Page 162 of The Fifth Heir

“I meant it.”

“I know.”

I closed the study door behind me.

Before speaking, I placed a copied council proposal and my written account of the North Chamber meeting on the desk. The proposal showed the approved channel design without reversed returns. My account named every person present and recorded every question my father had asked.

Her gaze moved to it. “Are you about to tell me something I won’t want the others to hear?”

“Yes.”

“Then perhaps they should hear it.”

“They will. You first.”

She waited.

“My family sponsored the petition for the demonstration.”

“Malcolm announced that.”

“They based it on information I provided.”

The white runes brightened.

“What information?”

“That your torc reacted when all four elements reached the center of the First Trial. That the scale appeared under concentrated light. That you could not reproduce either effect deliberately.”

She stood.

“What else?”

“That you conceal pain.”

Her face changed.

“I told Camilla that.”

“Your healer recorded it as well.”

“And you confirmed it.”

“Yes.”

“The official notes said they interviewed my family.”

“I didn’t know that until the demonstration.”

“But you knew the simultaneous exposure came from you.”

“I recognized the wording in the notice.”

“When?”

“The night before.”

Her voice lowered. “You knew before I stepped onto that platform.”