Page 29 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

Serena knew well the meaning of his words. A knight wouldthink of needing a priest. Many of Talisand’s men had died in battle, unshrivenof their sins. The thought of the Norman knight needing a priest for last ritesgave her pause. She was surprised to realize she would feel regret at hisdeath.

Maugris nodded. “’Tis true, my lord. I recall that priest atthe church in Dives-sur-Mer who prayed for you and William’s otherknights before you left for England. Mayhap his prayer gave you victory. CertainlyGod, who raises up kings, was with the duke that day.”

The Red Wolf lifted his head and stared at the glass window,a frown appearing on his face. “Since you brought up the subject of prayer,Maugris, when he returns you might ask Talisand’s priest to pray we will soonfind my lady, before I am forced to ask William for another.”

“Those prayers have been said, my lord, at least by me,”answered the old man, “and I am confident they will be answered.”

Serena was suddenly anxious to leave the chapel. “Would youwant to see Talisand’s weavers?”

“Do you mean the women of the village?” asked Maugris.

“I had in mind two who are most special.” Serena walked tothe door of the chapel, leading them back into the warmth of the afternoon sun.

As they returned to the main part of the village, the sameboys who had earlier stared at the Norman knight followed them.

The old man drew his lord aside to show him some damage toone of the thatched roofs. A boy with sun streaked brown hair ran up to Serena.

“M’lady,” he said, his dark eyes beseeching while he tuggedon her sleeve, “I’ve something to tell ye.” Fortunately, the boy spoke hardlyabove a whisper.

She whispered in return as she took his hand and squeezedit. “’Tis Sarah, Beorn, remember?”

“Oh,” he said, covering his mouth with his hand, his eyesbright and a smile on his lips. “I forgot.” Then taking a deep breath, he beganagain. “Sarah, have ye heard about Dunn’s father? He died two days ago and nowthe cottage and land will nay be Dunn’s, but will belong to the Norman lord.”

Sarah looked to where the Red Wolf and his wise man weretalking amongst themselves before she turned back to the boy. Letting out abreath, she said, “Yea, I knew of Dunn’s father’s passing. Dunn and his mothermay remain in the cottage. But all of Talisand, its lands and manors, nowbelong to the Red Wolf, Beorn. The Norman king has claimed England for his ownand doles out parts of it to his barons and knights. The Red Wolf is one ofthem.”

“I like it not,” said Beorn, a frown creasing his youngforehead.

She sighed. What could she say? “I know. I feel the same.But ’tis the way of it now.” She did not want to give him hope the situationmight change though she held onto that slim thread of hope herself.

Serena let go of the boy’s hand, and he rejoined hiscompanions. Beorn thought she could work miracles. Much as she wanted to, shecould not.

She returned to the two men. When their conversation ended,she directed them to the cottage where a short piece of cloth hung over theopen door announced to all in the village the weavers were working.

“Good day to you, Ingrith, Annis,” she said as she led themen through the door. “‘Tis Sarah and I’ve brought with me the new lord and hiswise man to see your fine work.” She turned to the Red Wolf who was standingclose behind her, his nearness unsettling. “Ingrith and Annis weave for thewhole village, my lord, nay just themselves.”

“Talisand has women who weave for the others?” he asked witha puzzled look.

“All the women can weave,” Serena proudly replied. In anyvillage the women would know how to weave cloth. “But Ingrith and Annis becameso skilled at weaving the fine wool of Talisand’s sheep that the old thegnencouraged them to do only that. ’Twas he who had this workshop built for them.”Dark-haired Ingrith smiled at Serena from behind a large loom in the corner,while Annis with her lighter hair and green eyes sat looking on from anotherloom to the side. “The villagers pay Ingrith and Annis for their cloth in tradefor things the two women and their families require.”

Serena walked to the table that held folded lengths of clothin colors of blue, rust, brown and green. “You can see the cloth is very fine.”

The Red Wolf observed the two women working at their looms.His size made the cottage seem small. It was no wonder he wanted a castle; hisbody was made for such a grand structure. But she knew his king’s demands werefor more than shelter. Castles would tell all of England the Normans were hereto stay.

After a moment, the knight’s gaze shifted to Serena asthough he had sensed her eyes upon him. Heat rose in her cheeks and she avertedher gaze. She did not want him to know her thoughts were of him.

Maugris walked to the table where the finished cloth lay,running his fingers over the woolen fabric. “My lord.” He looked to the RedWolf. “’Tis softer than velvet.”

Happy to have another subject to fill her mind, Serena said,“Ingrith and Annis provided the cloth for the tunics worn by the old lord’sfamily. And the thegn traded Talisand’s woolen cloth for goods the villagersdid not make and for the treasures he sought from other lands.”

Maugris glanced at Serena’s simple tunic. His smile, as ifhe were amused, caused her brow to wrinkle. What did the old man see? Was heamused by her ill-fitting servant’s attire?

The Red Wolf was still studying Ingrith working at the loomand Serena breathed a sigh of relief that he had not witnessed his wise one’smirth.

“I have need of a new tunic,” the Red Wolf said to Ingrith.“Some of your cloth in dark blue would do nicely.” He reached for a foldedpiece on the table. “I’ll send my squire for several lengths of the othercolors.”

“But my lord,” interjected Serena, “they trade fortheir wool. You cannot just take it!”

His glower was sharp evidence of his displeasure. “This isnow my land and Ingrith is my serf. You would do well to remember it, Sarah. Awise servant does not disagree with her lord.”