That was good to know.
Anton was followed in by three Light Ones from Moscow. Gesar … well, of course, where would they be without Gesar? Svetlana … that was natural too. And that Uzbeki, Gesar’s secretary or personal assistant.
The Dark Ones were already walking along the corridor behind Edgar. Zabulon … Sensing the approach of his chief, Edgar involuntarily looked round – and received a friendly nod from the head of Moscow’s Dark Ones. Well, well … smile, you Judas … you’re even worse than Judas, he betrayed his teacher, but you’re betraying your disciple.
But then another two Dark Ones followed Zabulon into the hall. Edgar had been prepared to see Anna Lemesheva, but not Yury who winked mockingly at him. The same Yury who had given Edgar the timely warning about Zabulon’s underhand schemes – he hadn’t been prepared for that.
Edgar forced himself to turn away from his colleagues and look straight ahead.
Igor was brought in last. Two rank-and-file Inquisitors walked in beside him and accompanied him to the circular grille, three metres across, in the centre of the hall.
There was no special magic in that circle, or at least Edgar couldn’t sense any. And the mechanism that had once been used to invert the grille and plunge the accused into a deep well shaft looked as if it had rusted up long ago and was no longer used. Even so, standing in that circle could not be pleasant.
However, Igor paid such thoughts no heed and stood in the centre of the circle with his arms crossed on his chest.
‘In the name of the Treaty …’
One Inquisitor came forward from the group. The only one who was not wearing grey robes. Witiezslav, the higher vampire.
‘We are Others. We serve different powers …’
Edgar mechanically repeated the words of the Treaty, trying to work out what Witiezslav would start with. And how he could extricate himself from this mess now.
‘Today the European Tribunal of the Inquisition has to consider a claim brought by the Night Watch of the city of Moscow, Russia, against the Day Watch of the city of Moscow, Russia,’ the vampire announced after the reading of the Treaty. ‘A counter claim by the Day Watch of Moscow against the Night Watch of Moscow forms part of the proceedings. Its subject is the duel between the Light Magician, Igor Teplov, and the Dark Witch, Alisa Donnikova …’
There were no surprises so far. Edgar felt himself clutching the dark, cool wooden top of his desk and made an effort of will to calm himself After all, he was an experienced lawyer. And how were legal proceedings between humans any different from legal proceedings between Others?
Except, of course, for the nature of the sentence.
‘However, the sequence of proceedings will be somewhat altered,’ said Witiezslav. ‘The Tribunal is also obliged to resolve another two matters connected to the main claim. The first concerns a sect of Dark Ones who call themselves the Regin Brothers, who are guilty of attacking the Inquisition’s vault and stealing the artefact known as Fáfnir’s Talon, smuggling it into Russia and resisting the Night Watch of Moscow. Bring in the accused.’
Another two young Inquisitors led in the four Finns. Faint smiles appeared on the faces of all the Others present – it was impossible to imagine a more ludicrous-looking quartet.
‘There is probably no need to recite the circumstances of the incident,’ said the vampire. ‘Everyone present is familiar with the materials collected by the Inquisition on this case. The Inquisition’s job is to pronounce judgement. Just, impartial and strict.’
It was clear from the expressions on the faces of the four accused that they were not expecting leniency.
‘The punishment for a crime as grave as attacking employees of the Inquisition and stealing a highly dangerous artefact from the vault is unconditional – dematerialisation,’ the vampire declared. He paused and then added, making the Finns raise their heads: ‘But … But the accused did not participate directly in the incident in Berne. As the materials of the case make clear, the leaders of the sect, who were unfortunately killed while being detained, compelled the four young magicians to act as couriers. Therefore, the Inquisition qualifies their actions only as smuggling and resisting the Night Watch of Moscow. There are also extenuating circumstances: profound and sincere remorse, assistance rendered to the investigation after detention, the youth of the accused and the absence of any previous offences. If the Night Watch of Moscow can adduce any further extenuating circumstances and will withdraw the personal accusations against the Dark Magicians, the Inquisition has the right to mitigate its sentence.’
Gesar stood to speak for the Light Ones. He spread his hands in a broad gesture:
‘The Night Watch of Moscow has no … personal accusations to bring against the accused. In addition, we believe that the leader ship of the sect of the Regin Brothers was provoked into committing its crime by a certain … a certain unknown Dark Magician.’
‘That has not been proved,’ said Witiezslav.
‘Only the identity of the provocateur has not been established,’ Gesar said with a smile. ‘The fact of his existence is in no doubt.’
Witiezslav nodded and turned to face his colleagues. For a few moments the Inquisitors shared their thoughts with each other without speaking. Then Witiezslav turned back to the four motionless Finns.
‘In the name of the Treaty. Bearing in mind the clement attitude of the Night Watch, the absence of any grave consequences and the other extenuating circumstances, the Inquisition offers you the right to choose your punishment. The first option – you are condemned to death by hanging but your civil rights will not be affected …’
The large young black man sighed heavily and the Chinese and the Finn seized his elbows and held him up.
‘The second possible punishment is that from this day until the end of your lives you will be forbidden to use magic. You will have the right to live ordinary human lives, without using magical means to prolong or improve the quality of those lives.’
The Finns looked at the Inquisitor, stunned. Zabulon giggled shrilly, but immediately assumed a serious expression.
‘The second … the second!’ Yukha Mustaioki said in a choking voice. The others nodded.
‘Does anyone present have any objections?’ Witiezslav asked.
Gesar got to his feet again.
‘As a small gesture of goodwill, we consider it acceptable to permit the accused to use magic … minor magic … with inanimate objects.’
It seemed as if Gesar had to struggle to pronounce every word, that he was forcing himself to show mercy.
‘For, example, to find some … small item … that has been lost … a key or a coin … To drive flies out of a room … according to the regulations, flies are regarded as inanimate, are they not? To clean the carburettor in a car …’
The vampire’s face expressed faint surprise. ‘He doesn’t understand,’ Edgar thought.
‘The Inquisition has no objections,’ the vampire said eventually. ‘Apply the seals to the accused!’
Two Inquisitors raised their right hands, and fine threads of glimmering energy streamed through the air towards the accused. The seals were applied permanently, leaving the condemned prisoners capable of only the very weakest forms of magic. In all probability the Inquisitors really hadn’t understood that Gesar’s unexpected kindness had only made the punishment worse. It was one thing to be completely deprived of all magic and gradually to come to terms with life as a human being. It was quite different to feel every day that you were a helpless cripple who had to manage life with a pale shadow of your former powers.