Goran Gothar straightened his back and blinked, reluctant to believe that the Grand Magister could send him and Andronic to Bucharest. He almost felt he belonged with the Alka, wearing that precious burgundy-and-black uniform with intricate looping. Andronic was Romanian, and the Magisters undoubtedly had good reasons to send the grandson of Councilor Constandache to pay his respects. Goran, on the other hand, was an outsider who could not believe his luck. Guardian Kara and Andronic both advised him to control his thoughts, avoid the gazes of the Byzantine Bloods and keep silent. Goran intended to follow their recommendations. Despite his better judgement, he hesitated when he saw a fragile girl with a round face and sad eyes in the middle of the courtroom. It could have been the predatory glare of Councilor Constandache, or the fear in her eyes that made him wonder whether he was just a glorified prison guard.

This girl was the only person in the hall whom Goran could not picture as a calculating assassin. Goran would rather believe it was the young light-bender who had taken out her kin: she radiated fire and courage. One did not take the Spy Guild lightly.

To Goran's surprise, Andronic did not express enthusiasm or even vague excitement at the sight of the Fasma Sanctuary and his relatives. When Goran elbowed him, he grunted tiredly and mumbled something incomprehensive in Romanian.

"I can't believe she could kill anyone," he whispered to Andronic.

"She is a Byzantine Blood, Goran. Trust me, I know what kind of stuff they can pull off. There's a reason why everyone is terrified of the Psychics. Do not be fooled by someone's pretty face and puppy eyes!" He suppressed bitter laughter.

Goran shrugged and shivered, catching the smell of sickeningly sweet perfume that trailed behind a tall woman like an invisible cloak of jasmine. She was Ariadna's defender, the infamous head of the Spy Guild. She was Arta Rinari. Hushed whispers rose and fell when the Albanian passed through the rows of spectators like a black swan floating on a marble lake surface. Only Archon Rares Calimachi remained unfazed: was his reaction typical for an all-knowing head of the Fasma? Goran could feel something important happening, some devious plan unravelling before his eyes, yet he did not comprehend any of it.

"Esteemed Councilors, Your Grace, Magisters." Rinari's sweet voice poisoned the air, making Goran nauseous. "I am here to prove this girl's innocence. It is my most sacred duty as the Head of the Spy Guild." She shot an extinguishing look at a blond woman with pale eyes, who sat beside Danica Horanská.

"I have brought evidence to support my claims." She squeezed out a dazzling smile. Then she approached Ariadna and stroked her cheek with a beautiful white hand: how could this woman combine charming beauty with creepy coldness that froze the air around Gordan? Even the lilting melody of her voice hypnotized and scared.

"The dagger, which you present as a genuine item belonging to the Lascari family, holds the answers to your questions," Rinari sneered. "You are certainly right, my lords and ladies: it did belong to the Lascaris. Once, a long time ago. The Lascaris lost it during the First Balkan War. It was then kept by my kin. If I am not mistaken the transfer happened 40 years ago. Allow me to present you a document confirming the displacement of the dagger." With a gloved hand she took a half-burnt light-stick out of her dress's long sleeve, immediately redirecting a beam to demonstrate its contents. As a light-bender, she required no projectors for such rudimentary manipulations.

"It's an old-style note-holder that all of us can recognize," she elaborated. "The information is recorded in Wielder Tongue. We can all read it." Her smile turned into a dangerous snarl when she bowed to a tiny dark-haired woman.

"I suppose an experienced historian with a background in palaeography like Professor Asenova can confirm the age of the notebook if she so desires. Of course, we are all interested in the contents." She tilted her head, holding a pause. "The author of these accounts cataloguing the discovery was one of the functionaries of the Spy Guild - a light-bender named Jan Horanský, a distant relative of our most esteemed Dalibor Horanský."

The writings faded, easing the strain on Goran's eyes. He turned his head to see Danica Horanská almost jump from her seat. The blonde woman beside her pulled her back. She may have been a relative of this Horanský, but Goran was not certain.

"Further investigation revealed that Jan Horanský acquired the dagger as a payment for his services from Alina Lascari, the now-deceased sister of Adeona Lascari."

Goran frowned, trying to comprehend the meaning behind Arta's words: did she mean that one of the Lascaris had bought information from the Spy Guild, and used the dagger as payment? But the Lascaris were rich, why would the sister of the current lady sell a family relic if she had enough money to afford anything she desired? Arta seemed to have read the same question in the faces of her spectators.

"Jan Horanský believed that the ornaments on the hilt contained a map depicting a field of Blood lilies." An illusion of light appeared in front of Arta, her white fingers sliding down its' shiny edge. "It seems that the former Lady Lascari wanted to protect the information. I believe I should mention the matter-shifters were particularly interested in this... rumor." Another wave of hushed comments stirred the audience. All the important Offcasts, except for Despina Asenova and Jeong Sun-chan, exchanged worried glances.

Kira Rankova, the head of the Setra, winced when she raised her hand.

"I believe we would need a more sufficient confirmation than the one you have offered."

The hall filled with whispers and noises. One deep voice silenced them. It belonged to the small woman.

"I can confirm this story." An aura of dignity surrounded her when she spoke. Her body did not move, but her dark-green eyes scanned the courtroom. "Alina Lascari was my son's fiancé." Lady Asenova paused. "She did not trust her sister to run the family affairs, but could do nothing about it due to her soft character and lack of political acumen." Did Lady Asenova mean that Alina Lascari had none of the backbone her younger sister possessed?

"She had no access to any of the Lascari funds despite becoming the heir after her brother's death. Alina attempted to hide some of the Lascari wealth away to keep it from Adeona Lascari. But that remains speculation." Despina Asenova tossed an ice-cold glance at the audience as if challenging them to an argument. "I allow the present energy-twisters to scan my mind if my colleagues prefer not to trust my personal biases." Silence followed. Goran could not imagine a single Offcast in his sane mind who would dare to question that woman.

Arta nodded gravely.

"That won't be necessary, my lady. I have further proof. Two witnesses. Light-benders, who were present during the accident. And what they saw... was not our Ariadna Lascari. Not even a Byzantine Blood."

"Byzantine Bloods can manipulate our consciousness!" This time it was Councilor Lovren, who spoke. The man who seemed quiet, faceless and bland to Goran, suddenly acquired a spirit. Hatred had a peculiar ability to transform an individual. Arta ignored him and the obvious breach of protocol.

"The man who bloodily assassinated his own kin was one of my people. A traitor. He had the dagger in his possession, and he knew his victims. He was also careless to leave traces behind." She placed two tiny devices on a long marble table before the Councilors. What else did Arta Rinari conceal in her long sleeves – light messages, bugs, tricky blasters, tiny daggers?

"Dalibor Horanský." She smiled, meeting Goran's wide-open eyes. The Albanian light-bender was enjoying herself. The poisonous woman wore attention well. Her steps echoed in Goran's ears as she was circling Ariadna Lascari with an air of deliberate elegance.

"Dalibor Horanský was not happy when his only daughter befriended a Byzantine Blood. His methods were crude, I agree, but everyone who has ever known him can confirm his addiction to alcohol and his lack of good judgement." She beamed at Radmila. "Pani Chlápková, you know pan Horanský very well. Would you confirm my point?"

Radmila Chlápková rose slowly, pressing her palms together. She nodded, forcing herself to speak.

"He... he was... But he could not. I..."

"Oh, I understand your shock!" Arta cast her a look filled with pity. A moment later, she turned to Ariadna and stroked her hair. Ariadna recoiled from Arta's gloved hand as if it was hot iron.

"Lady Rinari!" Varga exclaimed impatiently. "Could you not stray away from the essence of our investigation?"

"Oh, certainly!" she laughed. "I will call my two witnesses then."

She named a Polish and a Hungarian, both light-benders. When they appeared in front of the Council their faces looked aloof and somewhat indifferent. Behind them, Goran saw Danica's terrified eyes: the fiery girl with a messy bun of brown hair seemed ready to kill half of the spectators, but the shock had probably shaken her enough to paralyze her muscles.

"We must help her," Goran whispered to Andronic.

"We're not supposed to interfere with the Trial." Andronic shook his head. "She's under the jurisdiction of the Spy Guild. I would not want their 'protection'. Nobody sane would. But I don't think they are crazy enough to punish the whole family."

Suddenly Danica Horanská sprang from her chair, her voice shaking the air around them.

"You are lying! My father couldn't have done it! He may be a worthless bag of bones, but he is no assassin: he sleeps all day long, hugging a bottle!"

"Pani Horanská, calm down." Lovren raised his hand, but his voice lacked confidence.

"That's absurd!"

Goran could not agree more with her words.

"Shut up!" Radmila Chlápková hissed. Danica's eyes flared with fire. She slapped Chlápková so hard and so quickly that even Goran was surprised by her extraordinary reaction. Amused, Arta Rinari clapped slowly, suppressing bubbling laughter.

"Could someone stop that madness!?" Councilor Constandache exclaimed. When the Alkari, including Andronic and Goran, headed towards Danica, Arta called her light-benders forward.

"Are we supposed to detain her?" Goran asked, stopping behind Guardian Kara. Andronic shook his head.

"That charming girl? I won't detain her even if I am ordered to. I'd pay her to slap the spy once again."

"Lady Horanská will be safe and sound with my good nephew," Arta said, nodding to a slender man, who appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

"Who the hell is that?" Goran asked.

"Ah, I'll tell you later." Andronic sucked his teeth. Somehow Goran thought his colleague did not appreciate Rinari's nephew.

Ariadna stepped forward, catching Goran's eye. Before she could object, Arta Rinari pacified her with a smile of superficial kindness.

"Pani Horanská is a valuable witness. She'll be free. I assure you."

Who could possibly believe that woman? Goran doubted Ariadna Lascari was that gullible.

Disjointed exchanges of information, bureaucratic squabbles and senseless talks confused him: how was he supposed to make sense of that trial? He briefly remembered Ferenc Szemere with his huge bird, and wondered if the Hungarian understood their legal system somewhat better. After all, he was a lawyer. Goran frowned, desperately trying to find his own answers: "Did Dalibor Horanský kill his own colleagues to frame a Lascari and get a promotion?" His stare remained glued to the girl with red-and-black hair scattered over her sloped shoulders: why did Ariadna have to suffer?

"Gothar, hm-hm!" Andronic coughed and elbowed him. "If you keep staring at my supposed cousin with such vigorous adoration, I'll think you've never seen a girl in your life. Although...that's probably true."

Goran sighed in exasperation, trying to dismiss Andronic's remark and failing spectacularly.

"It's not that!" After another push from Andronic he lowered his voice. "This whole thing... it's wrong!" He sulked and stared at Andronic. What could he possibly understand? Besides, why was he even here, if not to mind the business of others? To his relief, Andronic let the matter drop, sighing loudly.

"It's getting damn boring! I keep wondering why they have organized this circus in the first place! Let's get out of here. Maybe that's the only chance we can get to stroll around. And I really want to know where the hell they took that Danica Horanská."

"You've said it yourself that we are not supposed to..." Goran objected.

"Oh, we are not going to disobey any orders. Magister Pärn is preparing me for the intelligence service in the future. And we're supposed to secure the perimeter." He shrugged. "That's exactly what I intend to do. And the 'justice' they serve isn't worth watching anyway. Come on!"

Moving closer to the exit, they sneaked past some solemn Offcasts and disappeared behind the curtains separating the hall from the long corridor with ornate pillars.