Beyond the Pale Read Online Free PDF

Foundation. It does not necessitate public exposure. I can handle most of that.”
    Aina moved away from the window and sat down next to Harlequin. “I can vouch for his claim to be the Last Night of the Crying Spire,” she said.
    Nadja nodded. “All right, let me get the official forms.” She nodded to Gordon Wu, who brought over a small computer and handed it to her. Nadja punched up the instructions Dunkelzahn had left for her, and read off the first of four questions. “Who sits at the bridge, protecting us from the Enemy?”
    Harlequin nearly jumped in his seat. “What?”
    “These questions were left by Dunkelzahn to judge the veracity of someone’s claim.”
    His composure returned instantly. “Thayla,” he said. Nadja made a mental note. This elf knows about Thayla. I should tell Ryan about him.
    She read the next question. “Whose daughter have you taken on as pupil? Or, is that concubine?”
    Harlequin narrowed his eyes.
    Aina gave a harsh laugh. “Score one for the wyrm.”
    Nadja simply waited, trying to keep her composure. Finally, Harlequin answered, “Ehran the Scribe’s daughter, and I’m teaching her.”
    “Two down,” Nadja said. “Two to go. The next is: how old are you?”
    Harlequin looked at Aina.
    As response, she shrugged.
    Seconds ticked by as Harlequin pondered what to say. Nadja shifted in her seat. The answer on the screen was difficult to believe, and there was a note saying that the true Knight of the Crying Spire would be unwilling to divulge the information. The instructions said to make him sweat to see what he would say, then ask him the last question.
    “I’m a few years younger than her,” he said, indicating Aina.
    Nadja simply stared at him. “That’s not an answer.”
    “A lot younger than Dunkelzahn or Lofwyr, and far older than you.”
    Nadja crossed her arms and waited.
    Aina looked at Harlequin.
    Harlequin began to sweat.
    “It says here,” Nadja said, “that. . .” She hesitated.
    “What does it say?”
    “It says you’re over three hundred years old.”
    Harlequin breathed a sigh, “I've aged well,” he said. Nadja knew, of course, that elves were long-lived, and she was aware of the rumors concerning the immortals, but she’d never given any of it much credence before now . She took a slow breath. “Last question: what was the original name of the Crying Spire?”
    Without hesitation . “The Crimson Spire.”
    Nadja nodded. “Congratulations, your claim is officially valid. You can take possession of the armor today, or I can ship it to you. I’m sorry to say that the sword Excaliber is currently lost. We’re looking for it.”
    “You can send the armor to my place in France, Chateau d'If.”
    “Very well.” Then she turned to Aina, who had stood up again, looking like she was ready to leave. “And what about you? Will you join the Draco Foundation?”
    Aina gave her a sad look. “Dunkelzahn was a very close friend,” she said. “And for that reason only, I will think about it.”
    Then she pulled on Harlequin’s ponytail. “Come on, Caimbeul, let’s go.”
    “When will I hear from you?”
    Aina stopped by the door. “When I’ve decided.” Then she turned and walked out into the hall.
    Harlequin paused as he passed Nadja. “I’m impressed, Miss Daviar. She didn’t tell you to frag off. You should consider this a victory.”
    Nadja smiled at him as he turned to leave. It didn’t feel like a victory. Aina’s help was crucial to the long-term plan Dunkelzahn had left in his documents. Without her, the whole future of the world could suffer.

3
    The fragments of Ryan’s nightmare fluttered in the recesses of his consciousness as Dhin brought the helo down onto the helipad behind Dunkelzahn’s mansion. Ryan said goodbye to the ork and stepped out of the helicopter and into the wind and heat. He ducked, walking across the duracrete toward the door.
    Four security agents met him there, and made him look into a portable retinal