Saving her chastity

[DeathsKnight]

Location: Border between France and Germany
Year: 1307

Name: Sir Kai Ritter
Age: 29
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Green
Weapons: Dagger, Sword, Shield, One bit axe

======================

Kai reigned in his horse, the huge stallion snorted and danced a bit, it was a young horse and Kai liked it's spirit. It had been a hard two day travel from his grounds outside Kaiserslautern on his way to Metz. A secret message had made it to his attention and due to it's very sensitive nature he had only one way to get it to his fellow comrades-in-arms in Metz and that was to take it himself. He was seen as a true Teuton, honorable and dedicated to the crown...which he was, but he also carried a secret which nobody was to know about, only those he fought with in their struggle against the dark forces of the world.

He was a Templar knight, an order which held much sway, but who also seemed to be losing their ear with the Pope and several kings. That is why Kai's involvement in the order have been kept a closely guarded secret through all the years he had served. The sound of racing horses and shouts reached his ears, he frowned and nudged his horse forward, perhaps there were bandits on the loose in the woods and his help needed...

 

[Iscaa]

Name: Sheri La Marche
Age: 17
Height: 5' 2”
Weight: 115 lbs
Build: slim
Eyes: light green
Hair: Red with highlights, soft waves, length; past shoulders..
Skin: pale,

Appearance: Very attractive face, sensual lips, slender waist, a petite
woman. Wears her hair unadorned when possible, so she can show
off her assets.


Bio;
The only daughter of a French Baron La Marche, she knows she has only so much time to have fun before she is married off to some old stuffy aristocrat friend of her father's.

Sheri likes to rebel against the restraints of her times having more intelligence then the average girl. She listens to all the political talk that is going around about the Knights Templar.

When most ladies are kept behind protected walls, she finds the usual activities of needlework, self portraits totally boring. Sheri just wants to be seen and experience life. Loves to flirt with men, but has been warned that her behavior one day will be her downfall.

 

[Iscaa]

Sheri had told her maid to have the groom ready her carriage one hour from now then hurry back and help her to get dressed. She watched the girl leave closing the door behind her. Sighing she walked over to the window and watched the various activities. There was always so many people coming and going, since her father had acquired more land and duties from the king. She sighed again, she never got to see him anymore, just quickly at mealtime, if she was lucky. ( Well no matter it is a lovely day for a drive in my new carriage, I may even come across one of the handsome young men I met at our gathering last week.) She smiled as she remembered how they crowded around her, as she flirted with them. That was until her father noticed and chased them all away saying how she had better stop being "The Coquet", it will be her undoing. He had then stalked off, but kept an eye on her for the rest of the evening.

Sheri laughed to herself as she picked out a pretty gown, not the kind that covered you from head to foot. Lifting her hand to her bright red hair, she thought, ( no I will not hide it under that awful barbette (headgear) and crespine (net), the styles for women is to hide us from the world. Well that is not for me.)

As soon as her maid came back she got dressed finishing by throwing on a wool cloak to cover her head and gown. She quickly made her way out to the courtyard where the groom was waiting with the door held open for her. She slipped into her carriage telling the driver that she just wanted to go for a drive in the countryside. The groom shut the door and they started off.

Hours later Sheri was enjoying the cool air and scenery when all of a sudden some ragged men on thin horses surrounded the carriage. The driver shouted and whipped the horses into a gallop in an attempt to outrun them.

 

[DeathsKnight]

As Kai's horse carried him through the trees, he could see bandits forcing a coach to a stop. The driver tried to resist and protect his charge, but was cut down, the coach itself indicated money, and when the doors was flung open and a woman dragged from the interior, it became quite obvious that the bandits had two things on their mind. To satisfy carnal urges and to get money out of the woman's family, he drew the long sword from the saddle as he galloped into their midst.

The first stroke of his sword sent a bandit sprawling into his comrades and the back hand stroke decapitated another. He reigned in the horse and dismounted, of course this would have been seen as a folly on his behalf, a man on horse was much more deadly than on foot. But Kai knew that they could easily use their swords and the woman to force him from the horse in any case. He held the sword at ready as he strode towards the group, they of course thought that their remaining numbers would be enough and left the woman on the ground as they met him and fanned out around him.

When he stood over her, spattered in the blood of her attackers, he noticed that she did not seem to look much better with the blood of his first two kills splattered over her as well, he raised his helmet to reveal his face

"Good day lady, I am Kai Ritter of Kaiserslautern."

He held out a hand to help her to her feet.

 

[Iscaa]

When Sheri heard the driver shout she quickly looked out the window, what she saw made her blood run cold. The carriage suddenly lurched ahead causing her to fall backwards against the seat. She tried clutching onto anything that would steady her.

Then she fell forward as the carriage was brought to a sudden halt. Sheri was just pulling herself back onto the seat, when the door was pulled open and a filthy man leered at her causing her to scream. He reached in grabbed her by the arm and roughly dragged her out where she stumbled and fell on the ground. Gasping in shock Sheri looked around to see if she would be able to run, that's when she saw what was left of her driver. She started to scream....

The gang of bandits surrounding her laughed and joked at who would have at her first, when one of them noticed a horse and rider bearing down on them sword in hand. Sheri had never in her life been exposed to what she witnessed next. One man was cut down almost immediately then she saw the sword slice the head off of a second man.

She felt the warm blood of these men splatter all over her, causing her to shriek and try to move away. The knight strode over to her side once he had taken care of the rest of the rabble. He lifted his helmet and calmly introduced himself; offering her his hand.

“Good day lady, I am Kai Ritter of Kaiserslautern.”

Sheri looked up at the knight trying to gather her wits about her, wiping some blood off her cheek she gratefully took his offered hand. As he lifted her up, she replied shaky voice;

“Sheri La Marche, how will I ever thank you for saving me from those horrible men?”

 

[DeathsKnight]

He smiled politely at her,

"It is my sworn duty ma'am, no repayment is needed. Allow me to escort you to where you are going? I am on my way to Metz."

Even though he had seen many women in his time in courts, he had to admit that Sheri La Marche was quite a striking woman compared to various beauties throughout the two countries of France and Germany.

"Let me see to these horses and then we can go where you need to be."

 

[Iscaa]

Sheri tried to straighten herself up, taking a handkerchief from her hand bag and wiping the blood off her face and hands. Giving a shaky smile as she listened to this handsome man. When he offered to escort her, she looked back at the fallen driver, frowning,

“Sir, I was only out for a pleasant drive, when we were accosted. If you could take me back home I would be ever so grateful., but first we must do something for my poor driver.”

When Kai nodded he head in agreement about the driver she felt herself relax. But first he wanted to see about the horses. Sheri watched him move with grace and agility, much like a great cat. She found herself thinking, ( What an attractive man!.) She quickly followed him putting on her best smile while tilting her head to one side,

“Sir Kai I don't believe I know of Metz, is it far from here?”

 

[DeathsKnight]

He glanced at her,

"You are sure you do not know of Metz? It is the nearest town to the border. Perhaps you know of it by some other name."

He finished with roping the horses together, he searched through the coach and came across a small canvass, he used it to carefully wrap up the driver and secured him to the last horse's back. He then faced Sheri,

"I shall escort you to your home, from there your family can send a team to fetch the coach. I am afraid that you will have to ride on Karl, he is young and a bit feisty, but he is a good horse and will provide a much better ride than the draft horses without saddles."

He clicked with his tongue and his horse approached, he knelt and held a hand for her to step on to mount the saddle.

 

[Iscaa]

Sheri watched the knight as he worked with her horses, thinking about the name Metz, for a few moments before replying;

“Perhaps I do know it by another name, I do not get to see many towns since my father is a very busy man.”

She watched as he finished with the horses and then prepared the driver setting him on the last horse's back. She sighed, remembering his smile whenever she took the carriage for a drive. He was a good man and would be missed. Nodding her head when Kai told her he would now escort her home, she watched as he clicked his tongue to call his horse. When Karl drew near, Sheri couldn't help but back up a few steps. Nervously uttering,

“I have some skill in riding, but your Karl is much more horse then I am used to. Are you sure I will be safe on his back?”

 

[DeathsKnight]

He glanced up at Sheri,

"He is well-trained and he will not cause you any injury or harm."

He gave her a reassuring smile,

"The saddle is also formed in such a way that you will not be able to slide nor fall off."

 

[Iscaa]

With a small smile Sheri put her hand in Kia's outstretched hand and replied,

“OK, Sir Kia I think I will need a hand up since Karl is so very tall. I am not at all sure I can get all the way up there just with a hand up, you may have to throw me up onto his back. Once I am up there, I agree the saddle looks well formed to keep a person from falling off.”

She looked from the horse to the knight, raising her eyebrows, laughing softly. Then of a sudden Sheri's eyes glanced at the dead men to the left of Sir Kia, she shivered adding,

“Lets leave this place please, I don't want to think about what has recently happened anymore.”

 

[DeathsKnight]

Kai helped Sheri into the saddle, handing her the reigns, he took hold of the horse's head,

"Benimm" (Behave)

He swung himself onto the lead horse and with a slight nudge in the horse's flanks they were off. Kai riding next to Sheri, following her directions to her home.

"It is none of my business, but the lack of guards and courtiers makes me curious. Should a woman as striking as yourself not leave the grounds without protection?"

 

[Iscaa]

As Kai set Sheri into the saddle and handed her the reigns, she smiled down at him and graciously thanked him. Hearing him command his horse,

“Benimm.”

She asked, as she watched him swing himself onto the lead horse.

“What language are you speaking to Karl?"

She grabbed onto the saddle horn when they started to move forward. Soon she was comfortable turning her glance to her side as Kia asked, why she went about without guards or courtiers. Blushing at his reference of being a striking woman, Sheri thought about how to answer him. She didn't want him to think she was a wayward girl, even though she was, she chuckled before saying,

“Well Sir Kia, I know times are dangerous, but I like my freedom, and sometimes I just need to go off on my own. I know I am taking a dreadful chance but up until today, I have never had any problems.”

She looked troubled,

“I never really thought anything could happen to me or my servants, now I know better.”

 

[DeathsKnight]

"I speak German to Karl."

He bowed his head in aknowledgement,

"Yes I am a Teuton."

He listened to her tale and slowly shook his head,

"In these times so close to the borders it is a very dangerous thing to do, you must make sure that you take guards with you whenever you go out."

 

[Iscaa]

Sheri listened to Kia carefully before nodding her head,

“Thank you Sir Kia, I will certainly take your advise under consideration.”

Bowing her head slightly she added,

“For now I put myself under your protection, so tell me more about yourself Sir, why are you in this part of the country? Being a Teuton, you are far from home, and alone, why are you alone?” Since they had been riding for some time, Sheri considered taking a short rest, giving her the opportunity to hear more about this handsome knight. She added before he could answer her questions,

“But first Sir Kia, I am not used to riding like this therefore I must ask for a short rest. I assure you in this part of the forest we are quiet safe.”

She slowed her horse down, finally coming to a complete stop, smiling slightly she then waited for Kia to help her down.

 

[DeathsKnight]

He glanced around them, one thing years of battle have taught him was that nowhere was safe, but he did comply with her request, swinging from the horse and helped her down from Karl, he kept looking around, his hand never straying too far away from the hilt of his sword.

"I am travelling to Metz with an urgent letter for sir Phillipe de Fleur, as my paige was otherwise occupied and the letter is sensitive information I took it upon myself to deliver the letter."

He gave her a smile,

"And alone a single rider can cover more ground."

 

[Iscaa]

Sheri gave Kia a surprised look before replying;

“Sir Phillipe de Fleur, I have met him ...is he not involved with the Knights Templer?”

She caught his mood of caution, looked around frowning before she added,

“ Sir Kia I think you should go on with your mission of delivering the letter to Sir Phillipe, I am sure I can get back home on my own. We are only about one hour away, and I do know this area like the back of my hand.”

Looking at the lead horse she walked over to it reaching up to take his bridle, Sheri glanced over to Kia continuing,

“See Sir Kia, I can lead this horse home while you carry on with delivering vital information to Sir Phillipe. You are of course right, a single rider can cover more ground, so please, all will be fine with me, I don't want to hold you up anymore then I already have.”

 

[DeathsKnight]

He turned his attention back to her and smiled slightly,

"Nay lady la Marche, I will only continue on my journey when I am sure that you are safe and well. I am sure the news can wait for another hour or two if need be."

He considered answering the question of the Knights Templar, but how would it not rise suspicion? He shrugged mentally and went on,

"As far as I know Sir de Fleur is part of the Knights Templar, I am only delivering this message as it is the thing to do. Do onto others as they do onto you, as the church teaches us."

He motioned towards Karl,

"Are you fit to travel further lady? Or do you wish to rest some more?"