Page 77 of The Fifth Heir

The second brazier dimmed.

If it went out, the rest of the bridge would follow.

“Talia!”

Clear light appeared inside the nearest flame.

“I’m here.”

“The bridge is failing.”

“I told Leander to stop freezing the lower channels.”

“He hasn’t.”

“He has. The cold in your path is residual.”

Another piece of stone broke away.

“It doesn’t feel residual.”

“Can you maintain the second brazier without increasing its heat?”

“Yes.”

“Do it.”

“I need to cross a gap.”

“How wide?”

“Ten feet. Increasing.”

Silence followed.

“Talia.”

“I heard you. I’m thinking.”

The gap widened by several inches.

“Think faster.”

“I’m going to ask Leander to freeze the runoff beneath your bridge.”

“More ice is the problem.”

“Uncontrolled ice is the problem. If he creates a support beneath the gap and you heat it gradually, you may be able to fuse the fractured stone around it.”

“Or melt it and drop the rest of the bridge.”

“Do you have a better option?”

I looked toward the sealed Crown Gate.

One strike would open it.

Talia seemed to know where my attention had gone.