.”

Chapter 19

Fleeing the Court of Self’s tower, I try to keep my frustration at bay, afraid to say something I’ll regret. Maybe I already have.

Turning another corner of the identical halls, I’m knocked backward as I collide with someone else. I land on the floor across from the casualty of my carelessness. I don’t recognize her—which is a good sign, as it means she likely isn’t a Crown or Heir.

Getting my feet under me, I hurry to help the fallen girl, offering her a hand. “Please forgive me. I’ve gotten lost and didn’t see you when I took the corner.”

She looks about my age, maybe a few years older. Her lavender dress pools on the floor around her, the pale color complementing her dark-bronze skin. Through the sheer sleeves, a glimpse of a Trial tattoo twists around her wrist, and I straighten instinctually.

The capital isn’t like Falland.Not everyone who is Trialed is a threat to me.

My eyes meet her deep brown ones when she looks up for the first time, and I’m taken aback by her disgruntled expression.

“You mean you didn’t see me because you failed to actually look around the corner?”

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