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"I think she may have got herself inside his head. He should kill her and be done with it." Finan spoke, Gene watched the seer carefully as she passed by. She knew that she and Sihtric would have to do a protection spell soon, for Uhtred and her children.

"That will not kill the curse." Sihtric answered looking at Gene for approval and smiled happily when she gave it.

"There is no curse." Osferth replies and glances at the two.

"And if I say there is no Christian God, does it make it so?" Sihtric asked making her laugh.

"There is no curse, Sihtric."

"You do not know of what I can do then, baby monk." Gene said with a grin when Osferth frowned at his nickname.

"I have seen women throw a curse and the next day a man is dead." Sihtric looked over at her as he said it, the death of her brothers still wasn't something she spoke often about.

"Right, that is enough talking. To speak of it makes it stronger." Finan said leaning over to look at both men pointedly. They rode in silence the rest of the way, they entered the hall with Alfred to discuss where to go from that moment.

Gene leaned against the wall watching Uhtred look at Alfred, she truly wished Wessex would fall so Uhtred could rebuild it.

"Uhtred, we're discussing strategy and I have decided we shall remain here within the burh, and wait." Of course, he would.

"For what?" Gene asked.

"For Bloodhair to attack."

"What makes you believe he will attack?" Uhtred asks and looks to Gene who smiles.

"Is that not what Danes do, Uhtred? They cannot help themselves." Edward questions.

"Why should he not attack? I am here." Gene rolled her eyes and sat next to Finan.

"You are here and so too is your guard. Why throw men against the walls of a burh when Winchester's riches are unprotected?" Uhtred stated.

"Would he do that?" Edward asked the two men.

"He doesn't have a large army to hold Winchester." Beocca states.

"What if Hæsten were to join him?"

"Hæsten cannot be trusted, lord." Gene says mockingly and Alfred glares at her.

"You're saying we should have stayed home?" Aethelwold questions and pats her arm before quickly yanking his hand back when she goes to bite him.

"If you believe the burhs advantage dismissed, you must have an alternative?" A young man says Gene thinks he would look nice with his head severed from his body.

"I don't know you." Uhtred turns to look at him.

"I am Sigebriht, son of Sigelf. It is my village that the heathen burn, my father built these walls."

"And he built them well, Sigebriht. Which is why Bloodhair will not attack, he will not want to lose men." Uhtred informs.

"Not even to kill a king?" Alfred asks.

"Perhaps I should kill you first and be done with it." Gene threatens and grins when Alfred grows stone-faced.

"He will wait for us to starve or he will pass, lord. He will not attack but we must, that is still my advice." Uhtred speaks gaining the king's attention.

"If Winchester is vulnerable lord—" Beocca is cut off by the king.

"This woman that you have taken, why is she here?" Alfred asks.

"She has value."

"And Sigurd will want her back? I refuse to call him Bloodhair." Alfred said with a blank look.

"He will." Gene answers.

"She is what to him? A wife? A lover?" Aethelwold questions looking around.

"She's a seer, sorceress." Uhtred answers hesitantly, Alfred looks over at Gene with a scowl before turning to his son.

"Hmm. The simple mind of a dane believes in signs, Edward. If a bird flew from their camp to ours they see it as a sign and follow. They would march into battle all because a seer, such as Genevieve, caught sight of a bird." Gene clicked her tongue in aggravation and was going to speak her mind when Finan nudged her side.

"Do not speak a word." He whispered in warning, she huffed and shot him a betrayed look.

"Yes, lord. It can happen that way."

"Then it follows that without his seer, there can be no signs. Sigurd is blind, there can be no battle." Alfred says looking at Uhtred.

"You are both right and wrong."

"We wait, Uhtred. Now..." He trails off as he and his men stand. "I wish to look at her. Skade." Uhtred turns to Gene and Finan with an empty look before grabbing a torch and leading the king to the witch. Finan leads her to Sihtric and Osferth who stand by the fire, Sihtric swoops in for a kiss and she smiles against his lips. She couldn't get enough of the man and his new look didn't help, hence the third child.

"What are they doing?"

"Alfred said he'd like to hump the witch. No word of a lie." Gene smirks at the motion Finan makes as they watch the king and Uhtred walk into the witch's cage.

"She's a cunt. I hope Uhtred allows me to slit her throat." She mumbled against Sihtric's shoulder.

"Bloodhair! Come for me, avenge me, free me! I demand it! Bloodhair!" Skade shouts from where she is currently chained to, thanks to Uhtred.

"When can we bind her mouth shut?" Sihtric asked. He sighs and leans his head on her own.

"Die for me! Desire me!" Skade shouts in the distance. Gene laughs at Finan who glances at whoever talks with absolutely no thoughts in his head.

"Let her sing." Uhtred says.

"That is not singing." Osferth said with a smile and crossed his arms.

"Lord Uhtred, you are allowing that woman to wail all night long?" Sigebriht asked.

"For a little while longer, yes." Aethelwold walked up to them making her even more peeved.

"Here is a bit of loose talk for you. Sigebriht here, son of whoever would like to rip the innards from young Edwards's belly. Would you like to know why?" Aethelwold asks, Gene looks up at Sihtric with a blank look.

"No, you cannot kill him." Sihtric whispers in her ear, she sulks as he pulls her into his arms.

"Um...no." Uhtred said.

"I'll tell you. Edward the non-bastard son of Alfred," He says pointing at Osferth. "Has whelped twins on the girl whom Sigebriht did love."

"How many times must I say this, Sihtric and I are both bastards too. Leave Osferth alone before I make you." Gene threatened and felt Osferth place a hand on her arm lightly. He didn't like it when she defended him.

"And does Sigebriht still love this girl?" Osferth questioned, as Aethelwold walked to the fire and warmed his hands, Sihtric rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"Can someone not just cut her throat?" Aethelwold asks speaking of Skade.

"Why are you telling me this? It's of no concern to me." Uhtred sighs.

"They will make it your concern, Uhtred. They will find a way and Edward shall become your charge. You're a kingmaker, my friend. And Alfred knows it."

"Lord, it is Bloodhair! He has hostages!" Sihtric shouts the following morning as she and Uhtred walk around the burh.

"Every man to the walls, every sword and spear must be ready!" Uhtred orders as he alerts everyone. "Osferth, prepare to open the gates. Finan and Gene, with me." The two nod.

"Uhtred, what is it?" Beocca asks as he and Alfred's group walk to them.

"Who is it?"

"Bloodhair, with hostages." Uhtred informs.

"He wishes to negotiate?" Alfred asks.

"Possibly!" Uhtred shouts as he retrieves Skade from her cage and shoves her into Gene's hands.

"Osferth, the gates. Steapa, be ready!" Finan rushes out before Uhtred. Gene follows behind with Skade and the torturous things she could do to the seer.

"They are killing women, lord."

"The gates! Earl Sigurd kill one more hostage and I shall let every man here see her nakedness and then I shall spill her guts. Just one more!" Uhtred demands as Gene holds Skade roughly. Bloodhair pales at the sight of Uhtred's seer.

"Do it, lord! I'll see you in the next life." Skade shouted to him. Kill them all! Attack!" Gene grabs her by the throat tightly and lets Uhtred punch Skade in the stomach, the woman groans in pain. "Bloodhair, kill them now! Attack now!"

"What's your answer? I have a mind to kill her. She tires me."

"He cannot do it, lord. He's cursed!" Skade screams out. Gene choked her for a moment before shoving Skade to the ground and kicking her.

"You will not harm her again!" Bloodhair shouts in anger.

"The price has risen. You will not only spare the hostages, you will free them and send them across to the burh." Uhtred demands with an air of superiority.

"What I'll do is feed you your own cock and take your seer with us," He said looking at Gene who held a blade to Skade's neck. "Release her."

"You have until sunset to free the hostages, or each man in this fortress will take his turn." Uhtred threatens. "And I would like to see you try, my seer is favored by the Gods. Can yours say the same?" Uhtred taunts.

"You will not see Valhalla Uhtred Ragnarsson! I swear it!" Bloodhair screams out. Finan walks backward with his arms spread out mockingly as Gene pulls at Skade's hair harshly.