Realms of Shadow - Lizz Baldwin [9]
Wentar and Andoris were sifting through the books, scrolls, and loose sheets of vellum on Blamira's workbench. They'd shifted each pile from one end of the workbench to the other at least three times but weren't any closer to finding anything.
"It's hopeless," Wentar moaned. "I can't remember which of these changed when Ptack negated his spell."
Idiot! You should have paid more attention.
"Keep looking," Andoris said.
"What are we looking for?" Wentar asked.
Andoris was no longer listening. His attention was wholly focused on the book he had just opened. Reading it, he saw something he would have thought impossible: notes on the creation of a mythallar that drew not from the Weave but from the spaces between it. From the Shadow Weave.
Back in Andoris's bedchamber, the homunculus trembled with excitement.
So that's how she did it!
Andoris pointed to the page in the book that lay open in front of him and said, "According to these notes, Shadow and his disciples have succeeded in creating a shadow mythallar."
Wentar shook his head in puzzlement. "A shadow mythallar? Incredible! But what does it have to do with-"
"If the mythallar is sustaining the shadow double," Andoris explained, "that means the shadow double is quasimagical, rather than permanent. It's a spell effect, rather than a sentient being."
"Ah," said Wentar, a smile of relief spreading across his face. "I see. Our case is solved. We can find Blamira guilty-"
Even if she isn't?
"And hold the shadow double inside the maze-circle until we find some way to dispel it," Wentar continued. "But how are we to tell which is which?"
"Wentar," Andoris began thoughtfully, "when you teleported one of the accused to a different plane to see if the shadow double would dissipate, which one did you choose?"
* * * * *
When the trial resumed, the Spiral Court was even more crowded than it had been before. Word had gotten out that a decision was about to be rendered in the case, and the walls were so crowded with spectators that it was impossible to see the testimony that scrolled up the ivory spiral. Even Shadow had come to watch the proceedings-albeit surrounded by a protective bodyguard of his disciples.
On the floor below, all was in readiness. Andoris sat on one of the silver chairs. The second was empty. Wentar had explained the legal technicalities of permanence versus quasimagical non-permanence as it related to the issue of the shadow double being a person or creature. The crowd had listened in mystified silence, understanding the legal explanation but uncertain why it was being given, then Wentar had disappeared. Now it was up to Andoris.
Raising a hand to hush the crowd, Andoris spoke. "Earlier today, High Justice Wentar and I discovered the source of the magic that is sustaining the shadow double. There is a third mythallar on Karsus Enclave."
A buzz of excited voices rushed up through the Spiral Court. Andoris waited for it to subside, watching the faces of the two accused. They seemed wary but puzzled-as though they knew which mythallar Andoris was referring to but were unaware of its significance. This was perfectly logical. All knowledge of having used the mythallar to create and sustain the shadow double must have been erased, together with Blamira's other memories.
"One of these women is a quasi-magical spell effect, and thus is not responsible for its actions, according to enclave law. Therefore, Blamira must be found guilty of the crime with which she has been charged and dealt with accordingly.''
The homunculus's voice was nearly lost to Andoris in the excited crush of voices that followed this pronouncement.
Even if the law's not fair?
Andoris held up a hand for silence. "As for the shadow double," he continued, "since it is no more