Page 47 of The Last Kingdom

Eisenach.

“And the last line, Ends the Dance?”

“I think it’s exactly as it says. The end of the message.”

“What about the line you disregarded?”

Edelweiss over Black Forest.

“It has meaning. But what?” Fenn shook his head. “That remains to be seen.”

“And the random letters?”

“Obviously, an anagram of some sort.”

He agreed. Letters capable of being rearranged, used only once, to form a word or phrase.

HLNESRNTANME.

“Lucky for us,” Fenn said, “there are computer programs these days that can find all of the possibilities.”

“In German?”

“Of course. That was the language Ludwig III would have used. I have already sent the letters to a friend who is running that program as we speak.”

If he was going to help Stephanie, he had to help Koger. But to do that he had to deal with this nut job. “I assume you’re telling me all this for a reason?”

“We need you to investigate.”

Really? “What about your brothers?”

Fenn laughed. “They are fine for parading—”

“And chloroforming people.”

“That too. But this task requires a professional of your caliber.”

“You still haven’t told me what I’m after.”

“Herr Koger did not share that information?”

“He left that off the recruitment pitch. What’s so damn important that you, Prince Stefan, the Chinese, and the CIA all want it?”

Fenn smiled. “Herr Koger had set up a meeting tomorrow where we would speak on this. Can we wait until then? I have violated enough of his confidence already.”

Not going to happen. “Either you start talking or I start walking.”

“I could stop you.”

He chuckled. “Your brothers could try.”

Fenn shook his head. “Herr Koger will not appreciate this.”

“That makes it all the more better.”

“Ah, that it does. I like your rebellious streak. We look for that in all of the brothers.”

“You’re stalling.”

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