CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 8

Roger looked at it and got outside the castle. He could see the town from here and he found that the castle was on the hill top. He was stopped by a knight at the bottom and roger showed his badge and was unstopped. Roger smiled and went to the top and gave his invitation to the head in charge there. Roger looked at the person who came to receive him in doubt. The women smiled and said with a graceful bow like a lady, "I am lady ghost. Please welcome to our humble abode lord Speed-son. My husband will ne joining you soon."

Roger looked at her and kissed her hands and said, "I hope I have not disturbed you."

The lady said, "You have not. Please come inside. "

Roger followed the lady and sat down on the chair. He smiled and gave her the bottle of wine he had bought. The lady gracefully accepted it and gave it to the maid by her side. Roger looked at her and she bought some biscuit and tea and gave it to Roger. Roger looked at the lady and smiled. The lady smiled and said, "I have heard of your tale. About how you rose from a peasant to become a noble lord. How you bankrupted and destroyed many rich merchants is able to become rich person. How you are able to control the market of two of the nine states."

Roger smiled and said, "Poor and weak person like me can only try to become strong in such a manner. I do not have my family and allies to remain strong."

Lady Ghost said, "You are joking sir. Not many of the ancient families has as much influence as you and you should be able to remain strong and create a new legacy."

Roger said, "True. The war is approaching anyway. The noble families will be shuffled once again."

Lady Ghost said, "You are lucky to rise during the time of war as no other lord will come with full power to target you."

Roger said, "Either way I will win and rise to the top. If it were not for the war, I will directly become the strong lord after winning the challenge of many other lords. The problem remains that I will have to face them after the war. I hope that they are really big fools who will challenge me as I will be able to amass their strength."

Lady Ghost said with a smile, "The king will stand against such things."

Roger said, "He is not strong enough to break the rules the nobles abide by."

Lady Ghost said, "True. Have you come here to form an alliance? You are more than strong enough to become our friend but if you want us to submit, you are not strong enough."

Roger said, "I am strong enough in either manner. I have formed alliances with some houses and have some subordinate houses. I am strong in either manner but I have no interest in such things. We will be not together during war and in the normal times you are not much help for me. I am here for a single thing. I need a few mirrors."

Lady Ghost had to take some time before she could understand the situation. It was completely different from what she had thought. Her husband was a fool and she was the one who took care of the business. He was only useful in fighting and training knights. Lady Ghost finally understood the truth and decided to speak. She smiled and said, "How big would you like the mirror to be?"

Roger said, "Two meters. Get me ten pieces that is bordered and covered with steel. I want such a one that can be used for travelling."

Lady Ghost said, "That is indeed a good idea. Each one would need 500 gold coins."

Roger smiled and said, "I have bought 1000 gold coins and will give you the rest after you give me the glass panel."

Lady Ghost said, "True. I will arrange for it. Our glasses are the smoothest and the mirrors are the best. You will receive the best."

Roger said, "That would be a good idea. I have some rabbit on my side. Would you want it?"

Lady Ghost asked with a frown thinking that Roger was making fun of her, "How many?"

Roger said, "100,000"

Lady Ghost said, "You will have to collect all the rabbits of the kingdom to get that many."

Roger said, "That is indeed true but I have created a farm. I have made it a long time ago."

Lady Ghost believed it. She knew that this man was the one who had hidden himself since he was a child. He was able to get some food from an unknown source and make a lot of money. He should have started the farm from a young age. She decided to take the offer as she knew that that many rabbits could make sure that her whole territory could be fed for a day.

Roger looked at him and said, "You can take it back when you deliver the mirrors. You have to pay 1200 gold coins for that many."

Lady Ghost said, "Sure. Are you going to give fresh ones?"

Roger said, "Yes."

Lady Ghost said, "Sure. I will come with a enough support."

Roger and the lady Ghost remained silent and decided to wait for the other to remain silent. Roger looked at her and she looked at him. The situation had become embarrassing and the Count who was hiding behind the door decided to make an entrance. He came from the side and came inside. He laughed with open arms saying, "Roger my friend. I did not expect you to come to meet me."

Roger did not like such friendliness. He decided to let him stay such and put his hand forward suggesting a handshake instead of a hug. The man understood the implication and shook the hand. The Count sat down and asked, "My friend, I heard that you were searching for some knights to serve under you."

Roger said, "True. They are hard to find and too much time consuming to train. It would be easy to find some knights who are away from their lands."

The Count said, "I have some knights under me who are the children of the knights who serve me and is strong. They are strong enough to serve a Count but the problem remains that we cannot afford them and they are not wanted by others. They would be willing to give their oath and loyalty to a lord who is ready to take them under."

Roger said, "What if one day they have to fight their fathers? Although I have methods to control them, I would hate such drama. I just want a simple life."

The Count smiled. He did not believe a man who had risen to a noble from a commoner. If he wanted simple life, he could make contracts with knights and live a rich and simple life. The Count said, "They are the knight who follow the teachings of the church and will follow all the orders of their lord. Even against their family."

Roger smiled and said, "That would be good."

The Count asked, "How many of them would you like to bring under you?"

Roger looked at him and answered, "As many as there is?"

The Count said, "They should be paid at least 3 gold coins per month. There is also a knight teacher who can teach. If you are willing to accept him, you may have to pay at least 50 gold coins per month."

Roger said, "If that is what you want, I will pay that much. When are you going to show them to me?"

The Count said, "It would be better if it were so."

Roger said, "As long as they are strong enough I will allow them under me. But they have to stay in my castle for a month. I will decide who to keep and who not to."

The Count thought for a long period of time and decided to remain as such. He finally decided to take the offer, "Sure."