Hi! Thanks for hanging in there! This chapter took me a little longer than expected. Enjoy. Please continue to review. I enjoy reading them a lot. Hey MerLyn, I'm keeping that soundtrack in mind. I think I've found a few songs that fit but I've still got my ears open.

Sweet Revenge

Tatiana

Chapter 5: Lucky Horseshoe

Kate blinked several times as she was roused by muffled shout. She stared as the stained and weathered canvas roof directly above her. She let out a yawn and closed her eyes again. It had all been a dream. Suddenly the canvas roof and the foundation Kate was lying on jolted violently. There were more shouts. The wagon had hit a rut in the road. Kate's eyes flew open. Wagon? She pushed herself off wooden wagon bed so that she was sitting up. A wave of dizziness swept over her. She leaned a hand on a wooden crate next to her for support. Her head was spinning unkindly and had taken on a dull ache.

What the hell was going on? For a moment she thought that she might have gotten so plastered with the guys again that she didn't remember anything at all from the night before. The world around her steadied and her eyes fell upon a flag that covered the crate on which her hand rested. She tried to make it out in the dim light. It was deep green with a boar on it. Kate squinted at the banner. The crest looked familiar. She gasped. Adhemar. It all came flooding back to her. Last night, the rain, she was attacked. Kate let out a groan. Things couldn't get much worse than this.

The wagon came to a halt. The canvas at the mouth of the cart was wrenched back. Sunlight came streaming through the opening, into Kate's face. She scrunched up her eyes against the bright rays. A man stepped up into the wagon. Kate couldn't see anything but his silhouette as the sun shone against his back.

" Sleeping Beauty awakes," the man sighed mockingly.

Kate stifled another groan. She had been wrong. Things had just gotten worse. She would recognize the voice anywhere. Kate raised a weak hand to shade her eyes. Adhemar stepped further into the wagon, blocking the rays that blinded her. His eyebrows rose when he got a look at her, his eyes fixed upon her face.

"Then again maybe not," he drawled dryly.

Kate frowned in confusion. Her hand went up to explore her facial features. She gasped as her fingers found a large, painful abrasion near her left temple. She allowed her arm to drop down to her side. Her limb bumped into something nearby causing it to fall over. Loud metal clanging followed as the object fell upon other things, producing a noisy clamor. Kate glanced around. She frowned. She was in the armory wagon. How fitting.

" What's going on?" she demanded. " Where am I?"

Adhemar folded his arms across his chest, looking rather bored. " In a wagon." he stated the obvious, his voice laced with sarcasm. Kate sent him a dirty look.

" Have you abducted me then?" Kate asked, staring at him.

He was silent for a moment, raising his eyes heavenward, thinking. " Yes. I suppose you could say that."

" I hope you don't plan to ransom me?" Kate inquired with a snort. " Because if you are you're wasting your time. William wouldn't pay to have me back. He didn't even want me around in the first place."

" And why would he?" Adhemar smirked coolly. " I had no plans to ransom you, although I may reconsider. Perhaps he'd be willing to trade my horse for you." Kate glared at him.

" If you don't intend to ransom me, what are you planning to do with me?" she demanded.

" For the moment?" Adhemar began, his eyebrows moving upwards. " Nothing." He reached out to run his along a lance that was one of many lying flat in a rack next to him. " Eventually?" he glanced up to her. " I intend to use you to give Thatcher what he deserves. He will know pain and misery before I let you go."

" I won't help you." Kate stated firmly, her voice low.

Adhemar 's lips formed into a tight smile. His eyes sparkled almost merrily. " You will." He nodded his head slightly. " You will."

" They won't come for me." Kate said quickly, desperately wishing it were true.

" Won't they?" Adhemar said tilted his head, staring at her. " On the contrary, I think they will. But the poor boy and his squires won't know where you've gone. They'll look all over the country for you. Alas, it will have been in vain. We're not staying in England. " Adhemar's expression softened a bit, turning almost mocking. "Thatcher needs you."

" Just as you do?" Kate inquired with a knit brow. Her eyes filled with scorn. " Alas for you as well Count Adhemar for you'll never wear my armor. I'll not make it for you." She paused. " Ever."

Adhemar clenched his teeth together for a moment. He relaxed his jaw and let out a small sigh. He glanced to her again. His expression changed from mild displeasure to firm assurance.

" You will." he stated confidently. Kate shook her head slowly. "You will if your way of life is threatened." Kate's motions fell still. Adhemar paused for a moment, allowing his statement to sink in.

" You rely on your forge to survive. What would you do if you couldn't practice your trade anymore? How would you live?" The corners of his mouth turned upward. " Hmm?"

" I don't understand." Kate said softly, her eyes narrowing.

" It's simple, really." Adhemar shrugged, he picked up his foot and rested his boot on a small wooden crate. Leaning forward towards her he continued. " The only reason you are permitted to be a blacksmith is because your husband died. Women blacksmiths, as a rule, do not become armorers. You broke the law when you crafted Thatcher a suit of armor."

Kate's eyes widened, her chest rose, filling with a breath of outrage.

" If I were to bring that fact into light, you're license would be revoked and you would have no way to survive. What would you do then? " Adhemar's eyes were full of ridicule. " Do you think Thatcher and his men would still want you tagging along if you were no use to them? If you were no use to anyone?" He let out a snort. " It isn't likely." His expression turned serious. " If you do anything that is against my wishes, such as try to run away, I'll turn you in to the authorities. When I have a brand new set of armor I'll allow you to go.

Kate breathed in deeply, averting her eyes from Adhemar's mocking gaze. Her heart pounded so loud that she was afraid he could hear it. Her throat began to ache as she realized that he was perfectly in the right. Hate for him saturated her mind.

" You are despicable." she breathed. Adhemar's sneer widened and he inclined his head towards her as though it were a compliment.

Kate pushed herself up, using the crate as a support, and stood rather unsteadily. Her hand felt metal underneath it. Glancing down she saw that there were extra horseshoes under the crested banner. She closed her fingers around the cool metal of one.

Adhemar watched her as she stood. Kate glanced at him, her eyes sparked angrily. Adhemar's eyes narrowed, his brows wrinkling in bewilderment. Suddenly Kate flung the horseshoe at him with all her strength. His eyes widened in surprise as the heavy iron horseshoe came flying towards him. Before he could react the iron shoe caught him on his left shoulder then fell down upon his toe. He let out a loud string of curses, clutched his injured shoulder and hopped awkwardly.

" That's for my head," Kate declared angrily. " I'll think of something better to repay you with for blackmailing me." she vowed.

Adhemar winced as he put all of his weight on his injured foot. He lowered his arms to his sides and glowered at her. His chest rose and fell as he attempted to keep his anger at bay. His eyes shot daggers at her and he clenched his fists tightly open and shut repeatedly. With a deep breath Adhemar stalked out of the wagon with shoulders squared, trying unsuccessfully to disguise his limp.

Kate's hand went to her head once again. Another wave of dizziness came over her. She fell back onto the wagon bed in despair. The heaving of the horseshoe had robbed her of what little strength she'd had. What was she going to do? She felt as though she would weep. Kate took a deep breath and forced her eyes open wider, fighting back tears. She needed to stay strong. There was no telling what that scoundrel would try next.

* * * * *

Adhemar walked rapidly around the armory wagon and headed towards the front of the convoy. When he got a descent distance away from the wagon he gave in to the pain of his shoulder and foot. He allowed his arm to hang limply at his side and attempted to keep his weight off of his injured foot. Muttering under his breath Adhemar made his way to his horse. He had needed to get out of that wagon before he did something that he would later regret. He mustn't allow anything to thwart his plans, not even his own temper, even if she needed to be taught a lesson.

That woman was impossible! He grimaced when he stepped on his injured foot. She had a fiery temper and the strength to carry it out. What was it she had said? The horseshoe was a repayment for her head? He hadn't even caused that injury. His lips tightened. His men had dropped her as they were loading her into the wagon. She had been struggling violently and the man near her head lost his grip, the incompetent fool. She'd fallen and hit her head against the corner of one of the crates of armor. She had fallen unconscious. Adhemar had punished the man for that blunder once already. If the blow to the head had killed her all of his plans would have been ruined. Adhemar glowered angrily. He hadn't even been the cause of her wound and he received punishment for it. He vowed to himself that he wouldn't be the only one to be disciplined for Kate's hurt and she would not go unpunished for his. The man who dropped her would be reprimanded twice what Adhemar had suffered. As for Kate, he would soon take her down a peg or two.

Adhemar neared the head of the convoy where his horse stood. The page that held his mount and Germaine, his herald, looked at him in bafflement. Adhemar sent them a dark scowl. They averted their eyes quickly. His face twitch despite his efforts as he put his lame foot into the stirrup and grasped the reins and front of the saddle. He attempted to mount the bay gelding, lifting himself partially off the ground but he was forced to lower himself. He stared at the brown leather of his saddle, his arms up upon the back of the horse.

He ground his teeth together in animosity, picturing the woman who caused his pain. Another squire stepped towards him with the intention of helping his mount. Adhemar turned his head and sent him a swift, chilly glare. The page stepped backwards, cowering slightly. With a deep breath in, he held it, clenched his teeth together and pushed off the ground firmly. This time he made it up high enough to swing his good foot over the back of his mount. He breathed out through his nose as he settled back into his saddle and gathered his reins up with the hand of his right, the uninjured, arm.

It was time to continue with his plan. On to France, the home country of Lady Jocelyn.

" Lets move," Adhemar barked to his men and nudged his horse sharply with his good foot.

* * * * *

Well, there it is. Thanks for waiting on me! I've had a busy week. I really should be studying for an advanced math test right now but I thought this was a little more interesting. I was also suffering for a bit of writer's block. It's gone for now. I hope. Stay tuned for the next chapter.