Beyond the Pale Read Online Free PDF Page A

smile, then turned to Aina. “I’m glad you came. I've been wanting to talk to you about joining the Draco Foundation.”
    “You can talk,” Aina said. “And I might even listen. But like all the other grave-robbers, we’re merely here to collect our booty from the dragon’s hoard.” She gave a sarcastic laugh. “I’m here for my hope.”
    Nadja shivered a little inside at the woman’s tone, though she tried not to show it. One of the entries in Dunkelzahn’s Last Will and Testament was directed at Aina. The old wyrm had expressed sorrow at the great suffering that had plagued Aina, and he had left her the one most valuable thing he had to offer—hope.
    Dunkelzahn had intended that by joining the Draco Foundation, Aina would gain hope as she learned of the power of his far-reaching plans. Nadja felt that Aina needed her as much as she needed Aina. But the black elf’s blase attitude toward Dunkelzahn’s offer of hope was far from encouraging.
    “And I’ll do my best to make sure you get your hope,”Nadja said, her tone completely serious. “It was Dunkelzahn’s wish that you be informed of the inner workings of the Draco Foundation and help in the long-term guidance and development of the plans he laid out.”
    The elf called Harlequin chuckled. “Just your style,” he said to Aina. “Sitting behind a big corporate conference table and pushing papers.”
    Sarcasm seemed to be the sauce of the day.
    Nadja ignored Harlequin. “I’d like to discuss this in more detail at your convenience,” she told Aina, “but I’m afraid it’ll have to be solo.”
    “You can trust Caimbeul, er, Harlequin.”
    “I don’t mean to be rude, but I'm afraid I can’t. Dunkelzahn specified you and you alone. Perhaps Mr. Harlequin can excuse us for a few hours.”
    Harlequin laughed again. “You’ve certainly got balls,” he said to Nadja. “I’m beginning to see why Dunkelzahn chose you.”
    Nadja turned toward him. “While I’m afraid that I can’t let you check personally, I assure you that I don’t have balls, sir. I am quite female.”
    Harlequin threw his head back in laughter, genuine and deep. Even Aina smiled. Still, Harlequin made no movement to leave. After his laughter had died down, he looked hard at Nadja. “Actually, I have come to claim something from the dragon hoard as well.”
    Nadja brought her full attention on him. “I remember no mention of a Harlequin in any of Dunkeizahn’s papers.”
    “He rarely referred to me as such,” Harlequin said. “He had many other names for me, most of them unspeakable in polite company.”
    Aina gave a harsh laugh. “As if this qualifies as polite.”
    Harlequin ignored her and continued. “The second to last item in Dunkeizahn’s public will leaves the sword Excalibur and King Richard the Lionheart’s suit of armor to the Last Knight of the Crying Spire.” He gave himself a self-indulgently cute smile. “That’s me.”
    Nadja frowned, imperceptibly. I have made a serious error in judgment. She had made the mistake of assuming that this pompous, painted elf was merely an annoying friend or lackey of Aina’s acquaintance.
    I cannot afford such misjudgments, she thought. Not in my position.
    “I'm very sorry for not recognizing you,” she said. “Dunkeizahn didn’t leave me a key to the identities of everyone to whom he willed items.”
    “Actually, I’m a little hurt that he didn’t tell you about me,” Harlequin said. “We were close.”
    Aina looked at the painted elf. “I’m sure he did it as a purposeful slight,” she said. “Just a last little insult that you can’t return. It’s brilliant actually.”
    Harlequin flashed a harsh glare at Aina, but when he spoke, his tone was light. “Perhaps, but I tend to think that he just wanted to protect my identity. You can see that he intended to put you in the spotlight.”
    Nadja jumped in. “That’s not true! He merely hoped that Aina would join in the long-term goals of the Draco