Page 85 of The Fifth Heir

Sebastian touched the dark stones at his throat. Violet light strengthened beneath his fingers.

“Intent may matter,” he said. “The Trial responded when we accepted our paths. It reacted again when all four of us chose to abandon them.”

“Then choose to leave,” Rafe said.

“I already have.”

“Perhaps the mountain needs a formal declaration.”

“The mountain does not care about declarations.”

The Shadow line moved.

It reached the outer edge of my rune before stopping.

Sebastian looked at his feet. “Apparently it cares about intent.”

Rafe touched his torc. “I choose to leave.”

Nothing happened.

“You don’t mean it,” Leander said.

“We’re sealed in a mountain.”

“You also want to know what happens if we activate the center.”

“That doesn’t mean I want to remain sealed.”

“It means your intention is divided.”

Rafe closed his eyes. The silver stones around his throat flashed.

The Storm line moved toward me.

Torren activated his torc next. Red light crossed the floor and stopped beside Shadow and Storm.

Only Frost remained dark.

We looked at Leander.

He stood with one hand near his torc but not touching it.

“What?” he asked.

“You have to choose,” Rafe said.

“I understand the process.”

“Then why are we waiting?”

“Because the Trial has rules. We abandoned the stated objective based upon an unverified interpretation of interconnected mechanisms.”

Torren’s red line held steady. “Talia saw that completing my path would collapse Rafe’s.”

“I know.”

“She kept all four of us alive.”