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Chapters (86)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Booklist
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
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  19. 15
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  32. 28
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  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
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  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
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  61. 57
  62. 58
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  64. 60
  65. 61
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  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
  83. 79
  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Clarice, who looked miserable, cupped one arm in the other and stared fixedly at the floor.

“Can I help you?” The question was automatic, but Faith’s rush surprised Elle. The woman always seemed so composed, so watchful.

Faith pulled the shade down on the front window. “Rune sent me to help you close the shop.”

Elle’s heart sank. “Is something wrong?”

“I don’t know.” Faith pulled the blind on the other window. “Rune’s in a frenzy.” She flipped the open sign to Closed and pulled the blind on the front door.

“Let me put the cash and the valuable pieces in the safe, and I’ll lock up.” Elle opened the register, took the money drawer and knelt to put it in the unlocked safe. “I’m going up there to watch the battle. Who do you think will win?”

“Who cares?” Faith said.

Startled by the hostile tone, Elle paused. What was that attitude? She grabbed the keys to the locked jewelry display case and bent to remove the real jewels: the diamond rings, gold necklaces and copper bracelets encrusted with colored gems. “You’re right, the battle will be fun to watch no matter what. Two men in full armor with swords—”

The door lock clicked.

Faith was really presuming.

Irritated, Elle stood. “Don’t do that. We have to go out that door.” She didn’t wait to see if Faith listened. Then an unexpected memory pulled Elle to a halt, a memory of the Arcturus, of Stephen Penderghast and his dark-haired assistant striding toward the helicopter. Faith was blonde but, yes, the same woman.

Elle jumped aside and turned. “Wait a minute. I know you!”

Faith’s upraised hand, holding a sharp, thin-blade stiletto, whistled past Elle’s face.

68

IN ADAM’S SHOP ON his central worktable, he laid out his chain-mail coat and hood and the leather gauntlets for his hands and arms.

What had he been thinking to agree to such a stunt as a mock sword battle? He feared someone in the crowd would recognize him as the man who had killed two people on a trek through the Amazon, and that horror would start again.

He donned the padding he wore beneath the mail.