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"Finan." Uhtred says as he walks up to his friend, Angrboda is watching Finan in amusement as he complains about his back hurting. Again.

"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 moved to flank Finan and brushed her arm against his. Angrboda raised an eyebrow when he leaned into her and shared a confused look with Uhtred.

"All the way to Winchester?"

"I will follow and find you." Uhtred promised the man and shared a knowing look with Angrboda when Finan hesitated to leave her.

"And what of Skade?"

"She stays with me. I will find you in Winchester. I must be there. Unseen." Uhtred said confirming what her vision had shown her.

"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.

"I can do that. We all need a good woman!" Finan shouted when Uhtred walked away, Angrboda grabbed Uhtred's hand to stop him. The Dane looked at her softly and grunted in surprise when she hugged him, Uhtred hesitantly hugged her back and he had to admit it felt nice to be embraced.

"It is necessary. Do not feel any guilt."

Uhtred smiled at her and brushed the loose locks of hair behind her ear as he kissed her forehead. He nodded at her and walked away with a newfound motivation, knowing the cursed one helped his guilt make this better.

"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. Angrboda wanted to stay but Uhtred was against the idea, Osferth had reassured her that he would stay with the lord. Though, he did so fearfully and with a shaky voice.

"I have a guard. And Wessex is not a land of banditry." The Bishop claimed and watched Angrboda pat her bear before climbing onto the saddle of her horse. Her companion would take to the woods on his own and she knew he would return if she needed him.

She was strange.

"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 next to Uhtred and the Dane-slayer sends her a dirty look.  Angrboda narrowed her eyes at the seer making it known she didn't agree, that they didn't agree.

"Is that right, lord?" Finan asked sardonically as he leaned against her horse.

"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, that she wasn't sure who the Abbess was but Angrboda knew she was a friend to them. Or something close to it.

"If it pleases you."

"I will bring my wife to Mercia, lord. Meet you there." Sihtric says with a grin from where he is perched on his horse, she smiles at the Dane and nudges her horse against his. He had mentioned to her in passing that he wanted to introduce her and his wife, claiming they were the two most important women in his life.

"Is that Aethelwold? The sword-Dane I see? Looks like you've mislaid your eye." Finan mocked with a grin, she narrowed her eyes at the boy. She had hoped with the travel they could avoid conflict. She should have known wherever Finan went, trouble was created.

"I see you perfectly, Finan. Though I do not see your master. Uhtred, where is he?" Aethelwold asked with annoyance, he froze when he noticed her with them.

"Standing at your blind side, perhaps?" Sihtric smiles at his joke and Angrboda waves menacingly at the male. The three walk away making Aethelwold angry at the sight of them. But even he knew better than to try to fight them in combat.

"Your men have been telling me there's to be a wedding, lord." Finan asked the Bishop when he separated from Sihtric.

"Edward, is to marry, yes. A sweet girl." Erkenwald confirmed she crossed her arms to show her doubt.

"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, the Bishop did not like the comment based on his expression, but Angrboda could use some ale too. Maybe even a woman, she wondered how pissed Finan would be if she stole his woman that he planned on paying for.

"You are welcome, Finan. I am sure, as are your people." The Bishop walks away as Finan grins and Sihtric appears with white flowers, Angrboda can't help but find the guy precious.

"Finan, I am away to find my wife." Sihtric says with a bright smile, Angrboda nods at him with an equally big smile. She liked happiness on him.

"Um, she'll be underneath some man." Sihtric rolls his eyes and smiles as he walks away. "And you'll recognize her by the size of her big," He trails off as he motioned to his chest. "Feet." He then points down as he grins teasingly, Angrboda elbowed him in the ribs with a look of disapproval.

"I still love her." Sihtric said hopelessly in love and Finan laughed. Osferth then walks by and grabs Finan but ends up scaring him. Angrboda sheathed her dagger once she noticed the monk.

"Finan, lady Angrboda."

"What the...Osferth? You're here?" Finan asked confused as Osferth walked them to a fire pit.

"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?"

"Very." Osferth answered, Finan glanced at her remembering the water, and wondered if Skade died the same way, Angrboda nodded to his silent question.

"Then we're all free of the curse, baby monk." Finan said with relief.

"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, Osferth looks at her in worry. He didn't want to seem rude in her eyes, she noticed and waved him off.

"And prayer."

"Absolutely, but in that order." Finan said with a grin and crossed himself as the two men laughed, the Irishman grabbed her hand as they walked away.