Page 12 of The Fifth Heir

This time, it matched the light.

My skin prickled.

“Master Orin,” I whispered.

He did not hear me over the headmaster’s voice.

“The four of you will—”

The Prism cracked.

The sound stopped him.

It was not the sharp break of damaged glass. It came from deep within the crystal, low enough that I felt it through the soles of my shoes.

Every person in the Hall went still.

The elemental beams surrounding the four heirs vanished.

The Prism should have darkened with them.

Instead, the white light at its center intensified.

Keeper Malcolm stepped forward. “The Choosing is complete.”

Certainty sharpened the words into an order.

Another crack sounded.

The hidden rune nearest me flared.

Light raced around the floor, connecting marks no one had uncovered. Candidates stumbled away as a new pattern appeared beneath their feet. It circled the four heir runes, crossed the ceremonial dais, and ended at the eastern wall.

At me.

I flattened my back against the stone.

The light beneath my badge became heat. Clear radiance leaked between my fingers.

Master Orin turned.

His inventory slipped from beneath his arm.

The Prism released a fifth beam.

It held no single color. The light was nearly transparent, visible only where its edges caught red, violet, silver, and blue from the glowing floor.

It passed through the rows of candidates.

Several ducked. Others stood frozen as it moved between them. The beam crossed the Stone line and reached Camilla.

For one desperate instant, I thought the Prism had reconsidered.

The light touched the edge of her slate-gray uniform.

Then it passed her.

Camilla turned as the beam continued across the Hall.