First of all I'd like to thank those of you who reviewed! A million thanks! Now! On to Chapter 19!!!

Sweet Revenge

By Tatiana

Chapter 19: A Nice Scratch Behind the Ears

The next morning was misty and cool. The dampness in the air caused a heavy dew to settle over Count Adhemar's camp. Everyone was roused early to check the wagons and equipment. Adhemar rose with his men, taking extra care to spend time with his new stallion. After the morning duties were completed, they all broke their fasts with a small meal of day-old bread and the little cheese they had remaining. Adhemar took note that they would need to stop at the next village for additional rations. After breakfast, the soldiers gathered together, awaiting their master's orders to move out. For once, Adhemar seemed to be taking his time.

The sun had yet to break through the clouds overhead, allowing the dampness to remain. Adhemar stood on the far side a the camp, across from the wagons, horses and men. Germaine was scurrying about making final checks so that all would be ready when his master was. The Count allowed his eyes to wander over the area that had been their camp only a quarter of hour before. His gaze settled on the wagons and he noticed something particular.

" Germaine," Adhemar called out in a casual tone.

" Yes my lord?" the herald appeared at his elbow.

Adhemar eyes scanned over his entourage. He noted that his twenty soldiers and attendants were assembled around the first wagon, while Kate was standing next to the second. A span of nearly ten yards existed between them. Adhemar's forehead furrowed as he regarded Kate. She stood with her arms crossed, her weight on her left foot, hip cocked. Her head was turned to the side and tilted downward as she studied the ground. She looked lonely.

Although he had never witnessed it first hand, Adhemar assumed there had been some sort of camaraderie between her and Thatcher's gang. He remembered how the four men had looked when they found him talking to her the day after the World Tournament Championship. They had seemed quite protective, even hostile, especially the one with the fiery red hair. She must miss not only William, but the other three men as well. It was no wonder she had sought to befriend Germaine from the very beginning.

Nodding to himself, he turned to his herald. Germaine looked to him inquiringly. " Introduce the men to Kate."

Germaine's eyes widened in surprise. " Excuse me?"

" Introduce the soldiers to Kate," Adhemar repeated his command.

" I'm sorry," Germaine shook his head. " Did I hear you correctly?"

" What is so difficult to comprehend Germaine?" Adhemar asked, his eyes showing a spark of humor at his friend's confused expression. Despite his amusement, his tone maintained its cool authority. " See that it is done."

" Yes my lord," Germaine inclined his head but the quizzical look remained on his face.

Germaine turned and approached the men. Adhemar, folded his arms over his chest and, propped his shoulder up against a nearby tree. Crossing his legs at the ankles, he watched as his orders were carried out. Within moments, all twenty of the men, ages ranging from sixteen to thirty, were following Germaine, closing the short distance between them and Kate. The corners of Adhemar's eyes crinkled slightly with amusement as he took note of Kate's startled expression when she glanced up to find herself faced with the nearly two dozen of his soldiers.

" Kate," Germaine bowed gallantly at the waist, drawing a slight smile from Kate. " I have been given the honor of presenting the following soldiers to you. John…"

Germaine turned to motion for the first man to step forward. The man regarded him with a hesitant expression. Germaine sharply jerked his head towards Kate. The man that Germaine referred to as John, took a reluctant step towards her. Kate gave him a friendly smile of sympathy. The middle-age man's lips quirked upward in response as he inclined his head to her. John stepped backwards into the group of men. Germaine smiled in approval.

" Marcus," the herald continued. " Henry, Frances, Paul…" and as Germaine spoke, each man followed John's example, each was rewarded with a smile and a nod from Kate.

Adhemar silently watched from the distance as his men was presented to Kate. His eyes took in the scene, noticing how several of the men's face's colored slightly at the blacksmith's warm reception. But mainly, he noted the change in Kate's demeanor. He was pleased to see her less solemn. The last few years of his life he'd been surrounded by very few smiling faces, and had had no desire to be near even one, until now. Kate's was a face meant to laugh and smile, not to brood and frown. And for some reason he found that he enjoyed making her smile. He told himself it was because of their truce. If he couldn't make her scowl, he could certainly make her smile. At least, that's what he told himself.

* * * * *

" That isn't an excuse!" Kate exclaimed.

Adhemar turned around in his saddle to look back at the blacksmith. They had been on the road for a few hours now. The sun, now visible, was high overhead as the troop of soldiers followed a dirt road through the countryside.

" How can you sit there and defend what is nothing but cowardice on your part?" she demanded.

" I am no coward!"

" Then what are you, Peter?" Kate questioned, staring at the young man riding next to her. " You've been madly in love with this girl for three years and haven't gotten up the nerve to tell her?"

" It's complicated," the twenty-four-year-old sighed in frustration.

" It is not!" she insisted.

" It's not?" Peter looked at her doubtfully.

" No!" Kate exclaimed with a laugh. She sent the young man a level look. " Tell her. Fear of rejection is no excuse at all. You're lucky that no other man has snatched her up while you've been dragging your feet. Unless you're willing to lose her, tell her of your feelings. From the sound of things, I think you have a pretty good shot at her heart."

" You really think so?" Peter grinned.

" Aye," Kate smiled at him. " I do."

" Thanks Kate,"

" Anytime Peter,"

Adhemar shook his head as he turned around to face front. It had been going on all morning. After Germaine introduced the men to Kate, things had been a little awkward, but as soon as their journey had gotten underway, Kate had engaged Thomas, the first man holding her mare's reins, in conversation. With each new escort began a new conversation. By introducing the soldiers to Kate, Adhemar had expected a little ease in the tension between them, but he certainly hadn't expected this. It was barely past midday and already Kate had been through eight escorts. It now seemed that each one of the men was eager to have her point of view on his personal problems.

If she had been charging a fee for each piece of advice she'd given to his soldiers, she'd be able to give up blacksmithing altogether and start up a new trade! Adhemar snorted to himself, drawing a sideways glance from Germaine, who rode beside him. He perked his ears once again, listening in on yet another conversation taking place behind him.

" It sounds like she is feeling depressed," Adhemar heard Kate say. " She feels neglected."

" What can I do?" the escort asked.

" Well, you could always try giving her a treat or scratching her behind the ears every once in awhile." was her reply.

Adhemar sat up straight in his saddle. He'd had enough of this! He reined his gelding about and pulled up on the other side of Kate's mare. Both Kate and her escort glanced at him in surprise. Adhemar restrained the sheepish expression that nearly passed over his features. He gave Kate's new attendant a heavy stare. Taking the hint, the middle-aged man thanked Kate and fell back into line with the rest of his fellow soldiers on horseback. Kate watched the man with surprise as he disappeared and then turned her confused gaze to Adhemar.

" Tell me you were not speaking of his wife," Adhemar requested in a weary tone, raising his eyes heavenward.

" As a matter of fact…" A smile played at the corners of Kate's lips. It widened into a grin when his eyebrows arched in disbelief. " We were discussing his mule."

Adhemar shook his head slowly from side to side, chuckling. " You had me worried there for a moment."

" Yeah," Kate continued mischievously. " Didn't you know that every woman needs a nice scratch behind the ears every once in a while." Her voice was heavy with satire.

Adhemar's gaze met hers. " I'll have to remember that." he drawled with a twinkle in his eye.

Rendered silent by his uncharacteristic show of humor, Kate could only stare back, marveling at his candor.

" So," Adhemar turned his head to look ahead of his horse. " How is it that you already have nearly all of my men eating out of your hand? These are some of England's finest, most ruthless soldiers and dedicated attendants. Yet they are revealing their deepest personal troubles to you… "

" A mere blacksmith?" Kate suggested with a raised eyebrow.

" Well, yes," Adhemar agreed, glancing back at her with a sheepish smile, which caused her to chuckle.

" Everyone needs to vent every once in a while," Kate shrugged. " I guess I'm just a good listener."

" How modest you are!" Adhemar teased.

" What?" Kate demanded good-humoredly.

" Well, from what I have witnessed, you are not only a good listener, but also a proficient teacher, an accomplished dancer, an adept arguer, and an excellent blacksmith." Adhemar replied confidently, watching her as her eyes widened with each compliment he paid her.

" And you have a very brown nose!" Kate exclaimed with an accusing smile.

Her retort provoked a shout of laughter from Adhemar. The unfamiliar sound drew the astonished gazes of the soldiers nearby. They watched as their master rewarded the female blacksmith with a grin of this own. Then they all exchanged glances with their fellow soldiers close by. They didn't know what had gotten into Count Adhemar, though they had somewhat of an idea. Whatever it was, they hoped it stuck around for a little while longer.

" Fair enough," Adhemar conceded, taking Kate by surprise once again.

" Boy, you're really taking this truce thing seriously," Kate tone was teasing.

Adhemar caught her eyes with his own. His expression became serious.

" I don't go back on my word," Adhemar stated in a firm, yet quiet tone.

" Neither do I," Kate murmured softly.

Adhemar's lips spread into a slight smile. His eyes held hers. " That is yet another thing we seem to agree on." His voice was friendly.

Kate couldn't suppress a smile at his observation. She shyly lowered her gaze to stare at her hands, which rested in her lap. Glancing quickly up a few moments later, she found Adhemar studying her, a slight smile playing across his mouth. He removed his eyes from her face and once again stared forward.

They rode side by side in a comfortable silence for awhile. A pleasant breeze fluttered across the countryside as the sun moved further into the western sky.

* * * * *

Thanks for reading. This chapter was a little shorter than usual, but with some more Kate and Adhemar interaction, so that makes it all okay. And, not to get your hopes up or anything, but the next few chapters should prove to be a bit more interesting. At least I hope so. You'll have to wait and see! By the way, I really appreciate those of you who have reviewed! Thanks!