Today's magic lesson is from the sorceress and Dragon Aliera e'Kieron and The Enchantress of Dzur Mountain Sethra Lavode on performing a sorcery (Orb before the Interregnum) autopsy. '"Very well, said Aliera. "This intendant was killed by the simplest of sorceries; that is, the major vessel of his heart was suddenly constricted, causing a hemorrhage which resulted in a death that was almost instantaneous. As the simplest of spells killed him, so the simplest of spells would have protected him, and there is no evidence of concealment, from which I must conclude that he had no understanding of sorcery." "Very well," said Sethra. "This man--" "Gyorg Lavode," said Khaavren and Sethra together. "Yes. Although he was killed by a knife wound, there can be no doubt a spell was placed upon him to ensure he wouldn't awaken first. Look--" she picked up the glass rod she had been holding when they entered and handed it to Sethra. "You perceive the yellow coloring at the end? This was the result of casting the Mirror of Sandbourne above his eyes." "It is," said Sethra, "only the faintest of yellow." "He died more than a day ago," said Aliera. "And yet," said Sethra, "why did not the rod become green, which is how the Mirror ought to have responded to a change in the mind's energies?" "It is exactly this upon which I was musing when you entered," said Aliera. "My suspicion--" "You have, then a suspicion?" "Very much so." "Then I should be glad to hear it." "This is it, then: The green appears, as you know, from a combination of the yellow, which indicates external energy having disrupted the workings of the mind, and blue, which is how the Mirror of Sandbourne signals the presence of sorcery invading the sanctity of the mind--or, at any rate, the brain. Yet if, instead of having been directed at the mind, the spell was placed about the area, the Mirror would not detect an influence in the mind, but only sorcery around it." "Well," said Sethra. "There is some justice in what you say." "And yet," said Aliera, "I should be glad to know where there is a spell of sufficient subtlety to penetrate the Amulet of Covering that Gyorg wore, yet powerful enough to work on the area in which he rested-- all, be it understood, without waking him up before putting him to sleep." "That is easily answered. Do you perceive that, as I cast the Holding of Bren upon this instrument, the yellow dissolves, and flows >from one end to the other?" "Well, yes, but what does it mean?" "It means that the energies of the sorcery were not closely directed, but were dispersing even before the spell was cast." "Which means?" "It can only mean that the spell had been prepared some hours or days before it was cast." "In other words," said Aliera, "the spell was placed in an amulet or a wand, and released, perhaps by someone with no knowledge of sorcery at all." "That is correct." "The Jhereg," said Aliera. "That is most likely," said Sethra. "But, if it is the Jhereg," said Aliera, "there ought to be about the body the marks of the sorcerous waves--the patterns of energy-- which are so different from those left by the sorceries of the Athyra, the Dzur, or the Dragons." "Indeed. Have you noticed them?" "In fact," said Aliera, "I have not looked." "Then let us do so," said Sethra. "I would recommend the Norbrook Threepass Test." "Perhaps," said Aliera. "And yet, it has been more than a day. Perhaps we ought to attempt the Lorngrass Procedure at first, which has the advantage that, should it fail, it will not disturb the fields in any way." "Very well, then," said Sethra. "I agree to the Lorngrass Procedure. But in that case, at the same time, we ought to look for these wave markings upon the aura from Smaller's remains." "That should not be difficult," said Aliera, "provided we first prepare the area..." And the two sorceresses, forgetting both Khaavren and the duel they had all but agreed upon, proceeded upon a discussion that left Khaavren quite befuddled. He smiled, however, as he realized what had happened, or, rather, what would not happen, and, determining that he could be of no assistance to the two ladies, turned without another word and made his way back to the suite of rooms above, from which he was accustomed to carry out his duties.' Five Hundred Years After, Chapter the Eighth, page 113 to 116