^^ Ben Cooper ^^

— Reginald Birchwood —

The night should have gone smoothly.

It was all planned, meticulously described and detailed down to the most basic of facts; I was to hunt down and kill a Black Dog: a powerful demon that had the ability to rip the souls from the bodies of those that met its gaze, but no other special abilities.

For someone who'd been training to hunt demons all his life, this should've been easy for me.

And yet, I found myself dodging the jaws of the Dog, as it lunged for my throat in an unexpectedly swift leap from a space fifteen feet away from where I'd been standing. It still collided with me, taking me to the ground, and went again for my throat.

I stuffed my forearm deep into its jaws, behind its teeth for the most part, which minimized my wounds from the gnawing jaws of the slobbering beast. Keeping my eyes off of the thing about to tear into my throat was difficult, but necessary.

Suddenly, I heard a heavy boot scrape the ground, easily loud enough to belong to someone the size of my father, and cursed my luck. Of course he didn't trust me to do this on my own. Glancing that way, however, revealed a very different form.

Built much like my father, a thickly muscled bull of a man, standing about 26 hands tall (6'6"), black-haired, it seemed, under all the soot that coated his clothes and face.

I frowned, realizing he was not a Priest or a Hunter. "Off with you, Man! I need no assistance!!!" I snapped, and kicked the beast in the gut to keep its attention on me.

A beautiful golden feline slipped out from under his collar, leaping between us and fluffing its fur, hissing savagely at us. In an instant, a vision of a massive, Primal version of that cat came to me, shaking me to the core, and the Dog as well, apparently, as we both heard her speak.

"Begone, CUR!" A surprisingly feminine voice seemed to echo all around us.

The human growled, springing forward. "Back up you stupid Cat!!!" He snapped at her, and slammed into the Dog with a surprising amount of force, rocking it to the side for a moment, before wrapping his arms around its throat, and pulling it away from me slowly.

I saw the back of its throat open, meaning it was going to breath fire at me, and I took the opportunity to pull out a cross made of gold, and punch it into its throat, letting the divine energies cancel out the fire and start choking the beast.

The man grabbed the jaws of the Dog, and started to pry them open, to my surprise; clearly this man was some sort of Pagan Priest, as no human could fight an otherworldly creature, even a demonic one, with no aid. As he did, however, he made the mistake of looking at the creature's eyes, and I saw the dog trying to take his soul, before the 'cat' (whatever it was,) intervened.

"Look away, Benjamin!!!" She hissed, and his eyes cleared, blinking rapidly. As soon as he was himself again, his arms swelled, making my eyebrow raise until he snapped the Dog's neck like a twig, the sound much akin to a piece of celery being cracked open.

I gasped, and then coughed as he dropped the immense beast onto my chest, apparently exhausted by the effort of killing it. He seemed to realize the pain it put me in, having my ribs slowly crushed, and rolled it off of me slowly.

He reached a hand to help me up, and I noticed blisters and cuts on it, from where I wasn't sure, and paused as they healed before my eyes, much like a Hunter's wounds.

I waved the hand away, and sighed. "Thanks for your help, Brother... I'm only sorry that I needed it." My wounds began to heal, as I calmed down, and he stared at them and his hand, seeming confused. I stood up fully, and frowned. "Is this also your first hunt? Have you never been wounded before?"

He glanced at my face, then did a double-take, looking confused, then stared at me for a full ten seconds, seeming to examine my face for familiarity. "I am the Cardinal's Son, yes, I'm aware of the resemblance!" I sighed exasperatedly.

He grinned slowly. "Sorry, lad, I've not spoken Latin in a few decades; not since bible school. I'm not quite sure I can understand."

I raised my eyebrow slowly at the English, and hummed. 'Not a Priest or a hunter, then... perhaps a Bastard? Curious.' "Hmm... the Queen's English, then? Interesting... how did you kill the Black Dog, then, if you're not a priest?" I straightened my clothes, dusting off my coat, which was irrevocably ruined, it seemed.

He laughed incredulously, apparently finding the question amusing. "Me? A Priest? Ha! I'm a Salt, lad; furthest from a Priest as a man can be, I assume! And what's a priest got to do with killing a dog?" He asked cluelessly.

A sick, ethereal cracking and crunching sound made me slowly look down, at the corpse of the Black Dog. Instead, a pile of bones sat there, and atop it the golden cat, washing her face primly.

He frowned. "Cleo?"

'As in Cleopatra? A pagan monster, perhaps? Indeed, if he has her protections, he surely has the innate skills and power to kill a Demon.' "Ahh, that explains it... Hmph. Well, I suppose I owe you thanks. Your name?" I asked politely, holding out a hand to shake. 'Best not to offend someone bonded to something as powerful as that...'

'You are Correct.' The ethereal voice of the cat echoed in my head again.

He flinched, shaken from his confused staring at the cat. "Benjamin Cooper, Navigator of the Ironheart, mister...?" He gripped my hand heartily, nearly crushing my knuckles together.

"Sir Reginald Birchwood." I shook firmly, and wiped the blood off my hand when I pulled it back, flexing the knuckles. "I bid you a good night, then... Mister Cooper." I nodded.

"Sir? But aren't you a priest?" He asked, tilting his head.

I chuckled, amused by his innocent curiosity. "Yes and no. I am a clergyman, of a sort, but I do not give sermons. Were I not nobility, I would be 'brother Reginald'." I explained.

He hummed. "Don't you cast off nobility and family ties when you join the Church?"

'Ahh... not nearly as simple as he seemed...' I frowned at the knowledge that I'd judged him too quickly. "If your family is not of the Cloth, Yes. Mine is; Now, good night, Mister Cooper, and safe travels." I turned a bit, then remembered manners. The cat was clearly powerful, and so making her angry was likely unwise. As such, I bowed my head to her, and turned away when she flicked her ears at me dismissively.

I took a step back, and slipped into the Veil, disappearing from sight before she changed her mind.

I'd only been in the veil a number of times, as it was a very difficult skill to master, but incredibly useful. In fact, had I thought to use it in the fight, I likely wouldn't have had to sacrifice an arm or a golden cross.

I stepped out a few meters away, on the roof of the building, and watched as the cat searched for me, then leapt onto 'Ben Cooper's shoulders. "A curious priest indeed..."

"Magic? Was that magic?!?" He asked slowly, and looked at the cat.

"It seemed to be Magical in nature... perhaps?"

"Curious... a priest, practicing magic and fighting beasts in the streets of a town like ours... where did his cross go, anyway?" He asked, looking at the pile of bones that was all that was left of my target.

The cat hacked a few times, before her mouth seemed to stretch unnaturally wide, and my cross clanged to the stones between his feet, smoldering hot. "There it is. Have it, it would've given me indigestion anyway... you can rebuild my burnt temple with it." She smirked, burrowing into his collar.

He picked it up slowly, the heat not seeming to bother him. "Well... that's unsettling. Can you do any other tricks I oughta know about?"

"Perhaps."

"I thought so, but I had to ask..." he tucked it away, and pulled out a small, grimy Penny. "And now I need a Drink." He walked into the back of the tavern and into the interior.

"You failed." My father spoke from behind me, and I flinched, turning to face him, and looking up at him, even more than usual, because of the slope of the roof.

"I... I did." I bowed my head, clenching my fists as my wounds slowly healed the last bit.

He nodded slowly. "That man... he killed the Black Dog, and his Familiar Ate it... but you did also kill it. Had he not broken it's neck, your cross would have ended it, though it would have taken longer. Had he not been here, you would have-"

"Died. Had he not opened its jaws, I wouldn't have been able to get the cross in." I shook my head. "I wouldn't accept pity or a false victory from anyone, least of all you, Father."

He smirked. "Good. And you're right. The two of you worked together, even unwittingly. He technically passed the trial, and so did you. You'll each have another, to quell any doubts amongst the Order, but technicalities matter." He deepened his voice, ending the debate.

"Yes, Cardinal."

He nodded and leapt down into the alley with a soft thud, then stepped inside, ducking the doorframe just as Ben had, reaffirming my suspicions that they were nearly the same size.

I followed, albeit with a less-stealthy landing, and stood on the other side of the door until I heard him say 'we will have the room.' I stood aside as a small herd of people rushed out of every door, and I pointed out the back when they stopped to possibly listen in, holding up my silver cross, around my neck. "The Cardinal wishes privacy, everyone; out."

They grumbled a bit, but obeyed as the flock of sheep they were, and filed out entirely.

"Reginald. Enter." Father spoke in that same tone he used when he needed people to take him seriously... or to fear him.

I entered the room, closing the door behind me, and gazed at the only unknown in the room, a small, bookish, and surprisingly formal Macedonian man with spectacles on his nose. "Good evening, mister?"

"Doctor Cole is a Friend to the Church, the Queen, and the Birchwoods. He is a researcher and surgeon from the Mediterranean." Father explained calmly.

I nodded. "Greetings, Doctor Cole. I am Sir Reginald Birchwood. We haven't had the pleasure of meeting."

He nodded. "Indeed, a pleasure it is. It seems that my Navigator has crossed your path, and you right outside my tavern... many coincidences, tonight, and I'm not keen on them, as you are aware." He glanced at Father, who hummed deeply.

"I was aware of your presence in the city, but not that his Hunt would bring him near to your residence. I am also aware you wished to be left alone, and I have respected that as best as is possible, as have the rest of the Families." He sounded surprisingly demure to this small man, which was odd. My father wasn't the type to show his belly to anyone.

Benjamin cleared his throat. "So, you know these people, Doctor? And I'm not crazy?"

He chuckled. "No, you're not crazy, and yes, I know the elder of the two. An honorable man, of a prestigious family. They and their fellows have defended the Peoples of Greater Europe and the Mediterranean from many types of threats for many centuries. They're also rather secretive, for obvious reasons I need not explain?" He raised an eyebrow at Mr. Cooper, taking a drink.

"Mm... I suppose demons aren't something most people want to know exist as anything but metaphors in the Bible, much less to know they prowl the streets at night." He nodded logically.

Father nodded, and nudged out a chair for me to sit in easily. "Exactly. Now, on to other topics. Mr. Cooper, you interfered in a sacred trial of the Order, to test Reginald's skills, adaptability, and fortitude. Indeed, you did so with no training, and yet still managed to not only kill the beast, but save my son, in the process... and while interfering was a grievous error on your part, in the eyes of the Law, I cannot find anything but gratitude, in that you chose to do so, and by the offspring of that choice, my son yet breathes."

Benjamin sat up slowly, processing the words and nodding slowly. "So... I broke the law, helping him?"

"Only God's law, which, as you're not a member of the clergy, doesn't apply to you in any real sense. Either way, I appreciate the assistance you gave him, but I am now in a bind; you killed the beast, not him." He explained.

"Meaning I accidentally passed your trial, and derived him of his chance to succeed?" Ben asked slowly.

"Correct. Technically, as the cross down the throat would have killed the beast, had you not broken it's neck, you both passed, but that result is tenuous, at best. Either way, I have the unfortunate dilemma as to whether to offer you a place amongst us, or simply leave you to Doctor Cole to handle as he sees fit... it's a curious conundrum." Father leaned forward, and steepled his hands together in front of his mouth seriously.

Ben frowned, then leaned over to Doctor Cole, speaking softly. "Conundrum?"

"It means a difficult riddle, or confusing situation." The doctor answered in the same tone, without an ounce of sarcasm or annoyance. The source of Benjamin's vocabulary, (extensive, for a commoner, even a well-traveled navigator,) became suddenly clear.

"Ah... well, if it keeps me on a ship, I'm happy to be of service to Doctor Cole, but I'll be honest, I don't know enough about you or your work to even consider working with you." Ben stated clearly, staring Father in the face.

"Hmm... I understand. However, again, I am faced with a dilemma. Those who know our secrets are few, and those who know our secrets, and are not amongst our number or allies, they are nearly nonexistent. I cannot allow someone to run around Europe with knowledge of our existence, but I also owe you a debt for saving Reginald... and there's the matter of Reginald's punishment for failing..." he tapped his fingers together, thinking deeply.

"Easily rectified, Johnathon. Give me Reginald, as a guard of Benjamin, and he will be in Order Eyes; sumultanaesously, you punish Reginald with a punitive task that needs doing, just as if he'd made any other mistake." Doctor Cole smiled calmly, explaining his idea as if he had the authority to order such a thing.

Father shocked me by seriously considering the offer, and then smiling. "Indeed... a few years on a ship will toughen him up, as well, and the Order will not have any reason to question his temerity after such an arduous quest... also, he can teach mister Cooper about the Order, and any knowledge he would need, should he decide to join us on your behalf... thank you, Doctor, that seems a rather ingenious solution to my problem."

I frowned, but kept my mouth shut, knowing my place here. Benjamin showed no such restraint, and cleared his throat. "So you're saying that I'll babysit the boy for a few years, take him with me, season him up a bit, then bring him back to you when you say his punishment is over?" He clarified calmly.

I narrowed my eyes at being called 'boy' and 'baby', but again held my tongue, as father chuckled. "Yes, Mr. Cooper, that seems to be the situation. Or should I say, 'Sir' Cooper. As a member of the Order of the Rubrum Crusis, even in the capacity you are, you are a Noble in the eyes of Europe and the various Churches therein, whether they be Catholic, Protestant, or Pagan."

Ben's eyes widened slowly. "You mean to say that the Pagans and you aren't... you know, fighting?"

"Oh sure, we squabble over everything, but monsters and demons are a problem everyone agrees needs a firm hand. We are one of many such Hands." Father nodded.

"Alright... well, I suppose that makes you a navigator's apprentice, Reggi!" He grinned at me, and registered my frown. "Oh don't look at me like that!!! We can't be calling you Sir, can we? Nor can we tell the captain why you're shadowing me, so my apprentice is a good excuse! Or Doctor Cole's apprentice, if you prefer?" He asked, looking at the Doctor.

I looked at Father, requesting permission to speak, and he shook his head. "That won't be necessary. The secrecy of our order is only in the things we actually do... publicly, we're called the Order of the Red Cross, and we are medics and priests for soldiers during wartime. And our priests and even some hunters do provide that service, meaning there's no need for secrecy."

"I suppose you are the best picks for healers I've ever seen, what with how you healed me... alright, then the Doc's apprentice it is, Sir Reginald. Now, some quick, somewhat personal questions, hmm? Do you mind?" Ben asked, looking at me seriously.

I looked at Father, and he nodded. "Alright, ask away, Brother Benjamin?" I smiled.

He twitched, and sighed. "You're clergy, you said, but only partly? So you can drink and Kill and fornicate, yes?" He asked bluntly.

Father laughed explosively at the question, or perhaps my immediate blush, and patted my back heartily. "Oh aye, Salt, unless he takes the Cloth Oaths and leaves the Hunters, he's free to do as he pleases!!!"

"Good, Good! Then a mug of Harsh should mark the occasion, aye? You're a man of the Ironheart now, Lad!" Ben patted my back as well, and laughed again, to himself, then walked to the bar, filling up a pair of flagons from a bottle on the counter.

He sat back down, handing one to father, and the other to me. "To seasoning a new Salt!" He proclaimed happily.

"To the Ironheart." Doctor Cole nodded, toasting his cup of wine properly.

"And to many stories my son will bring home." Father nodded to me, raising his cup.

I sighed and raised the metal cup. "To the Order of the Red Cross." As they tipped back their drinks, I drank deeply of the liquid inside, finding out the hard way what substance 'Harsh' was.