Shadow of the Unicorn

Chapter 9

Jace lay in a tumbled heap, unsure which, if any, of the radiant appendages were his. He could not help but laugh as Adan's surprised and annoyed voice called out from somewhere beneath him, "Jace! This is not funny."

Suddenly the world shook, but it was no earthquake, merely Adan and Baye righting themselves, leaving Jace to crumple limply to the floor, where he lay for a moment, paralyzed with laughter. The light dimmed as each mastered himself until only three ordinary seeming men stood in the tiny chamber.

Adan glanced about in dismay, "where is Caire, and what are you two reprobates doing here?"

Baye shook his head, "he has Gone."

Adan was incredulous, "after all that? The Lady will be furious!"

Jace said quietly, "perhaps murderous." The others gave him a curious look.

Baye asked, "what is it lad?"

Jace met his eyes, his gaze a mix of ruefulness, eagerness, and fear at what was to come. Not fear of the actual events, but doubt as to his ability to handle the situation.

"Easy lad," said Baye, a look of understanding in his eyes, "you've survived far worse. This will only be the end of all you thought you were, not who you actually are, and it will allow you to become who the Master intends you to be. You have not come so far only to fail at the last." He grinned, "besides, we already know who and what you are, even if you don't know it yourself. This is but the death of a mask, a phantom, of the pride and reputation you once knew in mortal life." He grew sober, "and you won't face it alone." He smiled wryly, "I have lived well beyond my natural years and people might start to notice if I don't drop dead soon."

Adan nodded thoughtfully, "I had always wondered how we maintain our identities throughout the ages if we do not have a normal lifespan. We must switch them out every so often to avoid notice, but in doing so we no longer have a past, at least among mortal men."

"Exactly," said Baye with a smile, "we'll need your help in this little charade, I don't think it will be a quiet matter as it usually is." He turned to Jace and smiled grimly, "I fear we are in the presence of a desperate and vengeful criminal. It shall be our job to bring him to justice." Jace smiled in spite of himself, eager now to witness the spectacle that would attend his soon to be infamous demise.

The Lady stood in her main audience chamber, the Council of Six seated before her, wondering what to do. The evidence against her brother was speculative at best, but there was so much of it that it did not bode well for the young Messenger; his relationship to the Lady also made them question her objectivity in this matter. He was implicated in the disappearance of two Students and an Apprentice, and as the days passed and none of the three made an appearance, they began to fear the worst. The only fact still in his favor was that he had not obviously broken Oath. The Lady knew the mysterious underpinnings of some of the accusations but could not use such facts to speak in his defense, knowing herself forbidden from broaching the matter before the uninitiated. Perhaps his comrades could shed sufficient light on the subject to at least appease the Council until matters could be settled quietly, rather than creating the scandal she felt brewing.

She turned to her advisors and said, "you are correct, the evidence is great indeed. Let us call the witnesses to testify, and then upon further deliberation, we shall confront Jace himself."

The witnesses were summarily summoned, standing before the Council to give their testimony of the night in question, the last anyone in Astoria had seen of Ace, Griff, and Caire. The men warding the gate that night gave their testimony, verifying that Griff, Caire, and Jace had all been abroad that night.