"Well?" said the Comte, appearing at some inconvenient time where Ferdinand was alone, "You wished to ask me something?"
Ferdinand looked him straight in the eye. "You haven't answer my question, Comte. Why me? Why take an interest in me? You've lived a long and probably difficult life, yet you come to seek out me. I am but a mere common man among many, just simple soldier, one who has served his country in a crisis of war and now I have been dragged about by these nobles who have sought my aid in helping them with their quests. You too are a noble, do you wish my aid in some dreamy idea of yours or was there something more? I have answered your question and will do ask you ask, but I do this for my own well being and not yours."
"It's quite simple, dear boy. Why did I choose you? Because you are incredibly adept at the art of killing people, and you have the ability to do so stealthily - though I might add that at the moment you seldom exercise that particular option." The Comte took a moment to partake of some snuff. "You are also well placed to monitor the goings on among the high and mighty of Castille and report their doings to me. These capabilities make you useful. Therefor you were chosen. Do you really think I care whether you are highborn or low? I have been a noble, a begger, a monk, a sailor, and a knight, to name but a few, and if there is one thing I have learned in all my years it is that no trick of birth determines a man's capabilities - idiots are idiots whether born in a castle or a hovel."
With a bit of a confused look on his face, Ferdinand replied. "Look, I don't honestly like killing people. I wasn't like this until I joined the war. I had to keep in mind how things needed to be done. I don't know if you were aware or not, but I had managed to wipe out a unit of Montaigne soldiers with my own two hands. It was not pleasant by any means, but it was war. It was something that had to be done in order to keep my country and my family safe." He glanced up at the Comte. "Tell me, how many people have you removed from Thea's lands? How many have fallen by your sword alone? How many have you killed in the name of your country?" Ferdinand stopped short and a moment of realization hit him. "You were like ... me weren't you?" He peered at the Comte.
"Hardly," replied the Comte, with a rather condescending tone. "Please note that I said nothing whatsoever of your feeling on the matter of killing people. It is your competance I am interested in. In truth I prefer using those who have a certain repugnance for the task. I need trained, skilled, highly competent minions - lunatics can be found at any asylum throughout the land."
"So, you are using me to do your dirty work, is that it?" Ferdinand's face turned dower. "And just how am I to be compensated for this work that you would wish to have me do? Also, what about the others? What am I to tell them? Or can I even tell them? Surely, Her Majesty would be concerned if I were just go around killing people at someone else's whim."
"You are the one who wanted to join the Knights of the Rose and Cross - isn't that compensation enough? If you didn't believe in the goals of their organization, then why did you seek to join - or was it simply because you thought you looked good in the tabard? As for the others - any others - you tell them nothing. Nothing whatsoever. Doing so will seal not only your fate but theirs as well. As for 'killing people on a whim' is that really what you expect to be doing? I can kill people on a whim perfectly well by myself, thank you very much. What I require is men and women who can serve the Knights from the shadows - who can go places and do things that someone wearing the tabard cannot. Nevertheless the goals of the Knights, if not necessarily their methods, are mine as well, and now yours also. The Knights most emphatically do not 'kill people on a whim' and neither do you. Or rather you do not do so more than once, for if I find that I have misjudged you and that you are, in fact, one of those lunatics better suited to the asylum than civilized company then I shall have no compunctions whatsoever about putting you down in the most expedient manner possible, even if it means ruining one of my outfits with your blood. The vast majority of your job is simply to listen and report what you hear to me. That is all. If you are ever called upon to end another man's life, it will be at my personal instruction. You may kill in self defense. You may kill for your own personal goals. You may kill to salve your conscience. But you will never, EVER kill in the name of the Knights of the Rose and Cross without prior, spoken authorization from me. Is that absolutely clear?"
"It is compensation enough to be joining such an organization, that is true, however, I was taken by complete surprise that the Knights even HAD something like this. Up until now, I thought you were harassing me for mere entertainment... let alone put poor Constanza through some of it." Glancing outwardly, Ferdinand openly sighed about the situation and turned back to the Comte. "Fine. We have a deal, seeing how you want to put on a good face for everyone, including the Knights themselves. I don't plan on killing anyone without your authorization or unless I am threatened. Personally, I thought I would have looked good in a tabard... although I'm sure Don Aldana would have said otherwise." Ferdinand shrugged. "You are an arrogant person, Comte, but a shrewd and convincing one at that... now if you will excuse me, I have my identity to reclaim as it has been dragged through the mud numerous times. I hope to hear from you soon." He began to walk off, with an understanding that perhaps the Comte might reply.
"I am not arrogant, dear boy," replied the Comte, "merely superior. And you will certainly hear from me when you are ready."
"When I have the luxury of being superior Senor Sinjin, I will most certainly let you and the rest of Castille know who I am, for now I am content, to say the least."
