Page 46 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

“She sought to escape?” asked Edwin.

“Aye, she did,” said Fugol. “Brave lady that she is. Butwhen I was there, she bought silk for a wedding gown from my cart.”

“Mayhap she feels she has no other choice,” said Morcar. Hewould give her another choice and soon. “Ye said naught to Lady Serena?” Hewanted to limit those who were aware of his plans. Though he knew Serena mustbe unhappy at the prospect of being forced to wed a Norman, he did not want hisspy’s presence to become known.

“To Lady Serena, I spoke only about the cloth I sold. Aboutmy mission I spoke only to Aethel.”

Rising, Morcar faced his brother. “Then we go forward asplanned. As it happens, there is a Norman mercenary knight who only a few daysago approached me offering his sword. Though I trust not a turncoat, this oneby fortune’s chance has been at Talisand and may be of use. It seems he rodewith the Red Wolf only a short while ago. They disagreed over some matterleaving the mercenary bitter.”

“Oh?” Edwin raised a brow. “And who might he be?”

“He gave the name Sir Hugue.”

* * *

Renaud and his men neared Exeter and still his thoughtslingered on Lady Serena as they had on the long journey south. He had notwanted to leave her; their relationship was too new, too tenuous. But William’ssummons could not be refused.

The sounds of the siege filled the air, interrupting histhoughts, even before he and his knights were close enough to see the old Romanwalls. The projectiles shooting from the Norman catapult made a loud whooshingsound renting the stillness of the countryside. Close up, he knew the noisewould be deafening.

As he and his men drew nearer, he heard the clash of steelupon shields a short distance away. The Norman knights were practicing theskills they would need when the siege broke through the ancient walls. Evennow, William’s men assaulted those walls, and Renaud paused to study theeffects of their efforts.

From where he sat on Belasco, hundreds of knights andmen-at-arms circled the red walls. Arrows rained down from the battlements onthose close enough to be within range. In response, William’s archers launcheda blast of arrows tipped in flaming oil. The sound of the flying shafts waslike a rushing wind. The odor of the pungent oil rose to his nostrils.

Some of William’s men attempted to scale the walls. Fromthis distance, they looked like ants climbing over a mound of earth, only to berepelled by the defenders at the top with kettles of rocks and scalding oil.Shrieks of men sent plunging to their deaths reminded him of the ugliness ofwar. Though it had been his life for nearly two decades, he longed to see the endof it.

It looked as if William was throwing everything he had atthe English rebels, yet still the stubborn walls stood.

Surely there must be a way…

“Look! There lies William’s tent,” shouted Geoff over thetumult.

Renaud turned his attention to the golden leopards on afield of red flying above the largest tent in the middle of those housingWilliam’s army.

“Have Sir Alain and the men find a place for our tents whileyou and I report to William.”

Geoff passed the orders to the banner man as Renaud made hisway toward the tent displaying the royal standard.

He dismounted as Geoff caught up with him. They entered thestriped tent together to find William, wearing his hauberk, standing over atable. Several of his closest advisors and knights huddled around him as theking studied a drawing of the walled city.

“Sire.” Renaud dropped to one knee and Geoff followed suit.

“Ah, the wolf comes!” said the king. “Rise, Lord Talisand.We are glad you are here. We have need of you and your men.” With a nod toGeoff, William continued. “As you have no doubt seen,” he gestured in thedirection of the city, “we assault the walls of Exeter and yet the stubbornEnglish remain, over two thousand of them defying our request for their oath offealty and payment of tribute.”

“I am surprised they refused,” Renaud said. “After all, youhave conquered half of England.”

“Humph. We have been up and down with that,” said William.“First the chief citizens sent a message saying they would not swear allegianceto us, though they would condescend to pay a tribute ‘according to ancientcustom’. We suppose they did not get our message when we sacked the towns ofDevon on our way here.”

Renaud heard the sarcasm in his king’s voice and knew wellenough the citizens had made a grievous error ignoring such warnings. Williamwould show them no mercy if they persisted. “Surely they could not be thinkingto hold out against you.”

“Well, they did, mayhap spurred on by the English who joinedthem from Somerset and Dorset. Then there is Gytha, the mother of HaroldGodwinson, to consider. No doubt she has stirred the Saxons to a fervor intheir rebellion.”

Renaud remembered Serena’s words describing the woman’surgent request for her son’s body. A request William had denied.

“We told them their offer of tribute according to ancientcustom does not suit,” the king continued. “We will not have subjects on suchconditions. We will have no conditions at all!”

“And what of your army?” Renaud asked, incredulous. “Did notthe English fear so many?”

“Oh, yea,” said William. “When they heard we had an army,they changed their course. The elders of the city came out to meet us, cryingpeace, offering hostages and swearing they would do all we asked. But the goodcitizens within must have disagreed for when we approached the city, we foundthe gates locked against us. We had the eyes of one hostage put out, andanother hanged, all to no avail. The stubborn English have tried our patienceovermuch.”