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"And we will do what, hide?" Aethelflæd asked looking at them, Revna stood between Finan and Sihtric. The three were itching for a fight but Uhtred had other plans it seemed.

"We will make an advantage out of this abbess, the hostages are dead men breathing. You cannot save them what we must do now is save the lives of your nuns and my men." Uhtred said looking her way.

"And Aethelflæd." Osferth said.

"Abbess?"

"Aye."

"I will do it." Another woman says.

"No, no this is my house. It's my responsibility, I will do it." Abbess says and walks outside.

"It is Hæsten, with no more than forty men, that I can see." Uhtred told them and Revna was beginning to hate the Danes.

"Then let us fight them." Finan begged the lord and looked at Revna who shot him a grin.

"No, wait." Uhtred ordered as Aethelflæd gasped at whatever she witnessed outside.

"Lord, now?" Finan asked.

"We do nothing yet." Uhtred demands. Finan and Sihtric share a look, Revna nudged Finan with a frown as Sihtric fidgets with his sword ready for a fight. They wait for Hæsten to open the door before attacking. Revna used her weapon of choice to slit the throats of men and kicked them to the ground as she bashed in their heads as she yelled with fury. Hæsten and his remaining men ran leaving a handful of men dead, Revna used her sleeve to wipe some of the blood from her face.

"We are trapped." Aethelflæd said and looked fearfully her way.

"We're alive and they are twelve or thirteen men less." Uhtred told the princess, Finan, and Sihtric walked to Revna and she thanked her brother who helped her wipe away the remaining blood.

"But we are trapped under a wooden roof."

"What do you suggest then, lady? That you give yourself over?" Finan said as he reached to place a hand on Revna's arm. Revna raised an eyebrow at the Irishman but leaned into the touch.

"Yes, Hæsten's right. Why should I live when so many others have died." The princess said looking at them with a frown.

"Hæsten has never spoken the truth in his life. Do not say as much again, never of those men have died for no reason." Uhtred demanded walking to her. Once night falls she sees the light from Hæsten's torches and the shouts of the men following orders.

"All doors have been blocked on the outside apart from that one." Finan says as he walks back into the room.

"Will they set a fire?"

"No, not yet. He will want you alive." Uhtred answered looking lost in thought.

"So we should fight, lord. We should open the doors and fight." Finan claimed and Revna nodded in agreement.

"And die." Osferth added making her crack a smile.

"It's as good a plan as any." Skade stands next to Finan as he speaks and Revna doesn't like how close she is to him. She shoved the seer out of the way making the blonde stumble from the unexpected action, Revna leaned against the frame with her arms crossed and relaxed when Finan leaned into her unconsciously. Revna chose to ignore Sihtric's smirk and Osferth's knowing smile.

"Osferth, you'll open the door on my word and retreat. We form a shield wall and then we negotiate." Uhtred ordered.

"Negotiate?" Sihtric asked with a scoff. Revna frowned at the plan and turned to Finan who shrugged.

"Hæsten will want his prize, to the door," Uhtred says as he moves to Skade. "If you truly belong to me you will do as I ask. In return, I will not abandon you. I will come for you." Skade looks over at Aethelflæd who is already watching them.

"You're choosing her over me?" Skade asked making Revna smirk.

"I am keeping us alive." Uhtred stated.

"By making me a prize?"

"I will not abandon you," Uhtred pulled her close to whisper into her ear, Revna was glad she didn't hear whatever he had promised.

"You shall remain cursed until your word is made true. Your life shall wither, Uhtred until you find me." Skade announced with a glare.

"And I will find you, shield wall, ready. Lift the bar and open the door, move!" They open the door at Uhtred's command. Finan peaks his head out from the shields.

"I count a few more than thirty of the bastards." Finan said as he looked at Uhtred.

"Fight Hæsten and you will lose men, many men. I guarantee it." Uhtred shouted.

"I have many men."

"But you have just the one life and I plan to take it." Finan threatened and Revna laughed at him and lightly smacked his arm making the man grin.

"Move out."

"I will not leave without her, Uhtred. I may lose many men but you will lose everything and the bitch will still be mine." Hæsten declared.

"Then take her because that is what you will have to do or we can strike a bargain. One woman in place of another." Uhtred said with boredom.

"I am in no need of a nun. Who is this woman?"

"Skade, the seer." Uhtred shouts as she walks forward to be seen. "Finan," The man opened the wall and watched her cautiously. "She's yours! In return, you and your men ride clear of this place and do not return."

"She is not yours to give. She belongs to Bloodhair." Hæsten said with a scowl.

"I belong to the man I choose. The man who has the will to lead, to conquer. Bloodhair is not that man." Skade said and looked at Revna with a smirk as she leaned unnecessarily close to Finan, Uhtred quickly grabbed Revna's arm to stop her from attacking the seer and ruining the plan. The man shot her a warning look that Revna scowled at and narrowed her eyes at Skade who now leaned back agonist Sihtric.

The bitch was about to die.

Uhtred looked at Skade with a pleading expression making the seer sigh and stop her games, for now.

"She has sent Alfred's death and in battle, her man will benefit from that death greatly." Uhtred stated as he refused to let go of Revna.

"Is that true?"

"It's true." Skade answered.

"May I approach?" Hæsten slowly walks up the stairs as Finan turns to Uhtred.

"Uhtred, you cannot bargain with this sack of chicken shit." Finan said unaware of why Uhtred was holding back Revna, he looked at them with confusion.

"You're close enough, lord. If a bargain is made I will not be handed over like you would a whore. I will walk to my new lord and should either man go back on his word, I shall see he is tormented till the end, I swear." Skade announced to them.

"Do we have an agreement? Skade in place of Aethelflæd?"

"Agreed, the seer is mine." Hæsten said.

"Then step back and she will walk to you and then you leave."

"I will." Hæsten said.

"And you are cursed once more Uhtred of Bebbanburg, you shall wither." Skade says with cold eyes.

"Go, open. Let her pass." Skade walks to Hæsten.

"This does not mean the princess is forgiven, Uhtred. She is safe for now, no more than that." Hæsten announced with smugness.

"Leave, go." Skade looks at Uhtred with a glare and Sihtric turns to him with worry.

"Your life is not your own, lord." Sihtric spoke softly and looked to Revan who looked just as worried.