Page 204 of The Fifth Heir

Rafe crossed his arms. “You’re welcome.”

The headmaster raised a hand before Malcolm could respond.

He was an older man with silver at his temples and the heavy stillness of someone accustomed to ending arguments without raising his voice. “The original pieces will remain in the Fifth Wing under seal. The copies will be examined by three independent rune masters.”

“Independent rune masters selected by whom?” Torren asked.

“By the crown council.”

Leander’s jaw tightened.

His family held two positions on that council.

Talia stood between Torren and me, wearing the transparent torc the Fifth Wing had given her. It was nearly invisible against her throat, but the center stone caught the light whenever she moved.

“And what happens to Malcolm?” she asked.

The Keeper turned toward her.

I stepped closer before I considered the movement. Torren did the same on her other side.

The headmaster noticed both.

“Keeper Malcolm remains suspended from the Trials until the inquiry is complete,” he said. “He will retain his academy duties outside the Trial chambers.”

“That means he keeps access to the archives,” I said.

“The Trial archives require Keeper authority.”

“Exactly.”

Malcolm’s eyes met mine.

The darkness beneath my skin stirred. My dragon had never trusted him. Until recently, I had dismissed that response as rivalry between two forms of shadow power. Now I wondered whether my dragon had recognized something my mind had not.

“You have made a serious accusation, Heir Sebastian,” Malcolm said.

“I described a weakness in the headmaster’s order.”

“You implied I would use my authority to interfere with an inquiry.”

“If you heard your name in my statement, that was your choice.”

Rafe coughed into his fist to hide a laugh.

The headmaster’s patience thinned. “Keeper Malcolm will surrender his Trial keys and authority seal until the council rules. Is that sufficient?”

“No,” Torren said.

Talia touched his forearm. It was a small gesture, but he looked down at her immediately.

“It’s enough for now,” she told him.

Malcolm watched her hand on Torren’s arm.

For the first time, his control slipped. Disgust tightened his mouth before his features smoothed again.

The reaction lasted less than a second.