Read Online The Red Wolf's Prize by Regan Walker - Free Book Online Page B

could use the practice. But I plan to watch,
too. I am interested to see how the shorter bows the Welshman fashioned for the
women fare against the longer ones. It will also allow us to judge how many of
the Englishmen can be considered candidates to join my archers.”
    “’Tis a grand idea, Ren. It will be a welcome diversion and
may serve to provide some entertainment for the people.”
     
    * * *
     
    The next day, Serena stood with Cassie at the gate watching
as the Red Wolf’s men posted three targets outside the palisade and marked out
a line with flags, indicating the place from which the archers would shoot.
Normally such a sight would cause her to feel great excitement, but instead she
was wary. The Red Wolf had invited all at Talisand to participate, giving
notice there would be rewards for those scoring the highest points. What was
his purpose?
    “Will ye join in the contest?” Cassie asked, holding her
hand over her eyes to shelter her gaze from the midday sun. “Ye could best any
of the Red Wolf’s men. Ye know ye could. Ye are even better than Leppe and he
is the best.”
    “Lady Serena may shoot well, but she is not here, Cassie.
Remember? I will encourage Leppe to compete, but I am thinking Sarah is only a
fair shot. After all, Sir Geoffroi thought I missed my target when I sent that
arrow into the mercenary’s arm. No, the servant Sarah will pose no threat to
the Red Wolf’s men or their display of skill. Yea, I will participate.”
    A grin spread across Cassie’s face, a younger version of her
mother’s with the same green eyes save they were framed by her father’s red
hair. “Ye’re a devious one, Sarah.”
    “Mayhap I am,” Serena said with a faint smile. “But in this
case I must act consistent with my disguise, else I be discovered.”
    Cassie told Serena that a score and one had entered their
names in the archery tournament: fifteen of the Red Wolf’s men, including the
Norman lord himself, and six from Talisand: Leppe, Theodric, Alec and three
women. Rhodri had taught many more but, regrettably, only the six had the
skills necessary to compete.
    As the match began, Serena felt a slight wind stirring wisps
of her hair, but it was naught a skilled archer would fail to consider.
    The first round included Cassie, Theodric, and Sir Maurin,
who Cassie had bragged was a skilled archer.
    Theodric went first, his shot hitting at the edge of the red
center. Serena smiled, pleased to see him do well. Cassie went next. Her arrow,
though close, fell short of the target’s center. Serena thought her
handmaiden’s anxious looks at Sir Maurin might have thrown off her aim.
Finally, Sir Maurin stepped to the line, his weathered face void of emotion as
he studied the wind moving in the trees. Then, with a confident look, he let
his arrow fly, the shot piercing the red center. Many “Ahs” were heard from the
crowd, but the people of Talisand who crowded around did not smile as they had
for Theodric.
    The next round matched Alec and a woman from Talisand
against the Red Wolf. Serena’s eyes fixed on the proud Norman knight as he
sauntered to the line. Pulling back on the arrow as if ’twere nothing, he sent
the shaft soaring. It hit dead center with a loud thwack. The crowd let out a
sigh. Unfortunately, the Talisand archers, who followed the Red Wolf, were
unable to sink their arrows into the center of the target.
    Other rounds followed. In his round, Leppe’s arrow found
dead center, and Serena silently cheered. He had always been the best of
Talisand’s archers taught by Rhodri, save possibly for herself, but she had
practiced much.
    The Norman archers who followed did well, some consistently
hitting the target.
    When it came time for her to shoot, Serena stepped to the
line. She nocked the arrow and focused her eyes on the target, her stance sure.
The crowd grew quiet as the villagers waited to see what their lady would do.
She worried over their reaction and what it might reveal. She had