known who was responsible. It made sense that it should be
Rimmer Dall, the man who had come for them weeks ago in
Varfleet and hunted them ever since across the length and breadth
The First Seeker moved to within a few feet of Coil and
stopped. His craggy face was calm and reassuring. "Are you
"That's a stupid question," Coil answered before he could
Rimmer Dall shrugged. "I don't know. When I last saw him
he was carrying the Sword of Shannara from its vault."
"And you let Par take the Sword of Shannara? You just let
"You want me to believe," Coil said carefully, "that you
don't care if he has possession of the Sword, that it doesn't
Coil paused. "So you let Par go, but you took me prisoner.
"From Par? You must think me the biggest fool who ever
The big man folded his arms across his chest comfortably.
"To be honest with you, there is more to it than just offering
you protection. You are a prisoner for another reason as well.
Sooner or later, your brother will come looking for you. When
he does, I want another chance to talk with him. Keeping you
"What really happened," Coil snapped angrily, "is that you
caught me, but Par escaped! He found the Sword of Shannara
and slipped past you somehow and now you're using me as bait
to trap him. Well, it won't work. Par's smarter than that."
Rimmer Dall shook his head. "If I was able to capture you