Sorry about the wait! I've been really busy this past week. I'll make it up to you. Thanksgiving Break is coming up in a few days. I'll try to get a chapter or two done then. Enjoy!

Sweet Revenge

By Tatiana

Chapter 8: Enlightenment

Kate sat at the chamber's small window. Outside was gray and dismal, much like her mood. Rain had fallen all night and on through into the next day, chasing the sun behind the rainstorm's gray clouds. The raindrops fell heavily upon the roof of the inn; the sound was a muffled roar in the background of silent room. She sighed softly. A part of her was glad of the rain. Another part of her wasn't.

The driving rain had forced Adhemar to delay their departure, much to Kate's relief. A day of riding was uncomfortable enough. Add a constant downpour and it was pure torture. But the delay also meant spending the day confined to the tiny chamber. Although she was dry and comfortable, she was also bored and lonely. She missed Will and the gang. Kate never would have thought that she would want to hear Wat and Chaucer bickering about some trivial thing. She did want it, with all of her heart.

A knock on the door interrupted Kate's gloomy musings. Her hand went to her throat as she turned her head sharply towards the door. Her heart quickened its pace when she considered the possibility of it being Count Adhemar. She took a deep calming breath and convinced herself that it couldn't possibly be Adhemar. He wouldn't have knocked.

" Come in," she called.

The door opened slightly. Germaine popped his head through the opening. He glanced about the room quickly and saw her sitting across the room in front of the window. His head disappeared back through the door. Kate watched him with mild curiosity. The door swung open all the way. Germaine entered entirely with a tray of food in his hands. Kate sat up a bit straighter, eyeing the pieces of bread, fruit and meat on the platter. She hadn't had anything to eat since the afternoon of the day before and even then it was only a small hunk of bread and slice of cheese.

" I've brought your midday meal," he declared as he set it on the small table near the hearth. Kate, despite her stomach's rumblings, turned her head to stare out at the dreary weather and managed to seem disinterested. " You had better eat." Germaine advised kindly. " You will need your strength for the rest of the journey."

Kate remained still, not acknowledging the herald's benevolence. Germaine's shoulders slumped slightly as he turned and stepped toward the door. He extended his arm to pull the door shut behind him.

" Germaine!" Kate called, rising to her feet. He looked back to her. She glanced towards the floor, searching for something to say. " You never told me how you came to work for Count Adhemar." She sputtered, almost desperate sounding.

Germaine shrugged, shaking his head from side to side. " It's a long story."

Kate eyed him. " Do I look like I'm going anywhere?" she asked with a wry smile and a shrug.

Germaine thought a moment. He nodded and pushed the door closed. Kate sat down at the small dining table and motioned for him to pull up a stool. Germaine seated himself and watched as Kate began to eat. After a few minutes of silence, Kate glanced up from her meal.

" Is something wrong?" she asked. Germaine shook his head. " Well then by all means begin!" Kate insisted.

" Oh yes," he said, clearing his throat. He sat up a bit straighter, leaning slightly forward. " I met Count Adhemar many years ago. My father arranged an apprenticeship with a cloth merchant for me when I was sixteen. About three years after I'd entered the apprenticeship, when we were leaving the city of Paris when we were attacked by a band of robbers. There were five of them. The bandits had begun to tear our wagon apart, taking all of the valuable items when my master attempted to stop them. The leader of the band ran him through the heart with his sword. I ran to avenge my master's death. The men laughed at my attempt at bravery. Two of the robbers continued to rummage through the wagon and the leader and the other two, instead of killing me as they had my master, decided to have a bit of fun and beat on me for a while. They kicked and struck me with their feet and fists."

" The head thief, the one who'd killed my master, pulled a knife. He made a move to slit my throat, but suddenly there was a shout and a sword blade came from nowhere and sliced his arm. He dropped the dagger. The highwaymen ran away as I lay on the ground in confusion. I looked up to see a man dressed in black dismount from his horse. He approached me and helped me to my feet. He introduced himself as Count Adhemar. He helped me take my master's body and possessions back to Paris and to the authorities. He was about to bid me farewell when I offered my service in payment of his saving my life. At first he seemed doubtful but eventually gave in. He was a young, ambitious knight and general and needed an aide. So I went into his service immediately and a few years later took the position of herald." He finished with a sigh.

" Why have you stayed with him for so long?" Kate demanded. She was leaning forward in her seat, having finished her meal and was listening attentively. " He treats his other staff horribly, even you."

Germaine sighed. "He and I traveled together to tournaments and with his military company. We became very good friends." He frowned slightly. " But he changed. After a few years abroad we returned to his father's manor. He was never really the same after the few months we spent there. He hasn't returned to his home since then, even after he received word of his father's death four years ago. He allows the steward of the manor to manage the land and rarely concerns himself with the estate's affairs." Germaine lowered his chin to stare at the floor. " Adhemar was not always like his is now. He has changed."

" Why?" Kate's forehead wrinkled in confusion. "What happened Germaine?" Her eyes watched him.

Germaine's face stiffened. He shifted in his chair. " His father…" he paused. Shaking his head, he stood up and picked up the empty food platter. " It is not my place to say." He turned and stepped towards the door. " I must go." He turned and walked from the room.

Kate watched him go in surprise. She bit her lower lip and glanced around the empty room. Standing slowly, she made her way back to the window and settled herself there once again. Putting an elbow on the window's wooden edge and rested her chin in the palm of her hand. Kate let out a solitary sigh and resumed gazing out the window, pondering on what the Count's herald had just recounted to her.

* * * * *

" Quit it!" Wat cried.

" You're such a baby!" Chaucer proclaimed.

" Stop it!" Wat insisted.

" Stop it the both of you!" Roland exclaimed, irritated.

The two glared at each other. It was dusk; the sun was just beginning to set. They were walking along the muddy streets of London, making another round to see if any of their acquaintances had found any news of Kate. None had heard a thing. The three companions were discontented. No news was not good news. Roland walked down the middle of the street, slightly in front, with Chaucer to his left and Wat was to Chaucer's left. Wat was sulking. Chaucer had been kicking puddles onto him, soaking his legs with muddy water, until Roland had scolded him.

Wat felt another splash of water on his left pant leg. He turned to his right, grasped Geoff's arm firmly, and pulled him to a stop. " Stop it!" Wat shouted angrily.

Chaucer's frowned in puzzlement. He shook Wat's hand off his arm. " Stop what?" he demanded.

" Splashing me!" Wat exclaimed.

" Wat," Geoff stated seriously. " I didn't splash you." He pointed over Wat's shoulder.

Wat stiffened, his back became ramrod straight, as he realized the spray had come from his left. Chaucer couldn't have done it. Wat turned around to look over his shoulder. A horse, lathered with sweat, stood a couple yards away. Roland, who hadn't stopped with the others, was stalking back towards them.

" Come on you two!" he called in vexation. He stopped in his tracks when he saw what they were staring at.

A cloaked man sat wearily atop an exhausted horse. The man's shoulders were slumped with fatigue and the horse's legs were quivering weakly.

" Good sirs," the man said. " Could you help me?"

" What do you want?" Roland called, approaching his friends and the stranger on horseback.

" I am looking for a knight called Sir William Thatcher." the stranger answered. " He is also been known as Sir Ulrich. Do you know of this man?"

Chaucer and Wat looked at each other and then to Roland. Roland went to stand beside the horse, putting a hand on its sweaty neck, looking up at the man the entire time.

" What do you want with him?" Roland demanded in a low voice.

" Please, tell me where I might find him," the stranger pleaded. " I've ridden hard all through the night and all day to find him."

" What's your business with him?" Wat repeated Roland's question more firmly, glaring at the man suspiciously.

" I have information for him," the man answered with a swallow, Wat's gaze was making him uncomfortable.

" What kind of information?" Chaucer asked.

" Yeah," Wat said, his hands going to his hips. " What kind of information?"

The stranger glanced to them both. His eyes returned to Roland. " You know him then?"

" That depends on what kind of information you have," Roland replied seriously.

The man let out a breath. He leaned back in his saddle and glanced around at the empty street. He turned back to look at them. " I have information of the whereabouts of his blacksmith."

Wat rushed forth, reached up to grasp the man's cloak and drug him down off of the horse and onto the ground. His fist was at the stranger's throat, gripping the man's cloak.

" If you have done anything to harm her I will kill you!" Wat growled, pulling him so that their faces were inches apart.

The man shook his head back and forth fervently. " No! I am not here to threaten. I am here to aid Sir William."

Wat loosened his grip and stepped away. The man leaned back, his elbows resting on the muddy ground, and looked up at the three of them.

" What is your name?" Chaucer asked. He squatted down so that he was eye level with the stranger. " And what do you know?"

" I am Gunther." The stranger replied. " I know who has her and where they're going."

Chaucer glanced anxiously up to Roland. Wat stared at the man in awe. The three of them exchanged glances. Roland reached out a hand and helped Gunther to his feet.

" Can you tell me where I might find Sir William?" Gunther asked.

" Tell you?" Roland snorted. " We'll take you to him. Come on." He motioned to the man to follow. He and Chaucer started up the muddy street.

" Wait," Wat called to Roland.

Chaucer rolled his eyes. Roland sighed impatiently but nodded. Wat put a hand on Gunther's shoulder.

" If you try anything, I will fong you." Wat stated in an ominous tone. " If you do anything to hinder us, such as give false information, I will fong you. If you or your friend's have harmed her in any way, I will fong you." Wat vowed, squeezing Gunther's shoulder more tightly with each statement. " If you do anything that I don't like." Wat gripped the man's shoulder hard. " I will fong you." Gunther winced at Wat's grip. " Do you understand?"

" Y... yes," Gunther stuttered, staring wide eyed at the redhead before him.

" Good!" Wat declared with a cheerful grin. " As long as we understand each other."

Gunther regarded Wat with astonishment. Roland shook his head, his shoulders shaking with a chuckle. Chaucer rolled his eyes again. Wat moved away from Gunther and moved near his friends.

" All right," Roland sobered up. He gave Gunther a grave look. " Lets go."

Darkness fell over the city of London as the four men and the weary horse hurried through the streets. Their strides were long and determined.

* * * * *

Well, that's it for a few days, hopefully. I hope you liked it. I know this chapter wasn't too eventful. The next few should be more interesting. Thanks for being so patient with me! Please feel free to review. They get me motivated and I need all the motivation I can get! Thanks so much for reading! Catch you later.