Page 206 of The Fifth Heir

“Then it’s the kind of idea that worries everyone.”

She crossed the study and stood beside me. Her hair was pinned back from her face now, and she had changed into her academy coat. The clear scale on her wrist was hidden beneath one cuff.

I pointed to the first word. “What do you see?”

“Four.”

“Look at the cuts.”

She bent over the rubbing. Her shoulder touched mine.

I forced my attention to remain on the page.

“The letters don’t match,” she said after a moment.

“No.”

“Could it have been repaired?”

“The archive records claim it was. The eastern entrance collapsed during the War of Ash, and the inscription was supposedly recut afterward.”

“But you don’t believe that.”

“The seal beneath the word predates the repair.”

She looked at me. “You found a seal?”

“I can feel it with shadow, but I can’t see what it conceals.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Because until now, I had no method of opening it.”

“And now?”

I pointed to the blue and red light overlapping on the wall.

Her expression sharpened with understanding. “You think two powers need to cross.”

“I think your power may allow mine to reach what lies beneath.”

Talia’s gaze returned to the rubbing. “This isn’t the original stone.”

“No, but the archivist who made it used transfer paper treated with powdered crystal. It was designed to preserve magical residue.”

“Can it preserve a hidden inscription?”

“We’re going to find out.”

Torren appeared in the doorway. “Find out what?”

Rafe and Leander stood behind him.

Talia sighed. “Do all of you follow me now?”

“Yes,” Torren said.

“Only when Sebastian disappears first,” Rafe added.