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to have Lethe’s help, but he and Burnout can’t be my main focus right now,”
    Nadja nodded as though she instinctively understood what Ryan had spent an hour of meditation figuring out.
    “You have the Dragon Heart.”
    “Yes, and I need to figure out how to get it to Thayla.”
    “It’s curious,” Nadja said. “I met someone else today who knows of Thayla.”
    Ryan snapped his attention on her. “Who?”
    “A strange one. Elf with a painted face. Calls himself Harlequin.”
    “You met Harlequin? He’s the one Dunkelzahn said I should ask for help. Where is he?”
    Nadja sat back and delicately wiped her mouth with the corner of her napkin. “I’m sorry to say that he left.”
    “Do you have an LTG number or a satellite telecom code for him?”
    “No."
    Ryan held his breath, waiting for Nadja to finish.
    “But I do have an address where I’m supposed to deliver his suit of armor.”
    “Thank the spirits! Where?”
    “It’s an island in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of France—Chateau d’If. It’s where the Count of Monte Cristo was held prisoner.”
    “He owns a castle on an island?”
    “An ancient French prison. Have you read Alexandre Dumas?”
    “No, but I’ve chipped the sim.”
    Nadja chuckled. “You really should try the archaic practice of reading sometime.”
    Ryan ignored the tease. An idea was taking shape in his mind. A plan forming. “When are you supposed to deliver the armor?” he asked.
    “I was planning to send it out tomorrow.”
    “You’ll need more security than usual,” Ryan said. “Won’t you, considering the inordinate value of the merchandise?”
    Nadja narrowed her eyes on him. “What are you scheming?”
    Ryan smiled. “I plan to be on the plane with that armor,” he said. “And I’ve got a few friends I’d like to invite along.”
    Nadja sighed. "I supposed as much. As far as I’m concerned, you and Assets can take charge of delivering the package. Just be careful. I have a funny feeling about Harlequin. He’s been around a long, long time it seems. He could be extremely powerful, and he’s possibly known Dunkelzahn far longer than either of us. We can’t be sure that their relationship has always been on good terms.”
    “What are you suggesting?” Ryan asked. “Do you think he could have been involved in the assassination?”
    Nadja sipped her wine, deliberately hesitating before she answered. “I’m not suggesting anything, Ryan. I’m just saying that he’s got a known history with our master, and we don’t know whether they were friends or enemies.”
    Ryan steepled his fingers in front of his face, contemplating. “Why would Dunkelzahn want me to contact an enemy for help? It doesn’t make sense.”
    “When did Dunkelzahn’s plans make sense?”
    “Good point,” Ryan said. “But I still need to contact Harlequin. It’s very important.”
    Nadja leaned across the table and took Ryan’s hand. “I know,” she said, her hands warm around his. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”
    Ryan looked into her eyes. “I'll be careful,” he said. Nadja narrowed her gaze on him. “You’d better be.” Her stare hardened, though a smile played over her lips. “If you’re not, I’ll kill you myself.”

4
    The touch of pure evil resonated inside Lucero and brought shudders to her body. It had been mere hours since she’d passed out from the overwhelming sense of dread and horror that had seized her on the metaplanes, at the site of the dark wedge.
    Now she stood in the physical world, high up in the San Marcos teocalli, looking out the window of the step pyramid structure, gazing at the growing masses of people outside. The hot Texas sun beat down on her, bathing her in its searing radiation. She didn’t mind, however; she enjoyed it. This physical existence, however uncomfortable, was a blessing after her extended stay in the metaplanes with Señor Oscuro.
    The valley before her and the plain beyond was filled