Page 90 of Prince of the Undying

Konstantin frowned at him. “Are you drinking this early?”

“Better drunk than hungover.” Wendel smirked shamelessly.

“I would prefer it if you were conscious tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“My apologies for asking on such short notice. But I’m missing the blueprints for a key component.”

“Of?”

Konstantin hesitated and glanced at me. “Project Lazarus.”

“Wendel told me,” I admitted.

Konstantin heaved a sigh. “Wendel, how many times have I told you it was confidential?”

“I lost count, archmage.”

“For heaven’s sake. Admittedly, you might be interested in the job, Ardis.”

“What kind of blueprints?” I asked.

“They’re for a theoretical energy gun. I have been working on it for over a year now, but I keep hitting roadblock after roadblock. I’m afraid it will be impossible to meet Margareta’s deadline without Lord Adler’s blueprints.”

“Lord Adler?” Wendel perked up. “The baron from Vienna?”

“He’s quite an accomplished technomancer, but he’s so damn eccentric.” Konstantin raked his fingers through his already messy hair. “I spoke with him about buying his blueprints for Project Lazarus, but he refused. And the worst thing of all? Lord Adler bragged to me that he already has an interested buyer from America.”

I propped my elbows on the bar. “Did the deal go through?”

“Not yet. He’s meeting the American at a ball tonight.”

“No doubt a Viennese ball.” Wendel cocked his head. “Let me guess. You expect me to sweet-talk my way inside without an invitation?”

“I do have an invitation,” Konstantin said.

“Then why not do this yourself?”

“Because I already tried. Lord Adler won’t bother with me for a second time, not when he has American dollars in sight. And then the energy gun will be the plaything of some tycoon with too much time on his hands.”

Wendel frowned into his empty glass. “You believe the baron will sell them to me?”

“I have the money. And if the American has more, then…”

“Then what?”

“You will have to secure the blueprints another way.”

“Steal them?” Wendel pretended to gasp. “Archmage, consider me shocked.”

Konstantin scowled. “Lord Adler allows his greed to impede the innovation of technomancy. Did you know I helped him solve a very tricky problem with harmonic charms, and he didn’t even give me a footnote in a journal?”

“Of course.” Wendel laughed. “Revenge, I understand.”

I leaned across the bar. “I’m also an American. Let me talk to the buyer and distract him while Wendel persuades Lord Adler to reconsider.”

Konstantin stroked his beard thoughtfully. “The invitation does allow for a guest.”

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