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Uhtred shot Sihtric a warning look and Twyla bursted out laughing! After a while Finan appeared from behind the wooden wall, Osferth climbed out of his hiding spot and the two children plus young Uhtred, re-entered the hall! Stiorra proudly smiled at Uhtred and Finan pulled her into a side hug!
~~~~~~

Uhtred:"Sihtric, don't you ever scare me like that again, you hear?...(*Sihtric laughed whilst nodding*)...and the rest of you? Do you have anything to say about your plan?"
Osferth:(*he raised an eyebrow*)"Our plan? More like Twyla's and Stiorra's plan!...(*Uhtred looked at his daughter*)...the two of them led Cenric and his guards astray!"
Twyla:"If we hadn't done that, those bastards would now have Ælfwynn and Edward would thus have what he wanted!...(*Stiorra nodded*)...you could be a little more grateful!"
Sihtric:(*he kissed his daughters forehead*)"Believe me, Uhtred is very grateful to you!...(*Twyla looked up to her father*)...I am proud of you, my angel!"

~~~~~~
Twyla widely smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his waist! He smiled back and rested his head on hers, whilst she snuggled against his chest! Stiorra smiled at them, before walking towards the table and sat down on one of the chairs! Twyla looked at Uhtred, who paced back and forth...he made up a plan! After a while they all saddled and readied their horses and rode off...Æthelflæd and Aldhelm in remained Aylesbury but they should meet Uhtred and the others in Ceaster! Uhtred's small group plus the children rode off towards Ceaster! When they reached it, Uhtred looked around for Æthelflæd and Aldhelm, but they weren't there! Suddenly a woman came riding towards Uhtred and the others and Sihtric immediately grabbed the hilt of his axe...
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Sihtric:"Lord, there's someone we don't know!...(*Uhtred turned his head*)...do you think she was sent by Æthelflæd?"
Uhtred:(*he shrugged his shoulders*)"Who are you? And how did you find us?...(*Eadith lifted her head*)...did Æthelflæd send you?"
Eadith:"Yes, Æthelflæd has sent me!...(*Finan looked at Osferth*)...she told me to tell you to meet her at St Milbury's Priory! I'm Eadith by the way!"
Finan:(*he sighed*)"Uhtred, we've ridden through that!...(*Uhtred lowered his head*)...we should move on!"
Uhtred:"Finan, Æthelflæd wants to see her daughter and keep her safe! We ride back to St. Milbury's Priory!...(*Sihtric looked at Finan*)...and we won't keep the Lady of Mercia waiting any longer!"
Sihtric:(*he cleared his throat*)"Tell that to the children we have with us!...(*Uhtred turned his head*)...they're really slowing us down!"
Uhtred:"Eadith, are you good with children?...(*Eadith shook her head*)...exzellent, neither are we!"

~~~~~~
They laughed and then rode off towards St. Milbury's Priory! On their way they crossed a closed road with bodies grotesquely posted! The ‚sickness' was upon them and Finan was the first to be frightened! Sihtric, Osferth, Uhtred and Eadith watched as Finan nearly lost his mind! Uhtred even grinned a little bit, but soon grew serious again, when he remembered that Æthelflæd was probably waiting for them!
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Uhtred:"We get off the horses here and continue on foot!...(*Finan's face dropped*)...while staying off the roads that might be contaminated by the sickness!"
Finan:(*he trembled*)"Lord, I have seen men killed by this sickness!...(*Uhtred sighed*)...I don't want to suffer the same fate..."
Sihtric:"You're about to suffer the fate of my axe if you don't shut your mouth now!...(*Finan turned around*)...you'd better put the boy on your shoulders and start walking!"
Twyla:(*she looked at Uhtred*)"What if Æthelflæd is already at St. Milbury's Priory?...(*Uhtred shrugged his shoulders*)...she'll wait for us in vain and put herself in danger of contracting the sickness, and all because we're standing around like scared rabbits!"
Stiorra:"The point goes to my best friend!...(*Twyla laughed*)...so father what's the plan?"

~~~~~~
Uhtred lowered his head before he turned his head to Stiorra and explained the plan! Meanwhile: Æthelflæd and Aldhelm reached St. Milbury's Priory and looked around for Uhtred and the others! After they realised, that they were probably near Ceaster, they rode off soon after they saw a group of people walking towards Aylesbury! A woman told Æthelflæd, that the sickness was near and Aldhelm wanted her to be safe and advised her, to travel with the woman and the others of this group! Æthelflæd shook her head...she just wanted to see her daughter and Uhtred! Meanwhile: Uhtred and the others reached St. Milbury's Priory and saw, that Æthelflæd and Aldhelm weren't there! After a while he accepted, that Æthelflæd has gone ahead and so they too, left and ran on...
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Finan:"Lord, we should take a break! The children are exhausted!...(*Uhtred sighed but nodded*)...here is a good place to stay overnight!"
Uhtred:(*he looked around*)"At the first rays of sunshine, we move on!...(*Finan nodded*)...tell Sihtric to keep the first vigil! You'll relieve him halfway through, okay?"
Finan:"Agreed! Sit with your son for a bit and talk to him!...(*Uhtred lowered his head*)...he stayed and told you he would follow you as we did...that's a good start, Uhtred!"
Uhtred:(*he lifted his head*)"You're right! I'll join him in a minute!...(*Finan smiled*)...and now go to Sihtric!"

~~~~~~
Finan nodded and turned around! Sihtric lifted his head, when he heard footsteps and shot Finan a questioning look! Finan sat down besides him and told him, that he should keep the first vigil! Sihtric sighed but nodded and then looked at Twyla! She was talking to Stiorra and after a while she stood up and walked over to Eadith! Eadith lifted her head and widely smiled at her! Twyla smiled back and soon addressed Eadith...
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Twyla:"It's great that you are now travelling with us!...(*Eadith nodded*)...I love your hair! And I love that you don't know anything about children any more than we do!"
Eadith:(*she laughed*)"Thank you for the compliment! Your hair is really beautiful too!...(*Twyla smiled*)...at least the children are cute! You are Sihtric's daughter, am I right?"
Twyla:"Yes, I am Sihtric's daughter!...(*Eadith looked at Sihtric*)...where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?"
Eadith:(*she scratched her head*)"I am from Frankia!...(*Twyla's eyes widened*)...and my brother is probably on his way to find Ælfwynn right now..."
Twyla:"You think so? If so, you should definitely tell Uhtred!...(*Eadith sighed but nodded*)...we should probably take a different route tomorrow!"

~~~~~~
They laughed and Eadith soon walked towards Uhtred! She lay down and turned her head, so that she could face him! He looked at her and smiled...she smiled back! After a while she broke the silence and first asked something about Finan! Uhtred just laughed and enjoyed hearing questions about his men...
~~~~~~

Eadith:"I quickly understood who Sihtric is! But who Finan and Osferth are, I somehow can't tell them apart!...(*Uhtred laughed*)...both believe in God, don't they?"
Uhtred:(*nodded*)"Yes, they both believe in God!...(*Eadith looked at the two of them*)...the one with the brown hair, that's Finan and the one with the blond hair, that's Osferth!"
Eadith:"Now everything makes sense!...(*they laughed*)...thanks for the clarification, Uhtred!"
Uhtred:(*he smiled at her*)"You're welcome!...(*Eadith sighed*)...but that's not the only thing that's been bothering you, is it?"
Eadith:"No! My brother Eardwulf, is probably on his way to find Ælfwynn!...(*Uhtred's eyes widened*)...Twyla said that we should probably take a different route tomorrow!"
Uhtred:(*nodded*)"That seems like a good idea to me!...(*he sighed*)...how do you know you were talking to Twyla and not Stiorra?"
Eadith:"I saw Twyla talking to Sihtric and he said her name at least 5 times!...(*they laughed again*)...the two are a cute father-daughter duo!"

~~~~~~
Uhtred nodded and looked at Twyla! She was currently braiding Ælfwynn's hair and Osferth gave Ælfwynn something to cure her coughing! Uhtred could see it in Twyla's face: she was afraid, that Ælfwynn picked up the sickness! The next morning: Finan woke everyone up and they soon ran on! They passed another little river and currently walked through the forest! When they left the forest, they were walking on a kind of dirt road and noticed that horses were following them! Eadith and Twyla turned their heads to see, that it was Eardwulf and his men, who were following them...
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Eadith:"Uhtred, this is my brother! He has found us!...(*Uhtred's eyes widened*)...what do we do now?"
Uhtred:(*he thought briefly*)"How about: run?!...(*Eadith nodded*)...we're running away from these bastards now, everybody got that?!"
Twyla:"Uhtred, I'm afraid Ælfwynn can't run that fast!...(*Uhtred turned his head*)...she coughs more than last night!"
Finan:(*fear rose inside him*)"Do you think the sickness got her?...(*Twyla shrugged her shoulders*)...if so, Æthelflæd will skin us..."
Sihtric:"Your paranoia is getting on my nerves, Finan!...(*Finan shot Sihtric a dirty look*)...just run on and worry about it some other time!"
Stiorra:(*she suddenly stopped in her tracks*)"Sihtric, why are you telling Finan to keep running when you just suddenly stop?!...(*Sihtric pointed at bodies in a lake*)...forget what I said...I take it back!"

~~~~~~
Finan, Uhtred and Osferth shot the two of them a questioning look, before Sihtric stepped away from the lake and the three of them also saw the bodies! Finan's face turned pale and he immediately made the cross and looked at Osferth! He swallowed and stepped back, so that his back touched Twyla's hands! She placed them on his shoulders and pulled him closer to herself...he relaxed into her touch and turned his head, so that he could smile at her! Uhtred pulled Finan and Sihtric away from the lake and motioned to another dirt road! The small group ran on, but were soon caught up by Eardwulf! Eadith swallowed and Ælfwynn hugged her tight! Uhtred, Sihtric, Finan and Osferth grabbed the hilts of their weapons and readied themselves for a possible fight! Stiorra, Twyla, young Uhtred and Æthelstan looked at Eaedwulf and his men and hoped, that they won't start a fight...
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