“Because Elluvian already has too much power in the Halls of Law?”
“Exactly.”
“Will the Tha’alani be allowed to examine the surviving witness?”
“Probably, if it looks like the information is necessary. But he hasn’t been charged with any crime, and lying on the witness stand isn’t generally considered good enough cause to call in the mindreaders. Your best chance—unless you can somehow manipulate the Tha’alani—is to draw up a list of questions you want the witness to answer. The Hawks will probably take charge of asking those questions, but the answers will be contained in Records.”
Severn nodded, and then, catching himself, said, “Thanks.” Rosen couldn’t see the nod.
When Elluvian entered his office through the open door, Severn was instantly aware of him. He paused Records and turned slightly to face the Barrani Wolf. Elluvian’s eyes were blue, which was normal; they were a very, very dark blue, which was not.
He rose as Elluvian reached the desk and dumped what appeared to be a pile of cloth on its otherwise pristine surface. “Wear this.”
Severn looked down at the pile. After a moment he lifted it. It wasn’t a shirt, pants, or a jacket.
“It’s a tabard. It’s an official tabard worn by men and women who serve the Halls of Law.”
“Where are we going?” Severn asked. He noted that Elluvian wasn’t wearing a tabard.
“We are returning to the High Halls,” was the curt reply. Elluvian glanced at the mirror, which reflected nothing in the room. “Records,” he said, “Dogan Sapson.”
The Records replay stuttered.
“Elluvian Danarre.”
The mirror failed to return the information Elluvian had asked for. The two words were either not enough of a description or Elluvian didn’t have the permissions required. That was Severn’s understanding of how Records worked, as explained by Rosen.
Elluvian’s lips thinned.
“Morgue. Jenson.”
This, unlike the living witness, was apparently not forbidden Elluvian. The morgue report, Severn had already read. He therefore watched Elluvian. No hint of surprise marred his expression, but his eyes remained a blue that could be mistaken for black in different light.
“Rosen mentioned practical magic instructions?”
Severn nodded.
“I am not your teacher. I will, however, begin to apprise you of the facts you would otherwise have were it not for the current situation. You are aware that this man drowned.”
“Yes.”
“His lungs were apparently full of water. He was in the middle of the street, with a Barrani escort. Even the tabards of the Halls of Law do not diminish the fear in which some Barrani are held. Fear,” he added, “is a useful tool to my kin. There were no people within weapon range. Magic, however, does not always require exact proximity.
“In this case, water was used as the murder weapon. Fire could be used in a similar fashion, but it would be obvious the minute it started. Fire is not invisible.”
Severn didn’t point out that water wasn’t either. “Could you do this?”
Elluvian didn’t blink. “I could kill, yes—but using magic to do the job of a simple dagger is wasteful.”
“Could you drown him while he was walking down the street?”
“Yes.”
“Would the guards have noticed?”
“Absolutely. Nothing I do would be invisible.”
“How would you have done it, if you wanted to drown him?”