Page 48 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

“Come, Ren,” Geoff urged. “A doctor of phisyk awaits in yontent to pull the arrow through. It must come out.”

Jamie was distraught, pacing alongside Renaud as he headedtoward the tent that had been allocated to the healers. “M’lord, I am so sorry.’Tis all my fault.”

“Next time you will know, boy,” Geoff scolded. “You’d bedead if it were not for your lord’s sacrificing himself.”

The page dropped his head. Renaud reached out with hisuninjured arm and placed his hand on the lad’s shoulder. “We’ve all had tolearn such lessons, son.”

Jamie looked up at him with adoring eyes. “Yea, sir.”

While Renaud suffered the ministrations of the king’sphysic, the city elders, seeing the walls collapsing, had shouted theirsurrender. Over the objections of Geoff, who had brought him the news, when thestitching was done and the wound bandaged, Renaud traveled the short distanceto the king’s tent. He had to do what he could to spare the English his sire’swrath.

Still smarting from the wound in his arm, Renaud entered thetent just as the king was preparing to leave for the city gates.

“Sire, might I suggest a gracious act of mercy to theEnglish if they but concede to your demands?”

“We will consider it,” William said, looking doubtful.“First we must see for ourselves what groveling the good citizens of Exeter mayoffer to appease our anger.” They walked out together, the king’s retinuefollowing. All sounds of the battle had ceased. Renaud found the quiet after somuch noise unnerving.

Glancing at Renaud’s arm, the king observed, “Our sympathyfor your arm, Lord Talisand. We heard you saved your page a more grievouswound.”

Renaud acknowledge the king’s words with a shrug. He was notwithout some feelings of guilt for the actions of the untrained youth who hadfollowed his lord to battle.

The king’s entourage approached the city and the gatesopened to allow a procession through the wide opening. Included among the partycoming to greet them were beautiful young maidens dressed in colorful silkgowns, their long hair flowing down their backs. These were followed by theelders of the city, and Bishop Leofric and his clergy, carrying sacred booksand holy ornaments.

Prostrating themselves at William’s feet, they begged formercy. “My Lord, we beg you to swear a holy oath on the Bible that you will notharm the city and its people.”

With a glance toward Renaud, the king let out a deep breathand relented. “Rise. Since you make such a grand display of your repentance, wegrant you the mercy you seek.” When the clergymen stood, William gave them astern look. “Every last man will swear fealty to us and you will pay the newtribute we demand.”

The city fathers were quick to nod their heads in agreement.

“And henceforth you will have our royal presence within thecity,” announced William.

The city elders looked startled but wisely chose to saynothing.

Later, Renaud discovered that Gytha had escaped through theWater Gate, taking the River Exe to the sea. It was only when her safe escapehad been assured that the city’s leaders had surrendered. By the time the kinglearned of this, he had already granted clemency and, to Renaud’s relief, didnot withdraw it.

William posted some of his soldiers at the city gates so hisarmy would not be tempted to plunder the hapless English. This pleased Renaudfor he did not wish to answer Serena’s questions as to what transpired afterthe siege only to have to admit his fellow Normans had raped and pillaged.

The siege had lasted eighteen days from its beginning toWilliam’s victory, which came the day Renaud took the arrow. Smiling to himselfas he congratulated the king and walked back to his own tent, Renaud realizedit was no longer Normandy that held his heart, but Talisand, and he was anxiousto return to his English bride with the violet eyes.

The day after the surrender, William came to Renaud’s tentwhere he was resting while his men prepared to leave. His wound had notfestered but was still tender and gave him much grief. It would be a whilebefore he could hold a shield with that arm. It could have been worse, he knew.At least it was not his sword arm.

Still wearing his hauberk, the king inquired, “Is the heroicwolf able to leave his den to help us select a site for our new castle weintend to construct within the city’s walls?”

“Yea, Sire,” he said, rising. Jamie was at his side, for theboy had not left him since Renaud had taken the arrow. “I will gladly serve youin that task.”

With Sir Baldwin and Geoff accompanying them, William andRenaud walked to the city gates, which now lay open but guarded.

They surveyed the possible locations for a castle. Finally,William settled on the northeast corner of the Roman wall lying next to a steepbank.

Renaud conferred with Sir Baldwin on an idea he had beforesaying, “Sire, with a deep ditch between the northwestern and northeasternwalls and the addition of an internal rampart, you would have a square baileyfor the castle.”

“We think that a fine idea!” exclaimed the king, obviouslyeager to see his castle constructed. Then looking to Sir Baldwin, “We leave youin charge of razing the homes that stand in the way and building the castle,sir knight. Enough of our army will stay behind to provide a garrison.Henceforth, you shall be our castellan and High Sheriff of Devonshire.”

Sir Baldwin dipped his head and smiled, appearing pleased atthe honor bestowed upon him. “As you wish, My King.”

And so it was done. The king had his victory and Renaud hadlost not a man. Best of all, he would have good news for Serena: Jamie and themen of Talisand were safe. Renaud would not share with her his certain beliefthat in the future the king intended to give every Englishman’s land to aNorman for William no longer trusted the fealty of those he had conquered.

Though the Talisand archers had remained true despite havingto fight on the side of their Norman lord, Renaud did not doubt their loyaltywas aided by the presence of English among the ranks of William’s army. As moreand more English fought on the side of the Norman king, the resistance wouldgrow weaker.