Page 2 of The Red Wolf’s Prize

Renaud strode toward his approaching horse with Geoff closeon his heels. The woods had gone quiet, the jingling of their spurs on theice-crusted snow the only sound.

He paused as a thought came unbidden. Turning, he lookedpast Geoff to the dead animal lying in the snow. The full moon’s lightreflected off the white-blanketed earth revealing the copper tinge of thebeast’s fur. An unusual red wolf.

“What is it?” Geoff asked.

“Bring the wolf. I may have a use for its pelt. Mayhap’twill serve as a worthy reminder to any who cross me in the future. Their fatewill be the same.”

The wolf will hunt for the jewelhidden among the stones, and if he finds it, his cubs will advise kings forgenerations.

—Maugris’ vision during the crossing to England, September 1066

Chapter 1

The North of England, spring 1068

Serena contemplated her reflection in the small silveredglass.

Soon I will be another woman. Soon I will have anotherlife.

While she could not change her violet eyes or her curves ofa woman full grown, her flaxen hair was another matter. Undoing her long plait,she let the loose waves fall below her waist to shimmer in the early morningsunlight streaming into her bedchamber through the open shutters.

With a sigh, she lifted her hand to touch the gilded frameof the silvered glass. She could still hear her father’s voice when he told herhe had bought the extravagant gift from a Spanish merchant who claimed theMoors had made it. No one at Talisand had ever seen such a magnificent wonderbefore he brought it home to the manor. Tears came to her eyes as sheremembered the look on his face, the warm smile reflecting his love.

Her father had been her protector and teacher, a man ofgreat wisdom and a thegn dearly loved by his people. Deprived of his guidingpresence, and with her brother in Scotland, Serena was all too aware she aloneof her family was left at Talisand. Fear crept over her like a winter chill as sheremembered the messenger who had come with a writ from the Bastard King.

She was to become the bride of the new Norman lord ofTalisand.

Nay, I will not!

But how could she deny so fearsome a warrior as the knightthey called the Red Wolf?

Serena’s brow puckered in consternation. And what wouldbecome of the other women at Talisand? Would not the Norman conquerors claimthem as spoils? Peasants fleeing the advancing horde the year before had spokenof the knights’ villainy. Women were merely vessels to satisfy their lust.

Anger flared in her eyes staring back from the silveredglass. She would not have it! The young women of Talisand would not fall victimto the rampaging knights if she could help it.

But what choices were left? Some English women had taken theveil, but she was not suited to the cloistered life and that would not be achoice for the maidens at Talisand. But mayhap she could save the mostvulnerable.

The door opened and Cassie, her handmaiden, entered with hermother, Maggie.

“’Tis ready, m’lady,” said Maggie, handing Serena a leatherflask. “I have made ye the dye from walnuts.”

Serena accepted the flask and poured the dark liquid into abowl.

“’Tis a shame to dye such beautiful hair,” remarked Maggie.

“She must, Mother, if she is to look the part of a servant,”Cassie insisted. “’Tis nay just her speech and her clothes that make her standout. ’Tis her hair that tells all who she is—like a pale flame on a darknight.”

Maggie nodded, resigned. “Then oil yer hands and the skinaround yer face, m’lady, before ye apply the dye. It will make yer hair brownlike mine, but ye will have to add more as yer hair grows. And remember to keepyer hood up should it rain for water can make the dye run.”

“I will, Maggie, and thank you,” said Serena as she spreadthe oil on her face and hands.

Cassie oiled her own hands and began to work the dye intoSerena’s hair. “I know the messenger said ye were to be the new lord’s wife,but it might be well ye are leaving. The tales of the Normans’ brutality arefrightening. Ye must be safe.”

“To be sure,” echoed Maggie, “the Norman who comes isna aman yer father would have chosen for ye. Mayhap it will be easier for us toaccept his yoke, knowing ye and yer brother are beyond his grasp and safe in meown homeland.”

“I could not bear to take a Norman as husband,” Serena saidwith firm conviction. Cassie poured the last of the dye onto Serena’s head andshe let the dark liquid drip from the wet strands into the bowl. She was gladshe would not have to color her brows. Like her lashes, they were already dark.“It is not enough the Bastard from Normandy has taken my father and my country.Now he would give my family’s lands to one of his knights.”

“If the traveling cottars’ words be true,” offered Cassie,“the one who now claims Talisand is one who fought with the Bastard atHastings. He might even be the knight who slayed yer father, the thegn!”