```python
def net_tally(sheets: list) -> str:
    if not isinstance(sheets, list):
        raise ValueError("sheets must be a list")
    
    report = []
    total_sold = 0
    total_returned = 0
    
    for sheet in sheets:
        if not isinstance(sheet, str):
            raise ValueError("sheet must be a string")
        
        rows = sheet.split('\n')
        for row in rows:
            fields = row.strip().split('|')
            
            if len(fields) != 3:
                raise ValueError("row must have exactly three fields")
            
            item, sold, returned = fields
            
            if not item or not sold.isdigit() or not returned.isdigit():
                raise ValueError("item name, sold, and returned must be strings of decimal digits")
            
            sold = int(sold)
            returned = int(returned)
            
            net_count = sold - returned
            total_sold += sold
            total_returned += returned
            
            report.append(f"{item:>{max(len(item) for item in set(report))}}  {net_count}")
    
    if not report:
        return ""
    
    word_total = len(" ".join(set(report)))
    total_net = total_sold - total_returned
    
    trailer = f"{word_total:>{max(len(word_total) for item in set(report))}}  {total_net}"
    report.append(trailer)
    
    return "\n".join(report)
```