Page 45 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

“Aye, I am Lady Serena. Do you travel far?”

“From Mercia, m’lady.”

Serena knew Mercia to be the lands of Earl Edwin, but shewould not speak his name to this man. “’Tis a far distance you’ve come.”

“Not so far, m’lady. No more than few days’ ride. Though mycart travels more slowly, ’o course. I had heard the old lord of Talisandclothed his people well and loved his daughter much. ’Twas why I came. I thoughtmayhap ye’d want some of me fine velvets and silks.”

She smiled at the merchant. “You are correct, good sir.”Running her hands over the shimmering cloth, Serena glanced at the women ofTalisand standing around the cart, captivated by the rich fabrics the likes ofwhich were rarely seen in the village. “Though my father is no longer with us.We lost him at Hastings.”

“You have me sympathy, m’lady. England lost many good menthat awful day.”

She nodded sadly and let out a sigh. But it was no usedwelling on the past or the father she would not see again in this life.

She perused the silks among the mercer’s wares. They weretoo fine for daily wear, but Cassie was right, she would need a wedding gown.Such a gown would be needful when she entertained the Red Wolf’s guests. “Someribands and some silk for a gown would serve well, good sir.”

Serena made a selection and gave Fugol the coins to buy theblue silk that Cassie had found for her, some emerald silk for another gown andsome ribands for her handmaiden. While Cassie was engaged in a conversationwith one of the village women, Serena also bought some green velvet and afabric of the same color green to go with it that was imprinted with a goldpattern. They would make a lovely wedding dress for Cassie with her red hair.Perfect for a harvest wedding, though she did not tell her friend of herthinking.

Sir Maurin was spending the time that was his own withCassie, and though the handmaiden had said nothing, Serena believed the twowere falling in love. She had never considered the possibility either she orCassie would wed Normans, but it seemed her thoughts mattered little. ForCassie to marry a knight was a good match, more than she might have expected.Sir Maurin was no fool. Anyone could see Cassie was a woman to treasure.

Two weeks passed with no word from the knights who hadridden south. Serena anxiously awaited a messenger while working hard at herduties, and sewing with Cassie the gowns they were making together. The standsof wheat grew high and turned golden in the long days of summer. The orchardswere showing the new apples they would harvest in the fall. And rising abovethe manor to the south was the wooden castle set on the large motte of earth.

Rhodri lingered at Talisand and he and Serena sang for thepeople in the evenings. It was almost like the days of her youth except thatNorman French could be heard in the hall and Normans sat at the high table.

As summer lingered, Serena struggled with her emotions. Mostof her people appeared resigned to their new lord now that she was to be hisbride. But a niggling question persisted in her mind. Was she?

Chapter 13

Morcar was eager for news. “What did you learn?” he anxiouslyasked Fugol while his brother looked on. “Does she remain unwed?”

“My lord,” said the brown-haired Saxon, his beard nowtrimmed and his attire resembling that of a freeman in the employ of a wealthyearl, “I met Lady Serena when she came to see the wares ye gave me to sell. Shewore no ring and her hair was uncovered, but the people spoke of a comingwedding to the Norman who has been given Talisand.”

“I knew it!” shouted Morcar, slamming his fist on the table,the sound reverberating off the walls of Edwin’s solar in Mercia. “Damn Williamfor promising one of the fairest English maidens to one of his knights when herfather would have given her to me.”

“Not just any knight, my lord,” added Fugol. “’Tis SirRenaud, the one they call the Red Wolf.”

“I know of him,” said Edwin from where he sat at the end ofthe table stroking his beard. “He has long fought at William’s side. When wewere dragged off to Normandy as William’s guests, the Red Wolf was oneof the senior knights the king left in London, one he trusted with hisaffairs.”

“Yea, and I seem to recall him when we were still atWilliam’s court,” said Morcar. His eyes narrowed on the spy. “He wore that peltthat has branded him as vicious as the animal he killed. Was he at Talisand?”

“Nay,” said Fugol. “He and most of his knights andmen-at-arms were gone ere I came, summoned by William to Exeter to join him ina siege of that city where some Saxons are holding out against him.”

“I pity the good citizens of Exeter,” said Edwin.

“The only Normans left at Talisand,” said Fugol, “are guardsor those supervising the work on the castle they are building.”

Directing his words to his brother, Morcar said, “It seemsWilliam is intent on leaving his mark all over England with those infernalcastles. Our hopes to be left alone to rule the north are crumbling tonothing.”

“I still hold Mercia,” said Edwin, “though for how long Icannot say.”

Morcar shifted his gaze to Fugol. “What about her brotherSteinar?”

“He’s no longer at Talisand, my lord. According to the womanAethel, he is in Scotland.”

Morcar traded looks with his brother. They had been incontact with Edgar who was safely ensconced across the border, waiting for anopportunity to return to reclaim the English throne. And they knew Steinar mustbe with him.

Returning his attention to the spy, Morcar asked, “Can thelady be taken?”

“Aye.” The spy smiled. “As I told ye, there be few guards,though one of the Norman knights follows her about and sits near when she dinesat the high table with Sir Maurin, the knight left in charge. The wench ye sentme to, Aethel, may know how best to get in and out of the manor unseen. Sheseemed willing enough to help. She told me Lady Serena had twice tried toescape, but was brought back each time.”