Page 51 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

Aethel had never trusted the mercenary who had tried to rapeEawyn. Yet there was little she could do at this point if Morcar had dispatchedhim to fetch Serena. “Yea, all is ready. But first I must have yer word that yewill not harm my lady.”

“Do you think me a fool, woman? Earl Morcar would not pay methe coin he has promised if I harmed his lady. Nay, I will touch her only tocarry her to him.”

“Then ye may take her,” she said, still feeling sometrepidation. “But ye must be careful to follow me and do all I say. Should heawake, Sir Maurin would not be pleased to see ye here at Talisand. Sir Nielguards the lady’s door but he is sleeping from a potion just like this guard.”She looked down at the snoring man at her feet. “But others in the hall and inyonder tents have not received the drink and will hear us if we are notcareful.”

Avoiding the hall, they entered the front door of the manorand crept up the stairs illuminated by the single light left burning. Sir Nielwas sprawled against the wall next to Serena’s chamber where she slept unawareof what was happening around her. As they were about to enter her chamber, aman stumbled from the hall to the manor’s entry below. Sir Hugue flattenedhimself against the wall, pulling his dagger from his belt and held it aloft,ready to strike.

Aethel drew in her breath as her heart raced. Shaking herhead at the mercenary, she frowned, silently cautioning him. Sir Hugue sheathedhis dagger but kept his eyes on the man in the entry whose unsure steps toldAethel he had indulged in too much ale. Weaving his way to the door, hestumbled from the manor, no doubt heading toward the privy.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Aethel gestured to the mercenaryto follow her as she carefully opened Serena’s door and entered. She walked tothe bed and held aside the curtain, as Sir Hugue peeled back the cover,revealing Serena asleep in her night tunic.

“So this is the Lady Serena,” he whispered. “She is a comelywoman and looks a mite familiar.”

“She was disguised as the servant Sarah.”

“Aye, now I remember. The wench who shot an arrow into myarm.”

“She is no wench, sir. She is the Lady of Talisand. Ye’dbest be respecting her.”

“Aye, my new lord requires it.” His smile made Aethelcringe. “’Twill be good to see the Red Wolf lose this prize.”

“Be quick or we will be discovered!” She had no time forthis and did not like the way the knight’s eyes roved over the sleeping woman.Aethel had a pang of regret and wondered if she should be doing this.

Turning his attention to his task, Sir Hugue lifted Serena,and carried her toward the open bedchamber door.

At the bottom of the stairs Aethel paused, waiting for anysounds that would tell her if someone might still be awake. Hearing nothing,she retrieved the small bundle of clothing she had prepared for Serena, hiddenat the base of the stairs. Walking in front of Sir Hugue, she opened the manordoor and stepped into the night. The Norman followed with Serena in his arms.Aethel closed the door and carefully draped her lady’s cloak over her.

A sheep dog barked in the distance and once again Aethelfroze, listening. The man who had stumbled out of the manor moments before nowambled his way back. Aethel, followed by Sir Hugue, pressed into the shadows.

The drunken man noticed nothing.

They waited for him to enter the manor, and once he did,Aethel motioned the mercenary forward. She saw the guard at the main gate butknew he could not see into the shadows, and his eyes looked outward not behindhim.

Finally, they reached the postern gate, where the guardstill snored. Aethel began to worry if Sir Hugue could carry Serena on the longride ahead. In a whispered voice, she asked him, “Are ye alone?”

“Nay, Morcar sent two of his men with me. They wait in yonwoods.”

“Then I will see ye to them. I want Lady Serena to have thisbundle when she awakes.”

Aethel followed him into the woods at the edge of thevillage. Two cloaked men stood, holding the reins of three horses. Their lightcolored beards and long hair told Aethel the men were Mercians and that broughther comfort. Without a word, she handed the bundle to one of them. Turning toSir Hugue, she asked in a whisper, “How long will it take ye to reach Morcar?”

“A bit more than a day if we ride hard.”

Aethel bit her lower lip, worried. Serena would wake beforethen. “Ye must give her more potion when she begins to stir.” Prepared againstsuch a possibility, Aethel reached into her cloak and drew out a small skincontaining ale mixed with more potion, and another skin that containedvegetable broth. “Give her this.” She handed the skin with the potion to one ofthe waiting Mercians. “And then give her this broth if she can be made to takeit,” she said, handing him the other skin. “It is a broth to give hersustenance while ye travel. When she awakes in Mercia, she will remembernothing.”

Chapter 15

Serena woke to a pounding in her head and a gnawing hunger inher belly. The dim morning light pierced the narrow opening in the bedcurtains. Still groggy, she could barely discern with her half opened eyes whatseemed strange about her surroundings. After a moment, she sat up and pulledwide the curtains, startled to realize she was not in her bedchamber, nor inher bed. She had never before seen this room with its stone walls, archedwindow and high timbered roof.

Where am I, and how did I get here?

Moments later, a knock sounded at the wooden door. Beforeshe could say aught, it opened to reveal an older woman with graying brown hairwearing a servant’s tunic. The woman entered carrying clothing Serena recognizedas hers.

“My lady, ’tis time ye were up. Earl Morcar has been askingfor ye.”

Relief swept over Serena. Not a Norman then. She dropped herfeet over the side of the bed. “Earl Morcar?”

“Yea, my lady, ye were brought here last night.”