Chapter Text
It wasn't that surprising that Duke Arthur has summoned him. If anything, Simon thought that the whole thing would happen much sooner than it did, taking in consideration that local cities has been seeing more mogical beasts attacks in just the previous month that the whole last year. It was to be expected, which didn't change it being an inconvinience for the knight. He was a busy man, with lots of responsibilities in the castle. Managing the castle guards, making sure that they were well equiped, organising trainings to improve their skills and so on. He had to do a lot, but the gold was worth it. Not to mention he could always just leave. Bu the law, he couldn't only refuse the Royal Family and a bunch of their closest noble families. But Duke Arthur wasn't one of them. Just a young man, who Simon promised his father to help until he reaches 16 years of age, adulthood. That has happened new month ago but it wasn't like Ghost had any better places to be. He might have just stayed a bit longer and earned some more gold before deciding to leave for good.
He walked swiftly through the castle tunnels, his main target being the audution hall where Duke Arthur has expected him. He rarely was summoned there. More often he and the Duke just met in more casual places, like his chambers or dining hall. That meant some serious troubles. Not that he was ever taked with anything unserious, more than often those were just boring, mundane things that had to be done by someone with right knowledge. He made a turn left, speeding up a bit. The door at the end of the hallway closer to him with each step he took. Guards on the both sides opened them, revealing the room he knew well.
Two men were sitting across each other, chatting casually, yet with great politeness. Simon recognised Duke Arthur immediately and surprised relised the knows the other person as well. Both stopped conversating and turned their heads to look at the knight. Simon just knelt down.
"Duke Arthur, Knight John Price." He said not raising his head nor standing up yet, waiting for the order.
"Arise knight Simon" Young Duke commanded. "As much as I would love for to stay longer I must excuse myself. Sir Price, tell my subjects if you'd need anything. And remember our agreement." Price stood up and bowwed his head. Duke Arthur smiled and left. Truth be told, being a duke meant ungodly ammount of duties. The moment the two knights were left alone, whole etiquette and manners thing were out the window. Price stopped standing as straight as if he swallowed a spear and exhaled loudly. Ghost just smiled, and sat down the moment Price did.
"I see your back is not in the condition it used to be." Simon smirked, knowing well that in order to get here Price had to travel at least two days on his horse. The other knight just send him a furious glare.
"I would like to see the condition you'd be in after riding this distance without any breaks. My back has every right to hurt, son." Price put a hand on his spine to show just in how much pain he is, but both of them knew it wasn't as bad as he was describing. "Tell me, how have you been? I see the boy's all grown up." John smiled but despite it Simon could see the glint of worry in older mans eyes.
"The situation is that bad that you are trying small talk with me? What are we? Nobles?" Simon was always a man of few words, which the other knight knew very well. Trying to get Simon to open up or talk if you weren't someone who he liked was as easy as teaching fish to sing. The list of those who Ghost tolerated was short, those who he liked he could count on the fingers of a single hand. "Get to the point old man, I either agree or not, don't overthing this." He added.
As much as Simon liked Price they currently worked in two different places. Simon on Duke Arthurs court, while Price had been actively on duty in the heart of the Kingdom, directly commanded by The Queen. That meant neither of them had the time to simply visit one another. So his friend coming all the way here, to the little castle of the local duke that meant trouble. In addition Price was in a hurry if he made no stops along the way. That only could mean something dangerous and urgent. Both of them knew that, that's why Simon was surprised his friend didn't get immediately to the point. The older man just sighed.
"You know about the menslaughter." He started. Simon just nodded. It was impossible not to have heard. Half of a village dead, other half somewhere in between seriously wounded to traumatised. People said that bodies were gutted like fish, some half eaten some just left to rot. All knew who was to blame. It was only the matter of time until some beasts made themselves home in the forests of the Kingdom. Sure, local warriors were trying their best to patrol and keep their surroundings clear of magical creatures but it was just men against monsters. Couldn't be very efficient. "I know of six recent incidents here. From what witnesses describe the monsters responsible for all of the recent bloodsheds were simillar. Scholars suspect it's all from one nest. Queen wants me to make a unit to investigate those things. Told me to get whoever I thought was the best. That's why I came here. Couldn't risk sending a letter, can't risk the information be spread. I have The Queens commands on with me. Already talked with Duke Arthour about this. If you chose to come with me Simon, we shall depart today. What do you say?"
Ghost was silent. Listened to all of what Price had to say and could feel the gears turning inside his head. Sure, he knew about the local incidents, but if The Crown decided to intervene there must have been much more than he suspected in the whole region. Very little people knew of those, he did because of his position in Duke Arthurs court, but he was also aware they were trying to keep them a secret. No need to scare the peasants, thats what those who ruled believed in. They work more efficient when they don't know they could be mauled to death by some monster any moment.
He know Arthur could arrange someone to take his place. Boy would probably have to get two people to keep things running smooth when he would be gone but it was all doable and within young Dukes possibilities. He could probably pay them less as well since he doubted he would employ a knight just for something like that. He bet was some of the local scholars would do. Simon smiled. An opportunity he has been waiting for all those weeks, served on a silver plate. Some higher power must have been watching over him and decided to reward him for his hardships of dealing with idiots almost constantly (if it was up to him he would fire half of the castle guard and recruit sheep. In his humble opinion they would be more qualified and inteligent than some of the men he had to deal with).
"I'll be ready in ten minutes. Meet you at the stables."
"Knew you'd agree." Price smiled and put his hand on Simons shoulder. Despite being only seven years older than Ghost, Price was sure as hell hasn't looked like it. If he didn't know the knight, he would have assumed he was probably in his early sixties, while in reality he has just a bit over fourty. On the other hand Simon looked older than he should as well. Eyebags always haunting his face, hundrets of scars on his body from various battles. But it was the price one had to pay to be a good knight. One of the best.
- - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - -- - - -- - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - -- - -- - :)
"So tell me Simon, you finally got yourself a wife?" John asked as they rode. Maybe in the castle Ghost has menaged to avoid the small talk, but here in the open, with nothing to do there was no escape. Boredom was something he didn't feel often, but with nothing better to do, conversation was the only thing to entertain them. They have been on their horses for few hours now. None breaks taken yet, despite wanting one. Both knights wanted to get as fast as possible to their destination, and stops would be slowing them down. They agreed to only pause if they absolutely needed to.
"Have you stopped flirting with the royal head chef and proposed to her already?" Simon asks in return. Price just smiles but shakes his head. "Seems like some things don't change, do they?"
"At least I have a potential candidate." Price said under his breath however Simon still heard him. He rolled his eyes but smiled. Pot calls kettle black. He really hoped Price would make a move but it seemed like that wasn't going to happen any time soon. Whole royal court knew she was absolute madwoman when it came to her job, not caring if the person who entered the kitchen was some low peasant or the general of the army, as long as it was not part of the kitchen stuff, they would be out the door sooner than hey came in, acompanied by the yelling of their life and few colourful insults. Simon believed only the Queen herself would be able to get away with going into the kitchen while head cheff was there, but even he wasn't sure. What he was sure however was, that Price has been never thrown out of there with such violence as he have seen the other get. John would only get so called slap on the wrist, which in head cheffs case meant getting hit in the head with a wooden spoon so hard he had a bruise for two weeks, but thats nothing compared to what she usually did. He did get out of there with both food and alive, which was a rarity.
"Sorry John, nothing interesting to gossip about in my life." Simon shrug and adjusted the piece of material he had over his head. Unlike Price who had nothing to cover himself from the sun above them, Ghost came prepared. One of the many clothes he had, was now shielding him from the heat source above them. He usually wore one just to cover his nose and mouth, but with the sun trying to fry him, he had decided to cover his head as well. That meant instead of looking like a bandid like he usually did, he was now closer to an assassin. "I assume it won't be just the two of us?" He asked changing the topic.
"No. There will be two more. You remember Kyle Garrick, the archer?" Price checked with Ghost and continued only after the other knight nod. "He agreed to aid us as well. It's been a while since you two saw each other. Would you believe if I told you he got even better than the last time you were in the Capital?"
"What can be better than shooting bullseye each single time?" Simon asked. He remembered his first time he met Gaz. He thought the man was crazy. Going into the battle wearing nothing but a protective chain on his chest and leather stripes to cover his limbs. Even while not actively on the battle field it was dangerous to be wearing so little protective gear. As it later turned out, Kyle did not in fact need one. Climbed on a tree before the bloodshed started, stayed there the whole battle and killed at least twenty men. Sneeky bastard hiden among the leaves, Simon decided it was wiser to have him on his good side. Can't say he and Garrick were friends, but he was one of the people Ghost tolerated. Born a peasant, became one of the deadliest bowmen in the whole Kingdom with nothing else but his work and stubbornness. Among the three of them only Price was born into a noble family, but again not a very rich one, yet wealthy enough to give him proper education.
"Some time ago he read about men in the far East who shot while riding their horses. I gave him that book so he could train his reading skills, didn't expect him to get so invested. Can't say he mastered it yet, but he is able to hit the target while on a galloping horse. Still complains he isn't landing the arrow where he wants it to be." Simon just shook his head with fondness. Of course Gaz would do something like that. Overachiever that one. But still impressing non the less.
"Good to hear he has been reading. What about the other one?" Ghost asked and this time Price didn't answer as fast as previously.
"You don't know him. A local peasant. John MacTavish. Knows the surrounding grounds like the back of his hand. Could lead us everywhere, even blindfolded." Simon frowned. He never expected Price to get someone from outside into such sensitive operation like this one. But maybe that man was some kind of a second Garrick? Excelent in some type of combat.
"What does he do? Is he an archer or something?" Simon asked suspiciously. He was sure Price would mention the peasants speciality without him having to ask. Perhaps he was wrong. The older man shook his head to Ghosts surprise.
"He is okay with knifes. Not the worst archer I've seen. If I had to chose a thing he is the best at it would be traps I think." Simons frown only deepens. Price watches him with tired gaze, waiting for his comment. He knew Ghost wouldn't like this. Working with someone who wasn't an expert. Someone who was not one of the best in the Kingdom, especially if their task was so dangerous and specific. "No formal training." John added to which Simon turned so violently his horse stopped walking.
"You want to tell me, three elite men, two of which knights and one the best archer in the whole England will be working with a man who wasn't even in the local guard? What else? You're gonna tell me he is a cripple with no leg and we will have to carry him everywhere?" Simon was furious. Normalny he would trust his friends judgement when it came to stuff like that, but Price would also provide a reason why he chose such man and not someone else. From what he was saying, Price just found some man and planned on making him part of his unit, not a guide, because Simon knows John would specify if he got that man just to get them through the forest.
"Simon, I get that you are sceptical." Ghost shot him a glare, becase that was a hell of an understatement. "But I know that man, I have worked with him before. He hasn't had a formal training because, as you know, people with any kind of criminal record are not allowed in the guard."
Simon was ready to get of his horse, push his friend of animal companion as well and shake some sense into him. Not only some random peasant, not a knight, not an archer, not an expert in a specic field, not even a bloody guard, but a criminal. Maybe it's true what they say, that the older people get the stupider they become.
"What did he do? Murder? Witchcraft against the poeple? Affairs with monsters?" Simon asked. If he was going to work with that man he needed to know what to expect. Again he found it suspicious Price hasn't already told him. He was hiding something from him and it was driving Ghost mad. He hated not knowing, especially when others did know.
"None of the things you mentioned. Let's just say the whole village in which he lives is... unusual to say at least. Mostly Scotts live there, their ways of being aren't that different from ours, but some things that are fine by them are looked down upon by those like us... Oh don't give me that look Simon, not everything forbidden by law is adequate. Besides, Gaz seems to like him, so I think you will get along with him as well." Price sighed, he knew it wouldn't be easy to convince Ghost into cooperation if he mentioned that earlier. Thats why he naively hoped that the topic wouldn't come up that soon. He thanked whatever gods were watching that Simon was a man of his word, which meant he would help if he said so earlier, even if now he didn't seem to like the idea at all.
"Price" Simon cut the other man. "Tell me one," He put a single finger up to emphasize" ONE thing that I could like about this man." Ghost really hoped there is something, or else this whole cooperation thing is gonna be doomed to fail.
"Graves hates his guts." Price said and watched as Simons face changes from absolutely woebegone to intrigued in a matter of seconds. It wasn't a secret Ghost and Baron Graves weren't exactly on friendly terms. They were polite to eachother in public, but he was the type of person that digsgusted the knight. Born into a rich noble family, a brat who was never taught manners, someone who had any kind of politeness only to those above him in the hierarchy, but to those equal to him, or worse, below, he treated worse than rats in Simons opinion. Knights weren't as disrespected as the rest which didn't change the fact Simon would personally discipline that man if he could. He treated him and Price as his personal servants and took great pleasure in making them go three or four times to fetch him things he could easly get himself, or ask one of the servants employed by the host. Graves didn't bother remembering names of those below him, let alone recognise any. That meant if he even as much as recognised John MacTavish, a peasant (so basicly an insect in his eyes) he must have really gotten under his skin. Simons eyes shined with curiosity. Price smiled seeing his words got the exact reaction from Ghost he hoped for.
"Thought that may interest you. They fought once in the past. A duel, proper one. Graves wanted to behead a woman who he claimed was a witch. John intervened, told him that it's not forbidden by the Kingdoms laws, and that if he wanted to kill anyone here he had to have local dukes orders for it. Graves did not care at first, that was until John challanged him to a duel and bloody won it, fair and square. Graves was furious. He told guards to catch the man and wanted to behead him instead. Half the village stood up for him, fought off Graves and his Shadows. Went to the Duke Alex, hoping he would take his side in this whole thing, instead he was told to pay a tribute to the village for the damage he has done." As Price talked Simon could imagine Graves all beaten up and he could feel the annoyance at the peasant leaving his body. Maybe he wasn't as bad. Seemed like a man of honour and justice. Ghost could work with someone like that. However he could feel this was not the end of the story.
"You still haven't told me what was he convicted of." Simon pointed out. To which Price sighed growing tired of Ghost trying to find a flaw in everything the stranger did. Knight just nodded.
"Murder. There were fatalities on both sides. Nine of Graves Shadows died, along with over twenty townfolks. John personally killed two of his guards, and was convicted of it. However the sentence was lighter considering it was done in self defence. He was sentenced for six months in dungeons and expected to pay conpensations for the two guards. He didn't have the money obviously. Would you believe if I told you the nearby villages and towns gathered money to pay for him? Graves was hoping to get him to become his slave due to not being able to pay off the debt, but John managed to get out. Again." Price turned again to Simon. "Still angry you'll be working with a stranger?"
Simons only answer was a low grunt, but he did shake his head. Could be worse, he thought. But he wouldn't mind working with a man brave enough to stand up to a Baron, challange him to a duel and be liked enough to be bailed out by more than one village. Ghost assumed that whole John MacTavish could be more simillar to him than he thought before.
- - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - -- - - -- - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - - -- - -- - :)
Simon could not believe even for a moment he thought he would get along with the man. He wasn't remotly what he expected, if anything, the complete opposite. First of all, that man was loud. Simon thought that since he was being recruited by Price, he would be at least a bit similar to him. Only thing those two had in common was eye colour and body physique. He heard him before he even saw him. Talking way too loud, too much and too fast for Ghosts liking. Then, there was the
'bravery'. It took the knight exactly three seconds, to realise he was not brave but fearless. There's a bigger difference than one may think. A brave man is someone who despite knowing the risks, choses to endanger himself. A fearless man is someone who does not understand the risks of the decisions he is about to make. One is calculated action, second, basicly stupidity. Something that Simon hoped would go extinct soon due to natural selection, but it seemed like today wasn't his lucky day. And third. John MacTavish did not know what personal space was. The moment him and Price entered the room in which Gaz and MacTavish were accommodated, he bowwed so slightly one might have missed it and then went directly to pat the man on his back.
"Good to see ya again Price!" He said so loudly, Simon was sure it could be considered yelling. John gave Simon a quick look before leaning closer to Price. "Why didn't ya mention we would be workin' with a vampire?" He whispered, but it was loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. Gaz turned his head in the other direction trying to hide the smile upon hearing MacTavishs comment. Price just shook his head in dissaproval.
"Because he isn't one. John, meet Knight Simon, also known as Ghost. Simon, John MacTavish." Price introduced them and John took out his gloved hand to greet Simon. The knight however didn't plan on shaking it. They weren't even close to equal and he wouldn't stoop to this mans level.
"Ghost? Heard about ya, sir. That's a great honour to work with ya." John smiled and looked him directly in the eyes. Simon couldn't remember last time he saw eyes so grey and blue at the same time.
After few seconds of uncomfortable silence during which John realised Ghost wasn't going to shake his hand, he took it back. His smile faded a bit, when he turned to Price with questioning gaze. Knight just shrugged, which was enough of a signal for John that everything was fine. Undeterred the man looked at Simon again, stepped back, hands up in defeat.
"Right, nae a touchy type. Will keep ma hands to maself." John turned to Price again, putting his hands down. "Care for a game of dice, Price?" He asked and the knight rolled his eyes, but did take a step closer to the table where Gaz was already sitting.
"One game, Soap, then I am going to my chambers. All day on the bloody horse, would you believe it?" John laughed and went to join shirtless Gaz. Price looked back at Simon who was standing still, frozen. He tried to encourage Ghost with a nod of his head. Simon sighed and moved closer to the rest of his companion.
Instead of sitting with them Simon leaned against the closest wall and observed the scene in front of him. He finally had a moment to actually look at the people around him. Gaz hasn't changed much, grew out his beard a bit, but Ghost was sure he would soon shave most of it off. Fingers of his dominant hand bandaged to protect them from his bows chord, but so was his torso. He has to ask Garrick about it later. Kyle seemed relaxed, a bit buffier than the last time Simon saw him, but well, healthy at least. Price gained another gray hair on his head, more likely due to contant stress he was under than his age. His eyebags were an indicator, his assumtions must have been at least close to truth. Haircut still the same after all these years, posture a bit worse, probably caused by lot of paperwork.
MacTavish was something new however, a (not so blank) sheet of paper to be filled with information. He was dressed in a simple shirt, and functional trousers with multiple pockets. His hair in some kind of warhawk style (Simon would sooner die than let someone do something like that to his hair), eyes tired, but allert. Once again he focused on the gloves the man wore. Strange thing. His body covered in various scars, from bites to scratches to things Simon could not recognise. John didn't hide them, therefore, wasn't ashamed of them. Why did he cover his hands in that case? Was it something like Garricks bandages? Trying to avoid unnessesary wounds where he knows they could often appear. But why didn't he chose bandage like Gaz then? Gloves were expensive and that man's clothing didn't exactly scream money. An investition? Ghost could think of a better material than leather that sould hold under working conditions, but wasn't as expensive. It seemed to be purely cosmetic measure.
Despite him sitting with his back to Simon, he could tell a lot from his posture. Sitting straight, must be moving a lot, mainly phisical work (if his muscles were any potential clue). Moved a lot. More than Gaz and Price combined. When it wasn't his turn to throw dice his fingers were tapping against the table, his leg bouncing constantly. Perhaps the man was restless due to lack of physical exercise. Mouth constantly running, couldn't stay silent for more than two minutes. Ghost could already tell the journey with him was going to be loud. Maybe Price would allow him to stuff a piece of cloth down his mouth to silence him if John would be too much for Simon. He doubted that, but he could always hope. A sudden yell and laughter made him flinch.
"Price! Do something! Bastard's clearly cheating!" Gaz whined to which John just laughed louder. Price just sighed clearly more tired than before agreeing to the game.
"What am I supposted to do? Those are your dice Garrik! I have been watching his hands non stop, so did you. Soap didn't do anything. He either prays to the right gods or is the luckiest man alive." Price did sound annoyed out of his mind. Like always when there was something he couldn't solve or understand.
"I don't care, he is clearly doing something! Casing spells or some shit. Soap has my money, that's what I care about. Two more rounds and we will run out of money. We can't just let him win!" Kyle exclaimed, waving his hands in the air. Price just rolled his eyes, clearly as pleased about the whole situation as Gaz.
"That's a new one! Haven't been accused of sorcery before." John smiled and pat Garrick on the back. "If ay do win ay will buy ya all a round next time we're in a tavern." And with that, Gaz looked at Soap (as Simon heard him call John) like he promised him a castle or something. Priced seem to lighten up a bit as well hearing these words. "But hey, ya can't blame me! Ay warned ya am good."
"How was I supposted to know you weren't just bragging?" Gaz groaned hidding his face in his hands.
"Maybe because I warned you, muppet. Told you he wasn't banned in half the borthels for no reason. "Price crossed his arms and yawned. "Speaking of reason, I think it's about time we part ways. I don't want to stay up all night, unlike you, I like being well rested." He said and stood up.
The rest followed his lead, Garrick almost loosing balance from the exaustion. Price wished them good night and gave Simon a silent signal to follow him. As the door of their companions room closed, they were left in the hallway in almost complete darkness. Torches on the walls were (for some reason) giving much less light than the dozens of candles in the chamber they left. They walked together in silence for which Simon was greatfull. His head hurt from the ammount of noise the men in the room with him made.
Ghost was thinking about the bath he was going to take, before sleep. He felt dirty, tired and wanted nothing more than to be alone. He would have to thank Price later for not asking him all the questions he had for him right now, because sure as hell he had at least a couple. Surely he wanted to know what he thought of the man, if he could work with him and so on. And those were all valid questions, but question for which Simon did not have strength right now.
"Thought you were going to burn a hole in his head." Price whispered, more to himself than Ghost. Simon nod and they continued walking. He knew Price didn't have a problem with him staring, but wanted to inform him, he was not as descreet in it as he thought. Something he would have to work on in the future it seemed. Not that he was pretending not to watch the man, since he had Johns back facing him. Not like the man noticed anyway...