Page 66 of The Fifth Heir

“Equally,” Leander replied.

Malcolm’s displeasure showed, but he did not forbid it.

We crossed the threshold.

The change in pressure made my ears ache. Air inside the mountain was cool and dry, carrying the mineral smell of sealed stone. The outer gate remained open behind me. Beyond it, the headmaster and runemasters watched from the field.

The five floor runes illuminated as we approached.

One responded to each torc.

Torren’s red mark stood nearest the Fire passage. Sebastian’s violet rune appeared across from it. Storm and Frost occupied the other two sides.

Mine waited in the center.

Again.

I stepped onto it.

The entry chamber awakened.

Four inner doors rose at once, exposing the elemental paths. Heat rolled from Torren’s. Wind tore through Rafe’s. Frost silvered the stone around Leander, while Sebastian’s passage remained completely dark.

“Charming,” Rafe said.

The men took their positions without entering.

Torren looked back at me. “Go.”

I turned toward the outer gate.

The clear rune held my feet.

I pulled against it.

Nothing visible covered my boots, but my body would not move beyond the edge of the mark.

“Talia?” Sebastian asked.

“I can’t leave the circle.”

Torren stepped away from his Fire path.

The red rune beneath him flashed in warning.

“Stay there,” I said. “It may release me once you’re all in place.”

“We are in place,” Leander said.

A low grinding sound came from the outer entrance.

The Crown Gate began to close.

“Malcolm!” Torren shouted.

The Keeper stood outside the narrowing opening. He struck his staff against the threshold, but the gate continued moving.

The headmaster ordered the runemasters to stop the sequence.