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"Finan." Uhtred says that as he walked up to his friend, Gene was helping him because of boredom.

"Lord."

"Have the priests unload half of what they've taken. Send them back to Alfred. You will ride with them." Uhtred demanded, and Finan sighed. She placed a hand on Finan's back and frowned at the order.

"All the way to Winchester?"

"I will follow and find you." Uhtred promised.

"And what of Skade?"

"She stays with me. I will find you in Winchester. I must be there. Unseen." Uhtred said, and Gene's eyes widened. He was going to kill Skade.

Finally.

"And if Alfred decides to take me hostage?"

"He will have you watched, nothing more. You need only drink ale and find a woman." Uhtred tells him with a smile and then looks at her. "And we both know Gene would kill them before that could happen." Gene grinned at that, making them chuckle.

"I can do that. We all need a good woman!" Finan shouted when Uhtred walked away.

"My men are free men still. They'll travel with you to Winchester, ensure your safe return." Uhtred tells the Bishop as he walks to his horse. Gene was on Sihtric's horse as he kissed up her neck playfully. The twins were on a horse together, and little Fintan would ride with Finan.

"I have a guard. And Wessex is not a land of banditry." The Bishop claimed.

"Priests and Ealdorman aside, you should never refuse the offer of a sword, Bishop Erkenwald." Finan tells the holy man.

"Is it your intention to remain at Coccham?"

"It is not. My lord's intention is to rule at Winchester." Skade adds as she stands beside Uhtred, and the Dane-slayer sends her a dirty look.

"Is that right, lord?" Finan asked sardonically.

"My business is my own." Uhtred claims.

"And your children?"

"Are Christian now." Uhtred said through gritted teeth.

"I will ensure they are cared for." Hild tells them reassuringly.

"If it pleases you."

"I will bring my wife and children to Mercia, lord. Meet you there." Sihtric says with a grin, perched on his horse.

Gods, he was so pretty.

"Oh, and Skade?" Gene called out as the seer looked at her. "I hope you take a good look at my face; it will be the last time you see it." Gene said with a smirk, and Sihtric hid his amused smile against her shoulder. Skade scowled at her, and Erik interrupted just as quickly.

"Don't hold your breath, bitch." Erik said with a giggle as Gene grinned at the inside joke; Uhtred looked at them both unimpressed.

In Winchester, the Bishop stands in front of the yelling and shouting for Steapa. She feels Sihtric tighten his grip on her waist as he leans forward, watching the Bishop.

"Steapa! Steapa!" The guard appears, looking down at them.

"Ah! Do you not recognize me, Steapa? Why have the gates not opened?" The Bishop asked.

"Bishop Erkenwald, you have guests."

"They did ride with us from Coccham." Erkenwald spoke; Gene noticed Steapa looked her way with something close to a soft look; you could never tell with him.

"Where Uhtred remains. He'll be going directly to Mercia." Finan shouts to the guard.

"Steapa, he had hoped to visit his children there." Hild added.

"This is true, lord?" Steapa asked.

"You do not believe me?" Hild asked in disbelief, but she was ignored.

"It is true that Uhtred Ragnarsson remains at Coccham. That is all I know to be true." The Bishop answered.

"It is Uhtred's intention to return to Mercia. He asked me to petition to the king to have his children follow. Now, open the gates, and let us rest." Hild claimed.

"Hey, big man. We are guilty of being hungry and tired, my friend. That is all." Steapa watched them with suspicion as he ate his apple. Soon after, the gates open, and Finan and Sihtric smile. Not long after, the married couple, the kids, and Finan stand in the stables with ale when Finan gets their attention.

"Is that Aethelwold? The sword-Dane, I see? Looks like you've mislaid your eye." Finan mocked with a grin; Eithne glared at the one-eyed Saxon as she snuggled closer to Finan.

"I see you perfectly, Finan. However, I do not see your master. Uhtred, where is he?" Aethelwold asked with annoyance. Gene was unaware that Erik and Fintan were trying to get Sihtric to buy her flowers that he had seen on the way in, not that he needed any convincing.

"Standing at your blind side, perhaps?" Sihtric smiles at his joke. Finan and the little family walk away, making Aethelwold angry. Finan tossed an arm over her shoulder as Sihtric snuck away with their sons; Eithne was too busy listening to Finan speak of ale.

"Your men have been telling me there's to be a wedding, lord." Finan asked the Bishop when he separated from them. Eithne quickly ran over to him and held his hand; he smiled down at her, as did the Bishop.

"Edward is to marry, yes. A sweet girl." Erkenwald confirmed. Gene doubted that.

"I, uh...I do enjoy a wedding. Ale flows, and kisses are a little easier to come by. I might stay a short while." Finan said with a sly smile; Bishop did not like the comment.

"You are welcome, Finan. I am sure, as are your people." The Bishop walks away as Finan grins and Sihtric appears with white flowers. Sihtric hands them to her shyly, and she pulls him down for a kiss; her sons gag in disgust and run over to Finan.

"Finan, can you watch the children? I wish to have some privacy with my wife." Sihtric says with a bright smile.

"Um, you mean she'll be underneath you soon?" Sihtric rolls his eyes and smiles as they walk away. "One of these days, she will curse you!" Finan said teasingly, and Gene gasped in mock offense.

"I still love her." Sihtric said, hopelessly in love, and Finan laughed. Osferth then walks by and grabs Finan, scaring him. Erik was about to stab the man until he noticed it was their uncle.

"Finan."

"What the...Osferth? You're here?" Finan asked, confused, as Osferth walked them to a fire pit. The children follow along quietly.

"So, we are inside the walls of Winchester. Where will he go? To father Beocca?" Osferth asked his friend.

"Yes, he'll find us. Be sure of it."

"And he is free of his curse." Osferth whispered.

"She's dead?" Erik asked, already knowing the answer.

"Very." Osferth answered.

"Then we're all free of the curse, baby monk." Finan said with relief. He ruffled Fintan's hair with a big grin.

"She was of the devil, wasn't she?"

"No, more than that. She was the devil in disguise." Finan claimed, making Osferth frown.

"It is what he would do."

"Ale and women." Finan says suddenly as he taps Osferth's chest.

"And prayer." Osferth grabs Eithne and Fintan's hands to avoid losing them.

"Absolutely, but in that order." Finan said with a grin and crossed himself as they laughed and walked away. Erik followed with a shake of his head and looked around in caution.