Page 60 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

“Mayhap they do speak the truth,” offered Sir Geoffroi fromwhere he rode next to Rhodri.

The Red Wolf huffed, and turned back to Serena. Beneath hisanger she saw a weariness she had not observed before. Likely, he had notrested when he returned to Talisand.

“Go on then, out with the rest of your story,” he said,appearing resigned to hearing it.

“I will tell you if you promise not to take revenge on theone who took me.”

“And why should I make such a promise, my lady? If, indeed,you were taken against your will, and Sir Hugue had a hand in it, such a crimewould be deserving of the severest punishment.”

She knew he meant death. But Serena could not let him killMorcar and his brother. “Because the ones who took me were of my own people andbelieved they acted in accordance with my wishes and my father’s.”

“I will shelter no traitors at Talisand!” the Red Wolfdeclared.

“I know of none, my lord.” But even as she said the words,Aethel’s face came unbidden to her mind. Still she could not think of the herbwoman as a traitor. Instead, she was sorry for what the woman’s life hadbecome. “Tell me you will not take revenge and I will tell you from whom Iescaped only this morning.”

“Did he touch you?” the Red Wolf asked, his gray eyesclouded, his voice stern. “That I could never forgive no matter his motive.”

“Nay, he did not. He intended to wed me and that is why Ileft, and why I must ask for your word that you will not seek to harm him. Hewas a friend of my father.”

The Red Wolf stared at her as if weighing her request.Finally, he said, “You have my word. Now tell me, who would dare steal from theRed Wolf? Tell me, and I will decide if you can be believed.”

Knowing him to be a man of honor, Serena trusted him not toseek vengeance for her disappearance. “’Twas Earl Morcar.”

The Red Wolf’s frown deepened. “…the English earl?”

“Aye. When my father still lived, the earl asked for my hand.Morcar believed he was doing what my father wanted. What I wanted.”

“It matters little.”

“I suppose you are right, and anyway, there was no contract.But Morcar had spoken to my father and had hoped one would follow.” She lookedinto the Red Wolf’s gray eyes. The anger she had seen only moments beforeseemed to soften. “He could not have known that I wished to wed a Norman, thatmy heart had changed. And I did not tell him. He would not have believed me anymore than you do. Instead, I sought to escape and return to Talisand.”

“You are practiced at escape, my lady.” The Red Wolf’s gazelowered to her lips, still stained, she knew, with the juice of the redberries. “Mayhap I believe you,” he said. “Or mayhap I merely want to. How wereyou taken from Talisand?”

“I know not, though I suspect Sir Hugue played a role. Henow serves Morcar. I went to sleep in my chamber and awoke in another, one Icame to learn was in Earl Edwin’s manor in Mercia.”

“Earl Edwin had a part in this treachery?” he asked with alook of surprise.

“You must understand,” she said, trying to convince him ofthe truth. “The earls feel betrayed by your Norman duke who would be England’sking. He demanded their fealty and then broke his promises, taking his daughterfrom Edwin and Northumbria from Morcar. Then, as if that were not enough, hebuilt castles on the Welsh border of Mercia and gave his abbot control oversome of Mercia’s shires.” Looking directly at the Red Wolf, she said, “It seemsyour king does not keep his word, my lord.”

“Enough of this!” he shouted. “I’ll not listen to youcriticize William and defend the English who defy him. The king has had enoughof such treachery.” Then looking away, he added, “After Exeter, he will show nomercy.”

Ignoring his disparagement of her people, she asked, “Didall those you took with you to Exeter return?” She had to know if any had beenlost. She could not bear to see any killed, particularly not Jamie.

“They did.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. Despite his anger andmistrust, Serena was comforted by his presence and glad he had found her,especially with Cassie bleeding from a knife wound. She needed the Red Wolf’sstrength. Although she trusted him, she had purposely not spoken of Morcar’sintention to travel to York. It might only draw the Red Wolf into what couldbecome another battle, this time one involving her brother.

Trying to appease his lingering anger, she said, “Thank you,my lord. I was worried about Jamie especially.”

From behind her, Sir Geoffroi said, “You have his lordship tothank for the lad’s health, my lady. He took an arrow for the boy.”

Alarmed, Serena turned to face the Red Wolf. “You arewounded?”

“Yea,” he said looking down at his left arm, “but notgrievously.”

She could see no bandage but she remembered his wince whenhe mounted his stallion, and he now held the reins in his right hand. “Youprotected the lad. And you have spared me the wrath of Sir Hugue. For both, Iam most grateful.”

“What about the mercenary?” he inquired. “You cannot tell meit was chance he encountered you and the others in the woods.”