Page 119 of The Fifth Heir

A seam appeared in the bare wall. Stone slid aside, exposing a narrow staircase descending into darkness.

Talia did not look impressed.

“You opened that alone?”

“I stopped at the bottom.”

“Why?”

“The next door wouldn’t admit me.”

“So you did touch the thing you’re showing me.”

“I touched the first thing. I didn’t touch the second.”

She closed her eyes briefly.

The gold runes in the kitchen brightened.

“You enjoy this,” she said.

“Very much.”

She removed a small lamp from the pantry shelf and activated it before entering the staircase.

I followed.

“You said I couldn’t walk behind you.”

“I reconsidered. If you trigger something, I want you in front of me.”

“Practical.”

The stairs descended farther than the tower should have allowed. The air grew warmer rather than colder, carrying the scent of damp soil.

At the bottom, a clear door blocked the passage.

Five circular marks had been cut around its frame. Storm responded when I approached, but the other four remained dark. The center held the same nearly invisible pattern as Talia’s torc.

“Did you try your power?” she asked.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I may occasionally ignore instructions, but I’m not stupid.”

“The distinction remains unconfirmed.”

Her lamp lit the edges of the door. Beyond it, only darkness showed.

Talia stepped closer.

The center mark awakened.

Red, violet, silver, and blue moved around the frame even though the other men remained several floors above us. The colors reached the clear rune and disappeared.

The door opened inward.