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"And we will do what, hide?"

"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 told the abbess.

"And Aethelflæd." Osferth added.

"Abbess?"

"Aye." The Abbess said.

"I will do it." A woman said.

"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."

"Then let us fight them." Finan said as he nudged Gene on the arm knowing she wanted to kill some Danes.

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

"Lord, now?"

"We do nothing yet." Uhtred demands. Finan and Sihtric share a look, Sihtric pulls Gene against him as he fidgets with his sword ready for a fight, Gene smiles at him softly. They wait for Hæsten to open the door before attacking. Hæsten and his remaining men run.

"We are trapped."

"We're alive and they are twelve or thirteen men less." Uhtred said.

"But we are trapped under a wooden roof."

"What do you suggest then, lady? That you give yourself over?" Finan snapped and looked at Gene and her children with worry.

"Yes, Hæsten's right. Why should I live when so many others have died."

"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 scowled at the idea and moved to play with Eithne's hair in thought.

"All doors have been blocked on the outside apart from that one." Finan informed them. Gene was propped against Sihtric's chest as their kids sat at the table watching.

"Will they set a fire?"

"No, not yet. He will want you alive." Uhtred said and looked at Gene, she nodded.

"So we should fight, lord. We should open the doors and fight."

"And die." Osferth said making her laugh at his seriousness.

"We will not die, Osferth." She assured the monk.

"It's as good a plan as any." Skade stands next to Finan as he speaks.

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

"Negotiate?" Sihtric scoffed and Gene glanced at her husband.

"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.

"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."

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

"I have many men."

"But you have just the one life and I plan to take it." Finan snapped and Gene laughed at his urgency.

"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 stated and Gene wished someone would kill him.

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

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

"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 spoke with interest.

"I belong to the man I choose. The man who has the will to lead, to conquer. Bloodhair is not that man."

"She has sent Alfred's death and in battle, her man will benefit from that death greatly." Uhtred added to entice the Dane.

"Is that true?"

"It's true." Skade said.

"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 looking at the man. Gene placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him.

"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."

"Do we have an agreement? Skade in place of Aethelflæd?" Uhtred questioned and looked at Gene in worry when she gasped in pain holding her throat.

"Agreed, the seer is mine."

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

"I will."

"And you are cursed once more Uhtred of Bebbanburg, you shall wither." Skade said cursing him.

"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."

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

"Your life is not your own, lord." Sihtric speaks and shoves past the lord when Gene collapses to the floor in pain. Sihtric didn't see any injury on her throat but Gene was sobbing against his chest in pain, their children ran to them to help comfort their mother.

"He's dead, Sitty. He's really dead."