Page 82 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

“We’ve done it before,” Geoff said to the healer. And thento Renaud, “With your permission, I’ll have the squires prepare one.”

“Yea, see it is done. And one for Steinar, should he live.”

“Aye,” Geoff said, and departed on his errand, leavingRenaud to stand vigil over his knight, whose deathlike visage caused him topray for Sir Maurin’s life.

“He sleeps?” Renaud asked the healer who was drying hishands on a cloth.

“Aye, I’ve given him a potion of hemlock, wormwood andhenbane mixed with ale. He will sleep like the dead until tomorrow. It willhelp him endure the pain.”

Renaud was familiar with the combination of herbs used toinduce sleep in those who would suffer much pain. Mayhap ’twas the samepotion given to Serena by Morcar.

“I may need more of your potion for our travel tomorrow,” hetold the healer. “He will have a litter but he will certainly be jostledabout.”

“Here is the rest of what I made,” the man said handing hima leather flask of liquid. “Take it; I have more. But try and feed him, brothat least, before you give him another drink of it.”

Renaud accepted the flask and handed it to Sir Maurin’ssquire who stood at the end of the table. “Guard this and your master well. Iwill send someone to relieve you in two hours.”

Anxious to return to his bride, Renaud stepped into the sunand rapidly covered the ground to the trees that sheltered his own tent.

* * *

Serena knelt at Steinar’s side, tears streaking down hercheeks. She could not stop them. He slept now, but for a time he had sufferedso much his shouts of agony had cut through her heart.

She had cleaned his leg as best she could while he grimacedand bit on a strip of leather, as sweat rolled off his face. Before the Normanhealer had begun his work, he gave Steinar a potion. But it did not take effectsoon enough. He set the bone and stitched the wound, all the while Steinarmoaned, valiantly bearing the pain. The leg now lay between wooden boardssecured tightly with wrappings of cloth.

Steinar had finally succumbed to the effects of the herbpotion, allowing Serena to relax a bit. The pain he bravely endured was morethan she could bear.

As he slept, she looked down at his face and thoughts of theyoung boy, her valiant protector, filled her mind. He had oft played with herat the river’s edge, teasing her with his friends. Yet if any boy harassed herovermuch, Steinar would rush to her defense. Steinar had always been herstaunch defender.

I cannot imagine life without you. You are the only onewho shares with me memories of being a child. You are all that is left of myfamily. The brother of my soul. Unable to quell her sobs, Serena pleadedwith God. I beg of you, spare his life.

Rhodri and Jamie shared the small space in Renaud’s tent,standing vigil over the man they both loved. Through her tears, she glanced upto see them. Jamie’s face still reflected despair. Rhodri was more stoical, hisemotions hidden beneath his calm exterior.

Once the healer left, she sat back, wiping her eyes. “Thereis no more to be done,” she told them. Weariness overcame her. She wiped herhair from her forehead with the back of her hand. “He is in God’s hands now.”

Jamie nodded, hope evident in his blue eyes. Rhodri saidnothing.

A shadow fell across the interior of the tent as the lightfrom the open flap at its entrance was blocked. She turned to see her husbandstepping across the threshold.

“How does he fare?” asked Renaud, coming to hover over her.

“The wound has been tended and the bone set. He sleeps nowbut he was in much pain for a while.”

“He’ll have a litter so he can travel with us on themorrow,” he assured her. Then kneeling by her side, he took her face in hishands. His gray eyes were filled with emotion and with something she’d not seenbefore. “I will do all I can to see that your brother is well again, Serena.”

“Thank you,” she said. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

With his thumbs he wiped away her tears and kissed herforehead.

She drew upon his strength and allowed him to hold her. Thenshe sat back and looked at him. “When Sir Geoffroi came to get Mathieu to helpbuild the litter, he told us of Sir Maurin. How is he? Cassie will bedistraught to learn he was hurt.”

“He’s been seen by a healer and the bleeding has beenstaunched. Now he sleeps. The healer gave him a potion, probably the same onegiven your brother.”

“Yea, the healer left some for Steinar,” she said. “It mustbe their remedy for all those gravely wounded.”

“So it would seem.” Turning to Rhodri and Jamie, he said,“Leave us.”

Without a word they departed.