Page 53 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

“And the guard? You did not harm him?” She was concerned forthe faithful Sir Niel, whose lord would not be pleased that she had vanishedbeneath the young knight’s watchful eye. If Sir Hugue was involved, after thepunishment 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 guardreceived the same herbs as you in his ale. And, just as you did, all willrecover.”

Serena’s memory of Aethel serving her ale in the hall cameto her mind. Was Aethel trying to rid herself of a rival? Did the herb womanthink 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 downthe silver goblet fingering the carved design as if contemplating carefully hisnext words.

“You see, word came to me William was going to give you toone of his Norman knights. I was certain you would want to avoid such amarriage. 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 wedere now. I have sent a message to your brother in Scotland, but as yet haveheard nothing. It seemed only right we should carry out what would certainly beyour father’s wishes.”

Serena watched the emotions playing across the face of thehandsome Mercian who, according to all she had heard, was well liked by thepeople of Northumbria. Morcar was Steinar’s age, only a few years older thanshe. And while Serena would not have objected had her father betrothed her tohim, she was unsure if her father would have done so. Though Morcar likely didexpress what would have been Steinar’s wishes had he known of the matter. Offeredthe chance, would she wed the Mercian? How could she do so when her heartlonged for the Norman knight whose expression was ever stern but whose kissesdeprived her of breath?

The Red Wolf might be her enemy, but given all she hadobserved, he was more a man than Morcar. Older, less compulsive and accustomedto being responsible for the lives of others, he had won her respect in theweeks he’d been at Talisand. Then, too, she remembered that Morcar and hisbrother, 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 couldbring the marriage to pass. The priest may be under his control, and there werepotions that could rob her of the will to resist. He had already demonstratedhe would use them to aid his cause.

“What about the Norman king?” she asked. “You would defyhim?” Here was the essence of it in Serena’s mind. She herself had onceentertained the possibility of wedding a Saxon, but thought only to do so fromthe safety of Scotland. She had not believed it wise to marry in defiance ofthe Norman king while she remained in England. The Bastard’s reputation wasthat 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! TheMercian earl was naïve if he believed he could succeed in robbing a Normanknight of the bride his king had given him, the king who had conquered Englandwith his hundreds of ships and his thousands of men. It would take more thanone Mercian earl to return England to the English.

Morcar’s brother moved restlessly in his chair, catching hereye. She turned to look at him. He averted his gaze, making her think he wasnot comfortable with Morcar’s chosen course of action.

“Then you would fight still,” she said.

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

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

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

Serena’s appetite waned and she picked at her food as sheagain 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 hasbeen 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 uswed, Serena. Once ’tis done, we can travel together to join Steinar.”

* * *

Two days after Serena disappeared, Cassie began to suspectwhere her lady had gone. Sir Niel had been dispatched to find Serena themorning after she had disappeared. Sir Maurin believed Serena had arranged toflee once again, and knowing she had gone north before, it was in thatdirection he sent Sir Niel.

But Cassie cast her gaze to the south. She did not thinkSerena had escaped. No, her lady had been taken. For Cassie knew once Serenamade up her mind to accept the Norman lord as her husband, she was not likelyto change. Cassie had seen the way Serena had looked at the Red Wolf, her eyesfollowing the powerful knight as he strode though the yard and lingering on hisbroad shoulders in the practice yard. Nay, Serena had been preparing for awedding, 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. Whywould he return home so soon? Most merchants would have ridden east to the richpurses in York before heading south. She had wondered at the time, and now sheagain puzzled over his going. The morning after Serena disappeared, her whitemare Elfleda was still in her stall. Serena would not have left behind thehorse 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 lostNorthumbria, now dwelled with him. Yea, it was possible he had taken her. AndCassie 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 nohorse of her own, Cassie decided to take Elfleda and ride south to search forSerena. She would not tell Sir Maurin, for if her thinking was correct, andEarl 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 simplebrown tunic before leaving for the stables, assured no one had seen her. Shewas hoping to slip out while Sir Maurin and the other Normans were occupied.

Once inside the stables, she set the small saddle onElfleda, and tightened the girth. The sound of soft footfalls in the dirt behindher caused her to turn. There, garbed in his green and brown clothing, stoodRhodri.

“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 youslip through the door, I was curious. I have been planning to go myself, as Iwas certain Serena would not have left without telling me. And I am obligatedto see to her welfare. I made my oath to her brother.”