Page 238 of The Fifth Heir

“On the strength of a disgraced candidate’s accusation and a piece of broken stone?”

“On the strength of five heirs nearly dying inside a Trial altered by someone using the authority of your office.”

Malcolm looked past him to me.

“This is not finished,” he said.

Torren’s arm tightened around my waist.

“No,” I agreed. “It isn’t.”

Malcolm expected fear.

I let him see that he had failed to produce it.

The guards escorted him across the courtyard. He walked between them without resistance, still carrying himself like the Keeper of Trials rather than a man under investigation.

He would deny everything.

The removed signature page, the inherited authority mark, and Camilla’s testimony created a pattern, but none proved that Malcolm had ordered the altered channels or reversed the Final Trial’s Stone runes. The inquiry would suspend him. It might strip him of office.

It would not uncover everyone who had helped him erase the fifth heir.

The headmaster waited until Malcolm disappeared inside the eastern tower.

Then he turned toward us.

“The academy witnessed five dragons emerge from the Final Trial,” he said. “The Choosing named five heirs, and the Trial has now confirmed them.”

His words carried across the courtyard.

“Talia of the Crystal Line, you are recognized as the fifth heir of Crown Wing Academy.”

For twenty-four years, I had possessed no dragon line.

Now an entire crowd repeated the title.

“Crystal heir.”

The words moved from one voice to another. Students bowed. Instructors followed. Even the guards lowered their heads.

Camilla stood among them.

She did not bow immediately.

Our eyes met.

Pain, shame, and something that might still become pride crossed her face. Then my sister placed one fist over her heart and lowered her head.

I could not forgive her today.

But for the first time since her confession, I believed I might someday want to.

The headmaster faced all five of us.

“The Crown Wing has returned.”

Silence followed.