Page 81 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

The king raised his eyes in recognition.

Renaud bowed. “Sire.”

“You are late, sir wolf, leaving us to wonder if you layamong the dead.” The king scrutinized Renaud, seemingly satisfied he had allhis parts. “We are glad you and Sir Geoffroi stand whole before us. Come, seeour map and hear our good news.”

Renaud and Geoff joined the knights gathered around thetable.

The king slapped his leg. “We have won! The thegns of Yorkhave surrendered in terror of our army and presented us with keys to the cityand hostages. Better still, Archil, the leading thegn, has offered us his sonas hostage.” The king straightened his shoulders. “What think you of that?”

“A victory, My King,” said Renaud. He exchanged a glancewith Geoff. Renaud’s only emotion was relief the rebellion in Northumbria wasover.

“We have told the thegns if they swear fealty to us, they willretain their holdings,” said William “but we are loathe to keep that promise.”The king shrugged as if dismissing the thought of something so mundane asbreaking his word. “Just now, we are choosing a site for our castle.”

Acknowledging the knights with a nod of his head, Renaudleaned over the map.

“We would have your opinion, Lord Talisand,” said William.

Renaud studied the drawing. York was an important city, thesecond in all of England after London, prosperous since Roman times. He lookedat the two rivers running through it. The “V” shaped area formed by theconfluence of the larger River Ouse and the smaller River Foss drew hisattention. “If you put it here,” he said, pointing to the area, you will haveall the water you need for a large moat as well as a good defensive position.”

“A worthy idea,” said William. “One that occurred to us onlymoments ago.”

Renaud smiled at his king. He had served William long enoughto know he never asked a question to which he did not already have an answer.“I am not surprised your judgment precedes mine, Sire.” The returning smile onhis king’s face told him William was content, both with the outcome at York andhis plans to leave his imprint on the city.

“My Lord,” said Richard FitzRichard, standing to the king’sright, “the creation of such a moat will require us to flood the whole of theCoppergate area. Over a hundred acres would be lost.”

“A necessary loss, for it will accomplish our purpose,” saidWilliam. “See to it, Fitz. We will leave you in charge with five hundred of ourknights as a garrison. We name Malet here,” he gestured to the stout manstanding on his other side, “Sheriff of Yorkshire to see to the peace.”

Renaud knew William Malet because both had been with Williamat Hastings. FitzRichard was another the king trusted. The decision to leavethem in charge of a place as significant as York did not surprise him.

“Any news of the leaders?” Renaud asked Malet.

“Edgar, the Saxon who would be king, and Cospatric haveescaped to Scotland, my lord. Morcar and Edwin, with their usual distaste forbattle, have sought the king’s pardon.”

Renaud turned his eyes on his king.

“And we have granted the brother earls their request,” saidWilliam, “though they will be closely watched since they are currently in our disfavor.Any sign of disloyalty and, by the splendor of God, we will have our revenge!”

Renaud said nothing, only nodded. What could he say? Williamwould suffer no rebellion without assuring it ended in a crushing defeat. AsSerena had reminded him, William had allowed his men to harry wherever theywould on their way to York and Renaud deeply regretted it.

A strange thing had happened once he claimed Talisand as hisown. No longer was he merely a knight following the orders of his sire. Thiswas now his country and the north was his home. He would not seeit ravaged if he could help it, not even to please his king.

As for Morcar, Renaud would have liked to deal with the earlhimself for his bold attempt to claim Serena, but that would have to awaitanother day.

He knew the English defeat at York would leave a bittertaste in the mouths of the Northumbrians. As at Exeter, there had been Englishamong the soldiers in William’s army, but that would matter little to theNorthumbrians who thought of Wessex as another land.

Renaud had a sense of foreboding as he thought of the briefbattle, followed by the Northumbrians’ quick capitulation. Many of them livedto fight another day, and Edgar was safely ensconced in Scotland should they beof a mind to engage in further rebellion on his behalf. But he did not remindhis sovereign of those facts. William would not have appreciated them.

Once the castle’s location had been agreed upon, and Renaudhad spoken with a few of his fellow knights, the king gave him leave to depart.

His last words to Renaud made him sigh. “We have a mind tovisit you and your lovely English bride before we return to London.”

“As you wish, Sire. We would welcome you at Talisand.” Hebowed and with Geoff at his side, departed, hastening to Sir Maurin’s tent. Hewas worried about Serena but first he had to see to the welfare of his knight.

The large man lay on a table in the middle of his tent, paleand unconscious. His black hair was still coated with blood from the battle andhis mail and tunic had been stripped from him. A blanket, thrown over his body,was pulled up to his chest.

Renaud raised a brow in question to the aged healer wholooked up from where he stood washing blood from his hands.

“If the fever does not claim him, my lord,” the old manadvised, “he will recover. The wound is not deep but it is long and requiredmany stitches. Now he needs rest. He should not try to walk for a sennight ormore. Can you take him home on a litter?