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"Rán can be a vixen. This should settle her." Uhtred spoke when he noticed his son's confusion. Young Uhtred glanced fearfully behind him where Lilith slept peacefully. Her head was cradled on Finan's lap as he stroked her hair, he and Sihtric were the only two who could control the beast within her. One taking the place of her father and the other being the only man she's ever loved romantically.

"Rán is pagan lies. I pity you for believing it." Young Uhtred says with bitterness and he watched her like a snake, even though she slept he couldn't help but feel like she would still attack if needed.

"Finan, give him something to do." Uhtred said as he finished dressing the wound. Finan faltered as he looked down at the woman he considered a daughter, he didn't want to wake her. His mental battle was answered when Sihtric volunteered to take his place, he narrowed his eyes in suspicion when the Dane looked far too happy with the idea.

But he wasn't one to go against Uhtred's orders, he gently moved her head as Sihtric slid in his place and watched as Sihtric gently moved her hair out of her face.

"Yes, lord." The men begin to groan in disgust when Finan grabbed the shit buckets. "Oh, God. Whoa. Hey! You can empty this!" He drops the bucket at the boy's feet as they all laugh. They go silent when Lilith moves, the last man that disturbed her sleep ends up with no tongue. They held their breath as she turned and nuzzled her face into Sihtric's stomach and the Dane had the gall to snicker at them.

Sihtric knew in secret that she would save Osferth in a heartbeat and as for Uhtred, well, she might hesitate a bit for him. But the rest of them didn't need to know that.

"Tell me the truth. Am I the bait?"

"For what?" Uhtred questioned as he nearly laughed at the fear his son had in the woman.

"In the plan, you are hiding from me. Am I the bait?"

"Nothing is hidden from you. We are tracking monks who have entry to Bebbanburg. You will befriend them, enter Bebbanburg, and open the sea gate to us." Uhtred claimed.

"I think you have another reason for dragging me into your revenge." Young Uhtred hissed.

"Yes, so you may win honor and reputation."

"The only reputation that matters is my standing with God." Young Uhtred claimed.

Sihtric watched the back-and-forth bickering while caressing his wife's cheek, he was still amazed no one had picked up on their relationship. Finan was convinced if anything it was only sexual and the others remained blind to them. Sihtric glanced down at the woman when she leaned into his palm for warmth, he grabbed his fur cloak and draped it over her body.

His wife would not bear the cold while he was near, especially not with the chance that their illicit affairs of public sex resulted in a baby.

"You cannot force a boy to be a warrior." Finan tells him with pity. He frowned softly as Sihtric watched Lilith sleep, he was concerned his friend had turned into a creep.

"My blood runs within his veins. Why can he not see that?" Uhtred mumbled sadly.

"Because your blood is that of a stubborn bastard."

"Who do you pray for, boy? Hm?" Uhtred shouted as he looked over at his son.

"The men you will slaughter. You seem to take things when you want them, when you do, show mercy."

"To my Uncle Aelfric, who spent a lifetime wishing me dead?" Uhtred questioned in disbelief.

"There is a power in forgiveness." His son claimed.

"Good. Then you may use it to forgive me." Uhtred said with a smile as they sat in silence.

As they docked their boat, Sihtric woke his wife by using her hair to tickle her nose. She wasn't amused but Sihtric seemed to think it was downright hilarious.

"So, where do we start?" Finan asked as he turned to walk backward. She watched with mischievous eyes as he looked to her, he faltered in his steps when he feared she might shove him into shit.

"Where do you look for monks in a place like this?" Uhtred said teasingly.

"St. Colman's?"

"The whorehouse!" Finan said as they all laughed.  She sent Sihtric a smile when he let his eyes linger on her, he was captivated by her.

"That's it. I'm staying on the boat." Young Uhtred said in annoyance.

"It's not safe for you to be alone this deep within Danelaw. Come." Uhtred said as he motioned for his son to follow. She wanted some ale as soon as possible and then she hoped the night would end with her and Sihtric humping in the nearest alley.

"Then I will pray for salvation."

"I will stay with him, keep us both safe. They do not love a priest in Grimesby." Beocca said softly.

"Thank you, Father." Uhtred said in passing as they entered the alehouse. The men inside murmur as the door thuds signaling customers.

"Grimesby seems like a lovely place." Finan said mockingly. She fought back a laugh when she noticed Sihtric looking at a man with defective eyes.

"I hear the oysters are delicious."

"Hm," They laugh and the inn goes silent. "Sihtric, don't make eye contact." She failed to hide her laugh and reached out to grab her husband's arm as she turned away.

"What's your business here?" A man asked with crossed arms.

"We're traders. We're taking pelts to Frankia." Uhtred said.

"Really?"

"Mm-hm." Uhtred said with a mocking smile.

"You keep the trouble out of my alehouse, agreed?"

"Hey, we're just hungry for some food, nothing more." Finan said innocently.

"And do you have women? He needs a woman." Uhtred said as nodded his head to Osferth, the monk sighed and dropped his head.

"We're not that sort of alehouse."

"Finan." Uhtred spoke and Finan held out a pouch that the man took without hesitation.