The high general gave her a hard look, but then he stared at a ring he wore—not an intaglio-cut ruby ring, but probably the same principle.

After a few agonizingly long seconds, Qoran Milligreest said, “She passed along the message, but he didn’t respond.”

Janel’s heart skipped. “What does that mean?”

“That he didn’t respond,” Qoran repeated. He turned his attention back to the high lord. “I’d leave if I were you. The emperor won’t be pleased with you when this is over.”

Havar raised an eyebrow. “She can’t hurt me. Literally can’t hurt me. Have you forgotten the restrictions that come with wearing the Crown and Scepter? She can’t so much as lay a hand on any member of a Royal House.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” the high general said, smiling.

The high lord sneered and started to walk way.

Then the ground began to shake.

60: BROTHERS, AGAIN

Atrine, Jorat Dominion, Quuros Empire. Three days since Gadrith found Kihrin’s weak point

Kihrin held up a pair of dice. “So anyone feel like a game to pass the time?”

Brother Qown shook his head.

“Not a ch60ance in hell,” Thurvishar said.

Kihrin sighed.

Brother Qown raised his head and opened his hand. The metal twig had broken in two. “That’s it. That’s the signal. They’ve killed the dragon.”

“Thank the Eight,” Kihrin said. He drew Urthaenriel and slammed the edge down against the crystal.

The ground rolled under their feet, undulating.

Janel screamed as the ground tossed her up into the air like a small child playing blanket games. She hit the ground and scrambled to keep hold of something as the earth beneath her continued shaking.

Over on Lake Jorat, a whole giant section of the bridge leading to Atrine broke free and slid away. Then Janel realized she had the scale wrong.

A whole section of Demon Falls, holding back Lake Jorat itself, had just given way.

Not only was Tyentso still fighting Morios, but Janel had no way to reach her to tell her she had just seconds to slay the dragon, if they wanted a true death. And Janel was quite certain that she’d just watched their chance to permanently kill Morios this time slide away, thanks to Senera’s betrayal.

Only, what had caused the earthquake?

“I need a way over there,” Janel said to General Milligreest. “Is there anyone here you’d trust to open a portal?”

He glanced back in the direction the high lord had left. “No. And I’m not going to risk you or anyone else on the bridge in that condition.”

“I have to help them!”

“You tried,” General Milligreest told her. “There’s nothing more you can do.”

“I refuse to give up!”

“Sometimes you don’t have a choice,” Milligreest snapped. “Damn it, you’re as stubborn as your brother.” He stopped himself and winced.