Hi all. I feel that I should explain something in case there was any confusion about last chapter. I have read that in the Middle Ages, women could only be blacksmiths if they had been married to a blacksmith who had died. I also read that female blacksmiths could only work with things like horseshoes but not armor. I'm not sure if this information is completely accurate but it fits in well with my story, so whether it is or not, we'll pretend it is. If anyone knows for sure, I'd love to know!

Sweet Revenge

By Tatiana

Chapter Six: Slow Ride

William sat on a crude wooden stool in his father's home. His elbows rested on his knees and his fingers were buried in his blond curls as he stared down at the dusty floorboards. Sunlight poured into the large room through the windows, providing some clean light to an otherwise dim room.

" She is gone?" his father asked. He sat across from William, sitting straight, his unseeing eyes seemed to stare at the wall behind his son.

" Without a word. Without a trace." William sighed and brought his head up to rub his hands over his face wearily. He hadn't had any sleep the night before. They had searched for Kate until dawn.

John Thatcher frowned. " She left no note? No hint as to where she might be going?"

" None." William rested his chin on one hand and stared at his father.

" Perhaps she wished to go out on her own? Start her own forge elsewhere?" his father suggested.

" We considered it," William replied, straightening. He stretched his back slowly. " But she left everything behind. All of her tools, her money," his voice faded off.

" Has she ever spoken of it?" John Thatcher asked.

" Wat and Roland said that she mentioned the possibility of having a forge of her own when we competed in Paris." William admitted. " But she never breathed a word of it to me. Chaucer, Wat and Roland were certain that she hadn't said anything on the matter since Paris." He shook his head is puzzlement. " She has vanished."

William's father sighed. " Without a trace?"

" Without a trace." William affirmed.

John pressed his lips together. " From what you've told me of Kate, it doesn't sound a bit like her. That worries me William."

" And I as well." William sighed. He looked to the window and the blue sky beyond. His brow wrinkled with displeasure. He pushed himself up from the stool and began to pace the length of the room in frustration. " It doesn't make any sense Father!" William cried. "We looked all night, all over the city. Surely someone would have had to see her leaving London if she indeed wished to go off on her own."

John Thatcher nodded sympathetically. He remained silent, seeming not to know what to say. Suddenly footsteps came rushing up the stairs.

" William!" Chaucer rushed into the room with Roland and Wat close at his heels. They were breathing as if they'd run a great distance.

William's eyebrows rose hopefully. " What is it?" His father sat up a bit straighter, perking his ears so as not to miss the news.

Chaucer bent over, his chest heaving with rough breaths. He looked up and opened his mouth as though to speak only to close it again in an attempt to catch his breath. Wat and Roland were not much better.

" Speak Geoff! Have you news? Have you found Kate?" William demanded. He approached Chaucer and grasped him by both the shoulders. Geoff shook his head up, down and side to side all at once. William gave him a bit of a shake. " Which is it?"

" Neither." Chaucer gasped. He raised his eyes slowly to look at William. " We found nothing. No news. No Kate." William frowned at the herald's reply. " But we have found what little hope there is."

William looked questioningly at his friends. Wat and Roland, having caught their breaths, stood up straight and nodded at Geoff's words.

" Jocelyn sent a message to Prince Edward on your behalf," Roland said.

" And?" William demanded.

" She asked him to look into Kate's disappearance." Wat explained. " He promised to have one of his top aides to keep an eye out for news of her or…" he hesitated, his voice fading off.

" Or what?" William inquired staring at Wat. A sad look came across Wat's face. He closed his mouth and looked to Roland for help. Roland sighed but stayed silent and glanced to Chaucer. William's gazed passed from one of them to the other. " Or what?" he demanded of Wat and Roland.

" Or for her corpse." Chaucer said quietly, his voice was hoarse.

William's mouth fell open. He began to shake his head in disbelief. He turned and walked a few steps away from them.

" They suggested that it was possible she could have been robbed, or raped, and then killed. It isn't an uncommon occurrence apparently." Geoff sighed, his voice sad. " Hers wouldn't be the first body to be found in a dark alley or floating face down in the river. "

" That isn't what happened!" Wat cried, giving Chaucer a rough shove, pushing him to the floor.

Chaucer shot up to his feet. He rushed to stand in front of Wat so that he was up in the redhead's face. " I didn't say that is what happened! I'm just telling what the prince's aide thought!"

Wat stood tall and pushed Chaucer away. " I don't care! Don't speak such things of Kate!"

Chaucer shoved him back. " Its not like I want it to be true!"

" Calm down the two of you!" Roland exclaimed, prying the two apart and stepping in-between the two incensed men. " Stop this foolishness. It isn't helping anything."

Wat and Chaucer stared at one another, their anger faded slightly. They all turned back to William. He had remained silent throughout the ill-tempered display.

" What do we do now Roland?" William sighed.

Roland swallowed hard. " Hope for the best."

" Yes," John Thatcher agreed from his place on the stool. " That is all you can do until you receive more information. Pray for the best and get some sleep." He stood and reached out for his son with one arm.

William went to his father's outstretched hand. John grasped his shoulder and gave it a firm, comforting squeeze. William's hand went up to cover his father's hand. He nodded.

" We'll wait for further news." William declared. " We can't do anything until then. But I'll tell you this. I don't think Kate would have left without saying goodbye. Something has happened to her. I only pray to God that she is alive and well."

* * * * *

The horse underneath her stumbled. Kate's hands grasped its mane as tightly as she could manage with her wrists bound in front of her. She let out a weary sigh. She was alive but she felt like hell. Her legs and back ached, unaccustomed to riding on a horse for a long period of time. She had no feeling in her butt. Her hair was a ratty mess, hanging in her face and getting in her mouth.

They'd been on the road for two days, practically nonstop. At first she'd ridden in the armory wagon. Then by the morning of the second day she'd gotten fed up and had started to thrown things around the wagon. She'd made quite a mess, ripping up banners, using weapon's to hack at wooden lances and make long gashes in the wagon's canvas canopy. Count Adhemar had not been pleased. As much as she had enjoyed provoking him into anger, she now regretted it. She was miserable. The count was pleased at her present state of discomfort and seemed to be trying to make it last.

Kate looked to the front of the group of wagons and riders. Adhemar and a few of his pages led the train on horseback. There were a few others that walked in front of the two wagons, leading the horses that pulled them. One of the carts contained Adhemar and his staff's personal effects while the other carried the equipment and armor. The latter of the two was the one she'd made a mess of. Behind the two wagons were a few more men that led packhorses. Kate glanced to her left. Adhemar's herald rode beside her, his mount slightly in front of hers. He held her horse's reins.

The herald, sensing her gaze, flashed a nervous look her way. His eyes met hers. He hastily looked away. Kate watched him. As she did so he became more and more tense. He glanced her way a few more times. His eyes were fidgety.

" You are Adhemar's herald." Kate stated.

The man cleared his throat and opened his mouth as though to speak. His eyes sought out his master, who rode about fifteen yards ahead and at the sound of Kate's voice, had glanced over his shoulder at them. The herald shut his mouth and merely nodded, not taking his eyes off of Adhemar. Kate followed the herald's gaze. Her brows furrowed slightly. All of his servants feared him. How could a man be so frightening?

" What is your name?" she ventured again. She stared at him expectantly.

He turned to look at her. She raised her eyebrows. His eyes went again to Adhemar again. Count Adhemar had not looked back.

" Germaine," the herald said softly.

" Germaine," Kate echoed. " How is it that you came to herald for a snake like Count Adhemar?" she asked loudly, allowing her voice to carry.

Germaine glanced at her sharply in alarm. " You must not say such things!" he whispered stiffly, staring at the back of his lord's black tunic. " You'll only invite his anger."

" Good," Kate said. " I hope he chokes on it."

Germaine opened his mouth to try and dissuade her but a horse's snort interrupted him. The herald jerked in his saddle as a harsh voice barked his name. Kate turned her head to her right in surprise.

" Germaine!" Adhemar snapped. The count had allowed his mount to fall back on the other side of Kate's horse. He looked at his herald over the head of Kate's mare. " Ride ahead to town and arrange accommodations at an inn."

" Yes my lord." Germaine sighed in what sounded like relief. Kate couldn't help but wonder if it was relief from their conversation being interrupted or because Adhemar didn't reprimand him. The herald inclined his head.

" I'll take the reins." Adhemar declared, maneuvering his horse around beside the herald.

Germaine glanced at Kate and then handed her horse's reins into the black gloved hands of his master. He then kicked his horse into a gallop. Kate watched the him as he rode at full speed down the road, eventually losing sight of him. She continued to stare ahead and held herself erect. It wasn't long before she realized that Adhemar was watching her. She lifted her chin higher, refusing to move her eyes towards him.

The Count let out a snort and followed her suit. He shifted his gaze from her to the horizon of the road. " I'm very pleased that you are enjoying yourself." he said dryly. " Let this serve as my only warning to you with regards to my staff. Don't attempt to instill hatred of me in them. They will not help you. They are loyal."

" No," Kate objected calmly. " They are afraid. I am not. You don't scare me. You can't frighten me like you do your men. It won't work."

" You aren't frightened?" he asked, his lips twisting upward.

" No," she replied.

" Good." Adhemar declared. " I have done nothing you should be scared of." He turned his head to look at her. Their eyes met. His smirk widened and his eyes took on a sly shine. " Yet."

Kate looked away. She flexed her jaw and let out a curt sigh. Adhemar watched her, enjoying her reaction. He called to one of the servants that walked beside the first wagon. The young man hurried forward and gazed up at the Count as they moved along. Adhemar tossed the reins of Kate's horse down to him. The servant caught them.

" Don't pay heed to her ramblings," Adhemar told him. " We will soon stop for the night. Until then keep an eye on her."

" Yes Count Adhemar." The young man bowed slightly at the waist.

With one last glance at Kate, Adhemar urged his horse into a trot and went to the front of the convoy once again.

Kate glared after him. That man was something else. Never had she encountered such a base and overbearing person. She sighed wearily once again and attempted to shift into a more comfortable position. It was going to be a long, slow ride into town. At least she didn't have to ride beside him the whole way.

* * * * *

Well, that's Chapter Six. I'll try and get the next one finished soon. It shouldn't take too long. I don't have to go back to school till Wednesday. Thanks for reading! I love reading too. Your reviews that is! Sorry, that was kinda lame. But really, I love hearing from you. It helps me get motivated. So please review!