Page 110 of The Fifth Heir

Malcolm ignored him.

The healer wrapped a clear protective band around my wrist. It did not cover the scale completely, but it would prevent clothing from scraping against it.

“Don’t attempt to remove it,” she said.

“I wasn’t planning to.”

“Don’t test its strength.”

“I wasn’t planning that either.”

Sebastian looked away.

He had warned me not to damage it last night. Apparently, everyone assumed I would begin prying at my own skin the moment I was unattended.

“Return to the infirmary tomorrow morning,” the healer continued. “If you experience heat or pressure before then, send for me.”

“What if I begin to shift?”

“Move to the training terrace if you can do so safely. It is large enough to accommodate a dragon form.”

“If I have one.”

The healer’s expression softened. “You have a scale.”

She left with the headmaster.

Malcolm remained.

“The review of the First Trial is not complete,” he said. “This manifestation does not alter your provisional status.”

“I didn’t expect it to.”

“Your training will be restricted until we know whether physical strain could trigger an uncontrolled shift.”

Torren folded his arms. “The healer cleared her for light training.”

“That clearance was issued before this development.”

“Then ask the healer to revise it.”

“I intend to.”

Malcolm looked at my wrapped wrist once more before leaving.

The wall runes faded from orange to clear when the outer door closed.

Rafe watched the change. “We should invite him more often. The wing has never communicated so clearly.”

I looked at Sebastian.

“You submitted a report?”

“Yes.”

“Without telling me.”

“You asked whether I intended to report the fire redirection. I said not until I could prove it.”