Page 22 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

“I often wonder what might have happened,” said Cassiethoughtfully, “if he and his brother had not been so eager to rid themselves ofKing Harold. They held back their men, hoping, I believe, the Normans woulddefeat Harold at Hastings. With the men Morcar and his brother could havecalled to fight, we might have driven the Normans back into the sea.”

“More important, Cassie, would they fight now?”

“Sir Maurin told me that Morcar and his older brother,Edwin, still the Earl of Mercia, have submitted to the Norman king.”

“If ‘tis true,” said Serena, “I doubt Edwin is sincere. Hecannot love serving such a one.”

“I suppose ye are right,” Cassie said sadly.

“Even if Morcar were to defy the Norman king,” Serena speculated,“I cannot imagine him taking me to wife with Talisand given to the Bastard’sknight. I no longer have a dowry.”

“But he cared for ye, m’lady. I remember the way he lookedat ye.”

“So much has changed,” lamented Serena. “While an Englishwoman cannot be forced to wed a man she’ll not have, it is not so with theNormans. The Norman king can force me to accept the Red Wolf if I amdiscovered. He has only to consummate the relationship.” The thought causedSerena to shiver. “Then, too, Morcar is young and impatient. He may have sethis eyes on another.”

“Morcar is a Mercian,” Cassie encouraged. “That has to meansomething. It was his brother Edwin who posed the idea of a match between thetwo of ye to yer father. Me mother heard them talking.”

“It was to make me happy my father delayed a betrothal.”

“Yea,” said Cassie, “and to satisfy a lonely man’s heart. Memother told me he’d not send ye away before he must.”

Serena had thought little of Morcar in the past months. Intruth, with the coming of the Red Wolf, thoughts of any other man rarely cameto her mind. She had not forgotten the kiss the Norman had stolen. Or the feelof his hard chest pressed against her breasts. He was a seasoned warrior,virile and strong. By his sword, the Red Wolf had gained a place of favor withthe Norman king and was admired by his men. He seemed so much more a man thanthe young Mercian earl or even Oswine.

The handmaiden’s eyes suddenly grew bright. “What aboutEadric? Yer father liked him well enough. I have heard our men talking abouthim. They say he was able to keep his lands in the south since he wasna atHastings.”

“I have heard the Normans speak of him in the hall, too,”said Serena, thinking of the conversation she’d overheard. “They call himEadric the Wild since he stays in the woods with his men, fighting some Normanto the south. The Welsh king supports him, according to Rhodri.” Serenaremembered Eadric, the wealthy Saxon thegn from Shropshire, who had come toTalisand seeking her hand. A tall warrior with broad shoulders and a fullbeard. “Though I cannot imagine Eadric would want to take a bride if he isliving with his men in the woods. And, Cassie, if I were to come out in theopen, as I must to wed Morcar or Eadric, think how the Red Wolf would react. Hewould be incensed at losing what he sees as his. Pride would demand he hunt medown, even if only to hold me prisoner. No, it would not do for me to marry aSaxon while still in England for I have been given by the Norman king to one ofhis own. You see? I must leave and seek my future in Scotland.”

“Yea, I suppose ’tis true. I dinna want ye to go. But itseems yer only future at Talisand is as the Red Wolf’s bride.”

“I shall never choose to be his wife,” Serena insisted, allthe while shivering at the prospect, whether from anticipation or dread shecould not say.

Chapter 7

Geoffroi was just leaving the stables the next day on his wayto the hall, hungry for the midday meal, when he heard the boy Eric shouting toone of the cottars who had come to the manor to sell his wares. “Dunn, did yehear the news? Rhodri has returned to Talisand!”

The cottar looked up from his cart of kettles. “Has he now?When?”

“A few days ago. He has said he will play for us tonightafter the evening meal. Steward Hunstan told me all who would come are invited.’Twill be almost like it was ere the Normans came.”

By now Geoffroi knew enough English to understand theirconversation. At his approach, the boy’s face turned scarlet as he realized theRed Wolf’s man overheard what he was saying. “Eric, are you talking about theWelsh bard who was here before?”

“Yea, sir.” The boy’s posture relaxed, possibly because hewas grateful not to be scolded.

“I should like to hear this bard entertain us in the hallthis eve. Is there a singer at Talisand who could join him?”

“Well…” he hesitated, “Sarah can sing. She and the bardoften sang together.”

“Indeed? You may tell Sarah her new master would have hersing with the bard tonight.” Geoff had observed the way Ren looked at theservant girl. At least her singing would take his mind from the missing LadySerena about whom he had brooded overmuch. And some entertainment for the menwould not go amiss. “I will look forward to hearing her myself.”

“I will tell her, sir. Ye willna be disappointed. She hasthe voice of an angel!”

* * *

Occupied with plans for the castle all afternoon, Renaud rosefrom the trestle table in his chamber, comfortable with his decision. He hadfinally chosen the site for the castle, though in truth the location had beenin his mind all along. The same bend in the river that protected Talisand’smanor would become the source of his castle’s moat. And the motte that wouldrise from the yard to form the foundation for the timbered structure would lookdown on the manor. From the top of the new donjon, he and his men wouldhave a view of the entire countryside.

A knock sounded, interrupting his musings.

“Enter.”