Page 85 of War Hour

I offer him my hand, and he hesitates in taking it. His eyes flick to the table of Crowns and Heirs before reluctantly sliding his hand into my own. Looking at me with sad eyes, he offers a whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Despite the anxiety swirling in me, I offer him a small smile, squeezing his hand. What has his power done in his lifetime to make him fear using it so?

Turning back to the Crowns, the Truthsayer nods, and the interrogation begins. One by one, the Crowns take their turns asking me a question.

“Why did you come to the capital?”

“To stop Lord Drytas from harming Falland any further. I was told I would find help here.”

“You were told by who?”

“Lord Torryn.”

“And what did Lord Torryn do or say to convince you to testify against Lord Drytas?”

I look to Torryn with cinched brows, frowning. “He promised me he could help the people of Falland. That he knew how to stop what Lord Drytas was doing.”

Ask it, I repeat to myself. Begging for them to ask what will tell them what they need to know.

“And what was Lord Drytas doing?”

I sigh, letting out the pressure hovering over me since I first stepped into the grand hall of the Court of Valor.

“He forces Untrialed citizens to Trial against their will. He manipulated the consent requirement by putting a knife to mythroat. And when the Trial collapsed, he made plans to attack the other courts in order to use their Trials to build an army.”

The room is still. No one turns to look at Drytas for a moment. Not until his outraged shouts fill the room.

“That is not possible. She is lying.”

Lady Ivianna turns to Drytas slowly. “Even you know she can’t under the influence of the Truthsayer.”

“Then, she must be manipulating it somehow.” Seemingly shocked, Drytas gives the room a contemplative look. “Her power—from the Court of Valor’s Trial. It was a protective shield of sorts. She must be able to use it to block the Truthsayer.”

When all eyes move to me, I freeze. Suddenly being analyzed at the revelation of my power. All this time, everything I did to keep it a secret, and Drytas has just negated it.

“It doesn’t work like that,” I insist, but none of the faces looking back at me seem convinced. “He’s trying to worm his way out now he’s been caught.”

“Then prove it.” Lord Drytas leans in, pointing his ringed finger at me. “Make. Her. Lie.”

I wait for someone to deny his outrageous request, but the other Crowns don’t dismiss it as quickly. Instead, waving for the questioning to continue.

“Lysta, please repeat the following sentences. ‘My name is Lysta. I am from the Court of Valor. I am Untrialed.’”

I repeat it without thought.

The room goes silent. My heart stops in my chest.

“Lysta, do you understand what just happened?” Lord Gennady asks in a deathly whisper.

“I’m able to lie—” Panic creaks into my tone, and I look at him with wide eyes. “I swear my power isn’t capable of this. I’m not even using it.”

“You have just shown you can manipulate the Truthsayer’s influ—”

“This is outrageous.” Torryn moves to stand beside me. “You know she’s telling the truth, Lord Gennady.”

Lord Gennady shakes his head. “Regardless of what I think, we need evidence.”

Lord Nicaise stands. “Use the Truthsayer on Lord Drytas. If he’s telling the truth, and Lysta can manipulate its impact on her, then he can tell us again what happened and then also try to tell us a lie.”

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