Page 17 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

A grin spread across Cassie’s face, a younger version of hermother’s with the same green eyes save they were framed by her father’s redhair. “Ye’re a devious one, Sarah.”

“Mayhap I am,” Serena said with a faint smile. “But in thiscase I must act consistent with my disguise, else I be discovered.”

Cassie told Serena that a score and one had entered theirnames in the archery tournament: fifteen of the Red Wolf’s men, including theNorman lord himself, and six from Talisand: Leppe, Theodric, Alec and threewomen. Rhodri had taught many more but, regrettably, only the six had theskills necessary to compete.

As the match began, Serena felt a slight wind stirring wispsof her hair, but it was naught a skilled archer would fail to consider.

The first round included Cassie, Theodric, and Sir Maurin,who Cassie had bragged was a skilled archer.

Theodric went first, his shot hitting at the edge of the redcenter. Serena smiled, pleased to see him do well. Cassie went next. Her arrow,though close, fell short of the target’s center. Serena thought herhandmaiden’s anxious looks at Sir Maurin might have thrown off her aim.Finally, Sir Maurin stepped to the line, his weathered face void of emotion ashe studied the wind moving in the trees. Then, with a confident look, he lethis arrow fly, the shot piercing the red center. Many “Ahs” were heard from thecrowd, but the people of Talisand who crowded around did not smile as they hadfor Theodric.

The next round matched Alec and a woman from Talisandagainst the Red Wolf. Serena’s eyes fixed on the proud Norman knight as hesauntered to the line. Pulling back on the arrow as if ’twere nothing, he sentthe shaft soaring. It hit dead center with a loud thwack. The crowd let out asigh. Unfortunately, the Talisand archers, who followed the Red Wolf, wereunable to sink their arrows into the center of the target.

Other rounds followed. In his round, Leppe’s arrow founddead center, and Serena silently cheered. He had always been the best ofTalisand’s archers taught by Rhodri, save possibly for herself, but she hadpracticed much.

The Norman archers who followed did well, some consistentlyhitting the target.

When it came time for her to shoot, Serena stepped to theline. She nocked the arrow and focused her eyes on the target, her stance sure.The crowd grew quiet as the villagers waited to see what their lady would do.She worried over their reaction and what it might reveal. She had not taken intoaccount their anticipation.

Serena stood, legs apart, and pulled back the arrow,changing her line of sight at the last minute to focus on the edge of thetarget, not its center. When she let the arrow fly, a whooshing sound filledthe silence. The thwack of the arrow as it hit the wide edge of the targetechoed through the air. The stunned crowd looked on.

A clear miss.

She stepped back into the crowd, smiling to herself—untilshe saw Maugris nearby, his blue eyes staring intently at her.

Wiping the smile from her face, she scurried away. The oldNorman’s gaze haunted her. It was as if he could see right through her.Dismissing her worries, she hurried to find Cassie so they could watch the lastrounds together when the best archers of the day faced off.

Two more rounds eliminated all but four: Leppe, Sir Maurin,the Red Wolf and another of the Norman archers. Each took a shot at the target.Each hit the center.

“Move the target back twenty paces!” shouted Sir Geoffroifrom the sidelines.

The target was moved back and each man took up his stance.The shots that followed were fired in rapid succession. The small wind pickedup to rustle the leaves of the trees nearby. Serena was disappointed to seeLeppe’s arrow hit off center this time, but was mollified when the Normanarcher’s shot also fell short of the center circle. Only the Red Wolf and SirMaurin remained. Their shots again hit the center of the target. This time,even the faces of the villagers bore smiles.

Upon the order of the Red Wolf, the target was moved backanother twenty paces. The tension grew palpable as all eyes fixed on the twomen standing next to each other, their eyes focused on the distant target.

Cassie bit her lower lip and her hand gripped Serena’sforearm. “’Tis exciting, no?” whispered her handmaiden.

“Yea, it is. I only wish Leppe was still in the competition.I’d like to see him beat the Normans.”

Sir Maurin shot first. With a whoosh, his arrow flew to hitthe center. The crowd sighed in unison, “Ah….”

“See if you can split the shaft,” urged Sir Geoffroi frombehind the Red Wolf loud enough for Serena to hear.

The Norman lord took a deep breath. For a long moment hewatched the leaves of the trees, moved by the rising wind. Then, he narrowedhis eyes on the target like a beast focusing on its prey. “Aye, I shall.”

With a whoosh, his arrow flew and a cracking sound echoedthrough the open meadow as the Red Wolf’s arrowhead split the shaft of SirMaurin’s arrow. The crowd gasped.

With a small smile, the Red Wolf turned to Sir Maurin.“Would you try again?”

“Nay, my lord.” Sir Maurin bowed in grand gesture. “Iconcede and congratulate you.”

* * *

Renaud walked toward the place where he was to give out theprizes, his pace slower than usual as he pondered the servant girl Sarah. Shehad been quick to hurry away from the shooting line when her arrow failed toachieve the target’s center. But something about the whole scene bothered him.

As if reading his thoughts, Geoff leaned in to whisper.“Ren, why do I have the feeling Sarah is better with the bow than herperformance today would suggest?”

Renaud remembered the faces of the crowd gathered to watchthe match. “Mayhap it is because the English held their breath as she steppedto the line, as if they expected something unusual.”