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    Signe couldn't suppress her annoyance as the party trudged through the dirt roads on horseback once more. They were supposed to take back Dunholm, not do the King's dirty work again. That was such a life of following Uhtred who had renewed his oath with the King of Wessex.

    "When will we have sight of Eoferwic?" The sound of the Lord's voice was surely enough to make her ears bleed. It was quite possible that in the short span of time the party had been on the move, Signe had grown to dislike the King's nephew more than the King himself. "I have never ridden for so long nor so far." Athelwold continued to whine, making Signe grit her teeth in annoyance. Would he ever shut up?

    "Have you a sore arse, Lord?" Steepa quipped from behind Signe, making the woman snicker slightly. Finan rode beside the woman, and shot her a tiny smile upon hearing her trying to hold back a small laugh.

    "I have a sore everything." Athelwold confirmed. "I need a woman to rub and bathe me." He called, making several men in the party laugh at his comment. Signe could feel eyes bore into the back of her head, burning a hole and she so wished to turn around and strike down the usurped heir.

    It seemed Signe was not the only one to notice the man's stare, because before Signe could even turn around to tell Athelwold to mind his place Finan spoke up. "Look at her again, I dare ya." His voice had lowered an octave, making it come out almost as a growl. Signe raised a brow and looked to the Irishman beside her, but Finan's eyes were narrowed at the blonde Saxon.

    "And what are you going to do if I can't help myself?" Athelwold asked with a smirk, gaining the attention of both Ragnar and Uhtred. Ragnar looked over his shoulder, more than ready to put an end to the conversation about his baby sister, when Uhtred shook his head. Uhtred had his eyes trained on Finan, the Irishman looking as though he was ready to pounce on Athelwold..

    "Then you best pray you don't fall asleep tonight." Signe could feel her cheeks dust pink, the heat radiating off them as she looked away from the man beside her. Signe was more than capable of putting a man in his place, especially one like Athelwold. It was the fact that someone else felt the need to step in instead and defend her, it was enough to make her heart stop. Finan finally tore his eyes from Athelwold before looking at Signe, her cheeks were less warm now as she looked back to offer a small smile in thanks.

    "We will be stopping soon enough." Uhtred finally spoke, steering the conversation back into its original direction.

    "At Eoferwic?" Father Beocca questioned, he knew better than to believe Uhtred would follow the King's instructions to the T.

    "We ride first for Loidis." Signe narrowed her eyes at her brothers, the pair wearing small smiles as Uhtred spoke. They were planning something, and she wasn't sure what it was just yet.

    "What awaits us at Loidis?" Athelwold asked, annoyed, Ragnar looking over his shoulder back to the Saxon.

    "We shall see." Ragnar told him, a small knowing smile on his face. Signe glanced from her brothers to the man beside her, Finan's head thrown back as he embraced the sun on his skin; but his eyebrows frowned in slight discomfort. They had been riding steadily for hours, everyone was starting to feel the pain of tense muscles in their bodies by now.

    "Need I remind you first and foremost our purpose here is the King's business." Father Beocca told Uhtred, a slightly disapproving tone in his voice. Beocca always talked to Signe and Uhtred like a father would his children, maybe it was because the pair treated him like he was a father, or maybe Beocca still saw them as the small Saxon children they once were.

    "Nothing has changed by our path, Beocca." Uhtred assured, making the priest roll his eyes.

    "We shall see."

    Loidis was one of the smaller kingdoms Signe had ever stepped foot into. It looked run down, and the people in the streets looked miserable. It was understandable when the King that was supposed to rule over them was as useless as a newborn baby. Everyone was quick to dismount their horses, Signe groaning as she shifted dreading the pain of dismounting. "Let me, Lady." Finan spoke, finding the woman's side quickly.

    "Thank you, Finan." Signe grunted, her hands on his shoulders as the Irishman helped her down. Although it felt good to be on her own two feet again, the pain in her lower back only flared with every step she took. The woman found Finan's offering arm, the pair walking behind everyone else as they disappeared into an alehouse at the beck and call of Brida.

    Signe was finally putting it all together now. Ragnar would have sent Brida ahead to summon the rest of his men, and Signe knew those loyal to him would answer the call. If Danes were anything, it was loyal but Ragnar seemed to have a way with people like no other. He made people want to follow him through words alone, his men cared little for money if they had him at the front lines.

    A small group stood by the door, Signe and Finan squeezing in beside Steepa as they watched Ragnar's men rejoice in the return of their leader. Signe smiled fondly, seeing many familiar faces among the men that filled the tables in the alehouse. Most of these men were with them in Irland, and followed over the river into Wessex with the siblings.

    "Come, let's sit." Signe spoke, leading a small group of them to a long table off to the side of the room. Many of the men had now settled down, Signe ordering ale and food for the people amongst the King's party. Everyone said little as they ate until their stomachs were full and their hearts were content, Signe squished between Finan and Steepa.

    "Guthred is seen as weak and friendless." Brida finally spoke, breaking the silence among everyone as Signe watched over the rim of her mug. "These men won't fight the brothers for a turd."

    Uhtred sighed at the woman's words, his eyes finding his sister from across the table. Signe shrugged her shoulders, a silent response that she agreed with Brida. There was no point sending Ragnar's men into battle against the brothers when there was a piss poor outcome. "We need the turds army to take Dunholm." Uhtred told both Brida and Signe trying to sway them in his favor.

    "So why not kill the Northmen, then the turd, take Eoferwic and its army for yourself?" Brida asked, Signe almost letting out a laugh at how quick she had come to the conclusion. Like it was the most simple thing in the world, but then again to Brida it probably was.

    "The woman's got a point." Finan agreed, rubbing his chin as he spoke. Signe nodded her head in agreement, although the idea was outlandish, it wasn't the worst idea she had heard.

    "No, she does not have a point." Beocca quickly shot the idea down, shaking his head disapprovingly. "Those are the words of a traitor." Both Signe and Brida laughed at that. They were made traitors the day they were kidnapped all those years ago and raised by Danes.

    "I don't want Eoferwic." Ragnar hummed, uninterested in the idea of taking the kingdom for the Danes. "All I want is Kjartan's heart on the end of my sword and to see my sister." Signe nodded in encouragement to Ragnar. The second they take back Dunholm from Kjartan they would finally be able to reunite with Thyra.

    "We will need Guthred's army." Uhtred persisted.

    "I promised these men silver," Brida spoke, her eyes only on Ragnar. "And the glory of avenging your father. Don't dishonor them by getting them killed for Guthred, the turd." She finished, her eyes on Uhtred by the end as she stood up to leave the table. Signe wanted so desperately to follow after the woman, and find a bed to lay her head on for the night. It seemed like forever since she had found the comforts of a real bed, even if it was a cheap one of an inn.

    "Oh Ragnar, your woman's got the balls of a bear. I like her." Finan said with a laugh, making Signe roll her eyes and nudge him with her elbow.

    "She's right." Signe finally spoke, breaking her silence since they had sat around the table.

    "What do you mean she's right?" Beocca asked, looking at the woman who sat amongst them.

    "Beocca, these men are here for my brother. They would follow him if he so much as asked, but we can't ask them to go ahead and die for a Christian king." Signe explained, shaking her head.

    "Isn't that what Danes do, fight?" Athelwold questioned with a smirk, making Singe let out a huff.

    "You better watch your tongue, before I cut it out of your face, pretty boy." Signe threatened, smiling when Athelwold cowered further down the table and closer to Uhtred.

"We cannot face the brothers alone." Athelwold muttered, shooting the woman a small glare as she leaned closer to Finan, the two of them laughing amongst themselves.

    "Why not?" Finan questioned, clearing his throat as his laughter faded.

    "Finan, there is bravery and then there is stupidity." Athelwold spoke with a false smile, making the woman groan.

    "The brothers have a camp, Athelwold do they not?" Signe questioned, quickly picking up on what Finan was suggesting. "An open camp."

    "If it is Sigefrid and Erik we must kill, then let us do just that." Finan spoke once more. "We kill them while they're sleeping." He concluded, making Signe grin similar to that of a cheshire cat.

    "Shadow-walkers, my dear friends." Signe spoke with a grin. Everyone seemed to fall into an agreement with what the pair had suggested, making Signe nod her head. Using Finan's shoulder for leverage, the woman stood from the table and bid everyone a goodnight.

    "Signe, we couldn't get enough rooms so one of us will have to share with you." Uhtred spoke, his eyes following his sister's figure as she made her way to the staircase. Signe groaned, her eyes falling on the group of men surrounding the table. Athelwold looked almost giddy when her eyes brushed past him making her glare at him.

    "Fine. Irishman, you're with me."