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"It does not paint a very 'noble' picture, does it?" said William.

Hector had a question that he both did and did not want to ask. "Was... was King Domitrus' faction doing that, too? Cheating?"

"The exact truth of the matter is unclear, but it would not surprise me if that were the case. At the very least, I suspect that Charles did something because of what happens at the climax of the tourney.

"Paul Greenway is alone in the final melee against four mounted opponents. Half of his quad had become suddenly ill and were therefore unable to participate. His only companion in the fight was killed almost immediately, and even his own horse threw him off and fled the arena."

Hector could guess where this was going. "And he still won?"

"Yes. In a miraculous display of ability, Paul Greenway is able to win the day single-handedly."

"Do you think he was a servant?" Hector asked.

"That is one possibility," said the King, "but by all accounts that I have read, Paul went on to live a largely unremarkable life thereafter. Never again did he distinguish himself in any military matters, and he died peacefully in his sleep at the age of seventy-three."

"Hmm."

"While it is possible that he could have hidden his abilities for the rest of his life or that these records could simply be false, I am now of the opinion that Charles gave Paul some manner of supernatural aid."

"Were there any details of the fight itself?"

"Only that his opponents never landed a single blow on him. This, despite him being lightly wounded earlier in the tournament."

"That does sound pretty suspicious..." Hector wondered if even the Scarf of Amordiin would allow him to avoid getting hit by four simultaneous opponents on horseback. Eh, maybe it could. He almost wanted to give it a try.