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"Why warn the Danes that we're coming?" Finan questioned Uhtred as they walked to their horses.

"Who asks? Them or you?" Uhtred asked.

"I'm asking, but the men would like to know."

"To worry them. They know that I am coming but they do not know when. It will give them sleepless nights, and when they do sleep, I want them to dream of a cold, cold hell." Uhtred said with a grin as he grabbed the reins of his horse.

"Hell is a place of fire, lord." Osferth said as he walked past them with bags, Rúna smirked at his claim.

"Uh, what are you doing?" Finan questioned.

"Did you believe you were leaving without me? Not a chance." Osferth said with a smirk and they gathered their things and rode out. They eventually arrive in a small village called Crowland and Finan grows weary of it.

"I'm noticing this village is different from the others we've passed." Finan said and glanced at her for some input.

"Traitors, all of them. The Danes probably pay them to comply." Finan nodded and glanced around in disgust.

"It prospers." Osferth answered.

"In the heart of Danelaw, it prospers." Finan spoke with suspicion.

"I have a thirst, my friends."

"Everyone here is as fat as a buttered bishop." Finan says as they walk through the town. Rúna shook her head in amusement while Osferth grew confused.

"A buttered bishop?" Osferth repeats.

"A buttered bishop. Do you have a problem with that?" Rúna shoved the Irishman when he stopped to look at a woman. Men and their cocks.

"You! Who are you?" A man shouts at them as they go to enter the alehouse. Rúna moved to Uhtred's side as the Mercian stood in front of them.

"Who are you?" Uhtred asked in amusement.

"I am Guthlac, thegn of this place."

"I am Uhtred of Bebbanburg." He said as he looked around.

"Never heard of it."

"We serve the lady Aethelflæd and thus, Mercia. We do you, no doubt." Uhtred says with a bored expression.

"We are Mercians, yes."

"Not very good ones." She mumbled to Uhtred who cracked a grin.

"Fat Mercians." Finan whispers to Osferth who shakes his head in disbelief.

"What is it you want?"

"Food and ale, a place to sleep, rest a while. I'd hope that our beds will be warmer than your welcome." Uhtred says insulting the Mercians.

"No swords. Leave your weapons with your horses. My doors will be open to you."

"I will not give you my sword, but you have my word. We're here for food, ale, and rest. Nothing else." Uhtred reinforced and noticed the Mercian sigh.

"Very well, but be warned we don't take kindly to—"

"Stranger with swords." Osferth cut in making Finan grin and Rúna laugh.

"Yes, that."

"And now he will send a messenger to the Danes, which could be to our advantage." Uhtred whispered to Finan and Osferth. The group sits around a table and eats, Finan laughs as he clutches his cup of ale. Rúna rests her head on Uhtred's shoulder as she listens to the story.

"I had more fun at the burying of my father."

"You knew your father?" Uhtred asked in surprise.

"I knew his first." Finan says into his cup.

"They are here, lord." Osferth speaks as he looks out.

"I see you watching! Tell our visitor, Uhtred, he is surrounded."

"Men with weapons, lord. Some with bows." Osferth says as he moves to Uhtred's side.

"He has sent his messenger. Now the plan is to keep us here."

"Inside an alehouse? I can think of worse places." Finan says making them laugh and Rúna has to agree.

"Guthlac belongs to the Danes. They will hear we're trapped and they will ride to kill us all. Which is good, as there will be fewer men at their camp. We are a distraction." Uhtred said with a smug smile as he nudged Rúna playfully.

"And we will be surrounded." Finan deadpanned.

"Watch that door, Osferth." Uhtred ordered.

"Uhtred, I wish only to talk!" Guthlac says.

"Then talk."

"I do not wish to fight." Guthlac said.

"That is a shame. Nothing finished evening in an alehouse so well as a fight." Uhtred says sardonically. Rúna grabbed the hilt of her sword ready for a battle, Finan shot her a grin at the idea.

"Uh, maybe a woman." Finan cuts in making Uhtred smile.

"Maybe a woman." Uhtred said in agreement.

"You are not wrong." She agreed but she would rather have Sihtric.

"You are outnumbered, there is no way out and we have bows. You should yield. Yield and your men will live. They only want Uhtred and his sister." Guthlac pleads to them.

"You're a traitor, Guthlac!" Uhtred snarls. Looks like Hæsten was still bitter about Mary.

"You cannot escape! I say again. We only want the woman and Uhtred!" Guthlac shouts.

"You are all free men, free to choose." Uhtred says as he turns to the men.

"We're with you, lord." The men say in unison.

"Bar the door!" Uhtred orders as men move to do as told.

"We cannot climb out, lord. The bowmen will have us." Osferth says as they watch Uhtred peek out the top-floor window.

"Throw me that axe." Osferth does what is asked.

"What now, lord?"

"Bring me fire." Uhtred demanded and Finan tossed his hands up as Rúna laughed at his expression.

"He just loves burning things."

"He would love hell." Osferth said bluntly.

Once they successfully burn the roofs of the building next to them and hear the screams and shouts the group walks out, Uhtred glares at the Thgn as he approaches.

"Spare me, lord. Spare me! The Danes made me comply. I had no choice." The man kneels as he begs for his life.

"Never forget," He stabs the man as he glared at the Mercian traitors. "You serve the lady of Mercia, first and last." The group rides out and soon comes across Cnut and a small army of men as they crouch in the brush.

"Cnut and only Cnut." Finan whispered.

"That's good enough. Less men at the camp." Uhtred replied as they walked closer to the Dane camp.

"Once night falls, even the king of shadow walkers would find no place here." Osferth said as he looked at them.

"Shush, someone's coming." They quickly hid behind a tree as the man approached them.

"It is Sihtric." Osferth said with worry. Rúna couldn't fight the smile that spread across her face, she was gonna rock his world the first chance she got. Even if it's behind a tree.

"You have something to say to me, boy?" Uhtred demanded as he stepped out into the clearing.

"I do," Sihtric unsheathed his sword. "Yield to me." Uhtred drops his weapon as they glare at one another in silence. Uhtred and Sihtric break out into laughs and hugs. Rúna smiles softly at the Dane as he hugs her brother.

"You were playing us. My goodness! They were playing us, Finan! Why?" Osferth said happily as he tapped Finan's thigh.

"If you had not believed it nor would others." Uhtred said with laughter as he picked up his dagger.

"I fooled you." Sihtric said smiling.

"No, I knew!" Finan said as he hugged Sihtric.

"No, you did not. Was I good?"

"A little." Osferth said with a smile.

"I'm telling you, I knew." They all laugh at Finan and hug one another. "I just hope it was all worth it."

"I hope so, too." Sihtric said quietly and she could see the nervousness flowing from his body at the sight of her. She walked to him with a small smile and pulled him into a kiss. Sihtric pulled away and brushed her hair behind her ear as he gazed down at her.

"What do you know? We saw Cnut on the road." Uhtred spoke cutting their moment short, Rúna sent him a glare in return. She turned around and leaned against Sihtric's chest as he placed his hands on her hips and kissed her neck and shoulder softly as she giggled before answering her brother. Uhtred narrowed his eyes protectively but didn't say a word.

Smart man.

"Only Hæsten remains at the camp," He then looked down at her. "And Trig."

"What of Bloodhair?"

"Dead. He fought with Hæsten and was killed by Skade." Sihtric said and propped his chin on her shoulder.

"Good Jesus."

"She's a witch like no other." Sihtric said with slight laughter in his voice.

"She knows I'm near?"

"Yes, she knows of your promise to shadow walk, but there are too many guards. She is allowed to collect grass and herbs by a tree for her spells." He tells them and confuses Uhtred.

"A tree?"

"It's a single tree on the other side of the camp. You cannot miss it." Sihtric spoke teasingly.

"Tell her I'm here and take her there tonight."

"And if she refuses? If Hæsten prevents her?" Sihtric questioned.

"She will not refuse and Hæsten will not refuse her." Uhtred said confidently as they both chuckled.

"You have never failed me, Sihtric. I will see you at the tree. Let's go, Finan." Sihtric kisses her one last time as they separate and she can't stop smiling.