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matter.
    He gave to Meeks the financial statement he had prepared in response to the catalogue advertisement, detailing his networth. Meeks examined it wordlessly, nodded in satisfaction and set it on the desk before him:
    “You are an ideal candidate, Mr. Holiday,” he said softly, the whisper quality of his voice becoming almost a hiss. “You are a man whose roots can be easily severed—a man who will not have to worry about leaving family or friends who will enquire too closely of his whereabouts. Because, you see, you will not be able to communicate with anyone but myself during your first year away. That is one of the conditions of acceptance. This should pose no problem for you. You are also a man with sufficient assets to make the purchase—hard assets, not paper assets. You can appreciate the difference. But most importantly, perhaps, you are a man who has something to offer as King of Landover. I don’t suppose you’ve thought much of that, but it is something that matters a great deal to those for whom we act as agent. You have something very special to offer.”
    He paused. “Which is?” Ben asked.
    “Your professional background, Mr. Holiday. You are a lawyer. Think of the good that you can do as not simply one who interprets the law but as one who makes it. A king needs a sense of justice to reign. Your intelligence and your education should serve you well.”
    “You mean that I shall have need of them in Landover, Mr. Meeks?”
    “Certainly.” The other’s face was expressionless. “A king always has need of intelligence and education.”
    For an instant Ben thought he detected something in the other’s voice that made the statement almost a private joke. “You have personal knowledge of what a king needs, Mr. Meeks?”
    Meeks smiled, hard and quick. “If you mean, do I have personal knowledge of what a King of Landover needs, the answer is yes. Background is required of our clients in a listing such as this, and the background provided me suggests that Landover’s ruler will have need of the qualities that you possess.”
    Ben nodded slowly. “Does this mean that my application has been accepted?”
    The old man leaned back again in his chair. “What of your own questions, Mr. Holiday? Hadn’t we better address those first?”
    Ben shrugged. “I’ll want them addressed sometime. It might as well be now. Why don’t we begin with the contract—the one that’s guaranteed to protect me from making what most people would consider a foolish investment.”
    “You are not most people, Mr. Holiday.” The craggy face dropped a shade, changing the configuration of lines and hollows like a twisted rubber mask. “The agreement is this. You will have ten days to examine your purchase with no obligation. If at the end of that time you find it not to be as advertised or to be otherwise unsatisfactory, you may return here for a full refund of your purchase price less a handling fee of five percent. A reasonable charge, I’m sure you’ll agree.”
    “That’s it? That’s the whole contract?” Ben was incredulous. “All it takes is my decision to back out?”
    “That’s all it takes.” Meeks smiled. “Of course, the decision must be made in the first ten days, you understand.”
    Ben stared at him. “And everything that’s been advertised in the catalogue will be there as promised? All of it? The dragons and knights and witches and warlocks and fairy creatures?”
    “And you will be their King, Mr. Holiday. You will be the man to whom all must answer. A great deal of power— but also a great deal of responsibility. Do you think that you are equal to the challenge?”
    The room went still as Ben sat before old Meeks and thought of the roads in his life that had led down to this moment. Except for Annie, he had lost little on his journey. He had taken the opportunities that mattered and made the most of them. Now he was presented with an opportunity greater than any previously offered and