The Red Wolf's Prize Page 18

  “Where is ‘here’ good woman?” Rubbing her temples helped the pounding in her head to subside. Why would Morcar take her from Talisand and without telling her beforehand?

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

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

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

  Edwin? Morcar? They abducted her?

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

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

  Through the shutters of the window, which the servant had opened, 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 so different from Talisand. But the why of it was confusing. What did the brother earls intend?

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

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

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

  Another voice from beyond the doorway said, “At least you should ask Serena if she would have you, Morcar. She is a lady after all, not some wench you can grab in the night and do with as you please.”

  “I am fully aware of Lady Serena’s status, brother. But why should I seek her approval? Have I not spared her a Norman’s bed? Nay, I will not ask. I have brought Lady Serena here to wed, and I shall. You know as well as I that before he died her father had warmed to my suit. I have no doubt he would prefer a Mercian earl to one of William’s knights were he here to consult with. 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 step forward, bringing herself into view. Morcar raised his head from where he sat at the table across from his brother. Both men stood.

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

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

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

  “Why am I here?” she said impatiently. “You did not extend a proper invitation nor allow me to travel as I might, but dragged me from my bed in the night. Judging from how little I was aware and my aching head, I’d say I was 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 to Talisand when Morcar was still the Earl of Northumbria and recalled the older brother 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 her hand, “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 my bedchamber! I must know why.” Having heard their conversation, she had a fair understanding, but she asked to see if they would tell her a different tale.

  “First, I would offer you a morning meal.” Morcar gestured toward 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. Though she 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 irony of it. All the times she had wanted to escape the Red Wolf, yet when she had finally come to think that her duty, if not her heart, required her to remain at his side, here was escape set before her as if served up on a platter.

  In addition to the fruit, the table was laden with cooked pork, 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 she could detect any unexpected odor. But there was only the sweet scent of honey and 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 that you should have no voice to question my men. There was no time for explanations in our rescue.”

  “Rescue? From Talisand? Surely you jest.”

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

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

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

  “And the guard? You did not harm him?” She was concerned for the faithful Sir Niel, whose lord would not be pleased that she had vanished beneath the young knight’s watchful eye. If Sir Hugue was involved, after the punishment he had received, he might have been cruel to the Red Wolf’s men.

  “No one was hurt, my lady,” said Edwin. “More than one guard received the same herbs as you in his ale. And, just as you did, all will recover.”

  Serena’s memory of Aethel serving her ale in the hall came to her mind. Was Aethel trying to rid herself of a rival? Did the herb woman think to take her place in the Red Wolf’s bed if Serena were to wed another?

  “I can explain,” said Morcar.

  She waited while he took a drink of his mead and set down the silver goblet fingering the carved design as if contemplating carefully his next words.

  “You see, word came to me William was going to give you to one of his Norman knights. I was certain you would want to avoid such a marriage. I had asked for your hand when your father, the thegn, still lived. He was favorable in his comments to me. If not for Hastings, we might be wed ere now. I have sent a message to your brother in Scotland, but as yet have heard nothing. It seemed only right we should carry out what would certainly be your father’s wishes.”

  Serena watched the emotions playing across the face of the handsome Mercian who, according to all she had heard, was well liked by the people of Northumbria. Morcar was Steinar’s age, only a few years older than she. And while Serena would not have objected had her father betrothed her to him, she was unsure if her father would have done so. Though Morcar likely did e
xpress what would have been Steinar’s wishes had he known of the matter. Offered the chance, would she wed the Mercian? How could she do so when her heart longed for the Norman knight whose expression was ever stern but whose kisses deprived her of breath?

  The Red Wolf might be her enemy, but given all she had observed, he was more a man than Morcar. Older, less compulsive and accustomed to being responsible for the lives of others, he had won her respect in the weeks he’d been at Talisand. Then, too, she remembered that Morcar and his brother, after having been defeated at Fulford by Harald Hardrada of Norway, failed to appear at Hastings when their help was so badly needed.

  If she refused Morcar, she knew there were ways he could bring the marriage to pass. The priest may be under his control, and there were potions that could rob her of the will to resist. He had already demonstrated he would use them to aid his cause.

  “What about the Norman king?” she asked. “You would defy him?” Here was the essence of it in Serena’s mind. She herself had once entertained the possibility of wedding a Saxon, but thought only to do so from the safety of Scotland. She had not believed it wise to marry in defiance of the Norman king while she remained in England. The Bastard’s reputation was that of a hard, ruthless man who showed no mercy to those who defied him.

  “I would,” Earl Morcar said proudly.

  He does not intend to serve England’s new king! The Mercian earl was naïve if he believed he could succeed in robbing a Norman knight of the bride his king had given him, the king who had conquered England with his hundreds of ships and his thousands of men. It would take more than one Mercian earl to return England to the English.

  Morcar’s brother moved restlessly in his chair, catching her eye. She turned to look at him. He averted his gaze, making her think he was not comfortable with Morcar’s chosen course of action.

  “Then you would fight still,” she said.

  “Yea, I would,” Morcar admitted, “and there are others who would fight with me, your brother among them.”

  Her gaze darted from one brother to the other, searching their faces. “You spoke of Steinar before. Have you word of him?”

  The two earls shared a glance before Morcar answered. “I know that he resides with Edgar in Scotland, who even now gathers a force to return. In regards to you and my intention to wed you, I did send Steinar a message. I am certain he would wish this between us, my lady, as did your father. Steinar would never give his sister to a Norman.”

  Serena’s appetite waned and she picked at her food as she again thought of the older brother she loved. Morcar had the right of it. Steinar would never consent to having the Red Wolf as a brother-in-law. “It has been a long while since I’ve had any message from him,” she said sadly.

  “I need not await his word to summon the priest and see us wed, Serena. Once ’tis done, we can travel together to join Steinar.”

  * * *

  Two days after Serena disappeared, Cassie began to suspect where her lady had gone. Sir Niel had been dispatched to find Serena the morning after she had disappeared. Sir Maurin believed Serena had arranged to flee once again, and knowing she had gone north before, it was in that direction he sent Sir Niel.

  But Cassie cast her gaze to the south. She did not think Serena had escaped. No, her lady had been taken. For Cassie knew once Serena made up her mind to accept the Norman lord as her husband, she was not likely to change. Cassie had seen the way Serena had looked at the Red Wolf, her eyes following the powerful knight as he strode though the yard and lingering on his broad shoulders in the practice yard. Nay, Serena had been preparing for a wedding, not a flight into the woods.

  When the cloth merchant from Mercia had left Talisand, Cassie remembered he rode south. But his cart was still full of wares. Why would he return home so soon? Most merchants would have ridden east to the rich purses in York before heading south. She had wondered at the time, and now she again puzzled over his going. The morning after Serena disappeared, her white mare Elfleda was still in her stall. Serena would not have left behind the horse her father had given her.

  But who would have abducted Lady Serena? Could it be Morcar? His brother Edwin was Earl of Mercia and she had heard that Morcar, having lost Northumbria, now dwelled with him. Yea, it was possible he had taken her. And Cassie was determined to follow.

  As a young girl, Cassie had learned to ride when Serena did, so she could be her lady’s companion. Though she rode infrequently and had no horse of her own, Cassie decided to take Elfleda and ride south to search for Serena. She would not tell Sir Maurin, for if her thinking was correct, and Earl Morcar had Serena, it would bring the Normans to Mercia were they to know.

  Cassie had filled a bag of food and changed to a simple brown tunic before leaving for the stables, assured no one had seen her. She was hoping to slip out while Sir Maurin and the other Normans were occupied.

  Once inside the stables, she set the small saddle on Elfleda, and tightened the girth. The sound of soft footfalls in the dirt behind her caused her to turn. There, garbed in his green and brown clothing, stood Rhodri.

  “You go in search of her, then?” he asked.

  She glanced around. At least for the moment they were alone. “How did ye know?” she whispered.

  “You are infrequently in the stables, lass. When I saw you slip through the door, I was curious. I have been planning to go myself, as I was certain Serena would not have left without telling me. And I am obligated to see to her welfare. I made my oath to her brother.”

  “Ye have seen Steinar?”

  “Yea, but none know of it, not even Serena.”

  “Why did ye not tell her? She has been anxious for word of him.”

  “Steinar asked me to say nothing to her until we were ready to leave to join him. He never considered she would want to stay. Nor did I.”

  Nodding, Cassie set her will to her task and finished saddling the mare. “I want to go, Rhodri. Serena is not only my lady, but my dearest friend.”

  “It is not safe for you to travel alone. You are not Serena, adept at the bow and dressed like a lad, whereas I can travel with few knowing I am in the woods. No one suspects a bard has any purpose other than entertaining.”

  “I must go, Rhodri. I owe it to Serena.”

  “If you insist on following after her,” he said reluctantly, “I would go with you. You can travel as my wife to any who ask. And I am familiar with the Mercian earl’s holding, which I have no doubt is your destination.”

  Surprised at the bard’s astute observation, and not unhappy to have the protection of his bow, Cassie agreed. Traveling together would make her feel safe.

  “Aye, Rhodri, I welcome yer company.”

  “Does anyone know you are doing this?”

  “I asked Eric to deliver a message to me mother after I have left, saying I have gone to the west manor. I would not want her to worry.”

  Cassie only hoped that Sir Maurin did not connect her with the missing horse.

  * * *

  Through their conversations at meals following her arrival at Adlington, Serena learned much of what had happened to the Mercian brothers after Hastings. It seemed the Norman king had not been constant toward them, and his promises, freely given, had all come to naught.

  Edwin was especially bitter about having been promised William’s daughter only to have the girl’s hand withdrawn at the urging of the king’s courtiers. And Morcar had lost Northumbria to a man of the Norman king’s choosing. In turn, the Mercian brothers no longer believed William was owed their fealty. While Serena had much sympathy for their plight, and shared their view of the Norman king’s deceit, she resisted Morcar’s plans for herself. But since he was not aware of her reluctance, she was free to roam at will over the lands that surrounded Edwin’s manor in Mercia.

  From her conversations with the servant who oversaw her baths and dressing, Serena knew Adlington lay fifty miles south of Talisand. She could be home in a day and a half if she had a good horse. Usin
g the excuse of a ride with Morcar, she intended to find one for her journey north.

  The horses Edwin kept were fine palfreys any nobleman would be proud to own. The one Morcar had saddled for her this morning was a chestnut mare. Stroking the palfrey’s mane, she realized it was the same color as the Red Wolf’s hair and it caused her to wonder. Was he well? Had he returned from Exeter? She did not want to think of the powerful knight as wounded or worse, but she shuddered to think of his reaction if he returned to find her gone.

  She and Morcar rode over the green hills speaking of earlier times, of an England free of Normans. When they came to a small rise that looked east over Mercia, Morcar pulled rein and dismounted. As he helped her down, he pulled her into his arms.

  “I would show you something of my ardor, my lady.” So saying, he bent his head and kissed her. She thought to resist but he was so quick his lips were on hers before she could do so. He was gentle but his kiss stirred no passion nor sent any shivers down her spine like the kiss of the Red Wolf. To Serena it was more like the kiss of a brother.

  “On the morrow, the priest comes, my lady,” Morcar said, holding her gaze. “And you will be properly wed to a Mercian earl.” He smiled as if he could think of no greater honor to bestow upon her.

  She smiled back and walked to the edge of the rise, looking into the distance while Morcar secured the horses. At one time, she might have considered wedding Earl Morcar a great honor but unbeknownst to the earl, Serena’s feelings had changed. Once she would have gladly married him to escape the fate of a Norman’s wife, but that was before she had spent weeks with the knight called the Red Wolf. She had told the Norman she would be his lady and, though it had taken her some time to realize how sincerely she had meant those words, with Morcar’s kiss, her course was firmly set. She would not alter it.

  “And what follows after, my lord?” Serena asked. “What will you do when the Norman knight discovers you have stolen his bride?”

  The handsome earl took her hand and gave her a confident grin. “Why, my lady, we will not tarry here for William’s wolf to find us.” He kissed her knuckles. “I intend to take you to York where the loyal Northumbrians are preparing even now to meet Edgar and his men. I imagine your brother will be among them. He will be anxious to see you.”