Page 141 of The Fifth Heir

“The demonstration required a fifth connection.”

“The repair crosses the return channel.”

“It redirects excess power into the outer containment ring.”

“Then why wasn’t the original channel extended?”

“Because the Hall was not built for this purpose.”

The central Prism rose behind him, dark and silent.

The Hall had been built for a fifth beam no one expected. I no longer trusted anyone’s certainty about its intended purpose.

“Did you test the repair?” I asked.

Malcolm’s expression remained controlled. “Repeatedly.”

“Under simultaneous exposure?”

“With simulated elemental force.”

“That isn’t the same.”

“No simulation is identical to live magic. That is why the demonstration is necessary.”

Torren left his Fire position and approached.

“If she doesn’t trust the containment, postpone it.”

Malcolm looked toward the galleries. “The territorial representatives have gathered under lawful petition.”

“They can gather again.”

“The succession cannot remain uncertain because the fifth heir is uncomfortable.”

“I didn’t say I was uncomfortable,” I said.

Torren looked at me.

The answer had been for Malcolm, not him.

“The repair crosses the return channel,” I continued. “I want that entered into the demonstration record.”

A runemaster standing beside the dais lifted his slate.

“It will be entered,” the headmaster said.

Malcolm’s mouth tightened.

Torren returned to his position only after I stepped onto the central platform.

The crystal torc warmed.

Clear light traveled through the newly cut rune beneath me and stopped at the inner containment ring. The repaired metal sections flashed once.

Nothing failed.

I looked toward the gallery.