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.He could only claim to be King andchallenge for the right.So each midwinter, when the Bonnie Blues turn white, the Mark comes out ofAbaddon into Landover and asks challenge of the King.As yet, no one has accepted.""I can imagine," Ben breathed softly."Just to make certain that I understand all this, Questor, what formdoes this challenge take?"The heavy brows lifted."Strength of arms, High Lord.""You mean, jousting with lances or something?"Abernathy touched him on the shoulder."He means, mortal combat with weapons of choice  a battleto the death."There was an endless moment of silence.Ben took a deep breath."That's what I have to look toward toGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html a fight to the death with this demon?" He shook his head in disbelief."No wonder no one lasts verylong in this position.Even if they wanted to, even if they were willing to try to straighten things out, sooneror later they would have to face the Mark.What's the point of even trying?" He was growing angry allover again."So what do you expect of me, Questor? Do you expect me to accept a challenge that noone else would? I'd have to be out of my mind!"The stooped figure shifted from one foot to the other."Perhaps.But it might be different with you.Noneof the others had help.Yet twice now after twenty years of absence, the Paladin has come to you."Ben wheeled at once on Abernathy."Is he telling me the truth  the Paladin has never come to anyonebefore?"Abernathy shook his head solemnly."Never, High Lord." He cleared his throat."It grieves me to admitit, but the wizard may have a point.It might indeed be different with you.""But I had nothing to do with the Paladin's appearance," Ben insisted."And I don't know that he came tome necessarily.He was simply there.Besides, you said yourself it was a ghost we were seeing.And evenif he wasn't a ghost, he looked wrecked to me.The Mark looked the stronger of the two and not in theleast intimidated by this so-called champion that the King is supposed to rely upon to protect him.Frankly, I can't believe any of this.And I don't know that I understand it yet.Let's back up a minute.Questor, your half-brother Meeks sells the throne to an outsider like me for a big price, choosingsomeone who won't last.Even if he mistakenly chooses someone who might tough it out, the Mark is onhand to make sure he doesn't.But the Mark can't be King while someone else holds the medallion  amI right? So what does the Mark get out of all this? Doesn't Meeks keep bringing other candidates inmonth after month, year after year?"Questor nodded."But the Mark is a demon, and the demons live long lives, High Lord.Time is lessmeaningful when you can afford to wait, and the Mark can afford to wait a long, long time.Eventually,my half-brother and the old King's son will tire of the game and will have accumulated enough riches andpower to divert their interest from Landover's throne.When that happens, they will cease bothering withthe matter and abandon Landover to her fate.""Oh." Ben understood now."And when that happens, the Mark will gain Landover by default.""That is one possibility.Another is that the demon will find a way in the interim to gain control of themedallion.He cannot seize it by force from the wearer; but sooner or later, one of Landover's successionof Kings will grow careless and lose it  or one will accept the Mark's challenge and be."Ben held up his hands quickly."Don't say it." He hesitated."What about the other predators, the oneswhose worlds border on Landover? What are they doing while all this is going on?"The wizard shrugged."They are not strong enough as yet to stand against the Mark and the demons ofAbaddon.One day, perhaps they will be.Only the Paladin had ever possessed such strength."Ben frowned."What I don't understand is why this Paladin simply disappeared after the death of the oldKing.If he were truly protector of the land and the throne, why would he disappear just because therewas a change of Kings? And what's become of the fairies? Didn't you say that they created Landover asa gateway to their world? Why don't they protect it, then?"Questor shook his head and said nothing.Abernathy was quiet as well.Ben studied them wordlessly amoment, then turned back again to the suit of armor on the dais.It was tarnished and rusted, batteredGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]