Page 10 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

Serena smiled and kissed the top of his curly, sun bleachedhead. “Now I have only to recover my seax.”

“I will look for that, too,” said the boy eagerly.

Maggie gazed in Serena’s direction, her eyes fixing on thebow. “Now there is something ye’re good at. And since the knights have beenconcerned with their swordplay and building onto the stable, they have yet tohunt to add to our stores of meat. Can ye do that for me on the morrow? I needrabbits for stew.”

“I would be happy to hunt, Maggie. I am better at that thanmaking broth.”

“Yea, ’tis true, ye are.” Looking down at Jamie and then atSerena, she said, “Go on then, take the lad for a walk to the stable. He lovesto see the knights’ horses and some air will do ye both good. I’ll make thebroth. If ye want, ye can return in a wee bit to serve the midday meal.”

“You are a generous woman, Maggie, to be so kind to one ofthe servants.” She gave the housekeeper a wink. “I welcome some time withJamie.”

“Give me the bow,” Maggie said, reaching for it. “I will seeyer weapon well hidden here in the kitchen.” She took the bow and quiver ofarrows, covered them with a drying cloth and set them behind the wooden cabinetin the far corner of the room.

Serena took off her apron and wrapped her arm around Jamie’sshoulders. “So, Jamie, shall we take a walk to see the horses?”

“Yea. I would like that! The knights’ warhorses are fierce,Sarah. Even the squires can hardly control them, but there are others they ridethat are not so wild. I’ve made friends with some of those.” He took her handand pulled her toward the door. A smile broke out on his face, which added tothe ruddy glow on his cheeks, making him look like a cherub who had spent themorn in a field of wheat. Serena did not like to think about Jamie near theNormans’ fearsome destriers, warhorses trained to kick and bite, as muchweapons as the knights’ lances and swords.

Passing through the herb garden, Serena noticed Aetheldigging among the new plants. “Good morning Aethel. You seem to be workinghard.”

The woman sat back on her heels and brushed a lock of darkhair from her eyes as she gave Serena’s clothing a long perusal. “The new herbswill be needed for healing as well as for savory dishes. It is just my usualwork…Sarah.”

Ignoring the look Aethel gave her, Serena said, “I admireyour knowledge, Aethel.” The compliment was sincere. Though Serena had oftenacted the healer, she had counted upon Aethel’s knowledge to tell her whichherbs to use.

Aethel smiled briefly and bent her head to her task.

“How are you getting along since the Normans have come?”Serena asked her.

“Well enough,” Aethel said without looking up.

“It is not easy for any of us,” Sarah remarked absently.Jamie impatiently tugged on her hand. Giving into his urging, she wished Aethela good morn and continued on the path leading to the yard and to the stable setjust inside the palisade.

New grass grew at the edge of the palisade and wild flowershad sprung up in clusters around the manor, causing Serena to marvel at thebeauty of the place she called home. Despite the Normans’ coming, there was asameness to Talisand she found comforting. Workers mended the palisade, cartscreaked as they rolled by and brown chickens pecked at the dirt. The onlydifferences were the sounds of clanking metal as the knights engaged inswordplay outside the palisade, and the dull thud of hammers pounding in thework they’d begun on a new stable.

“I have missed you, lad,” she said to Jamie as they walkedalong side by side. “Where have you been keeping yourself?”

“I have been watching the knights! Each morning, theypractice with their swords and talk of the Red Wolf’s plans for Talisand. Theysay we will have a grand castle set upon a great mound of dirt.” Jamie babbledon excitedly as they covered the ground to the stable, the sun warming Serenaas they walked. “The men have even let me hold their swords!” A look of guiltsuddenly came over his face and he dropped his gaze. “I know they are Normans,Sarah, and I should not like them.”

“’Tis all right, Jamie. I can see they have bewitched you.Besides, ’tis best you do not anger them by telling them what we think ofNormans.” She feared for the boy if he did.

They walked to the stable’s entrance, his small hand inhers. His face glowed as he told her of the knights. She could see the boyconsidered the presence of the warriors an adventure. She hoped they presentedno threat to the child. His life had certainly become more exciting with theirarrival. While she hated the invaders of her country who had taken her belovedfamily and her lands, Jamie, orphaned as a small boy, had no mother or fatherto see to his training. Now that he was growing into manhood, the Normanknights with their swords and horses would be tempting. While she acted thepart of his older sister, assuring his needs were met, she knew he longed to bea part of the world of men.

* * *

Standing on the roof walk of the manor house, Geoff at hisside, Renaud raised his hand to shield his eyes from the blinding sun as hegazed into the distance, surveying the land around the manor. He had yet toselect the site for the castle though he had identified a location that wouldserve.

“That reminds me, Ren,” Geoff said, the knight’s gaze fixedon the yard below.

Roused from his thoughts, Renaud faced his friend. “Yea?”

“See the girl walking with the lad, just there?”

Renaud’s gaze followed Geoff’s finger pointing to a girlwith a long brown plait walking toward the stable with a boy of about ten oreleven years. “I see.”

“She was one of the servant girls brought back that firsteve. I think she may become a problem with the men.”

Renaud frowned. He did not need another problem just now,particularly not with his men who were just settling in. “Why would she be aproblem?”

“Watch her at the midday meal instead of eating in yourchamber as you have been doing these last few days and see for yourself. Themen are taken with the wench. They compete to try and win her affection whileshe serves. I am worried it will lead to fights among them.”