It's been awhile since I updated. I'm sorry. I've had some bad luck lately. I couldn't connect to the Internet for over a week because our service provider was having technical problems. Then when I was able to get back online I realized that the Chapter 10 I was working on actually need to be Chapter 11 and I needed a different Chapter 10. Well, anyway! Here is Chapter 10, the new one. Enjoy!

Sweet Revenge

By Tatiana

Chapter 10: A Friend in Need

Kate sat in the middle of the bed. She let out a long sigh as she stared at the small fire in the fireplace. She'd been sitting there all day. Through the window she could see the daylight had faded into twilight. With a fed up groan she fell backwards onto the mattress, flinging her arms out to lay over the edges of the narrow bunk. A knock sounded on the door. Kate pushed herself up onto her elbows and looked to the door. She swung her feet over and rolled off the bed.

" Come in Germaine," Kate called, assuming that it was the herald bringing her evening meal.

The door opened. A maid carrying a tray entered. She moved near the fireplace and set the meal down on the table that stood there. With a quick curtsy the maid hurried from the room. Kate watched as the woman ducked under Adhemar's arm. He stood in the doorway, his arm extended slightly out and above his head with his palm resting against the doorframe. His ankles were crossed leisurely as he stood watching her. His expression was one of boredom and indifference.

" So sorry to disappoint you," Adhemar declared flatly as he watched Kate's expression upon noticing him.

" What do you want?" Kate demanded. Her eyes were narrowed in suspicion.

Adhemar entered the room and ignoring her query, motioned for her to sit at the table and begin her meal. Kate walked slowly across the room, regarding him warily. She seated herself but instead of beginning to eat the plate of hot stew before her, she watched him suspiciously. Adhemar slowly strolled across the room, not paying any attention to her. Halting at the window, he stared out into the darkness of the evening. His back was to her.

" The rain stopped," he commented. " We'll be leaving at dawn tomorrow." Adhemar paused, waiting for her response. When only silence greeted his ears he turned slightly and gave a quick glance over his shoulder. Kate had given into her stomach's growling and had started eating. He started to move his eyes back to the window but did a double take.

" What are you doing?" Adhemar demanded.

Kate looked to him with bewilderment. She followed his gaze, which was focused on her left hand. She held a thick slice of crusty bread over her wine goblet, slightly submerged in the ruby liquid. She lifted her hand away from the cup and took a bite of the wine-soaked slice of bread. She chewed and swallowed. Adhemar continued to regard her with a questioning look.

Kate shrugged. " My husband used to do it, God rest him." Her voice contained a hint of melancholy. " I suppose it's become a habit with me."

" How unusual," Adhemar drawled, pivoting on his heel so that he was facing her. " Your husband must have been a extraordinary fellow."

" He was," Kate agreed, her eyes sparkled with pride. " A very wonderful man."

" I merely meant that he was strange, not wonderful." Adhemar protested. He crossed his arms over his chest.

Kate ignored his unkind assertion. Her expression softened and became thoughtful. A slight smile played upon her lips. " I loved him very much."

Adhemar snorted. He shook his head back and forth, silently laughing at her.

" What?" Kate bristled. " Don't you believe in love?" she demanded him, her eyebrows arched.

" Of course not!" Adhemar exclaimed. " Love is a concept invented by men to get women to uncross their legs!"

Kate eyed him. Her voice became gentler. " Haven't you ever loved anyone? Ever been loved by anyone?"

Adhemar looked at her, his face cynical. " Love is a myth," he declared in a low tone. " My father taught me that."

" Your father?" Kate glanced at him in surprise. " Surely he must have loved you."

Adhemar did not reply. He merely stared into the fire. His expression was unreadable but he looked as though his mind was far away. Kate watched him, her forehead furrowed in contemplation.

" My father did not believe in love. Neither to I." Adhemar stated coolly, breaking the silence of the room. He glanced to her. " It is an illusion."

" What else did your father teach you?" Kate inquired softly, watching closely for his reaction.

His entire body stiffened. He stared at her angrily. " My father's lessons are no concern of yours!" Adhemar barked fiercely. He started towards the door.

" They must have been awful if you've never returned to your home even after he died." Kate called to his back.

Adhemar halted abruptly. He slowly turned. His eyes were shooting daggers as they fixed upon her. The firelight flickered in their depths. Kate swallowed. She began to doubt whether or not she should have gone that far.

" Germaine has been wagging his tongue." Adhemar growled. " His long-windedness serves well for heralding but poorly for loyalty."

" He only speaks because he is your friend! Probably the only friend you have!" Kate defended the herald. " Or at least he was until you began treating him as just another servant!"

" What business is it of yours how I treat my servants?" Adhemar demanded heatedly.

" He cares about you! Is that so terrible? His affection for you?" Kate cried, rising from her chair.

" It is a characteristic of weakness!" Adhemar stated in a detached and disapproving tone.

" Caring for you?" Kate whispered in shocked disbelief. " Having a heart?"

" Caring does not win wars. It cannot put food in a person's belly nor does it put money in his pocket. It does nothing but weaken a person's judgment and resolve." Adhemar explained. " What use have I for caring? For heart?"

Kate looked at him, her eyes filled with pity. Lowering her chin, she stared at her plate of uneaten food. " None. You have no heart." Kate said quietly in defeat.

Adhemar's anger faded. The hostility that was openly displayed upon his features moments before disappeared. He flexed his jaw. The silence hung on the air. Adhemar shook his head, turned, and walked from of the room, his strides were long but not as ardent as before. The door shut quietly behind him. Kate glanced over her shoulder. Seeing that he was gone she let out a sad sigh. She attempted to return to her meal. After a few minutes of picking at the food with her utensils she pushed the plate from her. She suddenly didn't have much of an appetite.

* * * * *

" Sir William Thatcher requests an audience Your Highness." A richly dressed servant announced. He stood in the entrance of the room.

The walls of the chamber were shaped of large gray stones. A few tapestries displaying the royal coat of arms hung about the room. A tall, arched window was positioned on the opposite wall from the entrance. The morning sunlight streamed through the glass panes over a big, heavy table that stood in front of the window. Papers, maps, quills, and ink bottles were strewn all over its surface. The prince sat behind the desk studying his military reports.

Prince Edward glanced up from his work. " Send him in," he ordered the servant.

The attendant bowed at the waist and left the room. William entered shortly after. He came to stand a few feet in front of the desk. Edward rose, smiling.

" William!" The prince moved from behind his writing table.

William bowed deeply. Edward moved forward and put a hand on his shoulder, bidding him to stand. As William straightened, the prince leaned back against the heavy oak desk, half-sitting on it.

" How are you?" Edward asked cordially with a friendly smile on his lips. The smile faded when William did not return the cheerfulness. " What is amiss my friend?"

" Kate," William sighed.

Edward nodded in sad understanding. " I'm sorry William. None of my men could discover any news of her whereabouts."

" I have," William said soberly. " It is the cause of my solemn state." He paused. Edward gazed at him in question. William looked down to the toes of his boots. " Adhemar has abducted her. He travels to France."

" Adhemar? France?" Prince Edward repeated. Shaking his head, he turned from the knight and walked back around to stand behind the wooden table. He clasped his hands behind his back and stared out the high window. " Why?"

" Adhemar took Kate in an attempt to ruin my career. I know it. He'll stop at nothing to beat me. Without Kate I'll have to get new armor, heavier armor. It will affect my performance. He also seeks a suit of Kate's armor for his own. So he'll have the advantage over me if we would meet in the lists again." William explained, watching Edward's back. " He goes to France to continue his negotiations with Jocelyn's father." William's face turned angry. " He intends to make my lady his bride!"

" That is terrible William," Edward remarked, shaking his head. He turned around to face the knight.

" I came to request your aid," William went on. " Adhemar clearly has all the advantages. He has already entered negotiations with Jocelyn's father. " William ran a hand through his blonde hair. " He holds that damn law against Kate! The one that no one ever pays attention to anymore! He'll turn her into the authorities if she does not do his bidding!" William threw his hands up into the air. " It never ends with him!" he cried. His voice was mixed with frustration and despair.

" What sort of aid did you have in mind?" Edward asked, seating himself in the chair at the desk.

" I thought perhaps you could use your influence and discourage the marriage," William's expression and tone became filled with hope. " If you did then Jocelyn's father would not wish her to marry him. Then I would have a chance to gain his favor."

Edward sighed. He settled back in the high-backed chair and rested his forearms on the armrests. He was thoughtful for a few moments. He shook his head slowly and somberly. " I'm sorry William. I am afraid I cannot. Whether we like it or not Adhemar is one of the best military leaders that England has ever known. I placed him on leave but a few days ago. I cannot openly and directly express disapproval of him now. It would cause much speculation from both friends and foes of England."

Prince Edward glanced up at William. The knight's face had fallen; his shoulders were slumped. " It would give the impression that he is weak and doing his job poorly. As soon as word of my criticism made its rounds the moral of The Three Companies would drop. Respect and reverence are important to any position of leadership. To show disfavor to Adhemar would undermine his authority. The Three Companies would suffer. England would suffer." He pressed his lips together sympathetically. " I'm sorry William. I cannot help you in this matter."

William stared at the floor, attempting to disguise his feeling of disappointment. He took a deep breath but nodded. " What you say is true."

" Do not fear William." Edward declared. " By now all of Europe knows of your victory at the World Tournament and of my favor of you. Surely that will be of some help." Edward said in an attempt to console him.

William squared his shoulders and raised his head. " Yes," His expression brightened a little. " I didn't think of that."

" What plans have you for Kate's rescue?" the prince inquired, changing the subject.

William glanced to him in surprise. " Kate's rescue?" Edward nodded. " Well…" the knight began. " I have absolutely no idea." He admitted with a sigh.

" You say that he holds the law against her?" Edward lifted his hand to stroke the dark stubble on his unshaven chin.

" Only if she does not make him his own set. Otherwise he will turn her into the authorities. The law is on his side." William replied, stepping forward and resting both his hands on the edge of the writing desk.

" I'd all but forgotten about that law," Edward mused.

" I had forgotten and everyone else, including the authorities had as well." William exclaimed.

" All but Adhemar," Edward said in a low tone. William nodded, his forehead was creased in frustration and thought. The prince tapped the tips of his fingers against his lips. Gradually a look of self-satisfaction spread over his features. William watched pensively. Edward's eyes went to William's. " I have a plan."

William's eyes widened with anticipation. " What is it?" He leaned forward onto his hands, over the cluttered tabletop. A slow grin spread across the prince's face. His eyes glinted with satisfaction. " Let's just say that Adhemar isn't the only one who could use a new set of armor."

" How can that help Kate? The law forbids her from making any armor period!" William insisted, standing up straight with his arms at his side. " Unless you can change the law I don't see what else can be done."

Prince Edward rose and stepped around the writing table. He grinned and clapped William on the shoulder with a firm hand." Worry not my friend. Although I cannot change the law, I can still help you with this dilemma. I'll take care of that portion of your problems. I only regret that I cannot help with the other half."

" You have helped me more than I can ever repay in this lifetime. I am forever in your debt Prince Edward." William said sincerely.

Edward smiled widely. " I'll remember that." The two men chuckled. Edward allowed his arm to fall to his side. He stepped towards the door. William fell in step beside him. " I take it you are planning to go to France." The prince said more seriously.

" Yes," William replied. " My men and I plan to leave today. Lady Jocelyn and her attendants will travel with us

" Once you arrive at your destination you will receive a message from me. By then I will have worked out all the details of my plan. Kate will be freed from Adhemar's threat and you will be able to focus all of your energies on winning Lady Jocelyn's father over." Edward declared confidently.

Both men stopped just outside the doorway. William turned to face the prince.

" Thank-you my lord," William bowed slightly at the waist. " For everything."

" It is nothing. I am glad to help." the prince insisted." Good luck Sir William," Prince Edward smiled encouragingly. He grasped William's hand and gave it a firm shake.

William bowed again. With a nod from Edward, William proceeded through the doorway and down the hall.

" Godspeed Sir William," Edward called to his back. " Safe journey!"

William, without turning around, raised his hand in acknowledgment of the prince's farewell.

* * * * *

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It shouldn't take me long to finish this next chapter. I already have most of it written. I should be able to complete it soon though. Keep your fingers crossed! I would love reviews! I like to hear your opinions! Reviews keep me motivated. Drop me a line!