Page 52 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

“Where is ‘here’ good woman?” Rubbing her temples helped thepounding in her head to subside. Why would Morcar take her from Talisand andwithout telling her beforehand?

“Oh, do ye not know? Why, ye are at Adlington, my lady, EarlEdwin’s manor in Mercia.”

“M…Mercia?” Serena stammered. She had been abducted from herbed and taken south to Mercia? “Why was I brought here?”

“For that ye’ll have to ask the earl, my lady. I know onlywhat I’ve been told. My master, Earl Edwin and his brother Morcar await yebelow.”

Edwin? Morcar? They abducted her?

Serena rose, vaguely aware she was still wearing the garmentshe had worn to bed. Was it only the night before? She walked to the side tablefeeling the chill on her feet from the stone floor. The woman had set out abowl of water and a drying cloth. As she stood before the bowl, a swirling mistfilled her mind like a remnant of a bad dream and her temples ached. Why wasshe so addled? Had they given her a sleeping potion? She tried not to think whomight have seen her in her nightclothes.

Splashing water onto her face, she began to feel moreherself. She patted her skin dry. The servant replaited her hair. Without aword, the woman efficiently helped her into the pale green undertunic and leafgreen gown. The belt at her waist was a simple one of leather woven through achain. Whoever had arranged this had even remembered her hose and leathershoes, which she was happy to have.

Through the shutters of the window, which the servant hadopened, Serena looked out onto rolling hills, green with the rains of summer,stretching far into the distance. Grazing sheep dotted one slope. It was not sodifferent from Talisand. But the why of it was confusing. What did the brotherearls intend?

When she was ready, she followed the servant from the room.The old woman gestured to the stairs and then left her. Slowly Serenadescended, pausing when she heard men’s voices coming from a room off the mainentry.

“You may go, Sir Hugue. I will advise you when your talentsare needed again.”

Sir Hugue? She recognized Morcar’s voice as the onespeaking, but why would the Norman mercenary be here? Had he been the one who’dabducted her from the manor? A myriad of questions arose in her mind as theNorman knight strode through the entry never seeing her standing on the stairsabove him.

Another voice from beyond the doorway said, “At least youshould ask Serena if she would have you, Morcar. She is a lady after all, notsome wench you can grab in the night and do with as you please.”

“I am fully aware of Lady Serena’s status, brother. But whyshould I seek her approval? Have I not spared her a Norman’s bed? Nay, I willnot ask. I have brought Lady Serena here to wed, and I shall. You know as wellas I that before he died her father had warmed to my suit. I have no doubt hewould prefer a Mercian earl to one of William’s knights were he here to consultwith. What I plan for Serena is obviously the right path. She will be willing,I’ve no doubt.”

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Serena took a stepforward, bringing herself into view. Morcar raised his head from where he satat the table across from his brother. Both men stood.

“My lady,” said Morcar. From his expression, Serena judgedhim delighted. “How good it is to see you and looking so well! You have grownmore beautiful than I remember, and I remember quite well how very fair is theLady of Talisand.”

Flattery had never meant so much to Serena as sincereaffection. She did not even blush, knowing Morcar’s words were calculated toappease her.

The two Mercian men, each with shoulder length blond hairand beards, one an older version of the other, gave her a studied look as shewalked toward the table set with an array of food. In the center was a bowl offruit, reminding her of her hunger.

“Why am I here?” she said impatiently. “You did not extend aproper invitation nor allow me to travel as I might, but dragged me from my bedin the night. Judging from how little I was aware and my aching head, I’d say Iwas given a potion.”

Finding his voice, Morcar offered, “Soon, I will explain.But first, allow my brother Edwin to welcome you to his home.”

Serena had met both Morcar and Edwin on their visit toTalisand when Morcar was still the Earl of Northumbria and recalled the olderbrother as possessing a gracious nature, more mellow than his younger sibling.

Edwin bowed before her. “My lady, ’tis an honor.”

“My lord,” she said with a faint smile, not extending herhand, “except for the manner of my coming, I would have been happy to see you.But I cannot act as if this is merely a pleasant visit. I was abducted from mybedchamber! I must know why.” Having heard their conversation, she had a fairunderstanding, but she asked to see if they would tell her a different tale.

“First, I would offer you a morning meal.” Morcar gesturedtoward the table heavy with trenchers of food. “I imagine you are quite hungry.And is it not a better way to begin our discussion?”

Reluctantly, she took the seat Morcar offered her. Thoughshe was anxious to know of their plans, she had to admit she was famished.Taking some fruit and bread onto her trencher, she smiled inwardly at the ironyof it. All the times she had wanted to escape the Red Wolf, yet when she hadfinally come to think that her duty, if not her heart, required her to remain athis side, here was escape set before her as if served up on a platter.

In addition to the fruit, the table was laden with cookedpork, eggs, and bread and butter. A male servant poured mead into goblets and,raising the drink to her lips, she sniffed the golden liquid to see if shecould detect any unexpected odor. But there was only the sweet scent of honeyand familiar spices.

Seeing her do this, Morcar apologized. “I’m sorry, my lady,for the potion given you. It was thought best for the secrecy we needed thatyou should have no voice to question my men. There was no time for explanationsin our rescue.”

“Rescue? From Talisand? Surely you jest.”

“Nay, my lady, not a rescue from Talisand,” his voice rangwith sincerity, “but from the Norman who now holds it.”

“Ah, I see,” she said considering his words as she toyedwith the food on her trencher. She supposed she did understand. After all, shehad thought to escape the dreaded Normans herself. “But you did not think towarn me?”

Earl Edwin interjected, “We thought it best if you wereunaware of our plans.”