Page 26 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

On his way back to the manor, Renaud passed the Welsh bardas he was going through the gate. “I would have a word, Welshman.”

The bard stopped. “Yea, my lord?”

“I am a bit confused as to who you are. Be you bard, Welshwarrior or something else?”

For a moment, Renaud thought he saw a flicker of concern inthe bard’s dark eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it had come.

“Merely a bard, my lord, who entertains along the road. WhenI first visited Talisand, the old thegn saw me practicing the bow and asked meto train any who would learn.”

Renaud suspected there was more to the story. “And why doyou return now?”

“I am merely passing through. I did not know the thegn wasdead and thought to visit him.”

An unlikely story. “Know you aught of Lady Serena,where she might be, for instance?”

“I have not seen her on my travels, my lord. The people sayshe has followed her brother to Scotland.”

“Yea, that is what they say.” Renaud considered theWelshman, the bard who could fashion a bow that competed well with those of hisarchers, and his suspicions were raised. “Do you train with my archers thisafternoon?”

“If you would desire it, my lord, I would be willing.”

“It may be you can teach them something.”

“Or, I might learn from them,” the Welshman said with agrin.

As the bard, who Renaud suspected was more than a bard,started to walk away, Renaud called him back. “Rhodri, there is another matterI would address.”

“Yea, my lord?”

“What is your relationship with the servant girl Sarah?”

The Welshman paused before answering. “Why, I am but herinstructor of the bow and her friend. And sometimes her partner in song.”

Renaud rubbed his fingers over his chin as the bard bowedand sauntered through the palisade gate. There was more to the man than musicand arrows, he was certain of it.

* * *

Geoffroi strolled into the kitchen to find Maggie and herdaughter Cassandra hard at work putting the finishing touches on the middaymeal, while one of the lads stirred the contents of a large kettle suspendedover the central hearth. Smells of a rich stew rose in the air making hisstomach growl.

“Good day, Sir Geoffroi. Can I help ye?” Maggie paused inher work setting fresh loaves of bread on platters.

“Good day to you, Maggie, Cassandra,” he said with a nodtoward each of the women. “I need your recommendation for someone to accompanythe lord on his walk through the village this afternoon. It would be best if itwere a person who is familiar with the people and their needs…someone who canassist with introductions.”

Maggie wiped her hands on her apron and exchanged a glancewith her daughter. Drawing her brows together, she appeared to ponder hisrequest while her daughter continued in her work, and the lad stirred thekettle that was the source of the spicy aroma. Geoff’s mouth watered.

Cassandra’s eyes never left her mother. Suddenly a smilespread across Maggie’s face.

“Well, now, the best be steward Hunstan, but he is nay heretoday. The lord sent him to the far manors to see what workers could be had forthe building of his castle.”

She must have seen the disappointment on his face, becauseshe quickly added, “But there be another who is perfect for the task.”

Geoffroi raised his brows expectantly.

“’Tis the maid, Sarah. She knows the people well and oftencarried Lady Serena’s wishes to the village.”

He thought for a moment. It did seem that the girl Sarahspoke well and she had the friendship of Eawyn. And Ren had a personal interestin the servant girl, of that he had no doubt. Yea, she might be just the one tointroduce the Red Wolf to the people. “’Tis a grand idea, Maggie. See that sheis available this afternoon. I will tell the lord.”

* * *