Page 77 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

She was determined to see Steinar, even to help him if shecould, though she trembled, knowing it meant she defied her husband. Shedreaded the thought of Steinar falling victim to a Norman’s sword. Ever mindfulher husband might wield that sword, she feared all the more. And what ifSteinar or one of the Northumbrians killed the Red Wolf? She could not bear tolose the knight who owned her heart, the father of her unborn child.

By the time they drew close to York, Serena could smell theacrid smoke. From what they learned from fleeing villagers, the Normans setfires as they approached York. Like locusts, they had swept across thecountryside wreaking havoc in their path, intent on forcing the Northumbriansinto submission. All that was left behind were the burned out shells ofcottages.

On the morning of the third day, as she and Rhodri reachedthe outskirts of the city, she heard the sounds of clashing swords and shoutsof men. In the distance were the River Ouse and the buildings that comprisedYork.

Urging Serena into the trees, where she found a thick branchto sit upon, Rhodri followed and readied his bow.

“Take care not to be seen!” he whispered.

Serena flipped her plait over her shoulder and nocked anarrow. Before them lay a great open field where the Northumbrians were engagedin a fierce insurrection, the thegns and their warriors locked in a clash ofswords with the Normans, the latter having left their warhorses to fight theEnglish on foot. Serena’s ears filled with the sounds of men shouting and metalclanging against metal.

Pressed close together as each side struggled to prevail, itwould have been difficult to distinguish the individual warriors, except forthe Normans’ longer shields and the Northumbrians’ round shields, longer hairand beards.

She took in the scene, anxiously searching for a glimpse ofher brother and the Norman who wore the wolf’s pelt. One Northumbrian fellclose to where they hid in the trees as a Norman blade sliced through the fleshof his neck. Blood shot out of the victim, splashing onto his attacker. Shecould nearly taste it as the metallic odor wafted up to where she hid. Serena clampeddown her jaw, refusing to give into the compulsion to spew the contents of herstomach.

“There!” shouted Rhodri. “Do you see him? ’Tis Steinar.”

Her gaze followed Rhodri’s extended finger, straining to seethrough the cloud of men moving and shifting as their swords locked as theyattempted to block each other’s deadly blows. At last, she sighted his flaxenhair extending beneath his helm. Her heart seized in her chest.

Steinar stood on a slight rise, his sword already coveredwith blood, as he valiantly tried to fight off three Normans. He was so brave,this brother she loved. And yet so young.

Oh, Steinar, I pray you stay safe. I could not bear tolose you, too.

Quickly, she moved her bow into position. At least she couldeven the odds.

With a sudden whooshing sound, her arrow flew with lightningspeed to strike the shoulder of the man closest to Steinar. The arrow sunk deepinto his flesh and the Norman fell to the ground. With her second arrow, sheslayed the largest of the two remaining. Her heart soared as Steinar quicklydispatched the last one.

She fixed her gaze on her brother as he turned to faceanother Norman’s sword. Faster on his feet than larger men, her brother slashedagain and again at his enemy while adroitly dodging the blows meant for him.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a tallNorman wearing the pelt of the wolf on his shoulder.

Renaud!

He was magnificent in his mail and helm, his shield blockingblows as his strong sword cut a swath through the line of men who attacked him.The set of his jaw told her the undefeated warrior she had heard so much aboutwas here in all his glory.

A superb swordsman, he was ruthless and fast with his blade,powerful and lithe in his movements. As she had witnessed in the practice yard,he fought with panther-like grace slicing through the flesh of the men whoopposed him. For a moment she forgot it was Northumbrians he was slaying. Shethought only of her husband who wielded the sword.

At Renaud’s back was the bear-like knight Sir Alain,fighting with sword and shield. Men fell away from them at a terrible rate. Itwas no wonder some warriors avoided the Red Wolf, for his reputation was wellearned.

Nearby, Steinar slayed the knight he fought and, withoutwarning, turned and lashed out at Renaud. Seemingly stunned for a moment, theRed Wolf fought back, defending himself.

Serena swallowed, her teeth closing on her knuckles insuspense as fear gripped her, fear for the lives of the two men she loved mostin the world now locked in viscous combat. It could not be!

“Rhodri, do you see? Steinar and the Red Wolf!”

“Aye I see them, Serena. What would you have me do?”

Serena’s arrow was nocked and ready, but she was frozen,unable to move. Steinar’s blade sliced through the air, blocked by Renaud’ssword. Her brother…her Norman husband, she could not choose between them! Ifher love for Renaud had not been sure before, it was now.

“Naught, Rhodri. Do naught.” Serena’s heart shattered as shewatched the two men she loved lock swords again and again, Steinar attacking,Renaud defending. Was Renaud holding back? His thrusts seemed lessvigorous than before.

She lowered her bow. “I cannot shoot, Rhodri. I must not. Ilove them both!”

Rhodri sat back against the trunk of the tree, resting hisbow on his leg. “Then pray, my lady, and let God decide.”

And pray she did. Her gaze fixed on the battle ragingbetween them, she asked God to save them both.

Suddenly Steinar was drawn away by another Norman’schallenge. Renaud turned as a blow from a Norman knight struck his shield. TheRed Wolf stumbled and turned to confront the challenger, pausing as ifsurprised to see a fellow Norman wielding a blade against him.