Danica Horanská synchronized her pace with Radmila Chlápková's energetic stride, making their way through the sunlit center of Bucharest. The University area with its eclectic mixture of architectural styles and bustling crowds sparkled beneath the Veil, but Danica was in no mood for sightseeing. She gritted her teeth and unblinkingly stared at the sun: if she endured a little longer, Chlápková would eventually talk and reveal her plans. Every second spent in her presence reminded Danica of those who had suffered from her actions. Danica had a good memory.

"Your wellbeing depends on your testimony, Danka," Radmila said.

"I get that," said Danica with a gloomy expression plastered on her face. "You promised to set Ariadna free." She paused, fearlessly meeting Radmila's colorless eyes. "You have made a deal with her father, haven't you?"

Radmila laughed, patting her on the back. Danica recoiled, suppressing a sudden desire to strangle the blond woman with the eyes of a dead fish.

"Why wouldn't I?" Radmila snarled. "I need Aladár to marry me to assure the support of the Hungarian time-masters."

"He will never support you if Ariadna dies."

Radmila ignored her remark.

"His daughter's fate is sealed: she will be condemned for her crimes. But I can ease her burden." A wicked twinkle appeared in her pale eyes. "I will be merciful and generous and implore the Council not to kill the girl. They will most certainly agree to spare her life. Aladár, the Vargas and all the rest will recognize my humble plea as a noble gesture worthy of admiration. After all, when was the last time that a light-bender took the side of a Byzantine Blood?"

"Never... I guess," Danica said. She knew well what Radmila had in mind. A cozy alliance with time-masters could certainly justify the Spy Guild's transformation into a band of armed highway killers. She bit her tongue not to spit at Chlápková.

"This sad incident will have interesting consequences," Radmila squinted at the sun and sneered. "It will prove the inability of our leadership to face the challenges ahead, and the Alka Guard's failure to protect the Guild."

Danica studied Chlápková's face, wondering if the would-be-leader knew what she was dragging her light-bending fellows into.

Danica took her place in the courtroom beside Radmila Chlápková and her goons. She pretended to take a vivid interest in her surroundings to chase away her frustration. A splendid hall of marble, glass and webs of light was no more than an illusion, polluted by seemingly important individuals, who, by the looks of them, thought they were the only reason the Veil existed. Danica despised each and every one of those well-bred idiots, but she could do nothing about them. They were to judge Ariadna. She was nothing.

Two grim Alkari led Ariadna Lascari into the courtroom, leaving her surrounded by an indifferent audience of lavishly dressed high-born Offcasts. To Danica, Ariadna looked exhausted, her frizzy hair with black strands reminding her of melting icicles. The five Councilors occupied their seats in front of their prisoner, towering over the spectators like nobles over filthy peasants. With mild curiosity, Danica watched the Alkari secure the perimeter, pretending to instill law and order. They carried themselves with poise and dignity, clad in their uniforms of burgundy and black with scimitars hanging from their belts. But all that glitter was nebulous and superficial like a tacky postcard presented as a unique masterpiece. The trial was a masquerade.

Among the people present, Danica hardly recognized anyone at all. Lorei Lascari's surprisingly relaxed face stood out: Danica had seen her light projections and portraits drawn by Ariadna. Lorei leaned to the side, talking to a woman who was a remarkable beauty, making all the spectators appear drab and dull in comparison. That tall black-haired lady with a long fringe and droopy eyes could only be Arta Rinari. Avoiding the gaze of the Spy Mistress, Danica shifted her stare to Aladár Kolosy, who pushed his way through the crowd. Was he the only man who did not try to mask his terror?

Danica scanned the spectators with all the scrupulous attention she could summon, until she came across a man whose white face made her shiver. There was something inexplicably powerful and strange about him: Danica stared at the man and could not figure out a single thing about him. He wore an old-fashioned white suit with tattered sleeves, had very long ice-blond hair and dark eyes of uncertain color. She knew him from the media. Ottokar Lišák, the Spy Guild's time-mastering prodigy.

"Otakar Lišák," Radmila whispered to one of her goons, pointing at him. For a spy, the man seemed conspicuous, even eccentric.

Another outstanding individual whose presence stirred Danica's curiosity was a short woman with a mop of dark hair, who took a seat beside the Hungarian Councilor. Given everyone's weary reaction and the woman's endearing aura of dignity, she could only be Despina Asenova. Behind her, a Councilor with grey curls appeared and occupied her place. Could she be Kira Rankova? If that was Jan Sapieha standing behind her, then it had to be Councilor Rankova.

The rest of the Councilors did not impress Danica much. Varga seemed dull with his hollow cheeks and an empty gaze of hazel brown. Eftimie Constandache was a huge elderly man with enormous hands and a square head, who barely fit into his chair. His neighbor was a tiny creature with very fine features and colorless hair - Igor Lovren, a close relative of the Draškovićes.

When the last of the Councilors rolled in his wheelchair, Danica's eyes widened. Jeong Sun-chan was a mystery, and Danica doubted that anyone, apart from Lady Asenova, knew much about him. He was an efficient bureaucrat with long black hair and an elegant narrow nose. Danica's father told her once that a strange illness had rendered his legs useless. Danica found it hard to believe that a foreign matter-shifter would come to Eastern Europe for no reason, and choose this kind of life.

"We have assembled here to determine the fate of Ariadna Lascari Kolosy." Antal Varga's low voice silenced everyone. "Lady Lascari, you are accused of killing two light-benders and illegal border crossing. Do you recognize your fault?"

Danica bit her lip and sought Ariadna's gaze. One of Radmila's goons blocked her view, but she still heard her friend's trembling voice.

"No," Ariadna almost shouted. Eftimie Constandache nodded to Varga.

"She believes her words. I sense the energy signature of her thoughts."

Constandache exchanged serious looks with his colleagues. Then Varga continued.

"I suppose you will not object to our analysis of the evidence against you, Lady Lascari."

"I will not." Ariadna lifted her chin.

The hearing disgusted Danica. She watched one of Chlápková's cronies step forward, demonstrating the Lascari dagger to the judges, who passed it around the room as if it were a book sample for sale. A short and fat light-bender called out witnesses, who had allegedly seen Ariadna approach those unfortunate Offcasts on the border. His story had no holes in it, no mismatches and no flaws: an intricate web of lies to strangle her friend. Danica was just another pawn who participated in that terrifying charade. They were going to kill Ariadna the way they had eliminated so many others before her.

When Chlápková pushed her out to testify against Ariadna, Danica quickly overcame her stupor, tucking her chin into the golden scarf. Staring straight into the faces of the Councilors, she answered simple questions about her friendship with Ariadna. Truth sounded fake to her ears, and this realization scared her. The Councilors anticipated her replies, pretending to be somewhat interested in her testimony. They could not have possibly known she was planning to push that whole circus off a cliff. She avoided looking at Ariadna. Whatever her friend thought of her, she was going to prove her wrong. What could she lose? She knew everything about Chlápková's plans, about the Setra's indifference, about Rinari's upcoming demise.

"You've told us that you are familiar with Lady Lascari's enhancement. Do you believe that her skills and abilities allowed her to kill two light-benders?" Varga asked. Danica winced and suppressed a scoff.

"No!" Her loud voice shook the chandeliers above her head. "Ariadna is pathetic. A rabbit would have better combat skills. Even if she wanted to harm someone, she'd fail. She does not even know how to use a braceter properly. She is not even skilled at psychic manipulations. She fails as a Byzantine Blood in every possible way. When Lady Chlápková pursued us, we barely managed to escape unscathed. I was the one who pushed her on that train." If Radmila was going to keep the stranger's interference a secret, Danica was going to use it to her advantage.

A wave of whispers rolled over the hall. For the first time in weeks Danica felt genuine joy: seeing Radmila Chlápková's face go from white to red was worth the risk. They had convinced Ariadna not to mention the stranger and his unexpected interference, but they could not force Danica to belittle her role. After all, if she was capable enough to trick Ariadna and send her away, she could as well steal the spotlight. Danica looked around without fear, witnessing the unrest she had just caused.

Only two people smiled, their grins turning into dangerous snarls: one belonged to Otakar Lišák, the other to Arta Rinari. Two Alkari led Danica back to her seat, clearing her way. Following the protocol, Varga called out Ariadna's defenders. To Danica's shock, Arta Rinari rose graciously from her place.