Page 64 of War Hour

“And how do you feel about what he said?”

“I don’t know how I feel.” I look away from him. “I think too much of the suspicion relies on reputation. Torryn’s court, Torryn’s father, but no one here seems to know Torryn.”

At Torryn’s name, Evander tenses. When he clenches his jaw, a muscle ticks in his cheek.

“You don’t like him either,” I murmur.

Evander responds through pursed lips. “Court politics isn’t about whether you like someone. It’s about who you can trust. Trust to back you up if something or someone were to threaten your court. Trust to do the right thing when lives are at stake. There are very few people in the court I like, but I trust some of them. I don’t trust Torryn.”

I inhale deeply.

Based on his characterization of the word, I don’t trust many people.

“Do you distrust Torryn, or are you making a judgment based on his father’s history?”

“I’ll admit, what his father did has a lot to do with it, but some of it is Torryn. You know how he has Trialed in multiple courts, right?”

Freezing, I look to Evander with wide eyes. I didn’t think that was common knowledge. I nod, pushing him to continue.

“He forged agreements with most of the courts. If we let him Trial, then we could send someone to the Court of Self to Trial. Torryn’s father let no one Trial there, and now, we know what kind of power could be gained from what his father did. Everyone wanted the chance to Trial.”

I sit patiently, letting him continue.

“My father didn’t take the deal,” Evander says spitefully. “He doesn’t let many Trial in Truth—it has the highest death rate of the Trials, and he has some fascination with Torryn so he won’t risk letting him die. But the other courts did. Even Bralas and Rhen and their feud with Torryn couldn’t pass up the chance at that kind of power, but none of them successfully Trialed in Self. They came back shaken—and with a new tally mark. Obviously, they couldn’t say what the Trial was—” Evander goes quiet, his gaze hardening as he looks forward.

Shifting beside him, I hug my knees tighter. “Sar said not every Trial is suited for everyone—”

“They said only a monster could complete it.”

My stomach drops.

What could the Trial possibly require that made anyone call Torryn a monster? Sure, he was abrasive and brooding, but it was closer to a lack of social skills than that of humanity.

“So, no, I don’t have any proof not to trust Torryn, but there are enough reasons for me not to either way.”

Holding my head in my hands, I panic. “How am I supposed to convince all the courts to trust me when they don’t trust the Crown supporting what I say? If they don’t believe me, whathappens then? Do they give me to Drytas to be punished for treason?”

Evander reaches over, squeezing my hand in his. I flinch at the contact, but allow for him to hold it. “We’ll convince them. I promise, Lysta. I’m on your side.”

Stomach rolling, I meet Evander’s gaze. “Can you successfully be on my side and not be on Torryn’s, too?”

Evander’s grip tightens, squeezing painfully, before he relaxes.

He looks down, nodding. “I get what you’re saying.”

Seeing an opportunity, I lean forward, catching his gaze. “Torryn got me out of Falland. He has vowed to stop Lord Drytas, just as you have to help me. If you stood with both of us, it would inspire a great deal of confidence.”

Evander glances toward our hands, his thumb brushing against the back of my hand. “You think it would make a difference?”

I shrug. “To them, I am a fool blindly trusting Torryn. They know I have a limited perspective on his history. But you... You know everything. Maybe that would show there is validity in what he’s saying.”

Evander sighs, reaching forward to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. “For you, I will defend him.”

Chapter 25

Torryn avoids me for several days before I even realize he’s doing it.

Relationships are not my forte—nor maintaining them.

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