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Uhtred overlooked the garden from his place on the wall as monks walked about cluelessly. Angrboda leaned over the stone wall next to him as Sihtric and Finan hid behind the wooden gate, simply waiting for Uhtred's order. Uhtred suddenly points to a boy and his friends immediately grab him and put a bag over his head.

"Hey! Get off! Who are you?" The boy shouts as he struggles.

"Shh, he's a sinner, Father." Finan claimed as they dragged the boy away. Once they manage to bring him into the woods and out of sight they remove the bag.

"Hello, father." The boy hissed out. Angrboda moved to stand with Finan and couldn't fight the smile that made its way onto her pale face when he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.

"Men," Uhtred then turns to them. "Angrboda, this is my son young Uhtred." The boy scowled at the name.

"I don't use that name. It belongs to a priest killer." Young Uhtred snapped. "Who is she?" Uhtred turned to see the woman curled up against Finan's chest, her head laying in the crook of his neck as she fiddled with his cross. Finan quickly slapped her hand away with a sound of disapproval, he feared she would make herself ill by the mere touch. They had figured out years ago that the relics of Christianity made her weaker the hard way,

"She is Finan's woman. I am here to guide you back to your family." Uhtred said and looked back to his son.

"The church is my family."

"No, it's not. You were placed there without my permission." Uhtred grimaced at the memory.

"Praise be to King Alfred for that." Uhtred and Finan share a silent look.

"We are leaving this place and you are coming with me." Uhtred demanded and the boy scoffed.

"Am I?"

"Yes, you have no choice. Take off the woman's garb, wear this. And, uh...I have a gift for you. Sihtric!" Sihtric brings out a pony from the darkness, it grunts loudly. Sihtric fights back a smile as Finan attempts to cover up his laugh. Angrboda smiled as she shushed the man and watched the boy silently, while Finan hid his face against her head to avoid laughing.

"Impressive beast." Young Uhtred says with anger.

"Hey, I did not realize how much you'd grown." Sihtric reached around the scratched the pony on the neck, he was trying not to laugh at the exchange. "Ride to Coccham with us. In time, we will find you a proper horse."

"Why would I go to Coccham?"

"To collect the ship that will take us north.. to reclaim your birthright and mine. To seize back what was lost and unite our family. I'm taking you to Bebbanburg." Uhtred told him proudly.

"Never heard of it." Finan quickly covered his mouth as his laugh threatened to spill out.

"He doesn't seem to like you much." Finan shouted as Uhtred began walking away.

"That's Alfred's legacy, the man torments me still." When they reach Coccham they start preparing the ship, Finan doesn't seem to like the quality of the boat.

"It's sturdy enough."

"Do we not need something more...agile? We're not taking pelts to sell to Frankia." Finan claimed softly.

"Do you want Aelfric to know that we're coming?"

"I suppose not. Pelts it is." Finan mumbled. Uhtred turned and smiled when he noticed Beocca had shown up. Finan lit up when he noticed Angrboda walking toward the boat and ignored Sihtric's teasing laugh. The Irishman made grabby hands at the woman and placed his hands on her hips when she walked to him. Angrboda stood over him since she didn't bother stepping onto the boat and stayed on the docks. She raked her fingers through his hair and rolled her eyes when he laid his face against her stomach with a sigh.

She wasn't sure why he resorted to that laying position, but it was cute. Even at night when he joined her in bed, he would lie his head on her stomach or thighs as she rubbed his back.

And despite what Uhtred believes, she's not pregnant. She and Finan had decided to take things slow and had yet to do more than kiss.

"Uhtred!"

"Beocca? Are you kidding?" The two men hug.

"Do you have room for half a man more? I flee the wrath of the lady Ælswith." Uhtred chuckles.

"As do we all. I'm sure we can make space for you." Uhtred says with a grin.

"I'm afraid I'll not be much use to you as a fighter."

"Happily for you, I am desperate." Beocca laughs loudly. They gathered in the hall as Osferth prepared the meal, Angrboda ignored the curious looks of Young Uhtred and moved to lean back against Finan's chest. He immediately tossed an arm across her shoulder and chest with a grin as he leaned in to kiss her throat softly.

"We'll require more ale, for sure." Finan said as he spoke to Sihtric who was too busy rolling his eyes.

"Did Hild send you to keep an eye on me?"

"No. It was entirely my decision. You were right. I've allowed myself to get old too quickly. I shall leech off their youthfulness, revive myself." Finan chuckled at Beocca.

"What is the real reason?"

"Word reached me...of the abduction of a young deacon." Sihtric and Finan look at one another. "So, I felt I should, uh..." Uhtred sighs.

"You came to help me be a better father." Uhtred stated bluntly.

"Well, there is that."

"And?" Beocca smiles sadly at the man.
Come morning, Sihtric was hiding the weapons under furs while Finan made it his mission to tease Osferth. The monk grew embarrassed and nudged Angrboda into the Irishman's line of sight, normally the distraction works. Uhtred shook his head and walked over to his son who was watching the interaction.

"Get your saintly arse on the bench, Osferth!" Finan shouted at the monk after he kissed the woman gently.

"Let's go." Uhtred ordered.

"He gets sick traveling backward." Sihtric added when Osferth complained.

"I do not! I just like to see where we're going." Osferth said. Sihtric cackled at the boy and Angrboda reached out to shove Sihtric lightly. Uhtred turns to the sunset and smiles as he unsheathed his sword.

"To Bebbanburg!"

"Raise the sail!" Finan added with a grin.