Page 65 of The Last Kingdom

“Not at all. That information stays with us. I did make clear, though, in his presence, that we intend to go after Ludwig’s body. What I did not want him to know was anything about you. The four men earlier on the battlements with us are totally trustworthy. They will reveal nothing.” Fenn sat on the bed with the computer balanced on his lap. “As I mentioned, I had the twelve random letters from the message digitally analyzed to see how many words could be formed.”

Cotton saw them at the top of the screen.

HLNESRNTANME.

“I had the program focus on German,” Fenn said. “As you can see, quite a few words came from rearranging various combinations.”

He studied the list and saw that to be true.

“But only two words were formed by rearrangingallof the letters,” Fenn said. “They are there, at the bottom.”

Ernst Lehmann.

“So we have a name,” Fenn said. “And a place that came from the crossing lines on the map earlier. Eisenach.”

“I’m assuming you know what that means?”

“Of course. I am an expert on Ludwig II. I have read every book published on him and have most of them downstairs in my library. I also own some of his surviving correspondence. Ernst Lehmann was a lawyer. He practiced law from 1868 until his death in 1929. His office was located in Eisenach. These clues were left to send whoever found them to Ludwig’s lawyer.”

“Lehmann?”

Fenn nodded. “He represented the Wittelsbach family during Ludwig II’s reign, then while the prince regent served, and also during Ludwig III’s short time as king. He was their personal lawyer. For Ludwig II, he did much of the legal work associated with the king’s building projects. He arranged for deeds to land, loans from third-party lenders, construction contracts. Whatever was needed. His name appears on countless legal documents I recall seeing.”

“Unfortunately, all that was a long time ago. Lehmann’s been dead for nearly a hundred years.”

“Ah, but, Herr Malone, that is the wonder of this whole thing.” Fenn tapped the keyboard on the laptop, then pointed to the screen.

He saw a website.

For Lehmanns.

He read a short intro beneath the logo.

Lehmanns is the world’s largest law firm with over 8,000 lawyers in 57 countries, generating over four billion euros in annual revenue. The firm maintains regional headquarters in Beijing, London, Dubai, Washington, DC, and HongKong. Its main headquarters is in Munich. The firm was founded in 1873 by Ernst Lehmann. His three sons inherited ownership on their father’s death in 1929 and began a meteoric growth that has led to the modern global firm of Lehmanns.

“I checked,” Fenn said. “Ernst Lehmann’s heirs still occupy senior leadership positions and own a majority of the firm. One of his granddaughters is the current senior managing partner.”

He got the message. “You want me to pay her a visit?”

“Please.”

“Why do you think there is anything there to find? All this happened a long time ago.”

Fenn smiled. “That’s the whole point. This entire mystery was created for posterity. For those who came after to find. We have not been sent to Ernst Lehmann for the trail to run cold. Whatever was there a hundred years ago may still be there.”

“And it all could be bullshit too?”

“Faith, Herr Malone. Have some.”

“Why don’t we go together?”

“Because my presence would detract from your inquiries. I am regarded by many as a mere amusement. The antics of the Guglmänner bring attention to our cause, but they also generate ridicule. I have to confess that I have allowed our activities to lean toward the absurd—but what has happened as of late has shown me that there is a deadly seriousness to things.”

“Jason Rife?”

Fenn nodded. “That man is a killer. A type of person you are far more familiar in dealing with than I or my brothers. I can help with puzzles and clues and history. But I do not want any of my people harmed.”

He admired the man’s sincerity and dedication to his comrades.

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